What You Need to Know About Legislation for Letting a Property
Mon 26 Jul 2021
Ian Woodhouse-Smith, Lettings Manager
There have been drastic changes to the property market following the Covid-19 pandemic, as house prices have seen a 9% rise compared to the previous year.
Much of this increase has been a result of the temporary cut to stamp duty fuelling more people to take the leap to buy the home they have always dreamt of. However, with the sales boom keeping the rental property market so busy, it is easy to neglect the changing legislation, which could result in costly fines or legal action. In this article we will round-up the recent and upcoming regulations landlords should know about.
Right to Rent documentation required for EU Citizens
Following changes from the 30th of June 2021, landlords must check the Right to Rent status of EU, EEA and Swiss citizens. EU residency documents will no longer be valid, meaning potential tenants must have successfully applied to the EU Settlement Scheme or hold a UK visa and upload relevant documentation to the Government’s View and Prove service to share their Right to Rent status with landlords.
New Electrical Safety Standards for existing tenancies
Following the 1st of April 2021, all existing tenanted properties must have a Domestic Electrical Installation Condition Report, at a maximum interval of 5 years. The regulations were initially only applied to new tenancies in June 2020; however, this has now been extended to ensure all tenants are protected by the safety measures.
Inspections must be carried out by a qualified and competent professional, and tenants must receive a copy of the certificate once completed. Remedial work highlighted by the inspection must be carried out as soon as possible within 28 days by a qualified professional, with evidence of completion provided to both tenants and local authorities afterwards.
There are some exceptions to the new legislations, including social housing, lodgers, and those on a lease of seven years or more – learn more here.
Extended notice period for tenants in England
The protracted ban on evictions, implemented as a result of housing issues during the Covid-19 pandemic, was lifted on 1st June 2021. Landlords in England must now provide tenants with a four-month notice period before eviction can take place. This is expected to be reduced to two months from 30th September 2021, however there are some exceptions to the regulation including anti-social behaviour and breaching immigration legislation.
Your Letting Management Experts
At Hellards, we will ensure your rental property complies with the latest legislation changes, such as those mentioned above. We will also assign you with a dedicated property manager, allowing you to talk to someone who understands your property whenever you have an issue or question about legislation changes.
Find out more about our property management services or contact us to discover how we can help you today.