We will work with landlords to improve standards, whilst taking a robust approach to dealing with poor conditions, and irresponsible landlords and managing or letting agents.
Landlords have a responsibility to:
Landlords and managing agents should provide tenancy agreements for their tenants. This sets out the legal terms and conditions and should be clearly explained to tenants, particularly if English is not their first language.
Most tenancies are let under the terms of an assured shorthold tenancy and can be for any length of time. This gives you the right to gain possession of your property at the end of the tenancy. However, a possession order can't be given before the end of the first six months of the tenancy.
There are different types of tenancies which provide different rights and responsibilities to you and your tenant. You can use Shelter's tenancy checker to check the tenancy type you should provide. To find out more, visit www.shelter.org.uk.
The tenancy agreement is the legal written contract between you, the landlord or agent and tenant. This agreement protects both you and your tenant.
It should include the following information:
Most tenancies and licences are protected by the Protection from Eviction Act 1977. Exceptions to this are holiday lets, or where the landlord lives in the building and shares facilities with the tenant. It's a criminal offence for a landlord or anyone acting on their behalf to evict or harass a tenant. If you're not sure about the correct legal process to obtain possession of your property, you should take independent legal advice.
Currently, the Coronavirus Act 2020 has imposed further restrictions for a landlord to obtain possession of their property. For more information visit GOV.UK.
You must make sure that when granting tenancies or taking action against a tenant, you're not indirectly discriminating against them. You must keep documents explaining why an action has been taken. For more information, visit the Government Equalities Office.
If a deposit is taken, you should protect it in one of the government approved schemes. You should always provide your tenants with a receipt for the deposit and details of which scheme is being used.
Under the Tenant Fees Act 2019, there are rules about the fees that letting or managing agents can charge.
Fees that are allowed:
Fees that are not allowed:
For more information, visit GOV.UK.
Landlords play a vital role in helping us deal with antisocial behaviour. It's your responsibility to respond to antisocial behaviour complaints about your tenants. You should include a clause in the tenancy or licence agreement making it clear that the occupants of the house are responsible for both their behaviour and that of their household and visitors.
We want to reduce antisocial behaviour in Enfield, so private rented property licences come with a set of conditions you must comply with.
The tenancy or licence agreement should include information on antisocial behaviour and set out the responsibilities of tenants and their visitors. You must make clear to your tenants, the importance of:
For advice on dealing with persistent antisocial behaviour in your private rented property, email prsh@enfield.gov.uk.
See more information about Housing Benefit and Council Tax support.
Landlords are responsible for keeping their property safe, in a good state of repair and free from hazards that could cause serious harm.
Landlord duties include:
The tenant is responsible for fixing appliances or furniture they own and carrying out minor repairs. This includes replacing light bulbs or paying for any damage they or a visitor has caused to the property, such as a broken window.
You have the right to enter your property to carry out an inspection for repairs. You should give your tenant 24 hours' notice and agree a suitable time with them to do this. You are legally responsible for keeping your rental property in a habitable state and making sure it is fit to live in. Urgent jobs, such as a blocked toilet, should be prioritised and repaired within 24 hours.
If you don't carry out repairs, your tenant can report this to us. We will investigate the problem and take necessary action if you fail to maintain the property and meet the legal standards. We can, if necessary, serve notices requiring work to be carried out within a given period. If you fail to comply with the notices without reasonable excuse, we can carry out works and/or prosecute you.
For more information see:
All gas installations and appliances supplied by the landlord require an annual gas safety check. You should make sure this is carried out by a Gas Safe engineer and a copy of the gas safety certificate should be given to the tenant. Carbon monoxide detectors are also legally required in premises that have solid fuel burning appliances, such as a coal fire or wood burner.
Landlords and letting agents must make sure:
For more information, see electrical safety guidance for landlords.
Landlords are not usually responsible for the safety of electrical appliances supplied by the tenant.
All furniture supplied by the landlord should comply with the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations. You must be aware of your responsibilities and the legal requirements for fire safety in your rented properties. You must make sure adequate fire detection and protection is in place.
For more information see:
You must provide your tenant with a copy of the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC). This is a legal requirement.
An EPC shows the energy efficiency of a property. Only an accredited energy assessor can carry out the survey and give a certificate. Once given, it is valid for ten years. To let your property, the EPC must be rated E or above.
For more information, visit The Energy Performance Certificate Register.
Overcrowding can cause physical and mental health issues and contribute to accidents within the property. We will investigate any issues with overcrowding and can limit the number of people allowed to occupy one room or home, in line with private rented property licensing.
We inspect houses in multiple occupation (HMOs) to ensure they meet the required safety standards, have adequate facilities for the number of occupants, and that proper management arrangements are in place.
Your HMO property must meet the minimum standards (PDF) in the areas of fire, electrical and gas safety, and amenity standards.
We work jointly with the London Fire Brigade (LFB) to identify fire hazards in HMOs. Where necessary, we will carry out a joint inspection at the premises with the LFB.
View our guidance on fire safety in HMOs (PDF).
We work closely with landlords and agents to improve housing conditions.
Section 49 & 50 of Housing Act 2004 gives us the power to make a charge to recover certain reasonable expenses incurred when taking enforcement action, such as serving formal notices. A charge will normally be made where it has been necessary to take one of these enforcement actions:
| Type | Fee |
|---|---|
|
Hazard awareness notice
|
£0
|
|
Hazard awareness notice (if subsequent notice is required)
|
£205.70
|
|
Improvement notice
|
£411.30
|
|
Prohibition order
|
£411.30
|
|
Emergency prohibition order
|
£411.30
|
|
Emergency remedial action
|
£411.30
|
|
Demolition order
|
£411.30
|
|
Review of suspended improvement notice
|
£235.80
|
|
Review of suspended prohibition order
|
£235.80
|
|
Charge for any subsequent notice served at the same time for the same property
|
£176.90
|
View our enforcement policy (PDF).
This regulation imposes duties on managers of HMOs to maintain, repair and keep the property and its facilities in good order.
Managers should:
If any contravention(s) to the regulations are identified in the property, you will be provided with a schedule of works detailing the regulation, the contravention and the work needed to remedy it within a set timescale. If it is not completed, you risk prosecution by the council. If you’re found guilty of an offence, you will be liable to a fine.
For more information, email prsh@enfield.gov.uk, or see:
The landlord must: