New Landlord Deposit Rules

amboy

Suprised that some people think they are above the law, deal with the factthat it is legislation and the fines are there for everyone to see, the media campaign has already started so tenants will know about it. Also as well as the fine, you will also not be able to serve the S.21.

If you are whinging about the ins. based scheme then dont use it, use the custodial one, its FREE.

Oh and as a side note for LL not taking inventories or photo evidence of the state of the property before tenants move in, you may as well IMO not bother taking a deposit. If there is a dispute at end of tenancy where LL and tenant cant agree, you have 2 choices -

use the ADR which will be a binding decision, the onus is on the LL to prove why and justify amount of deductions. £300 for cleaning a typical 3 bed house is not IMO.

Or you will have to pay for the court route, either way without evidence you will be stuffed.

Also worth doing a tariff of charges before tenants move in, clearly listing typical prices for -
cleaning a room
painting a room
cleaning a cooker
etc.

HTH

Generali

amboy wrote: »

Suprised that some people think they are above the law, deal with the factthat it is legislation and the fines are there for everyone to see, the media campaign has already started so tenants will know about it. Also as well as the fine, you will also not be able to serve the S.21.

If you are whinging about the ins. based scheme then dont use it, use the custodial one, its FREE.

As a tenant, I think this is a great scheme. I had one deposit taken by the landlord - no explanation, refused to return my calls. I was too naive to sue.

Another landlady took £1k for leaving a bag of garden rubbish on the balcony! I am no longer naive and am suing her sorry donkey. (Donkey geddit??? oh well suit yourself).

I am against socialism in all it's nasty and insidious forms but landlords bring this on themselves.

The actions of landlords forced govt to act to prevent tenants being gassed with CO because so many LLs wanted to squeeze a few quid extra profit - who cares if it's at the expense of the tenant's life. The bad minority(?) bring this on the rest.

Gorgeous_George

I don´t have a problem witht the rental deposit scheme. I just can´t see it working. Whatever happens, the increased costs will be passed on to tenants.

As for the gas safety regulations, I fully support the requirement for LLs to provide a safety certificate at the start of the tenancy but I think it should be the tenants responsibility to renew this on an annual basis. Again, it is not a problem for the good LLs and the costs are met by the tenant through increased rents.

They can bring out a law that walls must be redecorated if they wish and añll carpets replaced too of that´s what rocks their boat.
¨GG

King_Of_Fools

Gorgeous_George wrote: »

They can bring out a law that walls must be redecorated if they wish and añll carpets replaced too of that´s what rocks their boat.

The tenant will not die due to old carpets, however. I think it is very sensible that the owner of the house should ensure it is safe to live in. Making subsequent years the responsibility of the tenant is a bad idea as most will not care and not bother but the landlord would still be held responsible.

thesaint

King_Of_Fools wrote: »

The tenant will not die due to old carpets, however. I think it is very sensible that the owner of the house should ensure it is safe to live in. Making subsequent years the responsibility of the tenant is a bad idea as most will not care and not bother but the landlord would still be held responsible.

I think Georgeous George was making the point that all costs will simply be passed onto tenants, so any costs levied onto the landlord will be passed onto the tenant anyway.

I never had an admin fee before, but I will have one of £20 come the new financial year.

Re: the Gas safety check scenario, you say that the landlord should do it because the tenant would not bother, so why should the landlord be responsible for someone who doesn't care or bother?

seven-day-weekend

I just will not take a deposit, I will ask the lodgers to pay weekly so that if they do leave without paying rent it is only a week's money lost.

My son lives in the house as well so there is no problems with them trashing the place.

I only charge enough rent to cover the bills/repairs - really they are my son's lodgers but because it is my house and not his, I have to be the landlord, and because I do not live in the house, the tenure defaults to an AST.

This is our UK family home. I am not in it for profit, the lodgers' rent and my son's contribution just pay the bills/repairs. I have made £32 profit this year.:eek:

No way am I paying into a deposit scheme, or even taking the trouble to put it into the free one.

(I do have a Gas Safety Certificate).

thesaint

Is it not possible to be the landlord of someone else's house?

seven-day-weekend

thesaint wrote: »

Is it not possible to be the landlord of someone else's house?

As far as I understand in the situation we are in, no. I am not a Council or a Housing Association, the house is owned by me and my husband and therefore our son is a tenant as well as the other two people who live in the house.

I shall be glad to find out that this information is incorrect.

Generali

Gorgeous_George wrote: »

I don´t have a problem witht the rental deposit scheme. I just can´t see it working. Whatever happens, the increased costs will be passed on to tenants.

It'll be passed on if the market will support it. If tenants prefer to find a LL that won't then you can't pass it on.

Gorgeous_George wrote: »

As for the gas safety regulations, I fully support the requirement for LLs to provide a safety certificate at the start of the tenancy but I think it should be the tenants responsibility to renew this on an annual basis.

Presumably it's up to you to check that your car isn't 2 welded together if you buy 2nd hand, that shouldn't be illegal. Or that your steak in a restaurant isn't meat declared unfit for human consumption. Caveat emptor even at the price of human life!

thesaint

Generali,

How would a tenant know that £15 has been passed on?
As I understand it, landlords can't state that they are passing it on, so it will be included by a myriad of other ways.

Why shouldn't the tenant pay the price for their money to be protected? It is of no advantage to the landlord to administer this extra legislation.

As an aside, it isn't illegal to weld two cars together.