Last November the Government announced new rules, requiring that carbon monoxide alarms must be fitted in social and private rented properties with appliances such as gas boilers and fires. The rules mean alarms must be fitted when new appliances are installed, and that landlords must repair or replace smoke and carbon monoxide alarms if they are told they are faulty.

The Government’s Model Tenancy Agreement means that landlords can no longer issue blanket bans on tenants having pets in England. Instead, landlords must now object in writing if they receive a pet request from a tenant and should only reject tenants with pets if there is ‘good reason’, for example in smaller properties or flats where owning a pet could be impractical. While no further legislative changes have been mooted, landlords will need to be aware of the growing interest in pet-friendly properties.

Mandatory and additional licensing schemes apply to landlords who let Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs), but a number of councils require some or all landlords in an area to get a licence before they can let out a property. This is often called “Selective Licensing” and acts very much as permission to rent, granted by the local Council. At the moment, this is not being applied in every London borough, but more and more Councils are planning to introduce licensing. Home Minders are monitoring this and advising landlords accordingly.

2022 could be the year of the ‘green’ mortgage, with an increasing number of lenders launching specialist deals and offering lower rates for landlords who buy energy-efficient properties. Green lending remains niche in the buy-to-let market, but that could soon change. In addition to cheaper rates for investors buying green properties, we’re beginning to see banks offer additional borrowing to landlords at reduced rates if they use the money to fund sustainable improvements

The government is set to press ahead with its plans to improve energy-efficiency in the private rented sector in 2022, but there are still many unanswered questions. Landlords will have until 2026 (a year longer than the original deadline of 2025) to ensure all newly-let properties achieve band C on energy performance certificates (EPCs), and 2028 for existing lets to meet the requirement. For now, it’s a case of ‘watch this space’ for landlords, who remain in the dark about specific upgrades required or if any funding will be made available.