The Renters Rights Bill - A new mandatory Ombudsman for all landlords đź“‹
The Renters Right Bill plans to introduce a mandatory Ombudsman for all landlords. What do we know so far?
The Renters Right Bill plans to introduce a new private rented sector Ombudsman for all landlords. Here's what we know;
- The government will create a new private rented sector Ombudsman and all landlords in England will need to register, even if they use a letting/managing agent.
- Tenants will be able to use the service for free to complain about a landlords’ actions or behaviours.
- Local authorities will be able to take action against landlords who fail to join the Ombudsman scheme or against anyone who markets a property to let where the landlord is not registered. This will include civil penalties of up to ÂŁ7,000 for initial breaches and up to ÂŁ40,000 or criminal prosecution for continuing or repeated breaches.
- Tenants will be able to seek rent repayment orders against their landlord if the landlord commits an offence by persistently failing to join the ombudsman service.
- As with current Ombudsman schemes, the landlord will agree to adhere to any decision made of the new PRS Ombudsman.
- There is likely to be a cost to join the scheme for Landlords, yet to be disclosed.