- New legislation protects tenants from unfair letting fees
- Updates on housing related Bills before Parliament
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Posted 28.02.19
GOV.UK: Article link
The Tenant Fees Bill, which has received Royal Assent (12th February 2019) and now becomes an Act, puts an end to costly fees imposed by landlords or agents - with the ban on fees to come into effect from 1 June.
The Act also caps the security deposits that renters pay at the start of their tenancy at 5 weeks' rent, giving people the assurance that legally they cannot be expected to pay more than this to secure a property.
Under the Act, landlords and agents are only able to recover reasonably incurred costs from tenants and must provide evidence of these costs before they can impose any charges.
This will put a stop to, for example, tenants being charged hundreds of pounds for a damaged item that actually only costs a few pounds to replace.
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Updated 11.02.19
parliament.uk: Various links - see below
This briefly summarises the key objectives of Bills currently before Parliament and provides links to follow their progress to date.
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Affordable Home Ownership Bill
To make provision for affordable home ownership; to require the inclusion of rent to buy homes in the definition of affordable housing; to make provision for a minimum proportion of new affordable housing to be available on affordable rent to buy terms; to provide relief from stamp duty when an affordable rent to buy home is purchased; and for connected purposes.
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Freehold Properties (Management Charges and Shared Facilities) Bill
To make provision for the regulation of fees charged by management companies to freeholders of residential properties; to make provision for self-management of shared facilities by such freeholders; to require management companies to ensure shared facilities are of an adequate standard; and for connected purposes.
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Gypsy and Traveller Communities (Housing, Planning and Education) Bill
to make provision about periodical local authority reviews of the housing needs of Gypsy and Traveller communities; to make provision for the conversion of caravan sites into settled accommodation; to require local authorities to provide temporary caravan stopping sites where there is a demonstrated need; to create a criminal offence of unauthorised encampment; to make provision about the education of Gypsy and Traveller children; to require schools to have regard to Gypsy and Traveller culture and heritage in teaching; and for connected purposes.
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Homelessness (End of Life Care) Bill
To make provision about end of life care and support for homeless people with terminal illnesses, including through the provision of housing for such people; and for connected purposes.
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Homeless People (Current Accounts) Bill
To require banks to provide current accounts for homeless people seeking work; and for connected purposes.
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Housing and Planning (Local Decision-Making) Bill
To remove powers of the Secretary of State in relation to the location of and planning permission for new housing developments; to give local authorities powers to establish requirements on such developments in their area, including requirements on the proportion of affordable and social housing; and for connected purposes.
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To make provision about the regulation of the purchase of freehold by leaseholders; to introduce a system for establishing the maximum charge for such freehold; to make provision about the award of legal costs in leasehold property tribunal cases; to establish a compensation scheme for cases where misleading particulars have led to certain leasehold agreements; and for connected purposes.
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Mobile Homes and Park Homes Bill
To require the use of published criteria to determine whether mobile homes and park homes are liable for council tax or non-domestic rates; to make provision in relation to the residential status of such homes; to amend the Mobile Home Acts; and for connected purposes.
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Private Landlords (Registration) Bill
To require all private landlords in England to be registered; and for connected purposes.
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Renting Homes (Fees etc.) (Wales) Bill
The Bill includes provision for:
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Sublet Property (Offences) Bill
To make the breach of certain rules relating to sub-letting rented accommodation a criminal offence; to make provision for criminal sanctions in respect of unauthorised sub-letting; and for connected purposes.
