A residential buy-to-let property investment has long been regarded as a tax efficient and lucrative method of wealth creation. Anyone who was credit-worthy and had a reasonable deposit could become a landlord. Simple. But things have changed. While property remains an excellent investment, usually yielding both respectable annual profits and capital growth, the sector has become so regulated that it has become almost impossible for the average landlord to ensure that they are “trading” legally, without the help of a specialist lettings management company.

 

Although our job is to find and vet and manage our landlord’s investment properties, more than ever before we have had to become experts in the regulations surrounding property investment, in order to protect our clients. So if you are currently managing your own property or portfolio of properties, or you are thinking of going it alone, we’d urge you to think twice, as the implications (such as fines and unwitting criminal records) can be huge.  

 

Here’s a selection of over 120 laws and regulations that have implications for landlords:

 

         Housing and Planning Act 2016 (Banning Order Offences) Regulations 2018

         Housing and Planning Act 2016 (Database of Rogue Landlords and Property Agents) Regulations 2018  

         Housing and Planning Act 2016

         Tenancy Notices and Prescribed Requirements Regulations 2015 

         Selective Licensing of Houses (Additional Conditions) (England) Order 2015

         Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm Regulations 2015 

         Deregulation Act 2015

         Consumer Rights Act 2015 

         Immigration Act 2014

         Growth and Infrastructure Act 2013

         Construction (Design and Management) Regulation 2012 

         Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 

         Energy Performance of Building Regulations 2007 to 2012 

         Social Security (Notification of Change of Circumstances) Regulations 2011 

         Energy Act 2011 

         Equalities Act 2011 

         Misleading Marketing Regulations 2008

         Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 

         The Licensing and Management of Houses in Multiple Occupation (Additional Provisions) (England) Regulations 2007

         Housing (Tenancy Deposits) (Prescribed Information) Order 2007 

         Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007 

         The Administration Charges (Summary of Rights Obligations) (England) Regulations 2007 

         Service Charges (Summary of Rights and Obligations and Transitional Provisions) (England) Regulations 2007

         Town and Country Planning (Control of Advertisements)(England) Regulations 2007 

         Energy Performance of Buildings (Certificates and Inspections) (England and Wales) Regulations 2007

         Health Act 2006 

         Management of Houses in Multiple Occupation (England) Regulations 2006 

         Selective Licensing of Houses (Specific Exemptions) (England) Order 2006 

         Licensing of Houses in Multiple Occupation (Prescribed Descriptions) (England) Order 2006 

         Licensing and Management of Houses in Multiple Occupation and other houses (Miscellaneous Provisions) (England) Regulations 2006

         Housing Health and Safety Rating System Regulations 2005 

         Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 

         General Product Safety Regulations 2005 

         Consumer Protection (Distance Selling) Regulations 2005 

         Fire and Rescue Services Act 2004 

         Housing Act 2004 

         The Electrical Safety Quality and Continuity Regulations 2002 

         Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Act 2002 

         Enterprise Act 2002

         Private Water Supply Regulations 2001 

         Housing Benefit Regulations 2001 

         Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit (Decisions and Appeals) Regulations 2001 

         Child Support, Pensions and Social Security Act 2000 

         Utilities Act 2000 

         Building Regulations 2000 

         Rent Act (Maximum Fair Rent) Order 1999 

         The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 

         Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations 1999 

         Unfair Contract Terms in Consumer Contracts Regulations 1999 

         Data Protection Act 1998 

         Gas Safety Regulations 1998

         Assured Tenancies and Agricultural Occupancies (Forms) Regulations 1997 

         Party Wall Etc Act 1996 

         Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1996 

         Housing Act 1996 

         Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995 

         Gas Appliance (Safety) Regulations 1995 

         Landlord and Tenant (Covenants) Act 1995 

         Reporting of Injuries Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995 

         Plugs and sockets etc (Safety) Regulations 1994 

         Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 1994 

         Law of Property (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1994 

         Leasehold Reform etc Act 1993 

         Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) (Amendment) Regulations 1993

         Clean Air Act 1993 

         Council Tax (Administration and Enforcement) Regulations 1992 

         Local Government Finance Act 1992 

         Council Tax (Chargeable Dwellings) Order 1992 

         Council Tax (Exempt Dwellings) Order 1992 

         Council Tax (Liability of Owners) Regulations 1992 

         Social Security Administration Act 1992 

         Water Industry Act 1991 

         Environmental Protection Act 1990 

         Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (as amended) 

         Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 

         Electricity Act 1989 

         Law of Property (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1989 

         Electricity at Work Regulation 1989 

         Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1988 

         Furniture and furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988 

         Landlord and Tenant Act 1988 

         Housing Act 1988 

         Town and Country Planning (Use Classes) Order 1987 

         Landlord and Tenant Act 1987 

         Gas Act 1986 

         Insolvency Act 1996 and Insolvency Rules 1986 

         Business Names Act 1985 

         Housing Act 1985 

         Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 

         County Courts Act 1984 

         Building Act 1984 

         Supply of Goods and Services Act 1982

         Rent Books (Form of Notices) Regulations 1982 

         Housing Act 1980 

         Limitation Act 1980 

         Housing Act 1980 

         Notices to Quit (Prescribed Information) Regulations 1980 

         The Regulated Tenancies (Procedure) Regulations 1980 

         Rent Regulation (Cancellation of Registration of Rent) Regulations 1980 

         Torts (Interference with Goods) Act 1977 

         Rent Act 1977 

         Protection from Eviction Act 1977 

         Unfair Contract Terms Act 1977 

         Criminal Law Act 1977 

         Control of Pollution Act 1974 

         Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 

         Defective Premises Act 1972 

         Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 

         Cost of Leases Act 1958 

         Rights of Entry (Gas and Electricity Boards) Act 1954 

         Prevention of Damage by Pests Act 1949 

         Leasehold Property (Repairs) Act 1938 

         Public Health Act 1936 

         Landlord and Tenant Act 1927 

         Law of Property Act 1925 

         Law of Distress (Amendment) Act 1908 

         Common Law Procedure Act 1852 

         Distress for Rent Act 1737 

         Landlord & Tenant Act 1730 

         General Data Protection Regulation (EU) 2016/679

         (Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation and Liability for Housing Standards) Bill 2018, (not yet law)

 

Most landlords recognise the benefit of using a specialist letting agency such as ourselves, as we have a deep understanding of the regulations. Part of our job is to ensure that you are fully compliant so that you can sleep at night, knowing your investment is performing – legally!

   

© Copyright 2020 Richard Rawlings except as excluded under licence.