New ‘How to Rent’ Guide!

New ‘How to Rent’ Guide!

16:19 PM, 26th June 2018, About 6 years ago 22

Text Size

I’ve done a couple of tenancies today and the ‘How to Rent’ guide this has changed in the last 20 minutes!

I wonder what would happen if I had actually signed both of these tenants up today with one before the change and one after?

The new guide is also now eleven pages (up from eight? previously). I am going to have to go over it with a fine-toothed comb now. See link below:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/how-to-rent

There’s also a matching ‘How to Let’ guide aimed at Landlords, which I believe is a new addition? See link below:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/how-to-let

“How to let

This guide is for current private residential landlords and anyone interested in letting a property in the private rented sector.

Details

This guide is for current and prospective landlords. It explains the responsibilities, legal requirements and best practice for letting a property in the private rented sector.

It is not intended to cover leasehold, holiday lets or ‘resident landlords’ who let to lodgers.”

Regards

Luke


Share This Article


Comments

Chris @ Possession Friend

0:05 AM, 28th June 2018, About 6 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Laura Delow at 27/06/2018 - 10:18
NLA have sent an email out to me today.

Luke P

0:37 AM, 28th June 2018, About 6 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Michael Barnes at 27/06/2018 - 23:58
So the Government can’t even write their own sodding guide to correctly reflect legislation they devised?…Incredible!

They really are incompetents of the absolute very highest order. Beyond believability in fact.

T G

1:35 AM, 28th June 2018, About 6 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Dylan Morris at 27/06/2018 - 11:55
It is a legal requirement for you to give your tenants a copy of this guide when creating a new assured shorthold tenancy in England. If you haven’t, a Section 21 Possession Notice will be invalid, and any application for a Possession Order will be thrown out if it gets to Court.

If you've already created an assured shorthold tenancy in England before 26 June 2018 you won't need to give your tenants this latest version, but there's nothing to stop you doing so. It could be a great way of reminding your tenants of their responsibilities!

Chris @ Possession Friend

8:12 AM, 28th June 2018, About 6 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Sami Houmrani at 28/06/2018 - 01:35
A copy of the current Gas certificate is the most important to ensure is given Before a tenancy starts ( and be able to prove ) as it seems to be a ' do it or never use Section 21 ' situation.

Michael Barnes

10:13 AM, 28th June 2018, About 6 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Chris Daniel at 28/06/2018 - 08:12
A copy of the current Gas certificate is the most important to ensure is given Before a tenancy starts ( and be able to prove ) as it seems to be a ' do it or never use Section 21 ' situation.

My understanding is that this decision is not binding outside London, and that there are arguments that the interpretation is wrong (or at least not in accordance with the intent of the legislation), so it may depend on the judge on the day.

Luke P

11:15 AM, 28th June 2018, About 6 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Michael Barnes at 28/06/2018 - 10:13
That will definitely be challenged again at some point in the future, but nobody is willingly going to want to stump up the costs and go first.

Chris @ Possession Friend

11:29 AM, 28th June 2018, About 6 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Michael Barnes at 28/06/2018 - 10:13
Michael, the first case that came to notice in Edmonton June 2017 was Assured Property Services Ltd v Ooo, the second I believe was Caridon Property Services Ltd v Monty Shultz, Central London. There was I'm told another ( third unreported case I don't have details of )
Of course the matter hasn't gone to the Court of Appeal, but at the same time, there aren't any known relatively recent cases where a Gas cert was served After the tenancy commenced and Possession was granted by the court following a Sec 21. -
make of that what you will ?

T G

15:22 PM, 28th June 2018, About 6 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Chris Daniel at 28/06/2018 - 08:12“A copy of the current Gas certificate is the most important to ensure is given Before a tenancy starts ( and be able to prove ) as it seems to be a ' do it or never use Section 21 ' situation.“
Always it’s good practice to tick all the boxes. Reduce the risk of problem tenants. Buy to let properties are big investments so you don't want to take any unnecessary risks.

Lynne Davis

12:40 PM, 30th June 2018, About 6 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Dylan Morris at 27/06/2018 - 11:55
No, you just have to issue the version that's current on the day the tenancy starts.

Luke P

14:10 PM, 30th June 2018, About 6 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Sami Houmrani at 28/06/2018 - 15:22
Indeed, although occasionally we would have a vacant property where the meter was in debt. If the GSC expired during advertising, we’d wait until a tenant was in situ, had the gas debt cleared and some credit on the meter before sending our engineer (who was on standby) at a moment’s notice.

Not any more. Now we have to bugger about with power companies and sort it beforehand.

Leave Comments

In order to post comments you will need to Sign In or Sign Up for a FREE Membership

or

Don't have an account? Sign Up

Landlord Tax Planning Book Now