News from the Residential Property Investor, the bi-monthly magazine for RLA members other artilces from the January / February 2003 issue RPI news archive

RLA tenancy agreement wins backing - January / February 2003

RLA members will shortly be able to use the association's latest standard Assured Shorthold Tenancy Agreement, a recipient of the Crystal Mark award from the Plain English Campaign.

As regulations governing such agreements tighten, so too does the need to ensure that both landlords and tenants are fairly represented within such contractual agreements.

Last April a consultation paper drawn up by the Law Commission, a Parliamentary body appointed to ensure the constant review of English law, included proposals that if taken up will give tenants the rights to levy penalties from landlords who fail to provide properly drawn up agreements. Another dramatic alteration to the law would see the legal definition of a landlord altered to 'supplier' whilst their tenants became 'consumers'. This would bring tenancy agreements within the ambit of consumer law, and mean that tenants would have the right to confront landlords for 'unfair' conditions as defined by the Unfair Terms in Consumer Contracts Regulations 1999.

For further information, members are advised to visit the RLA website at www.rla.org.uk, or call 0161 962 0010.
 

other artilces from the January / February 2003 issue

• Damned either way
• Deposit scheme looks set to become mandatory
• RLA tenancy agreement wins backing
• 'Sustainable housing' a Pre-Budget aim
• Appeal Court upholds gay rights
• In brief