Welcome to our weekly Newsround where we look into the highlights of this weeks’ housing news.
We hear this week that the Renters’ Rights Bill is almost certainly going to become law before the party conferences commence. Onto other news.
Last to call to government to allow pet damage cover
As the Renters Rights Bill gets ever closer to becoming law, there is now a last minute call on the government to allow for pet damage insurance, and for it to be added to the Tenant Fees Act list of permitted payments.
Over forty eight companies and organisations, including us here at Landlord Law, have joined the campaign, Heads for Tails! calling on Angela Rayner to overturn a previous vote for a separate pet deposit of three weeks’ rent.
Pet damage insurance was previously ruled out by the government due to affordability, but Jen Berezai who heads up this campaign sees it as a win-win for both landlords, who get peace of mind and tenants, who get a low cost option and protection.
There is now at least one insurance product landlords can use, from Total Landlord Insurance, and I expect others are on their way.
PRS Ombudsman will be ‘not for profit’
The government has announced this week that the PRS Ombudsman and database fees will take into account all the other financial costs already paid by landlords, and the Ombudsman will not make any profit from the fees.
Matthew Pennycook, the Housing Minister, has still not confirmed if landlords will have to pay separate fees for each scheme or if it will be one fee. He said
Fees to register on the PRS Database will be set out in secondary legislation and will take account a range of factors, including burden on landlords.
All landlords will have to sign up to both databases. Failure to do so and advertise a property will incur fines of up to £7000. Or if they give fraudulent information to the new database, fines could be as high as £40,000.
Maintenance repairs on the increase
Data out this week from an out-of-hours maintenance company Adiuvo, claim that maintenance and repair issues have increased considerably over the past year. Here are some of their stats:-
- 17% of calls were for leaks
- 10% of calls on alarm systems
- 7% of calls for access issues
- 6% lift faults
- 4% of calls for drain issues
London and the South East encounter the highest number of tenant problems. Adiuvo said that issues being logged to the landlord are growing year on year.
This emphasises the need for landlords to have reliable workmen that they can call on so that issues get fixed quickly and do not escalate.
Tenant who flouted ‘no pets without consent’ clause
A landlord had a shocking discovery when carrying out a mid-term inspection, when they found that the tenant had set up a ‘mini zoo’ in the living room, which was filled with lizards, snakes, raccoons and parrots.
When the tenant was challenged, he argued that these animals did not count as pets in the common sense of the word adding to the fact that they were rescues.
Neighbours had complained of bad smells, noises and health and safety issues, and the local authority had got involved. Specialist removal was required, which cost the landlord significantly, along with deep cleaning and repair works.
This emphasises the need for correct wording in tenancy agreements, regular inspections and acting quickly on any neighbour tip-offs.
Snippets
English councils pay private landlords millions in incentives to house homeless families
Private rental properties are larger than social homes – official
Comment: HMRC Spot Checks on Landlords – be prepared for a ‘fishing expedition’
Rental pressures spread to towns amid urban affordability crisis
Big pet charity warns Ministers off rental property pet deposits
See also our Quick News Updates on Landlord Law
Newsround will be back again next week