The Legal Changes Landlords and Lettings Agents Need to Be Ready from 1st October 2018

From the 1st of October, several changes will come into effect which will bring in new regulations on the grounds of how property owners and letting agents in England, may evict tenants.

These alterations were first brought forward in 2015, but were only for the tenancies that began or were renewed after that date. This lead to a transition period for the agreements dated before October 1st 2015, which ended on the same date in 2018.

From October 1st, 2018, the changes in the Deregulation Act will be applicable to all the Assured Shorthold Tenancy Agreements (ASTs). But there is still the caveat that all the changes might not be applicable!

Beginning from the said date, property owners are required by the government to use the Form 6A. This form now merges two earlier notices for periodic and fixed term tenancies into one single notice.

This also means that the property owners as well as the letting agents need to quit making use of their current notices and will have to comply with the newer regulations, regardless of the start date.

Moreover, according to the 2015 Deregulations Act, property owners and agents who are looking into issuing notices as per Section 21 have to make sure that their tenants are provided with the How to Rent Guide for renting in England ahead of the tenants checking in to the property.

Key Changes

The alterations made by the Deregulations Act to the notices in section 21 comprise of four basic categories.

• Form 6A as the new form of notice to the tenants.

• Bars on the provision of notices after local authority enforcement action under the HHSRS (retaliatory eviction);

• Mandatory to serve and follow Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) and Gas Safety Certificates (GSCs);

• Mandatory to serve and follow the How to Rent guide.

“Combining earlier notices in one form, the 6A, makes life a lot easier for both landlord and agents,” says Nicholas A. Tsiougos, the MD of London’s Real Estate Brokerage, Stonelink International.

“To serve the EPC and Gas Safety Certificate with the How to Rent guide should go without saying and be implemented into one’s procedures, no matter whether this is part of a landlord’s investment portfolio, family office or an estate agency. It’s just part of providing a top service to the tenants,” Nicholas affirms.

How do I find out more about this new law change?

It is very important to be prepared for what’s coming ahead and be organised before renting any property. The Department for Communities and Local Government’s Form 6A document ‘Notice seeking possession of a property let on an Assured Shorthold Tenancy’ is important to understand;

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/515658/Form_6A_INTERACTIVE_FINAL_Possession_property.pdf

If you require more information and advice about how you could mitigate the impact of this new law and be prepared, contact Stonelink International, London’s Real Estate Broker, for further assistance on + 44 (0) 207 993 4081 and by email info @ stonelinkinternational.com.


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About Stonelink International

London's real estate broker for local and international investors and business owners who choose London real estate - residential and commercial - to form part of their investment portfolio. Call + 44 (0) 207 993 4081 and visit https://www.stonelinkinternational.com/