The government is to introduce a tenants’ charter and a new code of conduct for landlords, following recommendations from the Communities and Local Government Committee.

The government plans may come as some comfort for tenants concerned at news that the average cost of renting a home privately across England and Wales has reached a record high of £757 a month.

Plans include:

• investing £1billion into the Build to Rent Scheme, providing newly built homes for the private renting sector. Bidders will be encouraged to create long-term family  friendly tenancies;

• introducing a tenants’ charter which will explain to tenants the duties of a landlord, and the system of redress in relation to hidden charges and poor accommodation;• publishing new regulations to force letting agencies and property management agencies to join a complaints scheme;• creating a new code of conduct for landlords letting in the private renting sector;• setting out a timetable to create a model tenancy agreement which will be used to offer long-term tenancies;• investing £3million providing extra guidance for councils to  assist in combating rogue landlords;• reviewing the process for tenants to raise concerns over  serious hazards and hygiene risks in rented properties;

• granting powers to magistrates to impose unlimited fines on  rogue landlords under the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of  Offenders Act 2012; and

• increasing protection for tenants if the landlord’s property is repossessed.

Please contact us for further information and advice – enquiries@blasermills.co.uk .