As a landlord who believes in upholding tenants' rights and promoting fair treatment for all, I am writing to express my support for the implementation of a comprehensive set of obligations for tenants. It is my firm belief that fostering a balanced relationship between landlords and tenants is essential for a harmonious and thriving rental market.

Just as there are good landlords and bad landlords, the same applies to tenants. It is imperative to acknowledge that both parties play significant roles in maintaining a healthy rental ecosystem. To ensure transparency and fairness, landlords are already bound by certain legal requirements when initiating a tenancy or renewing a lease agreement. These obligations encompass the provision of essential documents, which I believe tenants should reciprocate to uphold the principles of equality and accountability. 

The following set of documents, are mandatory and statutory for all landlords to provide, prior to the commencement and renewals of a tenancy agreement.

1) How to rent guide

2) Energy Performance Certificate

3) Landlord's gas safety certificate

4) Deposit Protection Certificate & Prescribed Info

5) Landlord's Licensing (If applicable)

6) General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Letter/Notice

7) Tenancy Agreement/Addendum to add clauses

8) EICR Report

Failure to provide any of the above documents, can result in heavy fines.

I urge you to consider implementing the following set of documents that tenants should be legally obliged to provide their landlords at the commencement of each tenancy and renewal;

1) Tenant's rental insurance certificate

2) Pet insurance certificate (separate from standard Tenant's rental insurance)

3) Basic "Tenant's fundamentals certificate," on being an accredited tenant, relating to categories listed on the AST agreement, which in turn will  provide a better understanding of their rights and responsibilities. 

4) Proof of "Right to Rent" documentation - The onus shouldn't just be put on the landlord, as this is data protection, and it involves personal information, such as D.O.B, NI Numbers and has to be provided on each tenancy renewal, as failure to do so, can result in further fines, ranging from £1,000 and £3,000 respectively, if you're a repeat offender (Please note, that the government has recently increased this fee by 100%, resulting in £2,000 and £6,000 respectively.  This should be a joint/shared responsibility. The "Right to Rent," documentation also has an expiry date, landlord's should make a note of this, however tenant's should be the responsible candidates for ensuring its renewal and notifying the landlord's in advance. 

I want to emphasise that all of the aforementioned requirements should also be made compulsory, mandatory, and enforceable by law. Failure to provide any of these documents should result in appropriate consequences, including potential fines. These measures will ensure compliance and protect the rights and interests of all parties involved.

I kindly request your serious consideration of this petition, recognising the importance of fostering an equitable relationship between landlords and tenants. Together, we can create a rental market that is fair, transparent, and beneficial for all.

Thank you for your attention to this matter. I trust that you will give due consideration to these proposals as we strive to achieve a more balanced rental market.

1) The Tenant's Fee

By implementing a clear and transparent fee structure, tenants will have a better understanding of their financial obligations when renting a property. This will prevent letting agents from taking advantage of tenants and ensure that renting is affordable and accessible for all.

2) Mandatory Disclosure of Landlord Responsibilities

To address the issue mentioned in my personal experience, I propose that it becomes mandatory for landlords to provide tenants with a comprehensive list of their responsibilities and obligations. This list should be included in the tenancy agreement and clearly outline the maintenance tasks that fall under the landlord's responsibility. Whilst this is already implemented in the current tenancy agreements, it needs updating, to implement periodic "mid-term inspection reports," within the 12 month tenure as an integral part of the agreement.

This will help tenants understand their rights and prevent situations where they are wrongly charged for repairs or maintenance that should be covered by the landlord. By providing tenants with this information upfront, disputes can be minimised, and both parties can have a clear understanding of their respective roles and responsibilities.

3) Improved Tenant Education and Awareness - Tenants Licensing

To ensure that tenants are well-informed about their rights and obligations, I propose the implementation of educational programs and resources. These programs can be developed and promoted by government agencies, tenant organisations, and other relevant stakeholders. Such educations, can be centred around the cause of damp, mould and condensation, how it can be prevented and steps both parties have taken to eliminate the problem.

The educational programs should cover key topics such as tenancy rights/responsibilities,  landlord responsibilities, dispute resolution mechanisms, and how to navigate the rental market. By equipping tenants with this knowledge, they will be empowered to assert their rights, make informed decisions, and prevent exploitation by unscrupulous/rogue landlords.

4) Strengthened Legal Protection for Tenants

To further protect tenants from unfair practices and ensure that their rights are upheld, I propose the strengthening of legal protections within the rental sector. This includes stricter enforcement of existing laws, such as the Housing Act 1985 and other relevant legislation, and the introduction of new measures where necessary.

These legal protections should cover areas such as security of tenure, rent increases, eviction procedures, and the resolution of disputes. By enhancing legal safeguards, tenants will feel more secure in their homes and have recourse when faced with unfair treatment or breaches of their rights.

In conclusion, by addressing these issues and implementing the proposed measures, we can create a fairer and more balanced rental market. Tenants will have a better understanding of their rights and responsibilities, and landlords will be held accountable for their obligations. This will contribute to minimising disputes and fostering healthier landlord-tenant relationships.

It is important for tenants to understand the basics when renting a property. For example, I had a another landlord's tenant who once asked me to grant access into my garden in order that they could allow the drains to be unblocked.

Whilst I had no issues with granting access to the garden, I had issues with the fact that the landlord was making the tenant pay for the drains to be unblocked at a cost of £500.

I explained to the tenant that your landlord is responsible for the drains, gutters, roof and external pipes, before referring the tenant to Section 11 of the housing Act 1985, which is visible on the last page of most tenancy agreements.

I went on to advise that the tenant should notify the landlord of this and get him to contact me.

What I am proposing, will help to minimise disputes at the end of tenancy, between landlords and tenants.

At present, the whole system within the PRS is also discriminatory to landlord's.

1) The Tenant’s Fee Act 2019, was indirectly implemented by the estate agents, but it was the landlord's who had to compensate the tenant's. Landlord's collect rent and hold deposits within a Deposit Protection Scheme, we do not charge fees!

2) The wording for the replacement of S21, known as the 'Renter's reform bill' is more like a bill of victory in support of tenant's rights, without taking into account landlord's right.

For example, renaming it the 'Landlord's and Tenant’s reform bill' would've been more appropriate, but it appears that this bill is an attack on landlord's in support of tenants.

A lot of work needs to be done, as it will be against the law for landlord's to discriminate against tenant's on UC, but the system implemented by UC, clearly discriminates against landlord's.

In reality, if a landlord chooses not to accept tenants with Universal Credit, it is more likely due to the potential complexities and inconveniences associated with managing non-payment disputes while the tenants are still occupying the property. It is important to note that such disputes may be categorised as civil matters, even in cases where there is substantial evidence of benefit fraud.