LATEST: Official smoke and CO detector guidance revised ahead of Autumn changes

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Official guidance on smoke detectors in rented homes has been updated by the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities ahead of the October 1^st changes announced previously.

From that date onwards landlords will have greater responsibilities over the provision of smoke alarms within their properties and face fines of up to £5,000 for non-compliance with these new regulations, although these are very rare.

The new regulations are an updated to the existing Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (England) Regulations 2015.

The biggest change within the new guidance is that landlords must ensure that smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms are repaired or replaced “once informed and found that they are faulty”.

Previously, private landlords were only required to ensure they worked at the start of each tenancy.

This will shift more responsibility to the landlords to fix faulty detectors of either kind – previously this sat with the tenants who were only ‘advised to arrange’ repairs or battery replacement with their landlord.

Get ready

“The updated regulations contain some subtle but significant changes for agents and landlords working in the PRS in England,” says Timothy Douglas (pictured), Head of Policy and Campaigns for Propertymark.

“They have been coming down the line for some time, but with a firm date set for their implementation and detailed guidance now published, our advice is that letting agents start to prepare immediately.

“Agents should ensure they fully understand the regulations and begin the installation of new alarms and repair of existing alarms, and update their property management practices accordingly and without delay.

View Full Article: LATEST: Official smoke and CO detector guidance revised ahead of Autumn changes

EXCLUSIVE: Govt says landlords cannot apply direct to £4.5bn cladding fund

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Leaseholders can now check their eligibility for a share of the £4.5 billion Building Safety Fund, which has reopened to take new applications.   

Those living in buildings over 18m with cladding issues can apply for a share of the fund. However, the DLUHC tells LandlordZONE that private landlords who own a leasehold flat in a building that might be eligible cannot apply directly and should speak to their building owner or managing agent to register an application on their behalf.

Where a landlord’s leasehold property is in a block that is eligible and a successful application is made, costs for any works to address the risk posed by cladding will be covered by the fund.

Protections checker

A new online Leaseholder Protections Checker (www.gov.uk/check-building-safety-costs) will help leaseholders discover if they qualify; they will need to complete and submit a leaseholder Deed of Certificate to their building owner to confirm if they have anything to pay or not.

Under the Building Safety Act, leaseholders can legally prove that they are protected from historical building safety costs. The protections prevent qualifying leaseholders from paying the majority of costs to fix fire safety defects in their homes, and make those responsible, and those who own the buildings, pay instead.

Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Greg Clark (main pic), says: “The Building Safety Act makes clear building owners’ liabilities and gives us powers to pursue those that continue to flout the rules.

“It has also introduced far-reaching legal protections to relieve many leaseholders from the financial burden of fixing their homes. With these now fully up and running, I urge any homeowners who may qualify to see if they are eligible using our online Leaseholder Protections Checker as soon as possible.”

View Full Article: EXCLUSIVE: Govt says landlords cannot apply direct to £4.5bn cladding fund

REVEALED: Cities with largest student populations and best BTL opportunities

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Leeds has the highest number of student properties in the UK, according to new research.

Website money.co.uk analysed the biggest university towns and cities, giving Leeds, which has five universities and one of the biggest student populations, the top spot with 16,225, followed by Nottingham with 15,422 properties, where it’s estimated that more than 60,000 students attend the city’s three universities.

Birmingham – home to five universities – was third in the league table, with 14,829 properties, no doubt due to the fact it has the biggest student population outside London. Other cities in the top 10 were Sheffield (12,330), Newcastle (10,470), Leicester (10,233), Liverpool (10,191), Manchester (7,291), Bristol (6,779) and Exeter (6,479).

At the other end of the scale, Oxford and Cambridge have the most students living in university-owned accommodation with 79% and 77% respectively.

Higher rents

money.co.uk reckons student housing can be a good investment even if the property market dips more generally as it offer greater yields due to cheaper purchase prices and higher rents.

Student homes and HMOs are also more affordable than regular properties as they’re usually located outside city centres while there’s always steady demand, with a new group of potential tenants coming through every year.

However, there are big potential changes on the horizon that could impact student landlords in the Renters Reform Bill, meaning that tenants would only have to give two months’ notice.

Landlords fear that without a fixed-term contract – guaranteeing that tenants would leave at the end of the academic year – their business model would fall apart.

View Full Article: REVEALED: Cities with largest student populations and best BTL opportunities

The Joseph Rowntree Foundation plan to kill off the PRS with private rental Right to Buy

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The Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF) is calling for policies that deliberately target reducing the size of the PRS. Apparently, who owns the 25 million homes available now, and who they are available to, is as important as new construction.

The new JRF report and press release go on to say:”Landlords are likely considering their future in the sector due to planned reforms to the PRS to improve tenants’ rights alongside existing tax changes and obligations on landlords to meet higher energy efficiency standards.

View Full Article: The Joseph Rowntree Foundation plan to kill off the PRS with private rental Right to Buy

Accessibility standards to be raised for New Builds

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New homes will be more accessible for older and disabled people as the government today (29 July) confirms plans to raise the accessibility standard following full consultation of proposals.

The raising accessibility standards for new homes consultation proposed staying with the existing framework for accessible housing

View Full Article: Accessibility standards to be raised for New Builds