Another weekly Newsround from Landlord Law, the team have been busy this week but let’s see what has caught their eye in the housing news this week.
Affordability affects choice & location of property for tenants
Some new stats out this week from CIA landlords has found that four in ten tenants that are considering a move this year are doing so because of rent prices. This will impact both location and affordability for tenants.
47% of tenants think that renting will become less affordable and 55% would leave a tenancy if they had a large rent increase. CEO Jackie Compton said
Better communication, transparent rent-setting, and proactive maintenance aren’t ‘nice to haves’; they’re essential if we want long-term tenancies that work for everyone.
81% of tenants prefer to stay in a property more than five years if it suits them and 35% said that speedy repairs and response times is what matters most to them, with 30% of tenants saying that transparency on rent increases is one of their main non-negotiables alongside 28% of tenant wanting clearer communication.
Would tribunal fees encourage ‘backdoor’ evictions?
With news that the government are planning to charge tenants to access rent tribunals there is concern that this would enable rogue landlords to use it as a ‘backdoor’ eviction method, especially where tenants are on low incomes and would least be able to afford an rent increase.
Clara Collingwood of The Renters’ Reform Coalition group said
These fees risk undermining security for millions of renters, and the most vulnerable of renters in particular, by opening a loophole in the Renters’ Rights Act.
A new survey states that nine in ten renters would challenge a £200pm rent increase if the tribunal was free to access, but only half would do so if they had to pay a fee of £200. The government has said that it keeps fees under review but are ‘assessing the introduction of fees in line with practice across the courts and tribunals’.
Extreme weather is leaving thousands of homes uninhabitable and uninsurable
The Guardian has reported that climate change is making insurance unaffordable for many people as the threat of flooding and wildfires increase.
Landlords should check what the risk is for their properties and either improve protection or if the risk is high, sell while they still can. Properties in the south and south west are particularly at risk.
We have guidance on our post here – it is a few years old but the advice is still sound. You can find out the risk for your properties via this government long-term flood risk service.
Renters’ Rights Act inspections warning for landlords
Property118 has a warning for landlords that property inspections are going to be more, not less, important after the Renters Rights Act comes into force. Worryingly, it looks as if some 46% of landlords only inspect once or less than once a year. If this is you – check your insurance as many landlord insurance products will now require regular inspections.
If you are worried about the best way to do inspections, our Landlord Law Inspection Kit can help.
Snippets
Gen Z renters lack knowledge of credit scores and rent rules
HMO with ‘serious disrepair’ lands landlord firm with £17k penalty
Two more councils bring in new HMO planning rules
Good relationship between renter and landlord is key to longer tenancies
See also our Quick News Updates on Landlord Law
Newsround will be back again next week
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