Posts with tag: Deregulation Act 2015 landlords

New Section 21 Notice Rules Review

Published On: October 6, 2015 at 1:57 pm

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New Section 21 Notice Rules Review

New Section 21 Notice Rules Review

If you are still not up to date with the Deregulation Act 2015, here are the main points you need to know.

Predominantly, the Government has made changes to the way section 21 notices can be served. Now enforced, the rules mean that landlords cannot issue a section 21 notice within the first four months of a new tenancy (starting on or after 1st October). When a notice is served, it will only be valid for six months.

From October 2018, this regulation will apply to all tenancies, regardless of when they started.

The changes are part of the Government’s plans to crack down on rogue landlords, who get rid of tenants that complain against disrepair issues. Now, if a renter makes a written complaint, landlords cannot issue a section 21 notice until the problem is resolved.

Additionally, tenants must now be given a How to Rent booklet. Unless landlords have provided this, either as a hard copy or by email, along with a valid gas safety certificate and Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) – which were both previously required – they cannot start repossession proceedings.

The How to Rent guide details landlords’ and tenants’ rights and obligations.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Landlord Action Founder Attacks New Legislation

Published On: October 6, 2015 at 12:53 pm

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Categories: Landlord News

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The founder of eviction firm Landlord Action has revealed that he fears new legislation that came into force last week will allow tenants that complain about false repairs to stay in a property for long periods without paying rent.

Landlord Action Founder Attacks New Legislation

Landlord Action Founder Attacks New Legislation

Changes under the Deregulation Act 2015 affect whether or not a landlord can serve a section 21 notice on an Assured Shorthold Tenancy (AST) in England.

The new legislation states that if a property is considered in disrepair, landlords cannot issue a section 21 notice for six months from the date an improvement notice is served by the council.

Paul Shamplina argued against the new law last year before the All Party Parliamentary Group. He said the rules could cause tenants complaining of false repair issues to avoid paying rent for longer while investigations are conducted.

He argued: “I think this could lead to a huge spike in complaints from tenants.

“I am a bit fed up of all the frequent landlord bashing. It is about time there were more positive statements for landlords in the private rented sector, which now stands at approximately 19% of the housing market.”

He also believes that the Government has not spent enough time or money on ensuring landlords and letting agents are aware of the changes under the legislation.

He continues: “There have been a lot of significant changes in a short amount of time and I would like to have seen the Government proportion a greater budget to educating landlords, particularly those that don’t use agents to manage their properties, to ensure they are up to speed with new legislation.

“We still receive calls to our advice line on a weekly basis from landlords who don’t know about the deposit scheme, which came into effect eight years ago.”1 

1 http://www.propertyindustryeye.com/landlord-action-hits-out-at-new-legislation/