This year already appears to be a year of profound change for landlords, whether they plan to adjust their working practices in anticipation of a range of new legal requirements, work with letting agents to manage their property or leave the market entirely.

Whilst the Renters’ Rights Bill has attracted the most attention as it makes its way through the Houses of Parliament, it is not the only set of rules and regulations that has drawn interest lately from tenants and landlords alike.

One of these is the North Herts Council Tenants’ Charter, which provides guidance for landlords, tenants and the council about their rights and responsibilities.

What is it, does it include anything new that landlords need to know and could this initiative be rolled out nationwide beyond North Hertfordshire?

What Does The Tenants’ Charter Include?

Despite the name implying a charter for tenants, it actually includes sections for landlords and North Herts Council as well, outlining each party’s responsibilities and how all three groups can work together to make sure homes are well maintained, safe and warm.

None of this information is new, and much of it is fairly basic, at the level of tenants ensuring that sinks are cleared out, houses are kept clean and they do basic maintenance like changing light bulbs and checking smoke alarms themselves.

The landlord information includes a lot of information that is standard, basic and in many cases already legally required.

What Do Landlords Need To Do Under The Tenants’ Charter

Landlords have to check that the tenant has the right to rent their property, and provide tenants with all of the information they need to rent safely.

This includes a written tenancy agreement, a full inventory of the condition of the property and everything in it, the How to Rent guide, contact details, the Energy Performance Certificate, annual Gas Safety Inspection certificate and valid Electrical Safety Inspection certificate.

As well as this, a landlord has to ensure that the house does not have the 29 potential hazards defined by the Housing Health and Safety Rating System, which include damp, noise, carbon monoxide, asbestos and several other common hazards.

They also need to install working smoke alarms, ensure that dates are set for gas and electric inspections and give 24 hours’ notice to tenants if they or anyone working on their behalf needs to enter their home.

Finally, they need to ensure that the deposit is placed in a recognised tenancy deposit scheme with evidence of this.

Will This Become A National Scheme?

The core requirements of the charter are already the most basic expectations and will typically already be included in a tenancy agreement. 

A spokesperson from North Herts Council even said that the information is not new.

However, it has been presented in a clearer way that is more easily accessible for tenants and landlords who are accessing council services, so there is a chance that other councils will adopt a similar approach.

If they do, that can only be a positive, as the more landlords and tenants are aware of their rights and responsibilities, the less space there is for misinterpretation and disputes.