The Impact of Sub-Standard Rental Property and Inspections

1. The Impact of Sub-Standard Rental Property and Inspections Recently, legislation has been introduced to crack down on landlords who continue to rent our sub-par properties. Today we are going to share information that is not only vital information for landlords, but to tenants alike and all parties that may be involved in a property rental transaction. For landlords it is your responsibility to run good business and let out properties that are to legislation standards and avoid having to pay significant fines for violations. Tenants should know well when their rights are being violated, and know the areas where they can be protected by laws in place. What counts as a sub-standard rental property? By definition, it is a property that is deemed unfit for human habitation. A property can easily be categorized as such if it falls short in any one of these following areas: -Internal Arrangement

2. -Natural Lighting -Food Preparation and Waste Disposal Facilities -Ventilation -Drainage -Sanitary Conditions -Damp -Water Supply -Stability -Repairs -any of the other 29 prescribed hazards in total On top of the partial list above, new energy requirements in the UK have now been introduced and failing to meet them can cause the property to be deemed substandard. All rental properties must have an Energy performance certificate (EPC). Energy efficiency ratings range from A-G – A being the most efficient and G the least efficient – and the new regulations means that properties must have an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of between A and E, anything below and the property is considered substandard. How does this legislation empower tenants? This legislation provides a tenant with the power to hold their landlord accountable for the condition of their property, if the tenant can prove that the rented property is inhabitable or below the standard. Expert evidence can be provided by an independent environmental health practitioner or an inventory clerk in London, which can subsequently be material in substantiating the issues and the landlord’s liability in cases of greater complexity. The cost of non-compliance cab result in the landlord facing significant repair/renovation costs if councils serve an Improvement Notice to the landlord. Landlords who fail to meet the necessary requirements can find their properties sitting empty with the loss of rental income. Landlords who rent out properties that have an EPC rating of F or G will face financial penalties of up to £5,000 per property. Renting out a non-compliant property for less than 3 months will attract a fine of up to £2,000, whilst renting it out for more than 3 months could result in a fine of up to £4,000. In addition, providing false or misleading information on the PRS Exemptions Register or failing to comply with a compliance notice can attract further fines of £1,000 and £2,000 respectively. Fines are applied to each property and to each breach, and additional penalties may be payable. How can landlords prevent this from happening? The most important thing a Landlord can do? Regular property inspection! Hiring

3. the routine services of property inventory services in London, will nip the problem at the bud, and provide landlords with the evidence and documentation that their properties were in habitable condition before turning it over to the tenant. Regular and inspections and snagging inspections London for new properties are key tools that will help alleviate disputes down the line for a property owner. Never before has it been easier for landlords to protect themselves from falling foul of legislation and maintaining the value of their investments. Content Source : Property Inventory Services In London