Has letting property become a legal minefield

Today is an important day for both landlords and tenants, new pieces of legislation come into force for the protection of both, getting the message out to them is a task in itself, especially if we are talking about private landlords who run their business part time or live abroad and have no management agency to advise them or deal with the changes.

We have already touched on the legislation in an earlier breaking news item, what is so important though is that unless rules, which are laid out in the Deregulation Bill 2015 are followed to the book, then any landlord action will be invalidated. In the rules there  is  a subsection that states ‘that failure to follow a prescribed repairs process can invalidate a ‘section 21 notice’ it also prevents notice for a six month period if the landlord is issued with an improvement notice by their local authority. Landlords will not be able to serve a section 21 form within the first four months of a tenancy.

Any landlord that does not comply with existing energy performance certificate (EPC) and gas safety certificate requirements will also find that any section 21 notice they issue will be invalid.

It is now more important than ever that Landlords keep to date with changes to  regulations in their industry, the consequences to not keeping up todate can be very costly. Landlords who cannot for one reason or another put the time needed to managing their property or properties should look to employing a letting agency or management company who will takeover such responsibilities, thus avoiding the minefield of legislation that confronts them.

Allen Walkey

Highly experienced businessman with a successful career in property sales and investment both in the UK and abroad. Now a freelance writer and blogger for the property and Investment Industry, keeping readers up-to-date with changes and events in a rapidly changing world.

You May Also Enjoy

Breaking News

Halifax House Price Index for August

UK house prices edge up to hit two-year high   House prices in August 2024 were 4.3% higher than the same month a year earlier. House prices increased by +0.3% in August, after +0.9% rise in July Year-on-year prices are up +4.3%, the strongest rate since November 2022 Higher annual growth largely reflects the base…
Read More
Breaking News

Nationwide House Price Index for August

Annual house price growth edged higher in August   UK house prices fell 0.2% month on month in August Annual growth rate picked up to 2.4%, from 2.1% in July Fastest pace of annual growth since December 2022 Energy efficiency becoming more important in influencing what buyers will pay for a home   Headlines Aug-24…
Read More
Breaking News

Rightmove Points to Worsening Crisis in Private Rented Sector

Responding to data published today by Rightmove suggesting that the number of former rental properties up for sale is now at its highest level on record, Chris Norris, Policy Director for the National Residential Landlords Association, said: “Today’s data will be a serious concern for all those renters struggling to find somewhere to call home. …
Read More
Rightmove logo
Breaking News

Record levels of former rental homes for sale

The proportion of former rental properties moving into the sales market is at its highest on record, indicating more landlords are selling up, some potentially driven by the mooted increase in Capital Gains Tax in the Autumn Statement on 30th October: 18% of properties now for sale were previously on the rental market, compared with…
Read More
Rightmove logo
Breaking News

Rightmove’s weekly mortgage tracker 4th September 2024

The lowest available 5-year fixed rate mortgage is now 3.77% (for 60% LTV), which is the lowest a five-year fixed rate has been since before the mini-Budget in September 2022. Other key points this week include the average 5-year fixed mortgage being a full 1.0% lower than last year, and the average 60% 5-year rate…
Read More
Breaking News

Breaking Property News 04/09/24

Daily bite-sized proptech and property news in partnership with Proptech-X.   Property Technology in the UK: Trends, Growth, and Challenges Proptech, (Property Technology), having exploded in the UK in 2017 with 60% of new startups in the sector clambering to be the next big thing – is seven years on now maturing. All the hype…
Read More