Keep up to date with the latest Stags news
There is no doubt that over the past 18 months the pandemic has forced us to change the way we go about our everyday lives. We have all had to adapt and make significant changes and, with home becoming more of a focus for us all, the property market is having to adapt too. Whether it is how we conduct viewings and arrange property visits to the required notice periods, changes have happened and can be hard to keep track of.
Claire Pile MARLA stresses the importance for landlords to ensure they keep up to date with the changes “We have all experienced an unprecedented amount of change in all aspects of our lives as a result of the pandemic. For landlords, it is important that they understand these changes and the implications they could have if the necessary action isn’t taken at the right time.”
Some of the recent key changes affecting landlords:
Electrical Safety Checks
The Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector Regulations came into force on the 1st June 2020 and applied in England to all new tenancies from 1st July 2020 but, more critically, to all existing tenancies from 1st April 2021.
Since then, all properties let must have had an electrical installation check carried out by a competent person with a copy of the satisfactory report provided to the tenant. Any remedial work should be carried out within 28 days with a copy of the completed report provided to the tenant.
The regulations will be enforced by the local authority who can impose a fine and/or issue a remedial notice.
Right to Rent Checks
Landlords have an obligation to check that their tenant/s, including British Citizens, can legally rent in the England.
From 1st July 2021, EU, EEA and Swiss citizens need to prove their rights in the UK, including their right to rent, either using the online checking service or with a physical immigration document.
The checks can be carried out manually or via the Governments online checking service, with further information available on their website.
Landlords can face high penalties for not ensuring that they have met the requirements by carrying out the required checks.
What’s next:
Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarms
Following parliamentary approval, changes to the Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm Regulations have been announced and, although no date has been confirmed for the amendments to take effect, landlords are being urged to ensure their properties are compliant.
Social and private rental sector landlords will now be legally required to repair or replace smoke and carbon monoxide alarms once they have been informed that they are faulty, although testing throughout the duration of the tenancy will remain the tenant’s responsibility.
All landlords will also be obliged to ensure a carbon monoxide alarm is installed in any room of their homes where there is a fixed combustion appliance, which now includes gas boilers. Where a new combustion appliance is installed, a carbon monoxide alarm will be required to be installed by law. Gas cooker appliances are excluded from the new rules.
For more information about these changes and what you need to do to ensure you and your property are compliant, contact your local Stags Lettings office who can provide the support and guidance to give you peace of mind.
