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TODAY'S OTHER NEWS

BTL landlords face tough new rules on electrical safety

The government has committed to introduce mandatory five yearly electrical safety checks in the private rented sector.

No time date has been outlined for the implementation of the mandatory checks, with the consultation response outlining that Electrical Safety Standards in the private rented sector ‘will be introduced as soon as parliamentary time allows’.

The government’s decision to tighten up rules on electrical safety, which forms parts of its commitment to drive up standards in the PRS, will mean that landlords will be legally required to ensure that the inspectors they hire to carry out safety inspections have the necessary competence and qualifications to do so – with tough financial penalties for those who fail to comply.

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New guidance which sets out the minimum level of competence and qualifications necessary for those carrying out these important inspections will be published by the government.

Housing minister Heather Wheeler said: “Everyone has the right to feel safe and secure in their own home. While measures are already in place to crack down on the small minority of landlords who rent out unsafe properties, we need to do more to protect tenants.

“These new measures will reduce the risk of faulty electrical equipment, giving people peace of mind and helping to keep them safe in their homes.

“It will also provide clear guidance to landlords on who they should be hiring to carry out these important electrical safety checks.

“The new guidance will provide clear accountability at each stage of the inspection process – of what is required and whose responsibility it is – but without placing excessive cost and time burdens on landlords.”

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    I thought this was law anyway? But this still does not change the fact that any tenant can go to a car boot sale and pick up a faulty iron or kettle or even Xmas lights. Plug them in go out and get a pint of milk and hey presto a fire!
    All legislation in the H&S department is a total joke.

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    I have a property some years back where the tenant actualy hot wired the meter with a coat hanger .god knows how he did that with out getting the shock.

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    Maybe Tenants should be put through a competence test to make sure that they are capable of using equipment in a rental property. They can then be tested periodically to make sure that they comply with current legislation!! Just a thought.........

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    We will soon be needing a separate file to keep all our certificates in.
    More checks, more rental charges, more licensing, etc etc, it is indeed a challenging time to be a private landlord.

  • John Cart

    More total crap from this Socialist government.

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    • 31 January 2019 03:56 AM

    I can see we are going down the road of a sort of HIP whereby all relevant and required info will be in one pack.
    Without one complete a LL will not be allowed to let.
    Whilst things like electrical checks can look a bit of a pain I can see the logic of all these things being required.
    I look upon it as a CODB and yes this will mean rents have to rise.
    Given the choice most tenants will pay the rent demanded.
    Mostly easily afforded by giving up smoking as most of those in rent distress smoke and drink.
    Simple choice really; have a roof over your head or smoke and drink!
    Even though these additional expenses are a pain it would get rid of a lot of the wrongun LL.
    Of course along with the items you have mentioned there is also the EPC requirement.
    E status will be out of date in a few years time.
    Without much expense being expended your average terrace house will not be able to comply with the increasing EPC statuses.
    With all these additional cost burdens LL who don't believe they can increase rents will have to take the hit if they can't increase rents and that doesn't even include real term increases.
    Potentially the business asset may be considered unviable.
    With all these expenditures being required it could take years to get payback.
    That being the case it would be pretty pointless the LL continuing to let.
    Far better to sell to some dopey FTB who doesn't understand they are buying a lemon that no LL will ever want.
    So they will be restricted to selling to only homebuyers.
    It is pretty pointless having an asset on which you cannot increase the price for at least on an annual basis.
    This on the basis that there are new cost burdens and there must always be scope to increase rents otherwise the LL just has to suffer decreasing net yield.
    What is the point of that!!?
    Many LL would do well to sell off properties where it is a struggle to increase rents and reinvest in other areas in perhaps 1 property with reduced gearing and scope for rent increases as the continuing stream of additional cost burdens rains down on LL.
    It seemed that for about 15 years everything remained pretty much the same.
    It now seems every couple of months there is a new cost burden.
    I would certainly avoid any area where there was Selective or Additional licensing and any areas that looked dodgy enough to attract future Selective Licensing.
    I reckon the way things are going it definitely is not worth bothering with the lower end of the market anymore.
    Especially since this stupid regulation where the tenant can now complain and it costing the LL £100 every complaint.
    Can you imagine your average rental property let to HB tenants!!

    There would be so many complaints it would bankrupt the LL!
    A flight to quality is about the only way for a LL not to suffer vexatious claims from tenants.
    Then we have the problem of actually being able to increase rents because of rent controls.
    It is highly likely that London will continueue to vote for a left wing Mayor who have vowed to impose rent controls.
    For this reason alone I would sell up in London and invest my capital outside London.
    LL are going to have to seriously review their business models for individual properties to work out their future viability.
    The ability to increase rent is a vital part of being a LL.
    Investing in areas where this might not be possible is pretty dumb investing especially in light of all the seemingly never ending new cost burdens.
    LL need to take a hard nosed look at their investments as to whether it is worth it anymore where they are currently invested.
    The direction of travel is clear.
    There will be many more cost burdens coming
    The past 15 years have been a 'golden' period for LL.
    Expect the CODB to increase all the time.
    There must be scope to increase rent otherwise the LL will be in dire straits.




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