Posts with tag: Rent Smart Wales

Landlords reminded to comply with Rent Smart Wales

Published On: May 17, 2017 at 9:52 am

Tags: Buy-to-Let,landlords,Rent Smart Wales,Wales

Landlords and letting agents across Britain with rental properties in Wales have once again been reminded on their legal responsibilities regarding Rent Smart Wales.

Many investors have been warned that they could be unwillingly breaking the law due to non-compliance with these rules.

Rent Smart Wales

Powers of enforcement are now active for Rent Smart Wales. This legislation came into force last year as part of the Housing Act (Wales) 2014 and requires all landlords with properties in the country to register both themselves and their accommodation.

What’s more, self-managing landlords and agents must obtain a licence after the completion of a training course and after having passed a fit and proper person assessment.

As the powers are now active, all landlords that are not compliant face a number of sanctions, including fixed-penalty notices, rent repayment orders and even prosecution. Landlords could also not be able to obtain possession of their property using a Section 21, should they be found to be operating outside of the law.

A register is now available on the Rent Smart Wales website, which allows tenants and the public to check if landlords and agents are breaking the law.

Once landlord is registered, this licence lasts for 5 years.

Landlords reminded to comply with Rent Smart Wales

Better Place

Bethan Jones, Operational Manager of Rent Smart Wales, stated: ‘I would urge any landlords or agents with properties in Wales and who have not yet registered or become licensed, to contact us immediately to avoid legal action. We are still keen to assist those who willingly want to comply.’[1]

‘We’ve worked closely with industry experts to develop the Rent Smart Wales scheme, which we firmly believe will help make the private rental sector in Wales a better place for tenants, landlords and agents,’ she added.[1]

[1] http://www.propertyreporter.co.uk/landlords/landlords-could-you-be-breaking-the-law-after-recent-changes.html

ARLA and RLA want meeting over agent fees in Wales

Published On: March 20, 2017 at 10:46 am

Author: Em Morley

Categories: Landlord News

Tags: agent fees in Wales,landlords,landlords in Wales,Rent Smart Wales

ARLA Propertymark and the Residential Landlords Association have both written to the Welsh Government asking for a meeting to discuss the possible ban on letting agents’ fees levied for tenants.

This issue was raised again this month by Assembly Members-the term for Welsh Government MP’s. Welsh Communities Secretary, Carl Sargeant, noted: ‘I’m very concerned that fees charged by letting agents are placing a disproportionate burden on tenants. I hope to be able to announce shortly how we as a Government propose to respond.’[1]

Concerns

In their letter, ARLA Propertymark and the RLA highlighted the significant number of common concerns from both letting agents and landlords. Most notably, peers are worried that service provided will be hit should money be removed from the sector.

This includes new legislation introduced by the Welsh Government that means that landlords and letting agents managing property in the country must be registered with Rent Smart Wales.

Under this scheme, should an agent fail to comply with their licensing agreements, they could put themselves at risk of fines. Without a licence, they would be unable to continue operating as a letting agent in the country.

ARLA and RLA want meeting over agent fees in Wales

In a statement, ARLA Propertymark said that it will continue to work with the sector to make sure politicians listen and understand the industry and subsequently follow evidence.

‘We hope that Mr Sargeant will engage with us to understand fully the importance of any future decision around banning fees and the effect this would have on letting agents, landlords and tenants in Wales,’ ARLA said in its statement. [1]

[1] https://www.lettingagenttoday.co.uk/breaking-news/2017/3/arla-and-landlord-body-pushes-for-meeting-over-agents-fees-ban

Landlords who haven’t signed up to Rent Smart Wales exposed

Published On: February 6, 2017 at 10:08 am

Author: Em Morley

Categories: Landlord News

Tags: Buy-to-Let,buy-to-let landlords,landlords,Rent Smart Wales,Wales

An investigation is underway after the personal details of hundreds of landlords who have not registered for Rent Smart Wales were revealed.

Rent Smart Wales contacted people who had started but not completed the registration process. However, the email address of all recipients could be seen in these messages.

Cardiff Council, which deals with Rent Smart Wales has said it is aware of the issue and will investigate thoroughly.

Fines

Many buy-to-let investors in the country could face hefty fines or even prosecution for failing to sign up.

Over two months have passed since the Rent Smart Wales scheme became law. However, it is estimated that thousands of private landlords in the country have not yet signed up to the scheme, meaning that they are letting out their properties illegally.

The email sent to landlords read: ‘We are writing this email to you as you have a started but not complete landlord registration with Rent Smart Wales.’[1]

Douglas Haig, director for Wales for the Residential Landlords Association, noted: ‘We have long been warning of the need for greater security around the Rent Smart scheme to prevent this kind of error occurring. With landlords and letting agents expected to register by law, they need to have the confidence that their personal details will be handled sensitively.’[1]

‘Whilst we are sure this was an innocent mistake and a simple case of human error, we would like to see measures put in place to ensure it cannot happen again,’ he continued.[1]

Landlords who haven’t signed up to Rent Smart Wales exposed

Licensing

Landlords and letting agents were given until the 23^rd November to comply with the new legislation, before it became an offence to let or manage a property without the sufficient licence.

Caroline Jones from Bruton Knowles, said: ‘The enforcement powers under Rent Smart Wales are now active. This means failure to comply with the legislation is an offence. However, we know of numerous cases of people living outside of Wales who had no idea on the new Rent Smart scheme. Our fear is that there are many landlords out there who are blissfully unaware of their legal obligation.’[1]

Continuing, Jones noted: ‘One final consideration is how will Rent Smart Wales enforce any fines on those who genuinely didn’t know they had to register. We can see a lot of resistance by those who will claim they didn’t know anything about the scheme.’[1]

‘Tenants who have any concerns about the conduct of their landlord or agent can report this via the Rent Smart Wales website, however we think an element of common sense should be employed if there are cases of owners located outside of Wales, having not signed up.’[1]

[1] https://www.landlordtoday.co.uk/breaking-news/2017/12/thousands-of-landlords-face-prosecution

Landlords in Wales facing fines for illegal lets

Published On: November 28, 2016 at 2:20 pm

Author: Em Morley

Categories: Landlord News

Tags: buy-to-let landlords,investors,landlords,Rent Smart Wales,Wales

Concern is growing that thousands of buy-to-let landlords in Wales could face fines or even a jail sentence for failing to register for a new licensing scheme.

Last week (23^rd November), the Welsh Government’s Rent Smart Wales scheme became law. However, it is estimated that over 13,000 private landlords in the country are yet to register with the scheme, meaning they could be letting out properties illegally.

Rent Smart Wales

The new registration and licensing scheme in Wales is a major change for the private rental sector. It requires all landlords and letting agents to register their properties and undertake training to gain a licence, should they intend on self-managing their investment.

Landlords and letting agents in the principality were given until last week to comply with the legislation, before it became an offence to either let or manage a property without the sufficient licence.

By the deadline, 89,130 online accounts had been created, with 64,248 licence registrations submitted. Another 13,208 applications but not finished.

Landlords in Wales facing fines for illegal lets

Delays

Carl Sergeant, communities secretary and minister responsible for overseeing Rent Smart Wales, acknowledged the registration system had seen delays. However, Sergeant said those who have started the compliance process would not face action-but said, ‘this must not be seen as an excuse to ignore the law.’[1]

In addition, he noted: ‘My message to private landlords is clear. You must take action to comply with the requirements of the law.’[1]

Registering as a landlord costs £33.50 if carried out online. On paper, this is £80.50, regardless of the number of properties an investor has in their portfolio.

Further information on Rent Smart Wales can be found on the Government website.

[1] https://www.landlordtoday.co.uk/breaking-news/2016/11/thousands-of-landlords-could-face-fines-for-illegally-renting-out-properties

Deadline to register for Rent Smart Wales is tomorrow

Published On: November 22, 2016 at 10:04 am

Author: Em Morley

Categories: Landlord News

Tags: investors in Wales,landlords,letting agents,Rent Smart Wales

There are less than 24 hours to go until landlords in Wales must sign up to Rent Smart Wales.

The scheme, designed to push up quality of rented accommodation in the country, becomes mandatory tomorrow, 23^rd November.

Licensing Scheme

Rent Smart Wales is a new licensing and registration scheme that went live last year. It represents a large change for the private rental sector in the country.

Landlords and letting agents must register their properties and undergo training to gain a licence, should they wish to self-manage their investment.

Investors have until midnight tonight to comply with the new legislation, before it becomes an offence to manage or to let a property without the necessary licence.

Deadline to register for Rent Smart Wales is tomorrow

Registration

David Cox, Managing Director at the Association of Residential Letting Agents (ARLA) noted: ‘The law means landlords in Wales-and those in the rest of the UK who own properties in Wales-need to register themselves and their properties with Rent Smart Wales, as well as being suitably trained and licensed to carry out letting or property management activities.’[1]

‘If landlords do not wish to get trained, they need to arrange for a trained and licensed agent to manage their properties on their behalf. If landlords and agents find themselves unlicensed when the deadline arrives on 23 November, they will be unable to practice,’ he added.[1]

Landlords and agents can find out more about the Rent Smart Wales scheme by visiting the Government website.

[1] https://www.landlordtoday.co.uk/breaking-news/2016/11/deadline-looms-for-landlords-to-register-in-wales

RLA wants Rent Smart Wales deadline extended

Published On: November 16, 2016 at 9:52 am

Author: Em Morley

Categories: Landlord News

Tags: landlords in Wales,Rent Smart Wales,Rent Smart Wales deadline,RLA

There have been fresh calls to extend the registration deadline for Rent Smart Wales, which is looming next week (23^rd November).

The scheme requires anyone who rents out property in the country to either register or become licensed by this date.

Extension

However, the Residential Landlords Association said that many investors in Wales are still unaware of their obligations.

Rent Smart Wales said that landlords were given plenty of notice to register and therefore would not be extending the deadline.

Worryingly, A Freedom of Information request by the Residential Landlords Association indicated that just 32,230 landlords had registered by the 18^th October. This is out of a total of 130,000.

These figures were released by Cardiff council, which is administering the scheme for Wales as a whole.

Request

Mr Douglas Haig, RLA director for Wales said that he was to write to Community Secretary Carl Sargeant to request a new deadline, in order for landlords to be further educated on their responsibilities.

Despite this, Rent Smart Wales has argued that there has been a large increase in people registering as the deadline approaches. 46,300 of the 130,000 landlords in question have now registered, with another 11,400 starting the process.

Haig feels that communication has been ‘poor’ and that ‘very few’ landlords are aware of the scheme. In addition, he notes that others are leaving it till the last minute as registration licences last for five years from the date they are approved, not November 23^rd.

‘I don’t think it’s asking a lot for the Welsh Government or Cardiff council to come forth with an education plan to get this information out there. That would be a sensible approach,’ Haig explained.[1]

RLA wants Rent Smart Wales deadline extended

No changes

Responding to these calls, a Rent Smart Wales spokesman said: ‘We have no intention of extending the deadline. However, we do recognise that, due to the very high numbers of landlords visiting the website to register and apply for licenses, some are experiencing difficulties.’[1]

‘The Rent Smart Wales team consists of 79 posts and the team are working hard to reduce waiting times for customers. Once the November 23^rd deadline for complying has passed, enforcement powers will be used in a sensible and proportionate manner,’ they concluded.[1]

[1] http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-37939620