Renters' Rights Act: Training spotlight

The Renters' Rights Act promises the biggest changes to lettings in a generation, and with penalties of up to £40,000 for getting things wrong it is vital that you are aware of your responsibilities.

With 1st May just over six months away, now is the time to get ahead of the curve and ensure you have done everything you can to prepare.

Thousands of you have already taken our Renters’ Rights training course, which breaks down the Act's most important legal changes and what will be expected of you, offering clear, jargon-free explanations and practical advice.

Both eLearning and eClassroom courses are on offer, with extra dates added to meet demand, with eClassroom sessions having the added bonus of allowing you to ask questions of the trainer in real time. 

Building on the popularilty of this course - and in response to member demand - our award-winning Training Academy has now developed a series on new in-depth courses focussing on specific elements of the Act and how to navigate them.

There are also courses tailored specifically for landlords operating in the student market, and those in the social sector.

Courses now on offer include: 

Pre-tenancy

There are a number of changes being introduced under the new rules. You will need to state a specific rent when letting a property, and won't be able to encourage rent bidding wars or accept offers over the stated rent. Also, crucially, the loss of Section 21 means landlords are likely to find it much harder to gain possession.

Reasons (grounds) for seeking possession will need to be cited and evidenced. It is therefore vital that thorough tenant referencing is done, including credit checks and previous landlord and employer references. 

Tenants will be able to end a tenancy by giving two months' notice at any point, meaning landlords could face more frequent re-letting, so it is important to ensure your tenants are the right fit - and can afford your property.

This course will go through all these pre-tenancy checks in detail, as well as outlining all the legal documentation you will need to serve to comply once the Act is in force in May. 

To find out more, click here.

Ending a tenancy

As outlined above will be harder to end a tenancy once the Section 21 route is no longer available, and Section 8 grounds will need to be cited and evidenced to gain possession. While the so-called 'no fault' route will no longer be available the number of grounds will increase.

However even where you have solid grounds and evidence court wait times are expected to be lengthy - with the current six month wait time between serving notice and gaining possession at risk of increasing significantly.

This course will cover all the new grounds, legal notice periods and new statutory requirements and procedures to help you navigate the new legislation with confidence.

To find out more click here.

Enforcement

Local authorities are going to be given a range of additional powers under the Renters' Rights Act. 

The new rules include: 

• The introduction of 15 new offences that can see landlords issued with civil penalties. 
• An increase in the maximum civil penalty fine that can be imposed of up to £40,000. 
• The introduction of six new offences that can result in landlords facing a rent repayment order. 
• An increase in the maximum claim period for such orders, with tenants now able to claim back up to two years of rent payments for breaches. 

Local authorities will also be able to demand documentary evidence to prove compliance and will have the power to enter business premises or rented residential accommodation without a warrant in certain cases. 

As councils will be breach of the law if they fail to enforce the new rules it is likely private rented housing will be a high priority for enforcement teams across England and Wales, so it is more important than ever that you are on top of all your legal obligations – and have the documents to prove it. 

These are major changes, and this course will ensure you are aware of all the changes on the cards - and your obligations and responsibilities.

Click here to find out more.

Student lets 

Student landlords will see some of the biggest changes, which is why we have developed a specific course for those of you operating in this area. Once the Act is in force student landlords will only be able to gain possession using the new Ground 4A if they have houses in multiple occupation (HMOs) with three or more sharers - and extra criteria are met, namely that all tenants are full-time students (or expected to be) when the tenancy starts.

They will also need to inform tenants they intend to use Ground 4A at the start of the tenancy and will no longer be able to ask for rent in advance.

This course will have a strong practical focus, helping you develop new strategies for stress-free student lets while remaining compliant with the new rules. 

For more information, click here.

Social housing

Specifically designed for those operating within the social housing sphere, this will cover all the key changes which will be introduced in the Act - and has been developed to support housing officers, landlords, and property managers when it comes to getting to grips with the new obligations.

To find out more, click here.

More information

You can visit our Renters' Rights Act training pages here.

You can check out our Renters’ Rights Act Hub for FAQs and guidance and can also join the thousands of landlords who have already taken our Renters’ Rights Act training courses. Click here for more information.