Keeping up to date with landlord legislation
A Landlord has several different responsibilities when it comes to their tenants. A number of these responsibilities are put on a formal basis thanks to an ever-changing raft of legislation. Not only do landlords need to be aware of the changes in the laws that govern their relationships with their tenants, but they also need to know of any significant cases that are taken to court as this may well change how they have to react to their tenants. Below, we have listed different ways that landlords can be in the loop about their legal responsibilities.
Checking the government websites
One of the best places to start is the official government websites. These .gov.uk sites provide authoritative information about changes in the law and new laws that come into effect. Whilst major changes to the laws are likely to hit the headlines on news outlets, the minor changes are the ones that are likely to catch you out. Therefore, you should have a look at what the latest laws are and when they take effect in the UK. These will be presented in their raw form without commentary, so it may take a bit of reading to understand and interpret.
Talk to your estate agent
Unless you exclusively rent directly with your tenant, most landlords have an estate agent that helps them manage their properties and paperwork. You should make sure that you regularly ask your estate agents for advice about the law and if they know about any changes that are upcoming. It is in their interest to be on top of these things as well, and they will be more familiar with changes to legislation. You don’t want to wait until you are caught out by a new law, or new charges that you may be liable for. Make sure you are on top of what is happening.
Register with a regulated landlord association
One of the other great things that you can do is join a regulated landlord association. These organisations will allow you to network and mingle with other landlords and allow you to get knowledge from them. The organisation itself will also be able to furnish you with the latest information about changes in the law, and these are likely to be in a more digestible format than the raw laws. They may even produce helpful guides in friendly formats that will help you through the changes. No doubt they will have websites and newsletters that provide curated targeted information, which means that you don’t have to go searching around for the latest changes to the news but can keep on top of things in one place. These organisations may also be able to provide you with backing when it comes to facing difficult tenants or other legal challenges whilst letting out your properties, so they are well worth a join.
