Guide set to turn up heat on rogue landlords

The government has launched a new guide for England’s nine million private rented sector tenants to help combat rogue landlords.

The launch of the guide on 10 June by Housing Minister Kris Hopkins came a month after the government confirmed plans to require all letting agents to publish a full tariff of their fees, both on their websites and prominently in their offices, with fines for non-compliance.

Other measures are being brought forward to give magistrates’ courts the power to impose unlimited fines on landlords found guilty of not meeting their responsibilities, such as failing to carry out essential improvement works to a property or continuing to rent out a property which the council has ruled is not fit for habitation.

Mr Hopkins said: “This government is turning up the heat on the small minority of rogue landlords that are not playing by the rules and giving tenants a rough deal.

“The new how to rent guide will give tenants the knowledge they need at their fingertips and help raise the game of landlords who may not know what is expected of them.”

The online guide, which can be accessed here, includes:

• advice and information on tenancy deposit schemes, bill payments and tenancy length
• a checklist of what the landlord must provide to tenants, including gas certificate and deposit paperwork
• information on the requirements of the landlord to maintain the structure of the property and give tenants at least 24 hours’ notice before entering the property
• the legal requirements for landlords and tenants on ending tenancies and returning deposits.