In October 2015, the Deregulation Act 2015 came into force. This Act introduced new regulations that Landlords must comply with. These new regulations only applied to tenancies that began after 2015.
In October 2018, the regulations changed and the new rules now apply to all tenancies, regardless of when the tenancy started.
All Landlords must provide the following information to their tenants:
- “How to Rent Guide” to be served on Tenant(s) – at the beginning of a tenancy
- Energy Performance Certificate to be served on Tenant(s) – at the beginning of a tenancy
- Gas Safety Certificate to be served on Tenant(s) – before the Tenant(s) move in
These regulations are in addition to the existing rules regarding protecting the deposit and serving the prescribed information relating to the deposit.
Lamb & Holmes Solicitors are offering a fixed fee appointment service for Landlords (or Tenants) for £100 (plus VAT) to review all documentation in order to assess its compliance with the new legislation. We will make recommendations as to what if any changes need to be considered.
Equally, if there is a Tenant who would like legal advice, we may be able to help them avoid possession proceedings or delay them until their tenancy has been properly set up.
Recently there has been further changes and debate regarding tenancies in England and Wales. One area that is currently being considered is the timing of service of the Gas Safety Certificate. Recent case law would suggest that the Gas Safety Certificate should be served on the Tenant(s) before they move into the property. Another area that has appeared in the news recently is changes to the existing Section 21 ‘no-fault’ notice to evict a Tenant. Both of these changes can be discussed with you during the health check.
If the regulations are not complied with properly, there can be penalties imposed on a Landlord. These can be costly and can effect taking possession of your property back. We can point everything out during the health check appointment, to enable you to rent out your property with peace of mind, knowing that everything has been done correctly.
For further information on the Landlord and Tenant regulation changes from a legal perspective and to book a Landlord and Tenant Health Check appointment, please contact Charlotte Davison at our Corby office on 01536 745 168.
