Another week and another Newsround, let’s see what has been in the housing news this week.
Renting Homes Wales Act – detrimental to PRS – claim
A new survey published this week claims that 47% of landlords in Wales say that the Renting Homes (Wales) Act has had a negative impact on the rental market.
The report carried out by the NRLA claim that the new act, which bought in ‘no fault’ evictions and occupation contracts, has caused more chaos than benefits, with landlords facing ‘significant adjustments’ since it came into force.
This comes as Wales is due to give the Welsh Homelessness Bill Royal Assent putting more pressure onto landlords and local authorities. This will abolish the ‘intentionality test’ extend the homelessness risk period from 56 days to 6 months and bringing in a ‘deliberate manipulation of the system test’.
Councils consultation on landlord financial penalties
Bristol City Council has bizarrely called on all tenants, landlords, agents and the wider public to comment on their consultation regarding what the councils financial penalties should be for landlords who breach a housing standard. This is ahead of the Renters’ Right Act that comes into force on 1st May.
The questionnaire asks if the existing penalties are ‘too high’ ‘too low’ or ‘about right’ and what the increase should be for repeat offenders or if there should be a reduction if a landlord remedies the breach quickly and/or pays on time.
You can read the survey here.
Possession claims down on last year
According to new research carried out by Inventory Base possession claims are down from last year where 91,093 have been lodged this year compared to 98,766 this time last year. This is drop of 7.8%.
This comes as section 21 will soon be banned with the implementation of the Renters’ Right Act in May.
Landlords show readiness for Making Tax Digital
Four in five (80%) landlords are ready for the changes coming in for Making Tax Digital this April, this is considerably higher than other industries such as sole traders who are only 64% ready. Landlords claim that Making Tax Digital will give them better data analysis, improved book keeping and clearer financial forecasting.
Bas Kniphorst, MD for Europe at Wolters Kluwer Tax and Accounting who carried out the research said
Making Tax Digital represents a fundamental shift in how individuals manage and report their tax affairs, and this research shows that while landlords are largely on track, many sole traders still feel uncertainty
In addition 28% of landlords are more proactive in getting ready for Making Tax Digital by attending webinars, but many, 86% had concerns over the choice of software and cost and that they did expect to need help from their accountant.
Snippets
Landlord group loses legal challenge to selective licensing scheme
Agency tells landlords: don’t worry about new pro-pets policy
Government reassures student landlords over possession ground
Warning over rise in rogue locksmith scams
How extreme weather is leaving thousands of homes uninsurable
See also our Quick News Updates on Landlord Law
Newsround will be back again next week
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