Fact sheets and FAQs

A ministerial working group, established in 2020, sought to review the existing issues with cladding and found that the process for remediation was overly complex and was preventing the sale of homes. The Act is designed to help facilitate more buildings to have their cladding remediated to higher standards, so they are less likely to lead to further loss of life in the event of a fire.

Under the Immigration Act 2014, since 1 February 2016, all landlords of private rented accommodation in England have been required to carry out Right to Rent checks for new tenancy agreements to determine whether all adult occupiers aged 18 and over have the right to live in the UK.

In May 2015, the UK Government announced that they would extend mandatory licensing of HMOs to address poor conditions and overcrowding. Under the Housing Act 2004, an HMO is a property rented out by at least three people who are not from one ‘household’ but share facilities like the bathroom and kitchen.

Under the Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Act 2018, the UK Government introduced a new regime of issuing financial sanctions following the UK’s departure from the European Union. Under the Act, businesses specified in the Act have to report to the OFSI if they suspect they are engaging with a client who is under financial sanctions.

The Housing Act 2004 allows local authorities to apply for Selective Licensing of privately rented properties in areas which are experiencing low housing demand and/or suffering from anti-social behaviour. The same Act also introduced a new licensing regime for Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO).

The Housing Act 2004 introduced licensing for Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs). Additional licensing is when a local authority can impose a licence on other categories of HMOs in its area which are not subject to mandatory licensing.

On 26 March 2024, the Scottish Government published the Housing (Scotland) Bill. The Bill is a significant piece of legislation that will have implications for letting agents and their landlords. Here we answer some of the most frequent questions about the proposals contained in the Bill.

After the invasion of Ukraine, the UK Government took steps to address growing concerns of money laundering and other economic crime from Russian and foreign entities operating in the UK or with UK companies. This led to the introduction of the Economic Crime (Transparency and Enforcement) Act in March 2022.

Under the Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing and Transfer of Funds (Information on the Payer) Regulations 2017 (the MLRs) all Estate Agency Businesses and Letting Agency Businesses with properties that have a monthly rent that is the equivalent to 10,000 Euros or more, must produce a risk assessment.

The Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024 makes a number of changes which will affect long term homeownership for leaseholds and homeowners on managed estates. Key changes within the Act include restricting the granting of new long residential leases for houses.

One in five properties in England (4.98 million) and one in six in Wales (235,000) are leasehold. The Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024 follows the Leasehold Reform (Ground Rent) Act 2022 and makes a number of changes which will affect long term homeownership for leaseholds and homeowners on managed estates.

The scheme provides a temporary period of respite from creditor action to help people in problem debt consider their options and engage with professional debt advice. The Scheme came into force on 4 May 2021, but qualifying debts can include any that the debtor had before the legislation started.

In the Summer Budget 2015 the UK Government decided to introduce measures to change how landlord’s businesses are taxed. The Government’s aim was for the measure to alleviate the cost of replacing furnishings in a wider range of property businesses.

The purpose of the Ivory Act is to prohibit commercial activities concerning ivory in the UK and the import and re-export of ivory for commercial purposes to and from the UK. This includes intra-EU trade to and from the UK.

In the Summer Budget 2015, the UK Government introduced measures to change how landlords’ businesses are taxed. Their aim was to alleviate the cost of replacing furnishings in a wider range of property businesses.

The Regulations introduce the requirement for landlords to ensure that electrical safety checks are conducted at a private tenancy and at regular intervals following the first inspection. Local authorities will also have the ability to serve notices to landlords if they believe the property does not have a valid inspection report.

The Bill was published on 11 September 2024 with the aim of changing the law about rented homes in England. The legislation will abolish fixed term assured tenancies and assured short hold tenancies, whilst delivering on the Labour Party’s manifesto commitment to transform the experience of private renting—including by ending Section 21 ‘no fault’ evictions.

The Bill aims to reform rental laws in England. It includes protections for tenants against unfair rent increases, clearer grounds for eviction, and the introduction of a landlords’ ombudsman service. The Bill also addresses rental discrimination, the right to keep pets, and enforces the Decent Homes Standard.