house, whether or not it is situated in a housing renewal area. Introduction of a First Tier Tribunal for all disputes in the Another Maintenance orders: private rented sector, with the amendment to the 2006 Act creates an new Tribunal incorporating the additional ground for a local authority to existing Private Rented Housing issue an order requiring owners to Panel and Home Owner Housing prepare a maintenance plan for their Panel property. Currently this can be done only if the council is satisfied that the A new right for local authorities to house has not been, or will not be, take a case to the Private Rented maintained to a reasonable standard. Housing Panel, to help in cases The new ground will allow councils to where the tenant is afraid to do issue an order in cases where they so or has left but the council still have already issued a work notice or a wants to pursue the landlord previous maintenance order. Revisions to the Repairing The Act allows councils to revoke a Standard to require the maintenance order if they are satisfied installation of carbon monoxide that a property factor has been alarms and a duty on landlords to appointed to manage or maintain the arrange five-yearly electrical property, and also reduces the current safety inspections administrative arrangements for registering maintenance plans. A system of statutory registration of letting agents and a duty to Most of the changes in relation to comply with a code of practice – privately owned housing are relatively similar to the system currently in minor, but will be welcomed by local place for property factors authorities. Some housing associations will welcome the proposal to consult on Strengthening of the licensing a power to apply repayment charges to regime for mobile homes sites owners, although as with local – with permanent residents authorities financial capacity to shell – out initial, large sums to cover owners’ A Ministerial power to exempt costs may be limited. certain types of loan scheme from the 20 year rule, for 9 Elsewhere in the Act… example to facilitate the Help to Buy (Scotland) scheme which This briefing has focused on those helps buyers make a new build aspects of the Act likely to be of the purchase with a 5% deposit greatest interest to GWSF members. Other parts of the Act include:
house, whether or not it is situated in a housing renewal area. Maintenance orders: Another amendment to the 2006 Act creates an additional ground for a local authority to issue an order requiring owners to prepare a maintenance plan for their property. Currently this can be done only if the council is satisfied that the house has not been, or will not be, maintained to a reasonable standard. The new ground will allow councils to issue an order in cases where they have already issued a work notice or a previous maintenance order. The Act allows councils to revoke a maintenance order if they are satisfied that a property factor has been appointed to manage or maintain the property, and also reduces the current administrative arrangements for registering maintenance plans. Most of the changes in relation to privately owned housing are relatively minor, but will be welcomed by local authorities. Some housing associations will welcome the proposal to consult on a power to apply repayment charges to owners, although – as with local authorities – financial capacity to shell out initial, large sums to cover owners’ costs may be limited. 9 Elsewhere in the Act… This briefing has focused on those aspects of the Act likely to be of the greatest interest to GWSF members. Other parts of the Act include: Introduction of a First Tier Tribunal for all disputes in the private rented sector, with the new Tribunal incorporating the existing Private Rented Housing Panel and Home Owner Housing Panel A new right for local authorities to take a case to the Private Rented Housing Panel, to help in cases where the tenant is afraid to do so or has left but the council still wants to pursue the landlord Revisions to the Repairing Standard to require the installation of carbon monoxide alarms and a duty on landlords to arrange five-yearly electrical safety inspections A system of statutory registration of letting agents and a duty to comply with a code of practice – similar to the system currently in place for property factors Strengthening of the licensing regime for mobile homes sites with permanent residents A Ministerial power to exempt certain types of loan scheme from the 20 year rule, for example to facilitate the Help to Buy (Scotland) scheme which helps buyers make a new build purchase with a 5% deposit