Courses aim to update letting agents on housing law changes

Three one-day courses are being held this year - the first next week - aimed at updating letting agents on changes to housing law.

The Residential Landlords Association, which is organising the courses, says the last two years have seen great changes in the private rental sector, with similar large-scale changes set to take place in the near future too.

“Agents are placed with a great deal of responsibility from their landlords; to effectively manage their investment, protect their asset and build good working relationships. Many agents are aware of the basics of lettings, however it is crucial to keep up to date with changes in legislation to avoid potential financial penalties and loss of trust” says the association. 

Each course is delivered by a successful landlord who for the last five years has run her own letting agency. She was formally a tenant's rights adviser, so has first-hand experience of juggling the needs of tenants with those of landlord clients.

Course content includes sessions on the banning of agency fees, client money protection, redress schemes and good agency practice, as well as proposed changes to mandatory HMOs, details of the fit and proper person test and how this impacts on agents.

There will also be a look at Housing and Planning Act changes including banning orders, the developing rogue landlord database, abandonment procedure, changes to electrical safety, Section 21 rules, retaliatory evictions and of course an overview of the Right to Rent requirements.

The first is on Thursday March 15 in Manchester; the others this year are in London on September 13 and back in Manchester on November 7.

More details here.