The UK government has announced that it will be releasing a new version of the “How to rent: a checklist for renting in England” guide next week.
The new version of the guide has been updated to reflect recent legal changes, such as the requirement for carbon monoxide alarms to be fitted in every room with a fixed fuel-burning appliance. It also includes information on fitting smart meters, and there is a section on ensuring the property is suitable for tenants with disabilities. In addition, the guide emphasizes the importance of providing Electrical Installation Condition Reports (EICRs) to tenants.
Landlords can access the new guide, as well as the updated “How to Let” guide, on the gov.uk website starting on Friday, March 17, 2023. It’s crucial to ensure that you use the latest version of the guide when renting out your property to stay compliant with current legal requirements.
As a landlord, it’s your responsibility to provide your tenants with the necessary information and keep up with the latest changes in the law. Make sure you’re prepared and serve the new guide at the start of every new tenancy or renewal. At Brookings, we take these responsibilities away from our landlords and keep them fully compliant with the ever-changing legislation.
Landlords have been required to provide the latest version of the guide to their tenants for the past eight years. This requirement forms part of the prescribed information that landlords must issue, and failure to do so means that they will lose the right to repossess using Section 21.
If you wish to discuss this in more depth, please feel free to contact our head of property management Amy Kennett.
amy@brookings.co.uk
02085919088