Hello everyone. I moved into my first rented flat in April this year and I am still getting to grips with everything. I have seen that some new rules came into effect on 1 May about rent increases and keeping pets, and I was wondering if anyone could explain how these apply to someone who signed their tenancy agreement before the changes came in. I would also love to know if I now have the right to request a pet without my landlord being able to say no outright. Thank you very much for any help!
The pet provisions under the Renters’ Rights Act that came into force on 1 May apply to all assured tenancies regardless of when they started, so yes they apply to you. However it is not quite as simple as the landlord cannot say no. You have the right to make a written request and the landlord must respond within 42 days. They can refuse but only on reasonable grounds, and the burden is on them to demonstrate the grounds are reasonable. Examples of reasonable refusal might include a very small flat with no outdoor space, or a lease that prohibits animals in the building. On the rent increase side, the Act has replaced the old section 13 mechanism with a new standardised process. Your landlord can only increase rent once per year using the prescribed form and you can challenge the amount at tribunal if you believe it exceeds market rent. That said, if your current tenancy agreement already specifies a fixed rent for a set term then the increase provisions would not apply until that term expires.
Thank you so much @GrumpyLandlord47, that was really helpful. I do not have any pets so that part is not relevant to me at the moment, but it is good to know for the future. One thing I wanted to ask, you mentioned an Information Sheet that landlords are now required to provide. I do not think I have received anything like that from my landlord or letting agent. Should I ask them for it, or is it something that only applies to tenancies that started after 1 May?
The Information Sheet requirement applies to all assured tenancies from 1 May regardless of when the tenancy started. Your landlord or agent should have provided it to you by now. The document itself is a standardised sheet published by the government setting out your rights and obligations under the new framework, it covers things like deposit protection, repair obligations, the complaints process and the new ombudsman. If you have not received it you should ask your agent or landlord in writing, ideally by email so you have a record. There is no specific penalty for late service of the Information Sheet at this stage that I am aware of, but the fact it has not been served may become relevant if any dispute arises later. Worth getting it sorted now rather than leaving it.