BLB Solicitors
  • +01225 755656
  • enquiries@blbsolicitors.co.uk
BLB Solicitors
  • +01225 755656
  • enquiries@blbsolicitors.co.uk
  • Home
  • Services for You
    • Conveyancing Solicitors
    • Leasehold Solicitors
    • Property Dispute Solicitors
    • Divorce, Family Law and Mediation
    • Lifetime Planning and Wills
    • Probate and Estate Administration
    • Equity Release Solicitors
    • Retirement Property Conveyancing
    • Personal Injury Compensation
    • Medical Negligence Solicitors
  • Services for Business
    • Commercial Property
    • Commercial Property Disputes
    • Corporate & Commercial Legal Advice
    • Estate Management Solicitors
  • BLB Solicitors Locations
    • Almondsbury Solicitors
    • Bath Solicitors
    • Bristol Solicitors
    • Bradford on Avon Solicitors
    • Swindon Solicitors
    • Trowbridge Solicitors
  • About Us
    • Our Team
    • Working for BLB
    • BLB Solicitors – How we work
    • Making Payments to BLB Solicitors
    • Instructing BLB Solicitors
    • Terms of Business
    • Complaints Policy
    • Interest Policy
  • Blog
  • Contact Us

Home » Tenant Fees Act 2019 – 5 things you need to know

Property Dispute Resolution
Apartments
May 8th, 2019

At BLB Solicitors, our goal is simple – to deliver you clear, practical legal advice and cost-effective solutions. We hope you enjoy exploring our Blog. If you can’t find what you’re looking for, please do contact us.

Tenant Fees Act 2019 – 5 things you need to know

The Tenant Fees Act 2019 (the Act) is due to come into force on 1 June 2019 and applies to tenancies in England only. The changes affect assured shorthold tenancies, student lettings and licences. From 1 June 2020, the changes will apply to all existing lettings.

The purpose of the Act is to make renting fairer and more affordable for tenants by reducing the costs at the outset of the tenancy. It is designed to deal with a perceived imbalance of power and increase transparency and competition in the private rental market.

Main Changes

1. The Act bans landlords and their agents from charging payments in connection with a tenancy for other than rent, default payments for late payment of rent or lost keys, utilities, TV licence and council tax. Payments for assigning or varying a tenancy will be capped at £50. Any other payment is considered to be a prohibited payment.

2. Deposits will be capped at no more than 5 weeks’ rent where the annual rent is less than £50,000, and no more than 6 weeks’ rent where the annual rent is £50,000 or more. Holding deposits to reserve a property will be capped at no more than one weeks’ rent.

3. Holding deposits must be refunded to the tenants within 7 days of the tenancy agreement being completed, however the landlord may retain the holding deposit in the following circumstances:

i. If the tenant provides false or misleading information for a reference check;

ii. If the tenant changes their mind and decides to withdraw but they notify the landlord before the deadline for agreement has passed;

iii. If the tenant fails the right to rent check under the Immigration Act.

4. Breaches will be a civil offence and will result in financial penalties of up to £5,000. If a further breach is committed within 5 years then this will be a criminal offence and the penalty is an unlimited fine. Local authorities may impose a financial penalty of up to £30,000 as an alternative to prosecution. If a landlord receives two or more financial penalties within a 12 month period, their local housing authority has the discretion to include them on the database of rogue landlords.

5. A landlord will be unable to use a s21 notice until they or their agent have repaid any unlawfully charged fees or returned any unlawfully retained holding deposit.

BLB Solicitors
Request a Call Back

Recent Articles

  • Compensation for tree root damage
  • Profits à prendre: an introduction
  • Do I need planning permission for a fence?
  • I was promised the house: Can you enforce a verbal promise?
  • Can a right of way be removed?

Newsletter Sign-up

* indicates required

Share this article

You may also like...
  • Feb 17th, 2025
    Rights of light explained
    Read Article
  • Mar 3rd, 2025
    I was promised the house: Can you enforce a verbal promise?
    Read Article
View All Related Articles
Get in-touch today
Contact Form

Left Column

Right Column

Centre

 
Sending
  • Bristol Solicitors

    0117 905 5308
  • Bath Solicitors

    01225 462871
  • Bradford on Avon Solicitors

    01225 866541
  • Swindon Solicitors

    01793 615011
  • Trowbridge Solicitors

    01225 755656
  • Almondsbury Solicitors

    0117 905 5308
Authorised & Regulated by Solicitors Regulation Authority (No. 636644)
©2025 BLB Solicitors | Terms | Privacy | Legal