The Tenant Fees Act 2019 – how does this affect Landlords in the UK?
Landlords in the UK are facing further changes in legislation with the introduction of the Tenant Fees Act 2019 (Act) which came into effect on 1 June 2019.
The purpose of the Act is to change what landlords or letting agents can seek to recover from a tenant of an assured shorthold tenancy (AST), a lodger letting and a student letting. It will also restrict a landlord’s ability to serve a valid notice under section 21 of the Housing Act 1988 to terminate an AST until it has returned any prohibited payment to the tenant.
An example of a prohibited payment is requiring a tenant to engage professional cleaners at the end of the tenancy. However, an AST may include a term that the property is cleaned to a professional standard but not require the tenant to use professional cleaners.
Under the Act, landlords will need to review their tenancy agreements for new tenancies and renewal tenancies granted after 1 June 2019. Any tenancies granted before 1 June 2019 will be affected by the Act after 1 year from the commencement of the Act. Any prohibited provisions within these tenancies following this date will cease to be binding on the tenant and it will be an offence for any landlord or letting agent to accept any such payment.
If you are a current landlord or thinking of letting out your property and would like specific advice on how the change in legislation may affect you, please do contact one of our team.
Our Real Estate team is delighted to share our latest updated UK Residential Property Brochure, now available in both English and Arabic.
UK Residential Property Investment Brochure (English)
UK Residential Property Investment Brochure (Arabic)
For more information or assistance please contact Simon Green or Kelly Dunn.
