Weekly news and a little bit more with Landlord Law Newsround this week. Let’s see what has caught the teams’ eye.
Council consults on tougher and higher fines
Bath and North East Somerset council has started a consultation which will run until 23rd September to increase fines up to 50% where there has already been a breach for non-compliance.
They want to increase fines to start at £20,000 for electrical failures (standard penalties start at £12,000). Property licence non-compliances and over-occupation would also start at £20,000. Failure to produce a legal document would start at £ 3,000, with £12,000 fine for failing to provide a safety certificate. These fines could be adjusted by 20% upwards depending on how many properties the landlord has.
The council would offer up to 50% reduction for co-operation, early admission and complying with any remedial work within 28 days.
The Renters’ Rights Act gave councils new enforcement roles, a spokesperson said that this new policy will ensure ‘enforcement is fair, transparent and proportionate.
Rent arrears at an all-time low – claim
A report published claims that rent arrears are at their lowest level on record. Pegasus Insight states that 26% of landlords had rent arrears in the past year, which is down from 30%. Furthermore, 86% of landlords have made a profit, which is an increase of 2% from the previous quarter. This brought in rental yields of 7.02%.
Lisa Steele, Mortgage Lending Director of Paragon Bank said
Most tenants continue to meet their rental commitments, most landlords report operating profitable businesses and those are the factors that have the greatest influence on day-to-day confidence.
This is despite the Renters’ Rights Act coming into force this year, bringing many more new challenges for landlords.
Government begins recruitment of judges
It was announced this week by Sarah Sackman, Minister for the Courts and Legal Services that the government has begun recruiting 1,000 new judges and tribunal members due to the increase in demand following the Renters’ Rights Act becoming law. She has further advised that all courts will be digitised by May next year. Two new digital hubs will be created one for possessions and one for the Residential Property Chamber (still under development).
The digital possession process will be an online service for possession claims, with all relevant paperwork capable of being submitted electronically, thus cutting down delays. The minister is also setting up a non-judicial body that will determine relevant rents for each area, which, they claim, will reduce pressure on the First Tier Tribunal. This is still in its early stages though.
Pets in rentals on the rise
Younger renters have seized the opportunity to welcome a pet into their rental home, with 18% 25-34 year olds taking on a pet, with 37% planning on a pet later this year. Older renters are less inclined to take on a pet with 64% of over 55 year olds saying they have no intention of taking on a pet.
And more encouragingly, tenants are taking their pet responsibilities seriously with 93% taking active to protect their rental home against pet damage, such as fitting door gates (39%) keeping pets out of certain rooms and deep cleaning their properties during their tenancies (52%) if they take on a pet.
A spokesperson for Simply Business, who carried out the survey, said renters are taking on the responsibility seriously. Landlords can claim for pet damage via the deposit; landlords cannot force tenants to take out pet insurance under the Renters’ Right Act.
Do you have properties in Telford and Wrekin?
If so, did you know that a borough-wide additional HMO licensing scheme comes into force on 25 August 2026? It covers HMOs occupied by three or more people forming two or more households, including section 257 converted blocks.
So, for example, a property with three unrelated friends—or a couple sharing with one unrelated person—will normally require a licence. The standard fee for three- or four-person HMOs is £1,522.42, with the council’s current page offering a 10% discount for complete applications submitted by 24 August.
Snippets
Royal rentals fail minimum energy standards
What you should do if you missed Making Tax Digital deadline
Shock safety failures of Salford’s unregistered HMOs
Lewisham’s rogue landlord crackdown sends a warning to the PRS
Why dodgy doors are the latest casualty of the UK heatwaves
See also our Quick News Updates on Landlord Law
Newsround will be back again next week
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