The aim is to give private rented sector tenants the need to know rental rights at their fingertips, thus encouraging a new generation of well-informed tenants with easy access to useful and understandable information.
The launch comes as the government confirmed plans to require all letting agents to publish a full tariff of their fees both on their websites and prominently in their offices. Anyone who does not comply with these new rules will face a much stricter penalty than currently exists.
Hopkins said it is part of the government’s wider work to bring clarity and fairness to the system and ensure that England’s nine million private rented sector tenants have the knowledge to hold their landlord to account, without introducing excessive regulation which would force up rents and reduce choice.
And this is on top of additional measures being brought forward to provide magistrates’ courts with the power to impose unlimited fines on landlords found guilty of not meeting their responsibilities, such as failing to carry out essential improvement works to a property or continuing to rent out a property which the council has ruled is not fit for habitation.
The guide includes advice and information on tenancy deposit schemes, bill payments and tenancy length, a checklist of what the landlord must provide tenants, including gas certificate and deposit paperwork, information on the requirements of the landlord to maintain the structure of the property and give tenants at least 24 hours’ notice before entering the property and the legal requirements for landlords and tenants on ending tenancies and returning deposits.
‘This government is turning up the heat on the small minority of rogue landlords that are not playing by the rules and giving tenants a rough deal. The new guide will give tenants the knowledge they need at their fingertips and help raise the game of landlords who may not know what is expected of them,’ said Hopkins.
‘We are doing all of this without the need for excessive state regulation that would destroy investment in new housing, push up prices and make it far harder for people to find a flat or house to rent. The private rental sector is vital asset to the country and this government is determined to get Britain building and boost investment in the sector,’ he added.
He also pointed out that the government has already introduced new legislation which will require all letting and managing agents in England to belong to an approved redress scheme ensuring tenants and leaseholders have a straightforward option to hold their agents to account.
Other measures in the pipeline include a new code to set standards for the management of property in the private rented sector with a view to making it statutory and the introduction of a voluntary, model tenancy agreement, which landlords and tenants can use for longer tenancies, which will provide extra security and stability for families.
There will also be extra guidance for local councils on tackling rogue landlords, protecting tenants from illegal evictions and how best to push for harsher penalties before magistrates for housing offences.
The Association of Residential Lettings Agents (ARLA) welcomed the new guide which it said will be useful at a time when rental properties are highly sought after. ARLA president Susan Fitz-Gibbon, said that when choosing a property, either direct from the landlord or through a letting agent, a tenant should ensure the agent or landlord is accredited by the association as recommended in the guide.
‘Embarking on renting a property can often be a daunting time for people, with would be tenants sometimes expected to make a quick decision, provide extensive information and sign numerous documents before their dream home is snapped up by someone else,’ she explained.
‘The guide will hopefully make the rental process smoother for tenants and offers simple, straightforward guidance for people who are looking to rent, empowering them to make informed decisions. Before any potential tenant signs on the dotted line it’s vital they ensure their lettings agent is accredited through a professional body, such as ARLA,’ she pointed out.
‘ARLA accreditation means your landlord has a responsibility to tell you upfront what fees and costs they will charge you, complaints from both sides will be dealt with fairly and effectively, and you have the peace of mind of knowing your money is protected should you have any dispute with your landlord,’ she added.
