The De Regulation Act, 18 Months On

On 1 October 2015, a number of provisions in the Deregulation Act 2015 came into force. These changes applied to all assured shorthold tenancies. These provisions were designed to protect tenants against unfair eviction where they had raised a legitimate complaint about the condition of their home.

These provisions also require that landlords provide all new tenants with information about their rights and responsibilities as tenants.

As a  landlord were you aware that you cannot serve a section 21 notice unless you have complied with certain legal responsibilities?

We have adapted our procedures when it comes to serving Section 21 notices. We now carry out a risk assessment which involves looking into the tenancy, recently reported maintenance issues and assessing recent property inspections. We advise our landlords how repairs and maintenance issues should be dealt with and facilitate contractors completing repairs, liaising with both the landlord and the tenant to ensure that there are no outstanding maintenance issues to possibly obstruct obtaining vacant possession.

When it comes to important changes to legislation such as the De Regulation Act, it is vital that landlords are fully informed of proposed and incoming changes. Many private landlords may be members of various landlord groups; however, we are aware of a vast number of independent landlords who remain in the dark when it comes to updated information. The instruction of a trusted local agent can alleviate any concern when it comes to landlord liability.