New How to Rent guide released by Government
A new 'How to Rent' guide has been released by Government this week, on Monday 2nd October, with private landlords reminded they MUST serve this version when creating a new AST.
Rules were brought in eight years ago making it mandatory for landlords in England to provide the latest version of ‘How to rent: a checklist for renting in England’ to their tenants when the first tenancy starts.
It forms part of the prescribed information landlords must issue, and if they do not, they lose the right to repossess using Section 21.
What has been updated?
Pages 15 and 17 of the guide have been updated to make reference to the new Housing Loss Prevention Advice Service.
Housing Loss Prevention Advice Service.
The Housing Loss Prevention Advice Service replaces the Housing Possession Court Duty Schemes (HCPDS) and allows tenants to access legal advice if they are at risk of losing their home.
This advice can be provided once the tenant has evidence they are at risk of possession proceedings.
The legal advice can cover a range of including:
• repossession claims
• rent arrears
• issues with welfare benefits payments
• debt concerns
• disrepair and other problems with housing conditions
The previous scheme (HCPDS) was only available on the day of the hearing, so this should mean that tenants have better access to legal support in housing matters.
More on the HLPAS can be read here.
The new version of the How to Rent guide can be accessed here.
• An archive of all previous editions of the How to Rent guide is available via the NRLA website exclusive for members.
• Understand more about the prescribed information you must issue at the start of a tenancy, in our Starting a Tenancy checklist, exclusive for NRLA members.