Landlords warned on recent rule changes
Mon, 05 Oct 2009
PEOPLE renting out commercial or residential properties have been warned that if they don’t adhere to recent rule changes they could end up with a hefty fine – or even a criminal record (www.thisisplymouth.co.uk – Sunday, October 04, 2009, 15:17).
Many landlords are ignorant of rules regarding such things as gas and fire safety, tenants’ deposits, Energy Performance Certificates, and how to lawfully evict tenants, the Westcountry Landlords Association’s chairman Manny Pasani said.
He warned that landlords who fall foul of the regulations will face “financial penalties” and, if they do something such as illegally evicting a tenant, could be prosecuted.
“It’s a minefield,” he said. “That’s why our organisation exists.”
He was speaking after about 300 people attended the organisation’s Landlord Expo, arranged jointly with Plymouth City Council, in the Guildhall.
The event was aimed at ‘accidental landlords’ too – that’s people who rent out a spare property and don’t always realise they are bound by the same rules.
The annual event was designed to raise awareness among landlords about their responsibility to provide their tenants with safe and decent accommodation.
And landlords were also able to find out what services are available to help them manage their businesses.
Mr Pasani said he was “overjoyed with the response” and added: “We had quite a few tenants come in too. If they had problems with their landlords we guided them to the right department.
“So we were able to address landlord and tenant problems.”
Mr Pasani said many landlords turned out not to be aware that the Gas Safe Register replaced the Corgi gas register in April this year. “Landlords could fall foul of bogus plumbers who say they are Corgi registered,” he said.
He said landlords also had to be aware of another recent change – they must now lodge deposits with an approved Government scheme or face penalties. “We are finding people are still not aware,” he said.
And many were also unclear about Energy Performance Certificates, which were introduced a year ago. “If a landlord does not have one on rented property, trading standards will jump on them and there could be fines and penalties,” said Mr Pasani.
He said ‘accidental landlords’ also had to know they must be licensed by the council if they are renting out a property of three or more stories, or which is occupied by five or more people.
The expo included a fire safety seminar at which landlords learned about their legal duty to carry out risk assessments.
Mr Pasani added: “The fire service was with us to advise on responsibilities for Homes of Multiple Occupation (HMO).”
Other seminars covered topics such as tax planning, anti-social behaviour and possession procedures. “If you turf someone’s stuff out and change the locks, for instance, you would be in serious trouble,” Mr Pasani warned.
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