Information landlords must give tenants under new Act
The government has published details of what landlords must put into new tenancy agreements under the Renters’ Rights Act – firing the starting gun on the final push towards implementation on 1st May.
If we are managing your property then the following information is purely to inform you of the latest changes as we will of course handle these changes to your tenancy within your management. If you manage your own property and would like advice then feel free to get in touch.
Landlords and agents have been told they are being given time to prepare and although its new guidance document has been published as a draft and “may change”, it is thought this would be unlikely.
The statement can be in a written agreement or given separately to a tenant, and must include:
The landlord(s)’ names
The tenant(s)’ names
The property address
The date the tenant can first occupy the property
The rent amount
The date rent is due
Any bills that are included in the rent
Any bills payable to the landlord that are in addition to the rent (ie. for utilities)
The deposit amount if one is being taken.
While most tenancy agreements include these as standard, there could be landlords that are caught out with other requirements which are not usually found in agreements, such as:
The notice period a tenant must give to terminate the tenancy (presumably two months for most landlords)
That the landlord can normally only end the tenancy by obtaining and executing a possession order
That the landlord must usually serve a notice seeking possession before commencing proceedings
That the notice period on a notice for possession will vary depending on the grounds being cited
That s11, Landlord and Tenant Act will apply and the repairing obligations that it covers (this is not required in the rare cases that it is not applicable)
That s9A, Landlord and Tenant Act will apply and that the property must be fit for human habitation (also not required in the rare cases that it is not applicable)
A summary of the obligations imposed on landlords by the electrical and gas safety regulations
A summary of the landlord’s obligations to allow tenants to make reasonable adaptations for disability under the Equality Act
A summary of the new pet provisions
If the tenancy is granted as supported accommodation, then that needs to be explained as well.
The draft regulations also say expressly that existing tenancies with written agreements will not need to do any of this and instead they will need to provide a leaflet to be published by government alongside the final version of the Statutory Instrument (secondary legislation).
If you are uncertain as to the next steps or have any questions then feel free to contact Elissia Heanue - [email protected]
