Preparing for the Renters’ Rights Act: First Steps

7 days to go – Are you ready?

Between now and our next newsletter, the 1st of May will have been and gone. For anyone living under a rock, this means phase 1 of the Renters’ Rights Act will be implemented. Fortunately for our fully managed landlords, we’ve crossed the T’s and dotted the I’s meaning you can sit back knowing your current and future tenancies are compliant. For everyone else, fear not, here’s an action plan.

Now’s the time to get your ducks in a row, don’t panic, but act now. There is no grace period, so you need to get this right.

If you are planning to serve a Section 21 notice, they MUST be served by 30th April. Don’t leave the relevant evidence until the last minute. Your notice is only valid if you can prove the correct information was provided to tenants, including:

• A valid EPC
• A valid Gas Safety certificate
• The latest How To Rent Guide
• All required Prescribed Information
• The deposit was protected correctly within 30 days

From 1st May, every existing tenant must receive the official information sheet by 31st May. If you don’t, you could face fines of up to £7,000 per offence. Councils will be particularly proactive on this, as they’ve been given additional government funding to monitor and enforce compliance.

If you don’t want to risk getting it wrong, we can help. Speak to a member of the team about the new service we’re providing to ensure this information is issued correctly and on time.

If this all feels like a lot to manage, you’re not alone. For our fully managed landlords, this is already taken care of. For everyone else, now is the time to act — before enforcement begins and the risk of penalties increases.

Taking action now not only protects you from fines, but also ensures your tenancies remain valid and enforceable moving forward. A small amount of preparation today can prevent significant issues down the line.

If any existing client is considering changing their management service, please speak to your property manager. If you aren’t a client yet, now is the perfect time to get support in place — simply reach out and ask to speak to a member of our business development team, who will be happy to guide you through your options and next steps.

Written by Eloise Hirst, Business Development Consultant