The Communities and Local Government Committee will scrutinise the Government’s Draft Tenant Fee Bill. The bill was published on 1 November 2017 and our previous post on the Bill can be read here. In summary, the Bill will prohibit all payments by tenants to lettings agents and landlords (with a few exceptions) and introduce both civil …
Her Majesty’s Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS) has updated the N5B accelerated possession claim form. The N5B form is used by those seeking possession of a property let under an assured shorthold tenancy on the expiry of a Section 21 notice. The process is referred to as accelerated because the court usually makes an order …
The contract with the Gas Safe Register (GSR) ends in 2019. The GSR provides the list of gas engineers registered to work legally and safely. However, the current GSR 10-year contract expires on 31 March 2019. Parties that are interested in making a bid for the new contract may register their interest with the Health …
In January, this year the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) consulted on changes to the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 (GSIUR). No date has been confirmed by the HSE but we understand that the changes may come into force in April next year. Current Position Regulation 36 of the GSIUR sets out a landlord’s …
The Tribunal Procedure Committee (TPC) has published a consultation paper seeking views on Rules in relation to the question of placing a cap on costs recoverable in leasehold and property cases. First Tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) The First Tier Tribunal (FTT)– Property Chamber (PC) hears cases on property, landlord and tenant and housing matters. A …
The Working Group report on Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (PRS) has been published. A copy of the report can be found here. Under the Housing and Planning Act 2016 the Secretary of State has the power to introduce secondary legislation for electrical safety standards in the PRS. The Working Group was …
On 10th November, the Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration’s call for evidence closed. The Chief Inspector was seeking contributions from members of the public and stakeholders on the Right to Rent. Specifically, the Chief Inspector will examine: planning for the initial introduction of RtR, including success criteria, and the identification and mitigation of …
In London Borough of Waltham Forest v Reid, the Upper Tribunal dismissed the council’s appeal on the grounds that their policy was unreasonable. The Law In 2015 the council designated the whole of the LBWF as an area subject to selective licensing. Unless renewed this designation will end on 31st March 2020. On application, and for …
The House of Commons Select Committee on Communities and Local Government has launched an inquiry into whether councils have adequate powers to tackle ‘rogue landlords’. The inquiry is likely to focus on 5 key areas: reviewing and simplifying the legislation covering the sector; giving local authorities the tools they need to enforce the law and …
In our previous posts, we discussed the Government’s guidance on the minimum level of energy efficiency required in April 2018. In this post, we will concentrate on the exclusions and exemptions that apply to the minimum standard. The property remains sub-standard despite the completion of works The landlord may rely on this exclusion if he …
Energy Performance – Exclusions and Exemptions in detail Read More »
The CMP consultation is open until 13 December 2017. The Consultation ‘seeks views on the implementation of mandatory membership of a client money protection scheme for property agents.’ The proposals will only apply to England for now. Landlords and tenants pay money to agents for a variety of reasons including rent and repair budgets. It is estimated …
The draft bill on banning fees paid by tenants was published last week. The Draft Tenant Fees Bill has not been put before parliament yet and is likely to see changes prior to coming into force which will not be for a while given the stages of the parliamentary process it has to pass through. However, …
This is the second post on the government’s consultation requesting views on whether a new regulatory model is needed for agents in the leasehold sector. The first post can be read here. In an attempt to address the problems identified by the government, the consultation has specifically requested views on 3 issues. Any of these …
Following the Conservative party conference speech by Sajid Javid, the Department for Communities and Local Communities has launched a consultation requesting views on whether a new regulatory model is needed for agents in the leasehold sector. Specifically, the call for evidence states “we want to understand what form regulation of letting and managing agents should …
In our previous posts, we discussed the Government’s guidance on the minimum level of energy efficiency required in April 2018 for private rented properties and the Green Deal. In this post, we will discuss in detail two further options that a landlord can rely on to fund efficiency improvements. In summary, the funding that a …
The Sublet Property (Offences) Bill is a private members bill introduced in the House of Commons by Christopher Chope. The bill is intended to make the breach of certain rules relating to sub-letting rented accommodation a criminal offence; to make provision for criminal sanctions for unauthorised lettings. The bill was expected to have its second reading …
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