The new How to Rent Guide (England) Published
On the 24th March 2023 the long anticipated new How to Rent Guide (England) was published by the Department for Levelling Up,Housing & Communities.
The Guide, which needs to be served for all new tenancies and renewals in order for landlords to comply with the Deregulation Act 2015, has not been updated since December 2020 and the updated version contains some significant changes. The Guide reflects the changes in legislation relating to Smoke Detector and Carbon Monoxide Regulations as well as the introduction of the Electrical Safety Regulations from 2020 and the Guide also makes reference to checking if the property is suitable for the disabled. The reference to Covid 19 have been removed, as has the detailed overview of the Assured Shorthold Tenancy.
Levelling Up the United Kingdom
Today, 2 February 2022, the Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove unveiled the government’s flagship Levelling Up White Paper. This document sets out a plan to transform the UK by spreading opportunity and prosperity to all parts of it.
Twelve bold national levelling up missions, given status in law, will shift government focus and resources to Britain’s forgotten communities throughout 2020s
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Biggest shift of power from Whitehall to local leaders in modern times announced - every part of England to get ‘London style’ powers and mayor if they wish to
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Starting gun fired on decade-long project to level up Britain, with radical new policies announced across the board
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Domestic public investment in Research & Development to increase by at least 40% across the North, Midlands, South West, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland
This paper sets out the next stages in this programme to level up the UK.
This programme has to be broad, deep and long-term. It has to be rooted in evidence demonstrating that a mix of factors is needed to transform places and boost local growth: strong innovation and a climate conducive to private sector investment, better skills, improved transport systems, greater access to culture, stronger pride in place, deeper trust, greater safety and more resilient institutions.
Levelling Up White Paper delayed
This article for appeared in the Times
Boris Johnson faces another wait to unveil his levelling up white paper as Downing Street prepares for the start of this year to be dominated again by coronavirus.
The government had hoped that the document of more than 100 pages, marking the first attempt to flesh out the prime minister’s slogan, would be its first major intervention of the year.
The paper, being written by Michael Gove, the secretary for housing, communities and levelling up, is now more likely to be published later this month.
Johnson promised last May that it would be published by the end of the year. It emerged in December, however, that the white paper had slipped back to this year.
Gove, now in his sixth cabinet position since becoming education secretary in 2010, was handed the task of taking charge of the prime minister’s key domestic drive in the reshuffle last September. He was given the renamed and expanded role of levelling up secretary.
An Update from Westminster
An Update on the Renter's Reform Bill
The White Paper on the Renters' Reform Bill, should have been published in October and has now been delayed until 2022, The announcement made by the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities was a surprise given that the Bill had appeared on the government's agenda and in the Queen's Speech. The government announced that the White Paper would provide an outline of it's plan to its reform the private rented sector. The proposed changes are set to include:-
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abolishing Section 2
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the introduction of lifetime deposits
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a Tenants' Redress Scheme
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a Landlords' Register & Regulation of Landlords
A recent survey looked at the difficulties individuals face when renting, letting or enforcing property standards in the Private Rented Sector.The Government’s said that they are committed to exploring the merits of a national landlord register and the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities are engaging with a range of stakeholders across the private rented sector.
The initial research exercise will complete in December 2021. The findings from this survey of private tenants and other sources of research will be used to inform next steps and further engagement.