Another week and another Newsround, let’s see what has been happening in the housing news this week.
Housing Ombudsman Service revealed
The government has announced this week a few more details on the new landlord ombudsman which will be delivered by the ongoing Housing Ombudsman Service which currently runs for tenants in the social housing sector to keep consistency within the housing sector.
Compensation figures have also been detailed which will be binding and awarded to anything up to £25,000. Tenants will still be able to pursue a claim through the courts if they wish.
No start date of exact rules have been detailed however Baroness Taylor of Stevenage, a minister in the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government said
We will give landlords sufficient notice and clear guidance before any future requirement to join the scheme comes into force. The expectation is that, ultimately, a single organisation will administer redress across both private and social rented sectors.
Heatwave could impact landlords under new laws
Landlords could now be fined up to £7000 under the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS) for rental properties that overheat and cause a health risk.
Whilst installing air conditioning or fans is not a legal requirement, failure to maintain normal ventilation, such as broken extractor fans, windows that are stuck or do not open correctly and impact air flow would be a breach. This could incur a fine from the council of up to £7000 per hazard.
There is no legal maximum indoor temperature for rental properties, but if overheating causes a health risk then landlords need to act.
Jack Malnick, co-founder of Landlord Resource said
It’s not a question of a set temperature to breach, but whether the overheating is severe enough to become a health and safety hazard or make the property unfit.
Landlords need to stay on top of repairs raised by their tenants; ignoring a ventilation issue could land you with a high fine.
Disability discrimination may catch you out
An interesting article this week we felt is worth mentioning. With Section21 no longer an option, landlords now have to rely on rent arrears or anti-social behaviour possession claims. However, be warned that tenants can raise a counterclaim against these, citing disability discrimination.
Under the Equality Act 2010 tenants could argue that the reason they fell into rent arrears was due to their disability. The court must then take this into consideration and look to see if there were any steps the landlord could have taken to mitigate their arrears, taking into account their disability.
A case relevant to this is Radcliffe and Paterson, where the landlords sought possession after £8000 rent arrears. However, the judge ruled in favour of the tenant and, amongst other payments, awarded £2000 in favour of the tenant for disability discrimination and claimed that the possession order was unreasonable based on medical evidence of Miss Paterson’s health conditions.
It should be noted that disability compensation has been significantly revised from April 2025, and can range in the lower bands from £1,200 to £12,100. More serious cases can be awarded anything up to £60,700 based on the standard Vento guidelines now used.
High percentage of tenants unaware of rental reforms
According to new research carried out by TDS Charitable Foundation, 69% of tenants are unaware of the changes that have come into force following the Renters’ Right Act. More concerning is that these are the groups that are considered to be the most vulnerable, on lower incomes and those renting student accommodation or bedsits.
- 47% of students were unaware of the Act
- 78% of tenants are unaware of the new tribunal to challenge rent increases
- 14% of tenants aware of pet reform rules and seeking permission
The TDS Charitable Foundation spokesperson, Dr Jennifer Harris, said
Government, landlords, letting agents, advice services and sector organisations all have a role to play in ensuring renters understand their rights, know how to enforce them and can fully benefit from the protections the Act is designed to provide.
Snippets
Selective Licensing call – NRLA hits back at MPs
Landlords lose long legal battle over HMOs
How to speed up the new eviction process
Government defends court readiness amid warnings over Renters’ Rights Act strain
See also our Quick News Updates on Landlord Law
Newsround will be back again next week
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