Minimum Energy Efficient Standards (MEES)
FUNDED PROJECT
Under government legislation, domestic private rented properties are required to meet a minimum energy efficiency standard before they can be rented to tenants. This is defined as an energy performance certificate (EPC) rating of E or above.
The Centre for Sustainable Energy have developed a ‘Support with Mees’ project and information for landlords on the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) can be found here.
Equalities Guidance
FUNDED PROJECT
Caerphilly Council’s Equalities and Welsh Language team have produced a guidance document to provide information and advice on where Equalities and Welsh Language matters should be considered when dealing with tenants. This can be accessed here.
Are you a member of a professional or regulatory body?
Several professional bodies exist to regulate letting agents and encourage best practice. Each body requires a standard of practice, and you can find out more information on the regulatory bodies, the benefits that each can offer and how you can become a member using the below links:
Client Money Protection
Letting Agents are not required to be a member of a professional or regulatory body, but they must have Client Money Protection.
Client Money Protection reimburses both the landlord and the tenants if an agent goes bust or misuses client money. Client money can include rents, deposits and funds for maintenance work.
Letting Agents can gain Client Money Protection via MoneyShield, a Client Money Protection (CMP) scheme, available to all UK lettings and estate agents. It offers a straight-forward and cost-effective CMP solution, allowing agents to secure robust protection for their clients without membership of a professional body.
Learn more about the benefits of MoneyShield and how to join here.
Tenancy Deposits
All Landlords are required to protect a deposit taken for an Assured Shorthold Tenancy.
TDS provides Government approved tenancy deposit protection to help you meet your legal requirement.
You have a choice of deposit protection type; TDS Insured or TDS Custodial.
Visit the TDS website to view our features overview to help you decide which option is best for you.
Switching to TDS
If you do not currently utilise TDS for your deposit protection, a dedicated team can assist with a seamless switching process.
Find out more about the benefits of switching to TDS here.
TDS API
The TDS API connects your lettings software/CRM with the TDS database to transfer the tenancy deposit registration details at the click of a button. It is available in both the TDS Insured and TDS Custodial schemes and helps agents to save time, money and eliminate errors when protecting tenancy deposits.
Find out more about this innovative proptech solution here.
How to register a deposit
Inventories, Check-ins and Check Outs
Advice from the Tenancy Deposit Scheme on how to approach inventories:
Inventory Hive along with Tenancy Deposit Scheme (TDS) are looking back on ‘Inventory Compliance in 2020: Reporting processes and guidance you need to know!’ in this Inventory Hive Webinar.
Pets
TDS Seminar – The Landlord’s Guide to Tenants with Pets
Pets in Properties? A look at real life case studies
Continuing Professional Development
TDS Academy provides property professionals with invaluable training in tenancy deposit protection and tenancy deposit disputes. All attendees receive a certificate which you can use to gain CPD points.
TDS Foundation Course - Two 90 minute live online sessions covering all aspects of the tenancy deposit protection legislation including the lifecycle of a deposit, from registration, repayment, through to the alternative dispute registration process. This will include how to confidently understand which deposit issues may be resolved and what kind of evidence you can prepare and rely on to save time and be more efficient should there be a dispute at the end of the tenancy.
TDS Adjudication Workshop - Run over two live sessions, each lasting 90 minutes, our adjudication trainers will teach you how to ‘think like an adjudicator’ and focuses on the TDS Alternative Dispute Resolution service (ADR), to show the kind of evidence an adjudicator looks for in a tenancy deposit dispute.
In case you don’t have time to attend a live session, to help raise the standards of the Private Rented Sector (PRS) Tenancy Deposit Scheme (TDS) and Inventory Hive have launched two brand new on demand industry training courses.
Course 1 ‘Pre-tenancy activity and inventory check-in’ – The first course includes an introduction to inventory check-ins and practical tips for compiling reports. The session focuses on key vocabulary/terminology and what to include in an inventory report.
Course 2 ‘Mid-term visits and end of tenancy check-out’ – The second course focuses on mid-term visits and end of tenancy check-out reports. The session includes practical guidance on undertaking reports, alongside how reports are approached by an adjudicator when considering deposit deductions.