Before letting your property
Complying with new landlord registration and redress rules
A new national digital Private Rented Sector Database will be created, which will:
Help landlords understand their legal obligations for compliance - and changes to requirements will also be communicated via the database
Allow tenants to access information about properties and landlords, including any offences and penalties incurred, so they can make informed choices for new tenancies
Enable Local Authorities to better track privately rented properties in their area and focus enforcement where it is needed most
Landlords will be legally required to register themselves and their properties.
Find out more in our blog, ‘What’s the new Private Rented Sector Database and how does it work?’.
While letting agents have to belong to either The Property Redress Scheme or The Property Ombudsman, there is currently no such requirement for landlords.
The Bill introduces a new Private Rented Sector Landlord Ombudsman, which all private landlords in England with assured or regulated tenancies will be required by law to join - including those who use a managing agent.
The new ombudsman will:
Give tenants a route to complaint and recourse if they feel their landlord is not acting properly
Give landlords access to guidance and support to help resolve complaints
Providing fair, impartial and binding resolution to both landlords and tenants
Yes, it will help resolve disputes more effectively
No, it won’t make much of a difference
I’m not sure
This should help reduce the number of disputes that end up in time-consuming and costly court hearings.
Find out more in our blog, ‘How will the new Private Rented Sector Ombudsman work?’.
