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There are some rogue landlords who gain media coverage for flaunting rules and placing people in danger, but these outliers shouldn’t be used to judge the entire industry.

In our experience, most landlords are keen to follow health and safety regulations, even if the cost of doing so presents a few challenges. This means there will be interest across the lettings industry about the new plans revealed by the Housing Minister, Heather Wheeler. It is hoped that these plans will lead to the standard of living being improved across the country. Given that there will be many families and individuals living in poor conditions right now, this is positive news.

Most landlords want to offer a great service to tenants

For landlords who take pride in offering a suitable standard of home, it is unlikely that the new measures will have too much impact. In fact, they may even benefit if rogue landlords are forced out of the industry. While there are powers for local councils to enforce home improvements in low-quality homes, the regulations surrounding the standards haven’t been updated in over a decade.

The need to bring standards up to date is a key factor in the proposed changes to the system. The review will consider if the current system is fit for purpose and if it is not, it will examine what changes must be made. It is likely that the review will recommend minimum standards with respect to health and safety. Anything which creates a benchmark for the industry should be welcomed.

The Housing Minister stated; “Everyone has a right to feel safe and secure in their own home. These reviews will allow us to revisit the current systems for health and safety ratings and carbon monoxide alarms to ensure that both are fit for purpose and meeting the needs of tenants. By looking again at these rules, we can make sure that they are working as they should to keep people safe and give them peace of mind in their homes.”

Carbon monoxide alarms are a pressing concern

An area that will be focused on in the review is the issue of carbon monoxide alarms. With close to 8 million carbon monoxide alarms in England alone, these are a vital tool in keeping people safe. However, there are concerns that these regulations need to be reviewed and updated to ensure that they offer benefits. It is hoped that these alarms never need to be used but if they are required, it is essential that they can be relied upon.

At Addison Giles, we know many landlords struggle to keep up to date with all the regulations in their industry. However, if you would like assistance and clear guidance, we are more than happy to help. We have helped many landlords remain up to date with all compliance matters, and we look forward to assisting you, so please get in touch.

The Property Ombudsman The National Approved Letting Scheme Tenants Deposit Scheme Rightmove Zoopla Primelocation OnTheMarket