Lettings The Good The Bad The Deadly by Heather Hilder on September 24, 2024 Lettings – The Good, The Bad, The Deadly Lettings – The Good An abundance of legislation protects both landlords and tenants – with more coming with the Renters’ Rights Bill. Some promote best practices and good behaviours from tenants and landlords alike. Other legislation is in place to protect landlords and their properties from the bad behaviour of tenants, or tenants from the actions of rogue landlords. And finally, we have legislation that aims to protect both parties from deadly behaviours and incidents, whether they pose a physical or a financial risk. Let’s delve into Lettings The Good, The Bad, The Deadly. Lettings – The Good In our first article, we look at legislation that promotes ‘good’ behaviour. Lettings & The Renters’ Rights Bill The Renters’ Rights Bill is being implemented to further good practice in the Private Rented Sector (PRS). The measures were formally introduced to Parliament in September 2024. The most significant change will be abolishing Section 21 ‘no fault’ evictions. The government hopes this will give renters greater security and stability to stay in their rental properties for longer. It will also allow renters to build lives in their community and avoid homelessness. Fixed-term tenancies will switch to periodic tenancies which tenants can end with two months’ notice. The government will also crack down on backdoor evictions by allowing tenants to appeal excessive above-market rent increases designed to force them out of a property. The legislation also aims to level the playing field for landlords, by ensuring possession grounds are fair to both parties. However, tenants will also have a 12-month protected period at the start of their tenancy and landlords wanting to repossess will need to give four months’ notice so tenants have plenty of time to find somewhere new. Other significant changes will see the application of the Decent Homes Standard to the PRS, resulting in better energy efficiency in properties, improved living conditions, and the ability for tenants to request a pet in their property. Rental Property & Selective Licensing Selective Licensing schemes are also in operation in some places, applied to all privately rented properties within a particular area. Landlords must contact their local authority to check if their property needs to be covered under the scheme and apply for a licence if so. Once again this is to promote and encourage best practice in the PRS and to improve standards where landlords might be operating sub-standard properties. How to Rent Guide Good practice for landlords and tenants alike is also highlighted in the Government’s How to Rent guide. This outlines the rights and responsibilities of both parties involved, as well as highlight the various bodies affiliated to the sector that landlords and tenants can contact for further information – whether that’s the National Residential Landlords Association for accreditation schemes that landlords must belong to or the approved schemes that protect tenants deposits. Next time, we’ll look at The Bad and The Deadly practices and what’s in place to stop them.
