Private Sector Landlords News
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New national rules on electrical safety came into force on Monday 1 June 2020.
The regulations apply to any new tenancies from Wednesday 1 July 2020 and existing tenancies from Thursday 1 April 2021.
The new regulations require landlords to have the electrical installations in their properties inspected and tested by a person who is qualified and competent, at least every five years.
Landlords have to provide a copy of the electrical safety report to their tenants, and to their local authority if requested.
The Council can also serve a remedial notice to require the landlord to take remedial action, should a landlord not comply, the Council can take the necessary remedial action at a cost to the landlord.
Penalties of up to £30,000 can be imposed by the Council on landlords failing to follow the new rules.
If you have any questions about what this means please contact us.
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With COVID-19 stopping face-to-face meetings our next Private Sector Landlords Forum will take place online.
The event will on Thursday 16 July 2020 from 7pm.
Places are limited so early booking is recommended.
A link to the meeting will be sent out in the week before the forum takes place.
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Waltham Forest Council’s ASB and Property Licensing teams worked together to support a landlord whose tenants’ behaviour was making neighbours’ lives a misery.
In September 2019 the Council started to receive complaints about anti-social behaviour (ASB) at an address in Somerset Road, Walthamstow. Issues included frequent loud parties, illicit drug use, drunken behaviour, and fly tipping which were having a detrimental impact on the lives of neighbours.
After receiving a flurry of complaints, the Council contacted the landlord of the property about the problems.
A joint visit was carried out between the landlord and the ASB and enforcement officers where it was discovered that eight people were living at the property, none of whom were the named tenants identified on the tenancy agreement meaning that illegal subletting had taken place.
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The landlord immediately initiated legal eviction proceedings to regain possession of the property.
Although the landlord was granted possession of the property in February 2020, to be effective a month later, the COVID-19 pandemic meant that the landlord was unable to appoint bailiffs to evict them.
The Council then applied for a Premises Closure Order under the ASB, Crime and Policing Act 2014. This was granted for a three-month period at court on Wednesday 13 May 2020.
On that same day, Council enforcement officers secured the property and removed the unauthorised occupiers. The named tenants were not present.
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The Council’s Selective Licensing scheme started on Friday 1 May 2020.
Most rented properties in the borough now need to be licensed to be legally rented out.
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We are aware of the difficult time tenants and landlords are facing due to COVID-19 so we have extended the Early Bird discounts until the end of October.
The Council will discount licence applications by £250 if made by Saturday 31 October 2020
The discount applies to Selective and Additional Licences. The fee is payable in two parts.
There is no discount on applications for a mandatory HMO licence and these should be made without delay.
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