Editor's note: This brief was summarised by The Property AI Team from a report by Property118. Read the original article for full details.
MP Warns Smaller Landlords May Struggle to Adapt to Awaab's Law
An MP has warned that smaller landlords will need time to adapt to Awaab's Law, as they face difficulties accessing tradespeople. Abena Oppong-Asare, chair of the Housing, Communities and Local Government (HCLG) Committee, welcomed the government's proposals to extend Awaab's Law to the private rented sector (PRS).
The government has launched a consultation alongside its proposals to extend the regime to the PRS, part of a wider move to bring private landlords within the scope of Awaab's Law, which sets requirements for dealing with hazards in rented homes.
According to the report, Oppong-Asare's concern centres on the practical challenges smaller landlords may face, particularly around accessing tradespeople. That difficulty, she suggested, means smaller landlords will need time to adapt to the new requirements.
For letting agents and inventory clerks, the development is one to watch. Extending Awaab's Law to the PRS would place new obligations on landlords, and agents managing properties on their behalf may find themselves at the centre of compliance and communication with tenants. Inventory clerks, meanwhile, will be alert to how the regime interacts with property condition reporting and record-keeping.
The report does not set out the full detail of the consultation or the proposed timetable for extending Awaab's Law to the PRS. Nor does it specify what requirements would apply to landlords under the extended regime, or how compliance would be enforced.
The chair of the HCLG Committee has welcomed the government's proposals while flagging that smaller landlords may need time to adjust. The consultation is under way, and the outcome will shape how the PRS is brought into scope.
Letting agents and inventory clerks should monitor the consultation and any subsequent guidance closely, given the potential impact on landlord obligations and on the day-to-day management of rented homes.
Source: Property118