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Owner occupiers, renters and landlords. Grants available for eligible* households living in E, F or G homes to fund green affordable warmth improvements.
*includes joint annual income under £30,000
Contact for more information:
www.energyathome.org.uk
0800 038 5680
energyathome@bathnes.gov.uk
SWLA’s December bulletin has been posted to members.
If you prefer to read it electronically, you can read in online; December Bulletin
You can also read previous issues; Latest Bulletins
How to Rent Guide Updated – 10th December 2020
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/how-to-rent
It is mandatory for landlords to provide the latest version of the ‘How to rent: a checklist for renting in England’ to tenants before a tenancy starts – and on renewal of the tenancy if there has been an update to the contents of the guide.
SWLA recommend that landlords give the guide to tenants at the start of each new tenancy and at the start of each renewal (new fixed term), ensuring that there is no doubt that the tenant has received the most up to date version.
Landlords should obtain the How to Rent Guide directly from the gov.uk website to ensure that the most up to date copy is provided.
How to Let Guide Updated – 10th December 2020
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/how-to-let
The How to Let Guide for landlords has also been updated, It explains the responsibilities, legal requirements and best practice for letting a property in the private rented sector.
How to rent a Safe Home Guide Updated – 10th December 2020
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/how-to-rent-a-safe-home
This guide is for social and private rented sector tenants and explains the main hazards which may make a property unsafe to live in.
It explains tenants’ and landlords’ obligations and how to raise concerns.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/how-to-rent
The How to Rent Guide will include updates following recent legislative changes such as the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES), the Tenant Fees Act and the Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations.
The Deregulation Act 2015 made it a requirement for landlords and letting agents to serve tenants a copy of the How to Rent Guide at the start of each new tenancy/fixed term.
When a new How to Rent Guide is released, there is no need to re-issue it to existing tenants.
Once the guide is updated by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), we will email members to advise.
Here is some information on households and social distancing. A reminder that a HMO household is classed as one household; https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-meeting-with-others-safely-social-distancing/coronavirus-covid-19-meeting-with-others-safely-social-distancing
Information on support bubbles and who is allowed to form a support bubble; https://www.gov.uk/guidance/making-a-support-bubble-with-another-household#what-a-support-bubble-is
Information on childcare bubbles; https://www.gov.uk/guidance/making-a-childcare-bubble-with-another-household
And information on Christmas bubbles; https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/making-a-christmas-bubble-with-friends-and-family/making-a-christmas-bubble-with-friends-and-family
Landlords should familiarise themselves with the rules on bubbles, especially HMO landlords who may receive queries from tenants.
Views required on proposals to extend the Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (England) Regulations 2015
Consultation description
This consultation seeks views on:
a. Amending the Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (England) Regulations 2015 to require social landlords to ensure at least one smoke alarm is installed on each storey of the premises on which there is a room used wholly or partly as living accommodation.
b. Amending the statutory guidance (Approved Document J) supporting Part J of the Building Regulations to require that carbon monoxide alarms are fitted alongside the installation of fixed combustion appliances of any fuel type (excluding gas cookers).
c. Amending the Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (England) Regulations 2015 to require private and social landlords to install a carbon monoxide alarm in any room used as living accommodation where a fixed combustion appliance is used (excluding gas cookers).
To respond, please see the gov.uk website; https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/domestic-smoke-and-carbon-monoxide-alarms
For any of our members who missed the Free Training Webinar on Tuesday 1st December at 12.30pm, please use the following link to access the recording;
Password; jGWY7$*@
Huge thanks to Charlotte Lee from NAPIT for presenting, it was a brilliant session and we had 50 members log in live.
For more detailed guidance and a chance to provide feedback, please see; PRS Electrical Safety Webinar PDF.pdf
You can also visit the following website to read more about your landlord responsibilities and to find registered tradespeople; http://homesafetyguidance.co.uk/