Legal Requirements (TDS, HHSRS, HMOs)

Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO)

Legislation to control homes occupied by many came into operation in April 2006, and has caused some concern for those landlords who are yet to act upon the requirements of the legislation. Penalties for non compliance are severe, with rent ceasing to become due and the inability to evict tenants in properties which should be licensed, but which are not.

Penyards Lettings and Management is experienced and knowledgeable on the matter and can provide advice and management of situations where a property may be an HMO and licensing may be necessary. If your property is over a number of floors and the tenants number more than three, then serious consideration should be given to ensuring that a landlords actions are within the new legislation.

Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS)

April 2006 also saw the introduction of the Housing Health and Safety Rating System with similarly severe penalties for non compliance. The purpose of this legislation lay in assisting tenants where their landlord was not taking adequate steps to ensure the health and safety of the occupants. The system has ratings to measure each home against a range of parameters to provide an overall score. Where local authority officers find the property to be non compliant or have a high score, notices to improve the property may be issued and landlords will face penalties of no rent and no ability to evict if the notices are not actioned.

Penyards Lettings and Management is interfaced with the local authorities in the area on these matters and are well placed to assist those landlords whose property may become of interest to the local authorities as a result of Health and Safety issues.

Tenancy Deposit Scheme (TDS)

Since the 6th April 2007, all dilapidation deposits have needed to be registered within a small range of schemes approved by Central Government. Penyards Lettings and Management is a member of the Tenancy Deposit Scheme, an organisation with a great deal of experience in adjudicating in Dilapidations Deposit Disputes. This allows Penyards to hold the dilapidations deposits locally, and to play a role as Stakeholder, in attempting to mediate between Landlords and Tenants in the rare event of there being a dispute at the conclusion of a tenancy.

From 6th April, severe penalties for Landlords not complying with this legislation have been imposed and range up to three times the agreed deposit, payable to the tenant. Further legal blocks on action by the landlord were also put in place.

Our status as a member of the Tenancy Deposit Scheme brings peace of mind to our landlords who leave the deposit with us, as we take the responsibility for the timely registration of the deposit, issuing certification to our tenants to confirm the registration and whereabouts of the deposit. Call us for more information.

If you require any further advice or would like specific advice please contact us.