114x114_fitbox-figures_and_pencil1.jpegA recent study commissioned by ARLA has found that almost a fifth of landlords have only entered the residential letting sector in the past few years. Of these, almost two thirds have been landlords for less than a decade. 

In the light of these findings, the Government-sponsored Residential Property Tribunal Service is set to embark upon an awareness raising campaign amongst the growing number of novice landlords and tenants who may not know where to turn when common disputes arise.  

In addition to the growing number of first time landlords, changing lifestyles, affluence, employment patterns and financial circumstances have all combined to encourage more younger people to rent. 

At the end of the 1980's, around 40% of 20-24 year olds and roughly 66% of 24-29 year olds were already owner occupiers. Now only 20% and 50% or these age groups respectively purchase. 

This is a considerable social change, with many people moving to owner occupation at least a decade later in life than people of their age used to.

Established to settle disputes on private rented sector and leasehold matters in the housing field, and operating in some instances as an alternative to the county courts, RPTS provides an accessible and cost-effective solution to residential disputes for landlords, tenants and lessees.

In recent years, the service has undergone dramatic change, and in addition to its traditional work on rents and leasehold disputes, it now also has the ability to settle disputes on:

  • Service charges - the LVT has much wider powers to decide whether service charges are payable including decisions on whether the costs are reasonable, the standards of work are reasonable and whether the lessees have been properly consulted. 
  • The right to manage - a new right for lessees of flats to manage their own properties has been introduced.  The LVT can decide disputes between the landlord and the right-to-manage company.
  • Administration charges - the LVT can decide whether other charges under a lease (eg. a landlord's costs associated with giving consent to sell the flat) are payable and/or reasonable.
  • Variation of leases - the power to correct defective leases, which was previously exercised by the County Courts, has been transferred to the LVT.

Since the introduction of the Housing Act last year, RPTS can also adjudicate on disputes over actions taken by local authorities in relation to the new Housing Health and Safety Rating System, licenses for Houses in Multiple Occupation, the selective licensing of landlords in some areas and management orders, including those for empty homes.

The tribunal aims to be an efficient and user-friendly system, with a great deal of emphasis placed on ensuring that hearings are informal and accessible.  Not all cases involve lawyers, with many parties choosing to represent themselves, and the service is cost effective, with application fees ranging between £50 and £500 depending on the nature of the dispute. Many sorts of application, including those in rent disputes, are free.

The RPTS is strictly impartial - it is available equally to leaseholders, tenants and landlords - and every case is reviewed and decided on its merits.  Hearings take place locally or at one of RPTS' five regional offices.  If applicants have mobility problems, panel hearings can even be held in their own homes.

For further information, please visit the RPTS website . Alternatively, you can call the RPTS national helpline number on 0845 600 3178.