Inventory clerks are ideally placed to protect landlords from some heavy fines triggered by the Renters Reform Bill, it’s been claimed.
The Bill, currently awaiting its Second Commons Reading, proposes to extend the Decent Homes Standard (already implemented in social housing) to the Private Rented Sector.
Nick Lyons, managing director of inventory and property inspection firm NoLettingGo, says: “The task of professionally monitoring the condition of a property is tailor-made for inventory clerks.
“We already undertake pre-tenancy, mid-term and end of tenancy checks and deliver a professional report on what we find. Extending this service to include an assessment of a ‘Decent Standard’ would be a logical addition.”
According to the 2021 English Housing Survey, 23 per cent of homes in the private rental sector are ‘non decent’.
And earlier this month, a new analysis by the Home Builders’ Federation, claimed that homes in England were less affordable and in worse condition than most other developed countries including Hungary, Poland and Lithuania.
New measures proposed in the Bill would introduce a landlords’ Property Portal on which all landlords will have to register their properties and declare that they met the Decent Homes Standard. Landlords who make a false declaration could face fines of up to £30,000.
The standard currently applying to the social sector outlines that homes must be free from health and safety hazards, in a good state of repair, have appropriate facilities and be sufficiently warm.
Lyons says: “Even though some of the finer details are yet to be worked out, you can see the Government wants to introduce more regulation and minimum standards into the PRS – from measures combating damp and mould to minimum energy efficiency standards.
“There is a ready-made role here for inventory clerks - who already provide professional reports to lettings agents and landlords - to safeguard landlords by alerting them to potential problems before they become serious issues in danger of falling foul of the law.
“Many landlords are abroad much of the time or are too busy with other things to keep track of the condition of every property in their portfolio.
“Regular inspections are going to become an essential part of any lettings business and this would seem to me to be a natural extension of the inventory service because clerks are already making regular visits to rented properties.”
Want to comment on this story? Our focus is on providing a platform for you to share your insights and views and we welcome contributions.
If any post is considered to victimise, harass, degrade or intimidate an individual or group of individuals, then the post may be deleted and the individual immediately banned from posting in future.
Please help us by reporting comments you consider to be unduly offensive so we can review and take action if necessary. Thank you.
.jpg)
.png)
Join the conversation
Jump to latest comment and add your reply
Probably a good idea but how much would rents need to increase to pay for it?
Not a good idea another nail in the coffin, a huge cost to Renting I have had all this before printed booklet’s looking back at some of the old ones full of Bull. Maybe better have the £30k fine or join the Lady in Bristol.
Another cost to be passed on to tenants!
Not worth the paper it’s printed on in my experience
None of this matters when the private rental sector is systematically and deliberately being destroyed - it is not going to make any business sense at all to operate in it shortly.
Another unnecessary expense we don't need!
Landlords are exiting the BTL industry for several reasons, including the potential impact of the Renter's Reform Bill, the requirement for properties to have a minimum EPC rating, increased legislation and compliance burdens, delays in obtaining possession orders, reduced mortgage interest relief, higher stamp duty charges, lower rental yields due to rising property prices, changes in tenant demand and affordability, the time and effort required to manage properties, and the exploration of alternative investment opportunities.
I've had 'professional' inventories done. A few quick snaps and basic remarks. No detail whatsoever. I tried to leave work to get there for it to be done (my agent's clerk). But they had been in and gone. I was about 20 mins late. They completely missed any photos in the expensive bathroom area they were in such a rush. Useless.
I am a Hands-on Landlord for 50 years & I know exactly how to conduct an Inventory & take Images before the Tenacy begins, during & on Vacation.
The system is biased against the landlord in favour of the Tenant.
When this company did one for me, they read the wrong meters despite it being pretty obvious which were the right ones.
Too much open bias in the system for these to be remotely worth having. As George has said not worth the paper they are written on.
That's surely going to increase supply to bring rents down for tenants. Isnt it?
Why are they bringing more stuff in that ends up hurting tenants.
If we already getting in trouble for tenant taking battery out smoke alarm, being fined 5k for taking illegal immigrant, fined £350 for tenant letting down Selective Licensing inspection, we now have this.
Wake up Mr Govt please. U getting all this wrong.
Another cost that’s not needed. Been a L Lord for decades. Why di we need it now. Inventory. Never needed one take pics or video. That’s all that’s needed. It’s just givin someone a job title. And like above- rents will go up cos of the cost .
I always have an inventory with photos conducted by a member of the AIIC so that in the event of a dispute, their independence will weigh in my favour.
Please login to comment