Non-resident landlords need to be aware of a series of tenancy law changes in the UK that came into force on October 1, 2015.
From this date, all landlords renting out homes in England have to issue a pile of paperwork with their tenancy agreements – and make sure homes are fitted with smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors.
Along with the tenancy agreement, landlords have to provide tenants with:
- A “How to Rent: the checklist for renting in England “guide written by the government which is only available online.
Landlords must download and print the latest guide at the start of each new tenancy
Download the guide
- A valid energy performance certificate
- A valid gas safety certificate
- Details of how any deposit paid by the tenant is protected must be handed over within 30 days of the date the tenancy agreement was signed
Read about tenant deposit protection
Smoke alarms
Another set of rules demand landlords must fit smoke alarms on every floor of a residential property and carbon monoxide alarms in any rooms with solid fuel heating appliances, like woodstoves, open fires, gas fires or boilers.
The rules go on to say that the alarms should tested to see they are in working order at the start of a tenancy – and the tenant should carry out regular checks while they live in the home.
The Deregulation Act, which covers rented homes in England and Wales introduces new rules for serving Section 21 notices so landlords can repossess rented homes.
The rules outlaw revenge evictions when landlords try to kick out tenants after they have complained about repairs and maintenance needed in their homes.
Revenge evictions outlawed
This new law means landlords should write in response to a complaint within 14 days outlining how they will rectify the issue.
If the tenant complains to a local council about the maintenance problem and the council takes enforcement action, and Section 21 notice is ignored and the landlord cannot make another application for six months.
The rules also stop landlords serving a Section 21 notice if the wrong paperwork was issued with an assured shorthold tenancy.
The new laws apply to non-resident landlords with letting property in the UK.
