Has letting property become a legal minefield

October 1, 2015

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

BREAKING PROPERTY NEWS – 18/05/2022

Daily bite-sized proptech and property news in partnership with Proptech-X.   MyIdentity selects Armalytix to create a proof-of-wealth solution for the property market Armalytix, the open banking technology platform which streamlines the collection of data for the professional and financial services industries, has been selected to be an attribute provider for the government-backed MyIdentity scheme,…
Read More →
Software & Tech

The Future Of Healthcare Technology

As researchers, innovators and legislators work to improve access, effectiveness, cost, and accessibility of healthcare, the future of healthcare technology is in flux. Healthcare innovation is a key battle in the fight for human longevity. Here we will discuss the leading medical technologies in HIE software that are leading the way towards a brighter future.…
Read More →
5 Great Property Management Software in the UK
Letting Agent Talk

Five of the Best Property Management Software for Landlords

Being a successful landlord requires a good relationship with your tenant, ultimately you want your property to be treated well, get paid on time and build long term relationships. Management of property has come a long way in recent years especially since the internet and certainly thanks to management software and apps. Today there are…
Read More →
how to present your property for sale
Letting Agent Talk

LETTING AGENTS AND LANDLORDS FACING SURGE IN DISREPAIR CLAIMS

Recent research reveals there has been an exponential rise in disrepair claims over the past five years, with more than £55.1m paid out across 70 English councils that own their own stock. (Source: Inside Housing, February 2022). Legal costs nearly doubled between 2017-18 and 2020-2021, while the number of cases increased by 132%. Of the…
Read More →
Breaking News

BREAKING PROPERTY NEWS – 17/05/2022

Daily bite-sized proptech and property news in partnership with Proptech-X.   PRESS RELEASE: BriefYourMarket partnerships take lead generation to next level Generating and nurturing leads is the backbone of estate agency. According to Richard Combellack, Chief Commercial Officer at BriefYourMarket, this is exactly what BriefYourMarket is about, finding and nurturing new leads via a variety…
Read More →
Home and Living

5 Gas Safety Tips to Keep You Safe at Home

Houses with safety hazards are not desirable, since they endanger the lives of their occupants. The value of your home diminishes if you’re your house and property are damaged, including gas appliances. Therefore, all owners, landlords, and tenants have a responsibility to have the appliances they own tested for functionality. Check all of your household…
Read More →