No change in regulation for the PRS

The new housing minister Grant Shapps has recently announced he will not introduce any more regulation for the private rented sector which had been proposed by the previous government.

Scrapping the previous proposals for new legislation in the private rented sector following the 2008 Rugg Review, Mr Shapps said he was confident the UK's  one million private landlords were already governed by a well-established legal framework and that there was a good balance between the rights and responsibilities of tenants and landlords.

The previous government's plans had included a national register of landlords, regulation of letting and managing agents, and compulsory written agreements.

Mr Shapps said in the House of Commons: ‘With the vast majority of England's three million private tenants happy with the service they receive, I am satisfied that the current system strikes the right balance between the rights and responsibilities of tenants and landlords."

 ‘So today I make a promise to good landlords across the country: the government has no plans to create any burdensome red tape and bureaucracy, so you are able to continue providing a service to your tenants.'

Councils will therefore be encouraged to use their existing powers to tackle rogue landlords who fail to provide good quality accommodation. These powers allow action to be taken against landlords who do not rectify hazards in their properties including completing the work in default and prohibiting the use of defective parts of a property under the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS).

Free Energy Performance Certificates

Despite the recent removal of the requirement for HIPS the requirement for landlords and sellers of residential property to supply tenants or purchasers with an energy performance certificate still remains.

The Private Rented Accreditation Scheme is able to offer free EPC's on all newly accredited properties and current accredited properties when a tenancy is renewed and an EPC has not been completed.

Accredited Lettings Agents

The Letting Group (TLG) are now an accredited lettings agent throughout the borough.

The Letting Group secured accreditation thanks to their strong and unfaltering commitment to market leading levels of property and legal safety standards. TLG are the only letting agent in the borough adhering to current legal requirements as well as our ‘Accreditation Standard', which asks for CP12 Gas Safety Certificates, Electrical Safety Certificates as well as interim gas and electrical safety checks.

The main aim of ‘Letting Agent Accreditation' is to give a real market advantage to letting agents in South Tyneside who want to support the scheme's aims. It is envisaged that a very select group of agents will achieve accreditation. This well publicised ‘stamp of approval' by South Tyneside Council, will motivate letting agents to increase the level of property standards that they attain for their clients.

For more information please contact accreditationscheme@southtyneside.gov.uk or call 0191 424 7913 or 424 6624.