Electronic weekly rent book?
As we know, if rent is paid weekly, by law the landlord must provide a rent book and it is in fact a criminal offence not do so.
However, does anybody know if the rent book must be in hard copy format? I am aware that for most legal purposes, electronic documentation is acceptable as written evidence – even text messages. Having said that, it seems reasonable to assume that the requirement for a rent book is to prevent the exploitation of vulnerable people (who may not have current accounts and are likely to be digitally excluded) and so I believe it safe to assume that rent books must be hard copy.
Given that, would it be sufficient to print off from an electronic copy of rent paid to date (provided this document also contains the prescribed information – i.e. the premises, rent and name and address of the landlord) and give this to the tenant after they’ve paid their rent each week?
My main reason for asking is because there is a new online rent payment service that has just been launched – WRINQ. This sends a reminder to the tenant, allows the tenant to pay the rent with a credit or debit card (using Paypal) and keeps an account of the rent paid which is accessible to both landlord and tenant. This would be particularly useful for lodgers, where smaller sums are paid and the arrangement is often more informal but I am concerned that landlords might fall foul of the weekly rent book legal requirement if they use it without also providing a rent book which would mean double handling.
Many thanks for your thoughts,
Mandy Thomson
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Member Since August 2013 - Comments: 883
10:24 AM, 27th April 2015, About 11 years ago
I am not aware of any legal requirement to update the rent book with payments made.
If there is indeed no such requirement the rent book can just be given along with the tenancy/license agreement, then the landlord can do whatever he wants.
Member Since July 2013 - Comments: 184 - Articles: 1
11:06 AM, 27th April 2015, About 11 years ago
Do you really need a rent.book? We just send rent statements, or are we wrong not.To have a solid rent book??
Member Since April 2015 - Comments: 1
12:56 PM, 27th April 2015, About 11 years ago
Does this law apply to weekly rent paid by standing order directly into a business account?
Member Since August 2013 - Comments: 883
10:16 AM, 3rd May 2015, About 11 years ago
A rent book must be provided if the rent is payable weekly. The type of tenancy (or even license?) does not matter, nor does how the rent is actually paid.
Member Since July 2013 - Comments: 184 - Articles: 1
3:46 PM, 3rd May 2015, About 11 years ago
Well if a tenant wants to pay weekly then are u saying u.have to visit them weekly to sign a rent book?? Where’s this rule in a lawbook??
Member Since December 2013 - Comments: 9
5:18 PM, 3rd May 2015, About 11 years ago
If a tenant pays weekly by standing order this would appear on their bank statement – would this suffice for the law?
Member Since July 2013 - Comments: 357
9:01 PM, 3rd May 2015, About 11 years ago
I believe you just have to up date it periodically as and when. I give all my tenants a rent book I made up but the only one I up date is the weekly one I receive.
But here is another question DHSS payments ask it due weekly or monthly as they pay every four weeks. I always state weekly even though I receive one payment a month. Would this apply ?