REGULATORY ROUND-UP: October

These are the latest main developments that you need to be aware of to be a fully-compliant and proactive landlord, along with the best-known timetables of other proposed changes and regulations.

Need to Know Scale

We've organised them in a need to know scale with the most pressing at the top through to things to be aware of at the bottom.

TAKE ACTION

1.

CARBON MONOXIDE ALARMS

As of October 1st, it became a requirement to ensure a carbon monoxide alarm is equipped in any room used as living accommodation which contains a fixed combustion appliance (excluding gas cookers). Ensure smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms are repaired or replaced once informed and found that they are faulty.

2.

RENT FREEZE AND EVICTION BAN, SCOTLAND

Emergency legislation brought forward in Scotland under the Cost of Living (Tenant Protection) Bill 2022 to freeze rents and eviction ban until March 21st, 2023 was passed on October 6th. At the time of writing this legislation has not taken effect as it is awaiting Royal ascent. When this is received the law will be backdated to September 6th 2022. It is also possible that the measures could be extended to September 30th, 2023 and then again to March 31st, 2024, after the measures have been reviewed to check that they’re still “necessary and proportionate”.

3.

COVID RIGHT TO RENT MEASURES HAVE ENDED

The temporary right to rent checks announced at the start of Covid-19 have now come to an end. This means that you or your agent need to either complete these checks in person or by using the relevant online services like the Home Office’s platform.

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BE AWARE

1.

SECTION 21 STILL BEING SCRAPPED

For a very short window during the Truss premiership reports from The Times claimed that the government’s long-planned abolition of the so called ‘No Fault’ route for evictions was not going to go ahead. She quickly denied this when asked in a parliamentary session. On June 16th the government published ‘A fairer private rented sector’, a whitepaper which sets out its plan for the Renters’ Reform Bill.

2.

HOLIDAY LET RATES RULE CHANGE

From April next year, new eligibility rules for business rates applying to self-catering properties in England and Wales will come into force. If your property does not match the new criteria you will be eligible for paying Council Tax.

WATCHING BRIEF

1.

EPC CHANGES

Under proposals from the government all new tenancies will require an energy performance rating of C or above from 2025 and existing tenancies from 2028.

2.

MAKING TAX DIGITAL

Coming into effect in April 2024 – Making Tax Digital for Income Tax Self-Assessment (MTD for ITSA) will requires landlords earning more than £10,000 to use MTDcompatible software to keep records and make four quarterly submissions, and then a final one, to HMRC a year.