By regulating all landlords that do not have their properties managed by a letting agent, the Conservatives say that this will then give the tenants the same rights. This has already happened in Wales and the reality of the situation means that not only does every private landlord, who doesn’t have property managed by an agent, have to pay a fee but, also has to be trained and attend courses to be allowed to receive the licence.
The penalty for a landlord, who is not licenced, is that the tenant is entitled to a refund of their rent or to not pay their rent going forward.
We would like to confirm that we are a licensed agent. Our managed landlords do not need to do anything, as you are covered through our licence, and all of your tenants have access to the Ombudsman and the redress schemes.
But to any of our landlords who either have properties managed by us or managed their own properties, please feel free to contact us to see in what ways we can help, if you do not wish to be licensed or attend the training courses when this comes in. There has been no date announced yet.
Don’t worry though, there is some good news too. In the same speech, the Conservatives announced that they are currently working with the Treasury on a scheme which is aimed at giving landlords tax incentives, if they offer tenancies of 12 months or more. My thinking behind all this, is that all political parties are trying to give tenants more security in longer term tenancies; therefore, this is an all-round vote winner, as it pleases the tenants but at the same time it entices the landlords to vote for them also, as there is a financial benefit for them too.
December’s edition will be on the draft tenant’s fees ban to ban all fees for tenants.
