The deadline for this mandatory requirement has been pushed back twice in the past few years, but a firm date of 1st April 2021 now exists. From that date, all letting agents must have Client Money Protection, which covers the misappropriation of their landlords’ and tenants’ money. So, check your letting agent has it in place!
Electrical safety checks - confirmed
Since 1st July 2020, an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) must have been carried out (and a copy provided to the tenants) when starting a new tenancy. From 1st April 2021, EICR’s will become mandatory for all tenancies.
In July 2020 the stamp duty exemption rate was increased from £125,000 to £500,000. Although landlords are still subject to the 3% additional property surcharge, it has meant big savings have been on offer on property purchases (of upto £15,000). This is set to end on 31st March, although it’s quite possible that this period will be extended. What is confirmed though is that, from 1st April, all non-UK residents will be liable for an additional 2% stamp duty surcharge.
Emergency legislation in light of Covid-19 currently means landlords must provide tenants with six months’ notice (compared to the normal two months). This is set to end on the 31st March, but it’s likely that political pressure will see this period extended. Worryingly for landlords, this ‘temporary’ measure could set the way for the full abandonment of the current ‘no fault’ Section 21 notice system. This has been lobbied for by pro-tenant groups and discussed for years, and would result in all evictions needing to go through the courts (which are already stretched beyond capacity…).
Nothing has been confirmed in this regard, but Rishi Sunak
did say that tax increases in 2021 were “inescapable” after the vast sums of
money spent dealing with the coronavirus pandemic. One likely candidate is
Capital Gains Tax, whereby the rates are increased to match those of the income
tax bands (for which many landlords are now in higher brackets, due to the full
ramifications of the ‘Section 24’ mortgage interest relief changes being felt).
Since February 2016, landlords in England have had to check
their prospective tenants’ immigration status to ensure they had the right to
live in the UK. Brexit has brought in a new points-based system, but landlords
have been told to continue with the existing checks until 30th June.
Guidance for what to do after then is due to be released in the Spring.
A bill has been put forward that would allow tenants to have a pet without requiring their landlord’s approval. Whilst I am typically pet-friendly as a letting agent / landlord, some people and types of property simply aren’t suited to having a certain type, or number, of pets. Many landlords also simply do not like being dictated to, as further control about their property gets taken away from them.
Whilst no one knows what the future holds, we can at least prepare ourselves for what might happen. Those who are able to adapt to the frequently changing world of lettings should be well-placed to cater for the growing number of tenants, at a time when the number of landlords and available properties is decreasing.
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Since February 2016 it has been a legal requirement for landlords in England to check their prospective tenants or lodgers have the right to live in the UK. A landlord’s failure to undertake these checks is a criminal offence, which can lead to five years imprisonment and an unlimited fine - so they will want to do them! 
Having written these weekly articles for over five years now, I hope they have imparted some of my knowledge and insights about the property market on to you. I forget though that sometimes people will be reading them for the first time, particularly if they have only just begun thinking about investing in buy-to-let. If that sounds like you, read on…
Since February 2016 all private landlords in England have had to check their prospective tenants right to live in the UK. The pilot scheme prior to this was responsible for finding 109 individuals living in the UK illegally, as landlords are responsible for reporting such people to the Home Office. A landlord’s failure to undertake these checks is a criminal offence that can lead to five years imprisonment and an unlimited fine (don’t worry landlords of mine - I do the checks for you).
