Posted 01.06.19
GOV.UK: Further reading
The Tenant Fees Act has come into force (1st June 2019), with the aim of reducing the costs that tenants can face at the outset, and throughout, a tenancy. Tenants will be able to see, at a glance, what a given property will cost them in the advertised rent with no hidden costs.
The Act puts an end to unnecessary fees imposed by landlords and agents. It puts a stop to tenants being charged hundreds of pounds for admin or renewal fees.
The Act also caps the tenancy deposits that renters pay at the start of their tenancy at the equivalent of 5 weeks rent. This gives people the assurance that, legally, they cannot be expected to pay more than this (where the total annual rent is less than £50,000) to secure a property.
In addition, under the Act's default fee provision, landlords and agents are only able to recover reasonably incurred costs from tenants for lost keys or other security devices and must provide evidence of these costs before they can impose any charges.
The Act ensures that tenants who have been charged unfair fees can get their money back. Trading Standards or the First-tier Tribunal can require landlords and agents to pay back any prohibited payment or any unlawfully retained holding deposit within 7 to 14 days.
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