Landlord Law Newsround brings you all the latest news.
Government release funding to councils
The government has handed out £41 million to 317 councils across England to help them with their new enforcement responsibilities in readiness for the Renters Right Act coming into force on 1 May.
This is on top of the £18.2 million that was allocated to them last autumn. Steve Reed, Housing Secretary said
We’ve been preparing councils to use their new powers on the minority of landlords who rip off their tenants, and this new funding will help councils carry out their duties.
A further £50 million will be assigned to modernising the civil courts and and another £5million a year will be given to the housing legal aid sector to help provide free advice and support for tenants who are being evicted.
However, leading lawyer David Smith has commented that in view of the chronic shortages of enforcement staff at Local Authorities, this is not going to be sufficient.
High-profile property guru defends landlords
Kate Faulkner a leading property expert, has defended landlords’ right to use section 21 before 1st May, as Housing Secretary Steve Reed called it out as ‘disgraceful behaviour’.
Acorn, a Renters Union claim that section 21 notices were at 22% in 2024 but in 2026 they have risen to 31%. Reed said
Kicking tenants out before they receive stronger rights is the type of disgraceful behaviour from shameless landlords which our act will stop.
However Faulkner tempered this with the fact that some tenants only pay rent in cash upfront, which is banned from 1 May so asking them to leave now is a decision some landlords have had to make. Also, some landlords are now retiring as they have been in the rental market for many years, whilst others do not feel it will be financially beneficial to remain in the rental market with onerous compliance and high fines.
Further complications for landlords are new EPC requirements where their properties will be hard to improve, evicting and selling now will be easier than once the Act is in place.
Council offers free damp & mould training
Wiltshire Council is offering landlords and letting agents a free course on how to tackle damp and mould to help them understand their legal duties and improve the standard of rented homes. It gives practical guidance on preventing and identifying damp and mould issues.
It also covers effective treatment methods how best landlords should manage damp & mould with their tenants and how to identify damp and mould. Anyone can sign up to the online course and there is an in person event next month covering landlord basics such as tenancy agreements, deposits and certificates.
The council says ‘By offering clear, practical guidance, from tackling damp and mould to understanding the Renters Rights Act, we’re helping landlords continue to provide safe homes while meeting their duties with confidence’.
Let’s hope more councils offer courses and events like this.
Spring is the most popular month for large landlord repairs
New data out from Rushbrook & Rathbone a property management specialist, claims that the more complex maintenance jobs are generally carried out in the spring period. The average cost per maintenance job is now as high as £797 according to April figures.
Sarah Rushbrook said
Whilst the number of maintenance jobs carried out in April is lower than in many other months, the average spend per job is the highest of the year. landlords are using the spring period to get their properties back to full working order by tackling fewer, but more substantial, tasks.
You can read more here.
Snippets
University students could quit tenancies early under Renters’ Rights Act
Renters’ Rights Act Masterclass – Are you ready for 1 May?
Room rents stall as supply stalls
Landlords told to avoid Right to Rent discrimination
See also our Quick News Updates on Landlord Law
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