Landlord costs set to increase warns eviction specialist
Added 17.11.09
Landlord Assist, the nationwide tenant eviction firm, fears new regulations for social housing landlords could lead to a similar approach – and therefore more bureaucracy - in the private rental market.
The Tenant Services Authority has announced plans to introduce a new ‘regulatory framework for social housing’, which details the standards required of landlords.
This new approach to regulation, which will come into force from next April, will see greater emphasis placed on the relationship between landlords and their tenants at a local level.
It will mean a greater responsibility for landlords to work closely with tenants to drive improvements and make them more accountable for the services they provide.
Landlords that fail to comply with the new rules could face large fines or lose the property management rights to another organisation.
Housing Minister John Healey says this ‘bill of rights’ will have ‘real teeth’ and enforce landlords to get repairs right first time, stop antisocial behaviour and make sure tenants have a say in the management of the property.
Graham Kinnear, Managing Director of Landlord Assist, agrees that all landlords should be accountable for the services they provide, but he is concerned that an increase in bureaucracy will deter entrants to the market and increase the costs that landlords face in terms of compliance.
He said: “Already there are clear anomalies in the way that landlord and tenant law works.
“Examples include the fact that a tenant needs to give one months notice to vacate the property yet the landlord is obliged to give the tenant two months notice.
Landlords are also prohibited from evicting a tenant without a court order even though they may be out of pocket due to a tenant ceasing to pay the rent.
“Rafts of policy and legislation, which require the landlord to do even more than currently required are, in our view, unnecessary. It may well discourage landlords from entering the market, thereby reducing the choice and quality of rental accommodation available.”
News feed courtesy of Residential Landlord