22nd
Jan 2016
A recent survey carried out by an online estate agent claims that 50% of UK landlords are not up to speed about the Right Rent law that starts on February 1st.
From the beginning of next month the new legislation makes landlords fully responsible to check all new tenant’s immigration status for the “right to rent” in the UK. Those who do not carry out the checks could face fines of up to £3,000.
5,000 landlords were surveyed and surprisingly 20% were under the impression that the new legislation was not due to start until April 2017; whilst 3% of the landlords fully believed that they had plenty of time to prepare as it was not going to be introduced until April 2018.
Further findings for the survey uncovered that just 10% of landlords actually issue the tenant at the beginning of the lease with all of the necessary information. 90% of landlords were not familiar or unable to clarify the features of an HMO (House in Multiple Occupancy). Another 16% who were polled did not realise the money they could lose, by failing to provide the tenant their contact address on the tenancy agreement, which would make the agreement useless –null and void.
Adam Male, co-founder of the online estate agency, said: “There has been an influx of new legislation relating to the rental market made in recent years and we know that UK landlords are struggling to keep on top of these changes. Despite knowing many of the basics, many find it difficult to navigate the minefield of changing renting rights and wrongs and this is particularly so for accidental landlords.”
Richard Merrick of PIMS, said: “It is surprising to see the lack of knowledge by some landlords, they have to realise that this is an industry that is becoming increasingly governed by legislation.....and now social responsibilities,
Merrick added: “Some new landlords into the market will suffer from complex information overload, however this is our job at PIMS to make information simple – hence Property Information Made Simple.”
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