The Government agreed to back her Bill and allow it time to progress through the essential Parliamentary stages – but its second reading on November 28 was talked out by two Tory MPs who spoke for more than two hours until the Bill ran out of time.
However, it’s reported that Housing Minister Brandon Lewis is seeking a way to insert a clause to prevent so-called “revenge” evictions into the Deregulation Bill in January.
The Bill sought to ban such evictions by landlords of tenants who had requested repairs – once a repair had been requested, the Bill would have made it impossible to serve a Section 21 notice for repossession.
This restriction would also have applied where no valid gas safety certificate exists or where the tenant has not been given an EPC for the property but its failure in Parliament is no reason to avoid ensuring all necessary paperwork is valid and up to date.
EPCs are arranged at the point of marketing by all our branches. Our property managers arrange gas safety certificates for our managed properties and it remains a legal requirement for Houses of Multiple Occupation (HMO) to have a carbon monoxide alarm fitted. However, we advise all landlords to consider the installation of alarms to protect the occupier and help prevent any legal action being taken against a landlord.
Lisa Simon,
Partner Head of Residential Lettings
T: 020 7518 3234
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