Welcome to our first Newsround for 2025, where we are sure that there will be no shortage of landlord news this year.
Let’s see what has hit the headlines this week.
Renters Right Bill
The Renters Rights Bill is due to have its report and third reading next week (14 January) in the House of Commons. It will be debated again, and any amendments discussed. It is not expected to be delayed as Labour are giving this Bill priority.
Once it has passed the third reading and report stage, it will then go on to the House of Lords, going through the same stages there. It is expected to become law sometime in the Spring of this year.
If you are a Landlord Law member, do not miss our next training webinar session on 21 January, where I will be discussing the Renters Rights Bill and what it will mean for landlords. Members can sign up via the member dashboard here. Find out more about membership here.
Draft amendments announced
In advance of the report and third reading stage, some government amendments have been announced (along with a number of MP amendments, which will probably be voted down). The government amendments include:
- Rent in advance of the start of the tenancy to be limited to one month’s worth. Asking for or accepting more to be a breach of the Tenant Fees Act
- The student eviction ground to additionally require tenancies to have been agreed not less than six months before the start date
- Limiting guarantor’s liability so they are not liable for rent falling due after the death of the tenant
- Allowing superior landlords to be pursued for rent repayment orders even if they have received no rent
Concern grows on new redress scheme fees
The NRLA have expressed concern that fees for joining the new landlord redress scheme and database are under-estimated, and they expect the fees to be ‘significantly higher’ than previously indicated.
You can read more here.
Are energy efficient homes less healthy?
Newcastle University, its city council and the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine are questioning the health of energy efficiency homes. They suggest energy efficient measures may mean less fresh air being allowed to come into the house naturally, thus potentially putting people’s health at risk.
They are collecting data which they will analyse from 60 homes which are due to have energy efficient upgrades. Air quality will be measured both inside and out of the home before works commence and then 12 months after the improvements have been carried out.
Professor Jane Entwistle says
Retrofitting older buildings to make them more energy efficient can reduce ventilation which impacts on the amount of fresh air available indoors. We want to find out how making social housing more energy efficient affects both the indoor air quality and the health and wellbeing of those living there.
The study hopes to be able to assess the impact of net zero household energy interventions which will then help them to offer advice to councils and residents.
The results should be interesting.
Landlord awareness to make drinking water safe
Watersafe is campaigning on behalf of tenants by urging landlords to ensure that any plumbing work involving pipework used for drinking water carried out to their properties uses lead-free solder and fittings. Lead can dissolve into drinking water and cause health issues. While using lead is now illegal, some plumbers are using lead solder.
Watersafe want all plumbers to sign up to their pledge to go lead-free, and they are supported by all UK water companies and drinking water regulators.
You can find your nearest Watersafe approved plumber on their website watersafe.org.uk.
Snippets
Licensing – councils sting landlords for up to £1250 a time
Council U-turns on licensing after damming report
Raynor confirms ambition for rent in advance controls
Industry body urges Welsh government against mandatory E charging points in properties
Controversial Labour council steps up challenges to private rented sector
More landlords risk falling foul of new licensing rules
See also our Quick News Updates on Landlord Law
Newsround will be back again next week
Hi Tessa, So if I am to get the student housing amendment right – landlords who let the property in the spring would not be given that ground whatsoever? If correct how is that fair in view of below.
In my neck of the woods the big student with literally hundreds landlords usually start have people hand out leaflets in October mere weeks after freshers with all sorts of crap about how they are the best properties and will be gone soon if you don’t sign up straight away. So they pack many groups do viewings at same time. Reinforceing the gone soon panic. And of course usually they barely know who they will live with till they are effectively 3 year students. So these landlords properties are often let by December.
On the other side the smaller landlords whom are cheaper (getting on for 1k and more for each tenant) and usually of no real difference quality wise often start around February after the January exams and of course the tenants are more likely to know each other better by then unlike the other groups whom many will have known each for a month if that.
What are your thoughts?
I am just reporting on what the amendment says. Lets wait and see whether it is changed or not.
But if you are concerned, the person to speak to is you MP.