Welcome to our weekly Newsround, let’s see what has been in the news this week.
Rent tribunals decisions analysed
Rent tribunal cases from September have now been analysed by Cyborg Finance and only 28.4% of landlords were awarded their rent increase in full.
Over 68 cases 21 resulted in a full rent increase, 29 had a partial rent increase, 12 cases remained unchanged and six were reduced and another six were struck out.
The report showed that the average rent increase rose from £1,372 to £1,464 which equates to an average of £92 more a month.
Comments from Cyborg cited that the £47 tribunal fee ‘could prove money well spent’ with an average of 91 days between service of a rent increase and getting a tribunal decision, that is a delay of around four months.
Here at Landlord Law we have a comprehensive Market Rent and Tribunal Kit. This will help landlords set a new rent and obtain evidence to justify it if challenged. Many of our free Daily Tips cover tribunal cases and provide advice on setting rents.
Landlords adjust to Renters Rights Act
Now that the Renters’ Rights Act has been law for a while, we are starting to see landlords adapt to new strategies on how they operate according to a new survey out by Landbay, a mortgage lender.
- 36% have increased their rents
- 34% have changed their tenant referencing/affordability crieria
- 16% more of landlords are now using a letting agent or professional body for support
- 13% of landlords are putting more aside for maintenance & repairs
Further research suggests that only 17% are aware of the new landlord registration scheme coming into force but did not know enough about the requirements.
Landlords’ details to be kept private on PRS Database….for now
Matthew Pennycook has stated in Parliament that landlords’ details held on the new PRS database will be kept private until winter 2027. He said
Future legislation will set out which landlord and property records will be publicly accessible at the point the public-facing service is launched at a later date.
Past this, information available to tenants will be ‘proportionate’. What information is published will be ‘carefully balanced with the benefits of transparency’ for tenants whilst landlords’ privacy rights, safety concerns and data protection is also taken into account. There are, however, still concerns over the lack of an audit trail.
The government has now published its guidance on registering on the PRS Database, which you can read here.
Snippets
Making Tax Digital currently hits one is six landlords
Rent rises of up to 88% still passing in England despite Renters’ Rights Act
More ‘room only’ tenancies because of Renters’ Rights Act
Bang! Tenants issued with fireworks warning
Short-let landlords face visitor levy under Government Bill
Newsround will be back again next week. In the meantime, check out our Daily Tips service.
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