Huge legal shake-up of rental properties

'THOUSANDS' OF PEOPLE IN THE CITY WILL BE AFFECTED

- By WILLIAM TELFORD

A HUGE shakeup in the way properties are rented out is expected to have an enormous impact on Plymouth, according to a leading expert.

When new laws come into force it could mean many of Plymouth’s thousands of second-home owners getting out of the rental game, which could lead to higher rents, money pouring out of Plymouth - and even more blocks of student flats being built.

James Deacon, managing director of letting agency CityLets Plymouth Ltd, said many people were still unaware of the impact of the Renters’ Rights Bill, which received its royal assent this week. He said: “We have had so many people contact us about renters reform, we are getting calls every week from landlords. There are still a lot that don’t know anything about it”

When the new laws come into force it will mark a seismic shift for the UK rental market. As well as abolishing the infamous $21 “no fault” evictions, there are huge implications for landlords, agencies and tenants.

The law will give greater security for renters with a new private rented sector database and landlord ombudsman, to improve transparency and accountability. And Plymouth City Council said it will have more powers to crackdown on rogue landlords.