What's new?

All sections are reviewed biannually by expert authors. The major section updates are below.


New section: NTSELAT guide to letting

Author Alison Farrar, Operations Manager at the National Trading Standards Estate and Letting Agency Team (NTSELAT), has produced a new section offering advice about the Tenant Fees Act 2019 (TFA 2019). It defines what letting agency work is and looks at the general requirements of the TFA 2019, including the requirement to belong to a redress scheme. The section also looks at other legislation relevant to letting and property management agents.


Section updates

Agent-solicitor relationships

This section has seen major updates to Appointing a solicitor/conveyancer: setting expectationsApps and online tools and Buy-to-let.

ASTs, deed of guarantee and deed of assignment templates

The AST DPS custodial template has been updated.

Common pitfalls and mistakes

Common pitfalls and mistakes received a general update throughout.

Ending the tenancy in England

This section has been updated to remove references to the law in Wales, now that the relevant legislation in England and Wales has diverged.

How to deal with complaints

This section now has updated complaints figures from ombudsman bodies.

Leases

Information has been added to this section in How the lease is structured. Amendments have been made throughout.

Letting agents: regulation and consumer protection

This section has seen updates to Approved redress schemesLegislation on licensing and registration in Wales and Proposed changes to letting agent regulation.

It was further updated in July 2023 with information regarding the Renters Reform Bill.

Lettings law and the client

This section has received amendments throughout. See especially Agents' fees and Marketing the property.

Maintenance and repairing obligations

The section on Gas and electrical safety has been thoroughly overhauled and expanded.

NTSELAT guide to sales

This section has been updated throughout by new author Alison Farrar.

Photographing property

This section has been updated with up-to-date pricing information and some new images.

Property and safety standards

This section has been updated to reflect The Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (Amendment) Regulations 2022.

Property Redress Scheme guide to lettings

This section has been updated in Visuals and Conclusions, with other amendments throughout.

Property Redress Scheme guide to sales

This section has received amendments throughout. See especially Advertising and marketing.

Residential property licensing

The most heavily updated parts of this section include HMO management regulations, Criminal offences and civil penalties and RROs under the Housing and Planning Act 2016.

This section was updated a second time in July 2023, in particular Exceptions from the definition of an HMOSelective licensing of other residential propertyThe application process and Penalties in residential property licensing.

Short-term lettings

This section has been updated after the Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016 came into force on 1 December 2022, and then updated again with a new page on Proposed reforms to short-term letting industry.

Taking deposits

This section has been updated to reflect the changes in legislation between England and Wales.

Tenancy deposit adjudication

This section has been updated with statistics for 2021-22.

Tenancy deposit protection

This section has also been updated with new statistics for 2021-22.

Tenant arrears and bankruptcy

This section has seen a major overhaul of the Possession claims subsection.

The Property Ombudsman guide to lettings

The Property Ombudsman guide to lettings received a minor update and hyperlinks were updated.

The Property Ombudsman guide to sales

The Property Ombudsman guide to sales received a minor update and hyperlinks were updated.

Types of tenancies

This section has also been updated due to the Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016, and then again with the introduction of the Renters Reform Bill.


RICS initiatives

iConsult

See iConsult for RICS standard drafts.


This page was lasted updated March 2024.