News
- Details
- Hits: 2861
Tenant Fees Bill:
In an amendment to the Tenant Fees Bill currently passing through Parliament, Labour proposes to amend the new law. It would introduce a cap to make it illegal for any landlord to take a security in excess of three weeks’ rent.
The Bill, as it currently stands under the government’s proposals, would cap the deposit at six weeks rent. That figure, experts in the industry have argued, is the minimum necessary to deter rent arrears and to offer adequate protection for landlords.
Labour, on the other hand, claim the government’s six-week limit, according to The Independentnewspaper, “would do nothing to help most tenants, because the average deposit is already less than five weeks’ rent.”
Labour has said its proposed change would significantly limit the amount landlords would be allowed to take as a deposit and save tenants on average £575, or £928 in London
The Tenant Fees Bill, currently making progress through Parliament, is seeking to ban all fees that landlords and letting agents are permitted to charge tenants, with the exception of charges for defaults on the tenancy agreement.
The Bill had its second reading debate on Monday 21 May 2018, and has now been committed to a Public Bill Committee. The Committee met on Tuesday 5 June and is expected to report to the House by Tuesday 12 June 2018.
Speaking about the Bill and this proposed amendment Melanie Onn, Labour’s shadow housing minister, has said:
“Labour is fighting for a fairer deal for all renters. We recognise the private rented sector is the fastest growing area of housing, and it is right that they are not exploited by unfair fees. This government has failed renters for the last eight years. Labour will hold them to account to make sure the power between landlords and tenants is rebalanced.”
A spokesperson for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has said:
“Our new measures will save hard-working renters an average of £200 every time they move, and in some cases much more.
“Landlords will be allowed to charge a maximum of six weeks’ rent and we expect them to consider what is the right deposit to take on a case-by-case basis.”
According to the government’s impact assessment produced for the Tenant Fees Bill, the average rental deposit was £1,161 in March 2017, which represents a rise of 19% since 2012.
- Details
- Hits: 2703
Under new rules introduced over the last couple of years, setting up a “bullet-proof” AST in 2018 is a bigger challenge that in the past, but it need not be all that difficult when using the experts at Anthony James Residential who will make sure that all the paperwork is correct and proof that it is served.
Parliament has introduced several conditions that landlords must now comply with. These hurdles are designed to weed-out rogue landlords and generally improve the quality of lettings for tenants. Get it wrong though, and you could be permanently lumbered with a bad tenant that you cant evict.
The key to avoiding this type trouble, and being in a position to use a notice called a Section 21. The notice often referred to as the "no-fault" notice means landlords can get their property back without having to prove the tenant has defaulted and the need for a court hearing.
However to use it has become more difficult and now you need two things:
- You have completed and served all the correct paperwork
- You have proof that you did that.
Many landlords forget the crucial second point, because if a tenant denies having received something your court application will be dismissed and you can say goodbye to your £325 court fee – back to square one with rent arrears racking up. However as apart of Anthony James Pre-tenancy administration process, an electronic audit trail is created from outset. This means a tenant cannot claim they did not receive the necessary paperwork to frustrate any necessary eviction process. Tommy-Lee Staples Director says. "In fact our system is so superior it prevents tenants moving into the property until we can bullet proof the contract for landlord". He continues the upside for the tenant is that landlords also have to behave more professionally and comply with legislation important to a tenants safety, well-being and deposit."
These new rules apply to tenancies commencing on or after the 1st October 2015, and will apply to all existing tenancies after 1st October 2018. For more information on the new grounds or to bullet proof your tenancy please contact Anthony James Residential . This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 0208 304 0666
