The Business Exchange Swindon & Wiltshire Edition 43: June/July 2019 | Page 37

Landlords urged to get ready for changes to rental sector New legislation is about to hit the rental sector and landlords are being urged to get ready or face penalties. Iain Mason “There is a raft of new legislation coming in, which affects the private rental sector, but many landlords may not be fully aware of their obligations” New legislation is about to hit the rental sector and landlords are being urged to get ready or face penalties. Lawyers from professional services firm Optimum have teamed up with lettings and estate agency Moovahome to alert landlords to the changes ahead. “There is a raft of new legislation coming in, which affects the private rental sector, but many landlords may not be fully aware of their obligations,” said Iain Mason, head of legal property services at Swindon-based Optimum. “If they aren’t prepared, they could face penalties or even prosecution.” One of the major changes is the Tenant Fees Act, passed by Parliament in February and due to be introduced from June 1, which involves a ban on tenant fees. Designed to ensure the only fees tenants pay are their rent and a deposit, this Act means landlords must pick up the bill for all other costs. These include advertising, credit searches, Right to Rent verification and completion of a property inventory. The ban on lettings fees will affect all tenancies signed after June 1. A second innovation is the introduction of the Property Redress Scheme for private landlords. It is already a legal requirement for lettings agents to be part of the scheme and this is due to be extended to individual landlords. No date has yet been announced but it is likely to come into effect towards the end of the year. Landlords who let property through agents won’t be affected, as they are covered by the agents’ membership. The Property Redress Scheme arbitrates when disputes arise. New rules are also coming in to ensure regular safety checks are carried out on electrical appliances, along with the introduction of electrical safety certificates. The changes will add to landlords’ current obligations, which include the legal checks they must do before granting a tenancy (such as a Right to Rent checks), protecting a deposit and issuing a ‘how to rent’ guide to tenants. Ashley Cain, managing director of Swindon- based Moovahome, said: “Along with the tenant fee ban, landlords who self-manage need to understand other legislative changes, such as being part of a redress scheme, having a complaints procedure in place and the introduction of electrical safety certificates. They also have to meet their current obligations, such as Right to Rent checks. “Omitting these simple things in the letting process could lead to huge fines for landlords, so our advice is to get prepared in advance of advertising your home for let.” Optimum and Moovahome plan to run a presentation for private landlords, to give them more details of what they need to do to manage their own properties and ensure they are fully compliant with all regulations. In the meantime, if you are a private landlord and you have any questions about the changes coming in, contact Optimum Professional Services, visit: www.optps.co.uk, email: [email protected] or call: 01793 538 198. For information about Moovahome, visit: www.moovahome.co.uk or call 01793 512345. SWINDON & WILTSHIRE PROPERTY FORUM Following their inaugural event last year, Chartered Surveyors and Planning Consultants, Evans Jones, have launched a series of free breakfast seminars. Property professionals from across Swindon & Wiltshire are invited to a business breakfast on Wednesday 12th June at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel, Swindon, from 08:30-10:30 for the chance to hear about the latest developments and updates in the property sector. The morning will cover a range of market, legal, planning, design and sustainability issues, as well as providing the opportunity to network. Paddy Bradley, Director of the Swindon & Wiltshire Local Enterprise Partnership will be in attendance discussing the future growth prospects and vision for Swindon. Evans Jones will head up a discussion looking at ‘Is the planning system fit for purpose in the 21st century?’ and Kerr Office Group will be there to talk about the latest trends in developing successful workspaces and commercial environments. Attendance at the breakfast is free, but places are limited. To book your ticket email [email protected] or go to Eventbrite: http://ow.ly/v7HR30oHXrz THE BUSINESS EXCHANGE 2019 37