You must have heard by now the Renter’s Reform Bill was released last week, if you haven’t read it yet, take a look at what the changes could mean for you & your property here: blog.accommodation.co.uk
In this week’s blog, we want to share with you 4 crucial things you need to know about the changes and how they will affect you.
1. The Government wants to make suitable accommodation more accessible to tenants and those who wish to get into the private rented sector.
Whilst many landlords take care of their properties and maintain them well, there are also a lot that don’t. Tenants across the nation have had issues to do with maintaining properties that are their landlord’s responsibility yet the landlord hasn’t made an effort to fix it. These things often include rising damp, pipes leaking, windows not opening, but have stretched as far as appliances not working, locks that need fixing, and other issues that mean the tenant doesn’t have a good living experience.
The Renter’s Reform Bill is there to tackle these issues and landlords who create them or do not make an effort to fix them. There is also an emphasis on allowing tenants to have pets, and a blanket ban on not letting properties to families that have children and also claim benefits. The Government is trying to make the Private Rented Sector more accessible to people overall and to suit the basic needs of many, whilst trying to increase the amount of well-maintained accommodation that is deemed fair to live in by a human being.
2. EPC ratings of C or above are a major target to aim for
In line with making properties all over the UK safer and better to live in, the Government wants to push forward with its target of making properties more energy efficient. The goal is to have all privately rented homes with an EPC rating of C or above by 2030. Whilst this is a good few years away, landlords may want to start preparing as the Government will enforce it’s EPC target by hitting landlords with a £30,000 fine if they are not in compliance with this.
3. It will now be easier to take action against landlords who are not compliant with regulations
Local councils are being given more power to ban landlords from the market if they do not follow the new guidelines set out for them. A new portal is set to be announced to help landlords keep up to date with regulations & compliance, and demonstrate that they are following these guidelines.
Local councils will have the power to make landlords join the portal, but also take landlords who are not compliant to court and fine those who are not on the portal. All of this is aimed at making bad landlords improve the living conditions of their tenants, or make them leave the market entirely.
4. With all of these changes taking place, it will now be easier to stay up to date
Although there is a lot to take in from the Bill, and there have been many changes over the last few years and will more than likely be more changes in the coming years, landlords will now have a place to go to help them stay compliant and in line with any new or upcoming changes. There will be a digital property portal specifically designed to help landlords stay compliant, update their properties and documents and get the help they need when doing so, and it will also help local councils to see who is and who isn’t compliant so you don’t have to worry about action being taken against you if you are up to date.
When any more updates on these topics are announced with dates for specific changes to be brought in, we will make sure you’re the first to know.
If you’d like to discuss your property or lettings requirements with an expert local agent to find out where you stand, you can speak to your local accommodation.co.uk agent below