From the Deregulation Act 2015 to the Immigration Act 2014 – Landlords need to be in the know

On the 1^st October 2015 a whole raft of changes came into force by virtue of the Deregulation Act 2015 which impact on whether a landlord can serve a valid section 21 notice on an assured shorthold tenant. Those landlords who get it wrong will not be able to obtain possession of properties let under assured shorthold tenancy agreements. Find out more

Further, from the 1^st February 2016, all private landlords in England and Wales must carry out right to rent checks. Sections 20 to 37 of, and Schedule 3 to, the Immigration Act 2014 prohibit private landlords from allowing certain people to occupy those properties. The prohibition is based on the immigration status of the occupiers. Landlord and agents must check the status of prospective tenants and other authorised occupiers to ascertain whether those parties have the right to be in the UK. The penalty if landlords and agents fail to comply is a fine of up to £3,000.

The position for landlords is now getting extremely complex and unfortunately many will fall foul of the new legislation. To ensure that you are not one of these landlords, contact Osbornes who are offering a fixed fee consultation and written advice for £499 (inclusive of VAT) for those landlords looking to seek possession of their property, issuing tenancy agreements  or those  who have already found themselves in difficulties.

For more information and advice on how these changes may effect you, contact our specialist housing lawyers. You can call the team on 020 7485 8811 or fill in our online enquiry form.

The Housing and Social Care team at Osbornes are recommended as a leading department in the UK by The Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners.