How Letting Agents Can Help with Landlords’ Concerns

If you are a landlord that finds some aspects of letting out your property stressful, then you are not alone. A recent survey by property website Rightmove revealed the following statistics:

• 48% of landlords want guidance around regulation and legislation.
• 61% of landlords are worried about the abolition of Section 21.
• 1 in 2 landlords are worried about fines and charges for not making green improvements.

We thought it might be helpful to take each of these concerns in turn and consider how employing an experienced letting agent to find tenants and manage your property may alleviate them somewhat.

Guidance around regulation and legislation

Owning a house and choosing to let it out does not automatically make you an expert in property and tenancy laws. The regulations that make up these laws are frequently updated. However, it is part of the responsible letting agent’s job to be aware of changes to regulations and ensure that all properties, practices and documentation meet the letter and intent of the law.

The abolition of Section 21

Section 21 of the Housing Act 1988 is the so-called ‘no-fault’ eviction notice that allows landlords to evict a tenant and reclaim their property after giving notice of two months. The Renters’ Rights Bill currently under discussion in Parliament plans to end Section 21 evictions. In its Guide to the Renters’ Rights Bill, the government says this about the proposed changes:

“The new tenancy system will provide tenants with greater security and stability and empower them to challenge bad practice without fear of retaliatory eviction. Landlords will also benefit, with more straightforward regulation, and clearer and expanded possession grounds.”

Fines for failure to make green improvements

Since 2020, it has been illegal to continue to let a property with an Energy Performance Certificate rating below E. So those graded F or G - or those without a certificate at all - should not be let out to tenants. Letting such a property, being found in breach of the regulations, and ignoring compliance notices from your local Council could incur a fine of up to £5,000.

We are happy to work with our landlords and advise on improvements that will bring their property into a higher EPC band. We are very much in favour of energy efficient homes. Good quality tenants like them because energy costs are lower.

For landlords that have concerns about falling foul of changes in regulation, we strongly recommend partnering with a letting agent. We will be aware of any changes long before they are brought in and will act accordingly for our tenants’ best interests and our landlords’ peace of mind.

For more information about our property management services, please contact Pearl Lettings on 01603 980770 or email hello@pearllettings.co.uk and a member of our team will get back to you.