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Date set for the Renters Rights Bill report stage
This is 1 July. After that there are three further stages before the bill can become law:
- The third reading in the House of Lords
- The Consideration of Amendments stage in the House of Commons, and then, finally
- The Royal Assent.
It looks as if the bill will not get the Royal Assent before the summer as was promised, so we shall have to see when this happens.
Mind you, the bill to nationalise the steel works in Scunthorpe went through in a day, so they can speed up if they want to.
Are you Renters’ Rights Bill ready?
There are lots of articles telling landlords to get ready and prepare in advance for the Renters’ Rights Bill and this week Leaders lettings agents is re-emphasising exactly that.
Managing Director, Allison Thompson is urging all landlords to inspect their properties, review their tenancy agreements and try to minimise void periods. Landlords need to be more proactive especially with the changes coming in for fixed term tenancies to periodic ones.
She says
Landlords would gain more flexibility to adjust rents in line with market conditions and regain possession of their property more easily, provided they follow the correct legal process.
She also reminds landlords that non compliance will carry larger fines once the Bill comes into force.
HMO tenant demographic is evolving
Renters aged over 40 years old now account for 11.5% of HMO tenants, whereas previously sharing accommodation was primarily used by students, young professionals or those looking for a more affordable living arrangement. Of this 11.5%, 55.7% were male and 44.1% were female. Southampton has the highest percentage or mature sharers at 20.2% with London not far behind on 19.8%.
These are the findings out this week by COHO, an HMO management platform. Vann Vogstad the founder said
Co-living has evolved into a lifestyle choice rather than an economic necessity, and we’re seeing more and more people in their 30s, 40s and even 50s actively choosing to live with housemates.
He also added that ‘Modern co-living is a world apart from what it used to be’ and is now the ‘modern way’.
Shocking claim of ‘Category 1’ hazards in PRS homes
Following research carried out by Inventory Base they claim that one in ten homes in the private rented sector has a ‘Category 1’ hazard. These hazards are the most severe and can cause life altering or even have life ending consequences. They can be fire risks, structural issues, electrical, damp or mould that can cause ‘immediate threat’ to a tenants health and safety. The classic example of this is Awaab Ishak who died of respiratory infection due to damp and mould that was not dealt with.
According to Sian Hemming-Metcalfe, Operations Director of Inventory Base says that whilst category 1 hazards have been law for many years now it is enforcement that has been ‘very weak’ leaving tenants left ‘very exposed’. She says that the Renters Rights Bill will make landlords more accountable with higher penalties for landlords who do not deal with these complaints in a timely manner.
She did add however that tougher enforcement is only effective and works if the local authority concerned has the resources to ‘carry it through’.
Another licensing scheme
Another licensing scheme is due be given the go ahead next week. Wirral Council want to charge a £605 fee for their new a new licensing scheme but are offering a large discount to £230 if landlords register their properties within the first three months of the scheme coming into force, join the national landlord body and take onboard energy efficiency improvements. Those landlords with more than one property would also benefit from further discounts.
The scheme, if approved on next week will come into force on 1st October. 79% of respondents agreed with the scheme, however 74% of landlords did not.
Snippets
Licensing scheme gives council power to crack down on landlords
Dramatic EPC rating improvement produced by retrofit project
Landlord to pay £20,000 after converting house illegally
See also our Quick News Updates on Landlord Law
Newsround will be back again next week