This post sets out to highlight the main points that landlords in
Wales need to consider in 2022 to ensure they are compliant to
rent out their property. It’s our aim to help landlords navigate
the buy to let landscape and to avoid any pitfalls which could
result in the risk of being unable to remove a tenant from your property should issues occur. With the new Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016 coming into
force on the 1st December 2022, there are new regulations coming
into effect that all landlords need to be aware of and act on in
due course. There are updates to the system constantly and it
is essential to be on top of your game, so you don't get caught out.
The legislation is geared towards protecting tenant’s rights,
and should you not follow the correct process right from the
start, you could find yourself in a tricky situation later down the line.
We thought it would be helpful to highlight the main points that landlords need to consider in 2022.
Registering with Rent Smart Wales (Part 1 Housing (Wales) Act 2014)
On 23 November 2015, it became a legal requirement for all landlords with privately rented property on a domestic tenancy in Wales to register with Rent Smart Wales. Joint landlords are able to register as one registration, but one landlord will need to act as the ‘lead’ landlord for the purpose of the register.
Registration should be completed by the landlord themselves and should not be outsourced to a letting agency on the landlord’s behalf, this is because the person completing the registration will need to confirm that the information being provided on the registration is true, accurate and complete. They are personally responsible for the information provided on the register. However, Power of Attorney and Executors are permitted to complete the registration on behalf of a landlord.
There is a fee for the registration. (Prices as of 2022 and could be subject to change)
New and revoked registrations: £45 online fee, £84 paper fee.
Renewing registrations: £36 online fee, £67.20 paper fee.
The registration is valid for 5 years. In order to take advantage of the renewal fee discount, a landlord must apply for the registration renewal within 84 days before the registration expires.
More information can be found, and registration can be done by visiting: https://www.rentsmart.gov.wales/en/landlord/landlord-registration/ Landlord Licenses Rent Smart Wales (Part 1 Housing (Wales) Act 2014)
It is also a legal requirement in Wales that any landlords or agents who undertake lettings and property management of rental properties have a Rent Smart Wales licence.
The Housing (Wales Act 2014 requires that anyone letting and managing domestic tenancies are suitable to do so and are appropriately trained in their rights and obligations.
Any landlords who do not employ an agent and undertake lettings and property management activities themselves will need to be licensed to do so with Rent Smart Wales.
There are two types of licenses available:
Landlord License - Once a landlord has completed their registration with Rent Smart Wales as set out above, if they intent to conduct the letting and management of properties they own they will need to apply for a landlord license and complete the necessary landlord training. If a landlord is not involved in setting up tenancies and managing their rental properties and do not require a license, they will need to appoint a licensed agent.
Agency License:
An agent completing letting and/or management of properties on behalf of a landlord will need to apply for an agent licence and complete the approved agent training.
Licences last for 5 years from the date of issue. There are fees associated with obtaining a license, the costs along with all other information relating to Rent Smart Wales. Licences can be found at: https://www.rentsmart.gov.wales/en/licensing/
Source of information https://www.rentsmart.gov.wales
GDPR:
The General Data Protection Regulation (EU) 2016/679 (GDPR) is a regulation in EU law on data protection and privacy in the European Union (EU) and the European Economic Area (EEA).
Since the end of the Brexit transition period on 31 December 2020, GDPR will be retained in domestic law and new regime is known as the ‘UK GDPR’
UK GDPR deals with data protection and is the legal control over the processing of and access to personal information stored.
The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) is the appointed authority to uphold information rights and data privacy.
As part of the lettings process, landlords collect and handle tenants/prospective tenant’s personal data and therefore are classified as data controllers. Data controllers have the responsibility to ensure that tenant information is kept safe and secure and is only used for the purpose which conforms to the lawful basis.
The typical data that landlords may collect when letting a property are:
Tenant’s contact details, including telephone number, email address, previous/forwarding postal address.
Proof of ID such as passport, driving licence, NI number etc. Bank details for direct debits. Employment information taken for referencing purposes. Financial information/credit history taken for referencing purposes. Emergency contact information for next of kin/guarantors and their respective personal data. Special category data which refers to personal data that may reveal racial or ethic origin, sexual orientation, political opinions, religious beliefs, trade union membership, biometric data, health and well-being data.
Methods of storing data that landlords will need to consider the security of include:
Computers, mobile and tablet devices, hard copy filing, and cloud storage.
As a landlord you should be aware of your full obligations under UK GDPR, more information can be found at www.ICO.org
Landlord Insurance:
Your rental property portfolio is an investment you want to protect. There can be risks connected with rental properties and without the right cover, unexpected events could leave you seriously out of pocket. Therefore, it is advised to talk to a number of insurance providers to make sure you find the right cover for you and to always read the fine print so you are never caught out should anything ever happen.
Landlord insurance is more than a buildings insurance and can also protect your rental income and covers your liabilities if your tenants are injured on your property and you are deemed to be at fault. You can boost your cover with add-ons protecting you from lost rent if tenants decide to move out, as well as accidental damage and periods where your property is empty. You can also include contents cover if your rental property is furnished to protect any white goods, furniture and other items left in the home for the duration of the tenancy.
Logging Deposit with Protection Scheme or Deposit Replacement Schemes (disputes, end process)
Landlords are now legally required to safeguard their tenants' deposits with one of three government-backed deposit protection schemes: Deposit Protection Service, MyDeposits and Tenancy Deposit Scheme.
The deposit needs to be registered with one of the above schemes within 30 days of receiving the payment this will either be done by the landlord if you manage the property yourself or by the managing agent.
All of these schemes hold the tenant's deposit throughout the period of the tenancy, and administer the repayment when they leave. They also manage any deposit disputes, for example there is evidence of damage to the property that has been caused by the tenant or rent arrears outstanding and therefore the cost to rectify this will be deducted from the deposit they paid at the start of their tenancy.
The deposit or bond is usually equivalent to a month’s rent but this can be altered such as some landlords wish to take an extra £100.00 as a deposit if the tenant wishes to have a pet living at the property. This is all agreed and paid before the start of the tenancy.
Gas Safety Checks:
The Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 (GSIUR) outline your duties as a landlord to make sure all gas appliances, fittings, chimneys and flues are safe and working efficiently.
If you’re letting out a property with gas appliances installed, a gas safety check needs to be carried out by a Gas Safe registered engineer annually, for the duration of the tenancy. If the gas appliances in the home are unsafe, you could be at risk of fire, explosion or carbon monoxide poisoning.
Once the gas safety check has been carried out, the engineer will issue a gas safety certificate. This should be kept safe and will highlight any potential advisories and is proof that the property is safe to reside in. A copy will be issued to the landlord, tenant and letting agency (if required) with the date of expiry and when the next gas safety check is due. By law, a copy of your Landlord Gas Safety Record should be given to your current tenants within 28 days of the gas safety check - and for new tenants, you’ll need to provide this at the start of their tenancy.
To check if the gas engineer you wish to use is gas safe registered, you can confirm this on the public register below by inputting their details:
https://www.gassaferegister.co.uk/
EICR:
From the 1st December 2022, every rental property in Wales will now need to have a valid electrical safety inspection carried out by a qualified and registered electrician with a certificate issued to confirm all electrical installations are in safe and working order. These certificates are valid for five years and another inspection will need to be carried out when the certificate is due to expire - much like the annual gas safety certificate legislation that is already in place.
An Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) is a certificate that details the safety and overall condition of all the electrical installations and fittings in a property. An electrical installation condition report (EICR) is used to identify defects, deterioration, damages and/or conditions which may indicate potential danger, as well as providing recommendations for improvement within a property. The Landlord's Electrical Safety Certificate is also accepted as a valid EICR.
During the inspection, the electrician will use codes to highlight any potential risks on the report. Any C1 issues that are noted by the electrician are considered life-threatening to occupants and will be dealt with by the electrician at the time of the visit and additional charges may apply. C2 issues are an EICR failure but not life-threatening and therefore any additional works will be quoted for. Once C1 and C2 issues are rectified, a certificate will be issued. C3 issues are classed as advisories and therefore will not be deemed as an EICR failure. The Electrical Safety Standards require that you resolve any electrical issues within 28 days of receiving the recommendation from the electrician.
These regulations come into force on the 1st December 2022 and therefore any contracts made on or after the 1st December 2022 will need to have an EICR carried out. However there is a 12 month grace period for converted occupation contracts and therefore they will need to be carried out by the 30th November 2023.
EPC:
An EPC or energy performance certificate, gives detailed information about your property’s energy efficiency and carbon dioxide emissions, this must be produced by an accredited energy assessor.
Since October 2008, rental properties in England and Wales have required an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC). On April 1st 2018, the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) came into force. This required all properties being let or sold in England and Wales to have a minimum EPC rating of 'E' or above. Therefore, if your property doesn’t have a valid EPC rating of ‘E’ or above, it cannot be legally let. The penalty for not having a valid EPC on your rental property currently stands at £5,000 plus.
In 2021, it was announced that changes to the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards will come into affect for landlords and rentals from 2025. The government have proposed that all rental properties will need an EPC rating of ‘C’ or above by 2025. These new regulations will be introduced for new tenancies first, followed by all tenancies from 2028. This is a result of the governments pledge for the UK to be carbon net-zero by 2050 and the fine for not having a valid EPC on your rental property will increase from £5,000 to £30,000 from 2025.
Legionnaires disease test:
Legionnaires disease testing is a procedure carried out on water supplies to your rental property to rule out any bacteria that can cause Legionnaires disease by consuming the water.
This test can cost around £45.00 to carry out, where you are sent a kit to fill up bottles and send off for analysis, once this has been assessed a certificate and report is provided that gives you peace of mind when renting out a property that all is well with the water supply and flags up any potential causes for concern. The legionnaires disease test is not required by law but is seen as an extra precaution to take for your tenants wellbeing.
Smoke alarm and carbon monoxide alarm requirements
In relation to the Fit for Human Habitation regulations, hardwiring fire alarms will also become a legal requirement by the 1st December 2022 for all rental properties in Wales.
There needs to be a hard wired fire alarm fitted on every floor of the property and these need to be installed by an electrical safe engineer and we advise for you to confirm that they are an approved contractor by checking the online electrical safe register: http://www.electricalsafetyregister.com. Once the minimum requirements of the regulations are met, a landlord may install additional smoke or heat alarms that are battery powered.
All alarms will need to be checked regularly to ensure they are in working order and an electrical safe engineer will be required to hard wire in any fire alarms. They will also be required to be noted on any inventory reports or mid-term inspections.
Converted occupation contracts have a 12 months grace period to have these alarms fitted, therefore all smoke alarms need to be hard wired in by the 30th November 2023 but a new tenancy or occupation contract created after the 1st December 2022 will require the alarms to be in place from the occupation date. Again, in relation to the FFHH regulation, carbon monoxide alarms need to be present for all rental dwellings in Wales that have a gas, oil, or solid fuel burning appliance installed. These will need to be in place by the 1st December 2022 and there is no grace period for converted occupation contracts.
Carbon monoxide alarms need to be present where ever there are gas installations such as a gas boiler or gas fire. If these appliances are situated in separate rooms of the household then a carbon monoxide alarm must be present in each room. These alarms can be battery operated and do not need to be wired in.
These will also be required to be noted on any inventory reports or mid-term inspections and will need to be checked regularly to ensure they are in working order.
Advertising Costs
When marketing your rental property through a letting agent, the cost of advertising will be included in your set up fee. Where the property will be advertised through the letting agents website, property websites such as Zoopla and On the Market and through the letting agents social media.
If you are managing the rental property yourself as a landlord, this cost will need to be covered by yourself. Different property search websites have different packages and memberships that you can join where you can market a certain number of properties in a certain length of time for a certain price.
Thanks to the power of social media however, you may feel that you do not need to market on a property search site and would just post about it on Facebook and Instagram etc. but remember not everyone on your social media platform is your target audience whilst advertising open a property website - you are promoting your property to people who are actively looking for a property and have matched the search criteria. Advertising this way can also make the experience less personal, instead of people you may know contacting you through your social media, people will have to contact you through the website and therefore if you wish to remain anonymous, this may be the best method.
Referencing
When finding a new tenant for your rental property, we always advise that they are referenced before agreeing to enter into a tenancy agreement. There are many referencing companies that will conduct this for you for a small fee who will obtain all the information needed to draw up a final report for your consideration.
There are different levels of referencing but we always advise to proceed with a full reference so you have all of the information needed to make a final decision. The checks would include proof of ID and proof of current address, a full credit report, a current employer reference confirming their employment status, their income, how long they have worked at the premises for and if they are permanently employed, casual or contract; a previous landlord reference confirming how long they have rented for, whether their rent was paid on time and if the landlord would let to them again. This gives you relevant information for you to come to a decision on whether they would be a suitable tenant or not and if you wish to proceed with their application.
Many if not all rent guarantee insurance policies also require your tenant to be referenced and deemed ‘acceptable’ in order to provide cover.
Guarantors
During the referencing process on your potential tenant, there may be some factors that cause the referencing report to be concluded as ‘Accept with guarantor’. This is where a slight risk has been highlighted during the referencing and therefore a guarantor will be required as an assurance for the landlord.
A guarantor is someone who is also willing to go through the referencing process and understands that they are responsible for any outstanding rent, should the tenant not be able to pay for any reason for the duration of the tenancy. This acts as a safeguard for you as landlord and gives you peace of mind should any issues arise.
An example of this would be if the potential tenant going through referencing has been confirmed as permanently employed, earns enough to cover the rent and they have received a good reference from their previous landlord but their credit score is slightly lower than average. The referencing team would then advise that this would be accepted with a guarantor in place to minimise any risk.
Tenancy agreements/occupation contracts and renewals
Current assured short hold tenancy agreements and licenses from the 1st December 2022 will be changed to an occupation contract. The default type of the occupation contract will depend on whether the property is being let by a community/social landlord or a private landlord. This document highlights the changes that will apply to private landlords - these are landlords that have a rental property in Wales and are not classed as a 'community landlord'.
Within the new occupation contracts, 'tenants' will now not be referred to as such but instead will be addressed as 'contract-holders' going forward, in respect of residential lettings in Wales. Properties will also now be referred to as dwellings within the occupation contract.
The occupation contracts will set out the rights and responsibilities of each party - the landlord and the contract-holder. Although similar to a tenancy agreement, the new contracts act as more of a statement of the terms for occupying a rental dwelling. These new contracts may start as a fixed-term, for a minimum of six months but can now be agreed as a periodic contract from the start, which was not the case for Assured Short-hold Tenancy agreements previously. A standard fixed-term contract will automatically move onto a new periodic contract when it expires and the contract-holder remains in occupation of the dwelling.
All new tenancies and licenses from the 1st December 2022 will be occupation contracts and according to Section 7 of the act, most licenses and tenancies that started before this date will automatically be converted to an occupation contract where existing terms of the tenancy still apply, unless they conflict with the fundamental terms. A written statement is required to be issued for all converted occupation contracts stating that this is the case. Written Statements: As previously stated, there is a requirement for a written statement relating to the occupation contract, to be issued to the contract-holder within 14 days of the occupation date or if a contract-holder occupied the dwelling prior to the 1st December 2022 and is therefore on a converted occupation contract, this will need to issued within six months in order to be compliant.
Failure to provide a written statement enables the contract-holder to claim compensation that is equivalent to one days rent for every day that it is not provided, up to a maximum of two months rent. They can also apply to the courts for a declaration of the terms of the contract. However, for converted contracts due to the six months grace period, a contract-holder cannot apply to the courts until the 30th May 2023. Failure to supply a written statement in accordance with the occupation contract could also result in the landlord being liable to pay the contract-holder compensation under section 87 of the Act. This section also states that interest accrues on the compensation of the landlord still fails to provide the statement.
After the initial written statement has been issued, any further changes to the occupation contract must require an additional written statement to be issued clearly depicting this within 14 days of the variation. For example, if there are two contract-holders associated with a dwelling and one contract-holder decides to vacate the dwelling. A written statement must be issued by either the landlord or the acting, letting agent within 14 days and the landlord cannot charge a fee for providing this.
Written statements can be issued as a hard copy or if the contract-holder agrees, these can be sent electronically.
Move-in Inventory
A move-in inventory report is carried out just before the date that the tenants move in and records the condition of the property and has photo evidence of this. Photos are taken of each feature of each room from flooring, ceiling, walls to furniture, fireplaces plug sockets and any notes are added to this if required.
Meter readings are also taken whilst the inventory is being done and this will be provided to utility providers. We always recommend tenants and the person who carries out the inventory report (whether this is the landlord or managing agent) to check through the report and both sign and date this, to confirm they are happy with everything the report contains and it is a true likeness of the properties current condition.
This is always a huge benefit for landlords and tenants to have as a mutual agreement of the condition of the property and it’s contents that can then be used to work from at the end of the tenancy when the tenants move out to ensure apart from general wear and tear, the property is left in similar repair. As a supplementary provision under the new Act coming into force on the 1st December 2022, a landlord will be required to have an inventory report provided for every dwelling and for every new tenancy. The inventory report must include details of the dwellings condition, contents including any fixtures or fittings and must be signed by both the contract-holder and the landlord, or by the letting agent on the landlords behalf. A copy of the inventory report must be provided to the contract-holder within 14 days of the occupation date, for safekeeping. Amendments can be made to the inventory after the occupation date should the contract-holder have any comments to provide the landlord or acting letting agent.
For any existing contracts that were made prior to 1st December 2022, an existing inventory will suffice. However, if an inventory was not provided, a written statement must be issued to confirm that this was the case at the start of the the contract and provided to the contract-holder.
Inspections/notice to inspect
Mid-term inspections are always advised to be carried out every few months or mid way point of the fixed term tenancy. This is to ensure all is well at the property and gives the landlord and tenant an opportunity to point out any potential issues that may occur. Photographs are are also advised to be taken during the visit so that these can be compared to the inventory report that was carried out before the tenant has moved in. These images can also be used in comparison with the following mid-term inspection or check-out report if needed.
If there is damage to the property this is a great way to prove what time frame this has occurred due to the photo evidence and builds a strong case when debating the return of the deposit.
As a landlord or letting agent you must give at least 24 hours notice to the tenant that you will be visiting the property and carrying out the inspection and to confirm if they wish to be present or not during the visit. We would always recommend putting this in writing whether via email or a letter so you have proof that the tenant has been notified of the visit.
Tenants calling direct if not fully managed
When managing your own property, you are the main contact for your tenants should they have any queries for the duration of the tenancy. This could include unsociable hours especially if there is a maintenance emergency such as a leak.
You will also have to liaise with your tenants directly should you need to hand them a section 21 notice, arrange a gas safety check, mid-term inspection or chase any late payments on the rent and more. It really is a full time job!
This is the bonus of using a letting agent to manage your rental property. They then become the main point of contact for your tenant regarding any query when it comes to your rental property, including out of hours emergencies. It takes the weight off your shoulders to know that everything is in hand and there is always someone to contact, should you not be available.
Dealing with Damage to the property
Sometimes damage to the property is no ones fault and can be caused due to external matters such as floods, storms etc. if you have insurance in place this may be covered by this but if not, as the landlord and the owner of the property. It is still your responsibility to rectify these issues to ensure your tenant resides in a suitable condition.
However, damage caused by the tenants whether by accidental or deliberately would be at the cost of the tenant to rectify. Again, this is why we stress having mid-term inspections and inventories are alway a good idea as evidence of this is clear to see and diffuses any disputes quickly. Without this photo evidence, things could become very difficult with it becoming one persons word against the other.
Rental Increases
As a private landlord, the rent charged to your tenant should be at a ‘market rent’ pricing point, which is usually advised by a letting agent at the time of letting. These values are affected by availability and cost of other rental properties in the area. Therefore, should you wish, you can increase the rent as long as it sits at market value and the tenants are in a rolling contract or in readiness for their contract renewal.
The RHW12 is based largely around the section 13 that is already in place regarding rent increases with some variations. This is sent out to tenants informing them of the proposed rent increase.
The contract-holder under a periodic standard contract must be given two month's notice of any change in the amount of rent payments due, followed by a written statement issued to the contract-holder within 14 days of the RHW12 being issued depicting the variation of the rent payment. A landlord cannot charge for issuing this written statement.
A RHW12 cannot be issued during a fixed-term occupation contract but can issued at any time during a periodic occupation contract. Therefore, a RHW12 form cannot be issued during the fixed-term contract for when the periodic contract starts. The contract must first become periodic (e.g. month 7 after a 6 month fixed term contract) and then the RHW12 will be issued giving the contract-holder two month's notice of the rent increase.
Additional RHW12 notices can only be issued twelve month's after the previous rent variation has took effect. Therefore, rent increases can only take place once a year for the contract-holder.
Another change to the previous rent increase regulation is that the previous rule relating to rent increases commencing on the rent payment date has gone and the rent change can now start any day but this will most likely still be the case, for ease for landlords.
A contract-holder may dispute any rent increases and appeal this is they see fit however, there is currently no clear information to highlight how a contract-holder may go about this for the time being. We assume this will be updated in due course when further legislation is published.
Arrears/Rent Loss
Tenants should continue to pay rent and abide by all other terms of their tenancy agreement to the best of their ability. But sometimes unforeseen circumstances can occur that doesn’t enable them to pay their rent on time and therefore become in rent arrears. If you mage your own property portfolio you will need to contact your tenant directly in order to chase rent payments, however if you use a letting agent to manage your property they will do this for you and keep you updated on the situation.
Every circumstance is different, and an early conversation between landlord and tenant is advised to understand why the tenant is struggling to pay their rent. Some landlords can decide to agree to a payment plan in order to help the tenants pay back the rent they owe overtime, whilst still paying their current rent on time or agree a plan to pay off arrears at a later date.
However, if the rent arrears become more substantial and if disputes over rent or other matters persist, landlords and tenants are encouraged to consider mediation. Mediation allows an independent third-party to assist those involved to try to reach a mutually acceptable agreement to resolve their dispute and settle how any arrears will be paid and if possession of the property is required. This can be your letting agent if a fully managed property.
Some landlords insurance policies can cover you if your tenant is in arrears and covers any rent loss but this does depend on what policy you have chosen to take out.
Ending a contract / Section 173 notice:
A no fault eviction notice or section 173 will now replace the current section 21 notice, which is in place for a landlord to seek possession of the property for any reason that is not the tenants/contract-holders fault.
The minimum length of notice provided to a contract-holder in relation to a section 173 being served is six months.
A section 173 cannot be served for the duration of a standard fixed term occupation contract. Landlords must wait for the fixed-term to become a periodic contract in order to serve the notice. For occupation contracts that commenced as a periodic contract after the 1st December 2022, landlords must not issue a section 173 until six month's after the contract starts. Both of these points effectively give a tenant a minimum of a twelve month contract.
However, an existing periodic contract that was periodic prior to the 1st December 2022, landlords will only be required to give the contract-holders two month's notice as long as it isn't served within the first four month's of the initial contract.
A landlord will not be able to serve a section 173 notice to a contract-holder until six months after the expiry of any previous section 173 notice that has been served, unless a mistake has been made on the initial section 173 in which the landlord has 28 days from the date of this being issued to correct and serve another section 173 notice. They will also not be able to serve a valid section 173 notice if they have failed to comply with their statutory obligations.
Please note, the six months notice period only applies to occupation contracts that are issued a Section 173 on or after the 1st December 2022. Any no fault eviction notices or Section 21's that are issued prior to this date still stand at two month's notice unless otherwise stated.
Where the contract-holder has fallen into 'serious rent arrears' the landlord may make a possession claim to the court on this ground. Section 181 defines 'serious rent arrears' as the contract-holder being in two month's rent arrears. The court must make a possession order if it is satisfied that the contract-holder was in 'serious rent arrears' at the time that a possession notice was issued.
If a contract-holder has breached any terms of the contract regarding anti-social behaviour relating to excessive noise, verbal abuse, physical assault, domestic abuse including physical, emotional, sexual, psychological and financial abuse then a landlord may serve a possession notice and commence court proceedings the same day in this case. The contract-holder can also be held responsible for the behaviour of anyone else who lives or visits the dwelling.
If a contract-holder under a standard periodic standard contract wishes to end their contract, they must inform the landlord in writing by giving at least one month's notice. In relation to a standard fixed-term contract the tenant must again provide this in writing and the one month's notice must coincide with the end of the fixed-term date.
Bailiff cost
When the court issues a warrant, it will send your tenants an eviction notice with the date they must leave your property by. A bailiff can evict your tenants if they do not leave by this date.
You can apply for a warrant of possession up to 6 years after a possession order is made.
Bailiffs (also called 'enforcement agents') can charge fees for collecting any debt. They can charge for writing to and visiting the person in debt as well as some of their expenses, for example court fees.
Stage 3 Bailiffs to Evict a Tenant: Average Cost £348 (county court) or £1,219 (High Court) In the UK, the average cost of getting bailiffs to evict your tenant is £348 if you use county court and £1,219 if you use the High Court.
Legislations preventing bailiff enforcement of evictions due to the Covid-19 pandemic have now expired. This measure was in place from 17 November 2020 until 31 May 2021. Orders can now be enforced where the landlord has a valid warrant of possession. However, bailiffs must provide 14 days’ notice of an eviction and have been asked not to carry out an eviction if they are made aware that anyone living in the property has COVID-19 symptoms or is self-isolating.
We hope you have found this information helpful and if you have any feedback or wish to discuss any of the above in more detail, please feel free to get in touch with the team on
01685 375511 or email hello@neighbourhood.properties
