The PDF contains information about the new Renters’ Rights Act, which came into force on May 1
Landlords face being fined £7,000 for every property they own if they fail to send a document to their tenants by the end of this month.
The PDF contains information about the new Renters’ Rights Act, which came into force on May 1. Landlords must send the official information sheet from GOV.UK to their tenants by May 31 – or risk being fined by their local council.
The document explains how the Renters’ Rights Act changes in full and how it affects your tenancy. Depending on the agreement they have in place, either the landlord or their letting agent are responsible for getting this letter to renters.
The letting agent would normally be responsible if they fully manage the tenancy on behalf of the landlord – but it would be the landlord that gets fined if the document is not sent on time.
Arguably the biggest change unveiled in the Renters’ Rights Act include a ban of Section 21 “no fault” evictions.
Landlords can still issue an eviction notice if they have a valid reason, such as if they are selling the property, or the tenant is in rent arrears. They must now give four months’ notice.
There are no longer fixed term tenancies, with all lettings becoming rolling, meaning they won’t have a set end date.
Tenants who were in the middle of a fixed tenancy will now have seen contract automatically convert to a rolling tenancy.
Tenants will need to give their landlord two months’ notice when they want to leave. Under the previous rules, tenants could give one month notice to leave if they were on a rolling contract.
Landlords must give tenants two months’ notice of rent increase and they will only be able to put the rent up once a year.
This must be done using a Section 13 notice. Previously, landlords had to only give one month notice for a rent increase. Rent increases must be based on the market rate and tenants can challenge unfair increases at a tribunal.
Landlords can also no longer ask for more than one month’s rent in advance. Rent cannot also be requested or accepted before the tenancy agreement is officially signed.
Rent bidding wars are now banned, meaning the property must be let based on the rent advertised.
Landlords must now also consider allowing tenants to have a pet and can only refuse if they have a good reason.
