Renters’ Rights webinar – Your questions to Government

The final webinar of our Renters’ Rights Act series ahead of commencement saw senior civil servants from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) speak to nearly 1,000 of you. 

Deputy directors for the PRS, Ross McInnes and Guy Horsington gave short presentations about the Act and answered questions about topics including the tenant information sheet, with Guy, deputy director for PRS housing redress and regulatory systems, telling the webinar the Government will be focussing on tackling landlords who repeatedly break the law. He said: "We are not seeking to penalise people who make honest mistakes. The higher fines will be on the basis of people who continue to break the law rather than making an administrative error.” 

Our head of policy, James Wood, outlined the elements of the legislation which will start to have an impact from 1st May, covering: 
existing tenancies, rent increases, tenant selection, grounds for possession, student lets as well as running through our compliance checklist. 

Questions and Answers

Q: I noticed the Government page containing the information sheet was updated on the 25th April. Does this mean we have to re-serve the information sheet if we have already served it to our tenants? 

A: No, if you have already served the information sheet then you will not need to re-serve this. The update  was to share  accessible versions had been added.  

Q: I have previously served my tenants with a section 21 notice. Do I also have to also serve the information sheet before the 31st May? 

A: As long as the section 21 notice is valid and was served correctly then you will not need to serve the information sheet until the conclusion of any possession proceedings. However, if you want to be extra cautious, you are free to serve the information sheet if you’d like to.  

Q: When do I need to join the database and ombudsman scheme, and how much will this cost? 

A: The new PRS database is due to be rolled out later this year, with a phased rollout planned across the country, with membership mandatory when the rollout is complete. Membership of the ombudsman scheme will not be mandatory until 2028. The Government has not yet announced how much registration for each scheme will cost, but we will update members as soon as this information is released. 

Q: Can I serve the information sheet via WhatsApp or does it have to be in person? 

A: You are free to serve the information sheet via WhatsApp, however we would also recommend sending a hard copy of the sheet to each tenant with confirmation that they have received it. It is also important to ensure that you are not simply sending your tenants a link to the information sheet but are actually serving the information sheet itself.  

Q: I have existing tenants under ASTs. When these transition to APTs after the 1st May, can the tenants challenge the existing rent? 

A: Your tenants can challenge any future rent increases and the existing rent within six months of a new tenancy, but not within six months of the changeover on 1st May. 

Listen back

If you registered for this webinar but were unable to attend or if you want to watch it back, you can by clicking here. 

Getting ready

Our new landlord starter pack for assured periodic tenancies (APTs) is the place to go for all the documents and checklists you need when setting up a new tenancy from 1st May, including our new tenancy agreement, deed of guarantee, holding deposit form, completion notes, compliance checklists, and documents for pets.   

We've also included specific guidance around compliance, including information to support you meet new regulations around advertising, including anti-discrimination requirements.  

Our downloadable start of tenancy checklist will also help you ensure you meet  your obligations and, importantly, secure a signed record from your tenants confirming this. 

Next webinar

Our webinar series will continue after commencement date. Our next one, entitled ‘Make sure your existing tenancies are compliant’ will be held  on 13th May from 11am-12pm 

As ever, the presentation will be followed by a live Q&A. 

To register, click here.  

More information

• To visit our Renters' Rights Hub, packed with information and resources to help you manage the transition, click here.    

• We have also developed an exclusive Navigator tool, offering you your personalised "to-do list” tailored to your needs, which can be accessed here.     

• The NRLA's award-winning training academy runs a comprehensive Renters' Rights Act training offer. Click here to book your place.