Welcome to our first Newsround for June, let’s see what has been trending this week in the housing news.
A rise in Guarantor demand
A higher proportion of tenants, one in two, are now more likely to fail the affordability checks now that the Renters Right Act is law. This is also because large amounts of rent in advance can no longer be accepted.
The average monthly rent now sits at £1438 and a tenant would need to be earning £43,140 to pass the affordability checks.
Average earnings falls below this amount at £41,859. Out of the 288 local authorities 19.8% of tenants are probably going need a guarantor.
Sam Reynolds of Zero Deposits said
We expect guarantors to become an increasingly common requirement for renters who fall outside standard affordability criteria, particularly younger tenants, overseas applicants, self-employed workers, and those moving to high-cost rental areas.
You can read more here.
Landlords falling short of compliance – claim
A survey by Rushbrook & Rathbone claims that only 32% of tenants are confident that their landlord or letting agent is fully compliant post Renters Right Act. Out of 1,105 tenants that they surveyed 42% say that there are some compliance standards that are not met by their landlords and 26% have no idea if their letting agent or landlord is compliant with the new Act.
40% of these tenants think that their homes meet the correct standard and 91% have not noticed any significant changes or improvements since the Act came into force.
Roma Sharma of Rushbrook & Rathbone said
For property managers, this is a clear moment of accountability. Those who fail to communicate transparently and act decisively risk falling short of both their legal obligations and tenant expectations.
Social Housing Landlords told to tackle excessive heat
All social housing landlords have to adhere to Awaab’s Law, and now the government are bringing in phase two which will include dealing with excess heat and excess cold. Research from the English Housing Survey found that in 2024 10.6% of social housing reported at least part of their home were ‘uncomfortably hot’.
Matthew Pennycook, The Housing Minister said the next phase of Awaab’s Law which comes into force in June will provide councils with a more intuitive way of assessing hazards such as excess heat in properties.
This comes as a case thought to be the first of its kind, where residents are claiming that their homes are ‘not fit for purpose, with indoor temperatures reaching 43 degrees celsius in the summer’ and are taking action against their housing association for excessive heat under the Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018.
You can read more here, but the chief executive of PA Housing said that the building meets relevant planning and building regulations at the time.
As our climate is changing, is this the first of more claims under excessive heat.
Another rogue landlord hit with huge penalty
We read this week that another landlord has been hit with a huge £17,500 civil penalty fine following enforcement action from South Gloucestershire Council. The landlord ignored previous notices to improve category 1 hazards within the property such as electrical hazards, structural issues and health and safety hazards.
The council said
Landlords have a legal duty to ensure their properties are safe, and where they fail to do so, we will not hesitate to use the full range of enforcement powers available to us, particularly where there is a history of non-compliance and tenants’ health and wellbeing are at risk.
Snippets
Housing Ombudsman warns social landlords over window disrepair
Landlord crackdown must be funded by fines, warns council
Letting agents engaging in ‘illegal and shoddy practices’
A place where everyone has somewhere of their own, to thrive and feel safe – this will be my politics of home: Keir Starmer
EPC deadline at risk without greater landlord support, warns NRLA
Government rejects plea to curb HMO conversions
City has hundreds of unused student rooms
See also our Quick News Updates on Landlord Law
Newsround will be back again next week
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