Editor's note: This brief was summarised by The Property AI Newsroom from a report by Gov.UK Housing. Read the original article for full details.
National Landlord Registration Service to Roll Out
The government has announced that all landlords in England will be required to sign up to a new ‘Register your rental property’ service as part of the next phase of Renters’ Rights Act reforms. The registration service will be rolled out region by region from December, and it will be a legal requirement for landlords with properties under let or which become occupied during the rollout. Landlords who do not comply risk a fine.
Letting agents and landlords will also be required to include registration numbers on property advertisements. In the future, landlords will need to register unoccupied properties before marketing them for let, once the public interface of the register is introduced.
The new registration service will give councils access to information to help identify rogue landlords and take action more quickly. Tenants will be able to check whether their landlord or prospective landlord is registered, providing greater transparency and confidence in the private rented sector.
Changes to Rent Dispute Resolution
The government also announced that HM Revenue and Customs’ (HMRC’s) Valuation Office will become responsible for decisions on challenges to rent increases in England. This change aims to help resolve rent disputes more quickly. Until the new system is in place, renters who wish to challenge a rent increase must continue to apply to the First-tier Tribunal, and they will not have to pay the higher rent until the Tribunal makes a final decision.
These reforms are intended to create a fairer market for landlords and tenants, support responsible landlords, and help councils enforce the Renters’ Rights Act.
Source: Gov.UK Housing