Landlord Update – changes from the 1st October 2018 in accordance with the Deregulation Act 2015

By way of a reminder, our first blog set out the changes implemented by the Deregulation Act 2015, which can be found here.

What changes do Landlords need to be aware of?

As a brief summary, the Deregulation Act 2015 introduced new rules in relation to the way in which Assured Shorthold Tenancies (ASTs) of properties in England are granted and terminated and which restrict the landlord’s ability to serve a Section 21 Notice. These changes first came into effect on 1 October 2015 – but only to ASTs which started or were renewed on or after that date.

From 1 October 2018 however, the Deregulation Act 2015 requirements will apply to all ASTs of properties in England, irrespective of the date in which the AST was granted.

Landlords who have any ASTs granted before 1 October 2015 must take action now to ensure they are fully compliant with the Act. 

As the 1 October 2018 is fast approaching, Landlords would be advised to check their ASTs and to take action in respect of any which were originally granted before 1 October 2015.

Moreover, whilst the changes coming into effect on 1 October 2018 should make the section 21 procedure more straightforward, terminating an AST remains a complicated area.

If you are unsure about how to serve a valid notice or would like advice on ensuring compliance with the rules implemented by the Deregulation Act 2015, please feel free to contact a member of the property disputes team.