Law-savvy landlords are being asked to help compile a definitive list of legislation impacting the PRS.

Tessa Shepperson (main image, inset), who runs Landlord Law and writes the Landlord Law Blog, has already listed 75 laws in chronological order, starting from The Distress for Rent Act in 1737 up until the most recent, The Council Tax (Chargeable Dwellings and Liability for Owners (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2023.

Shepperson hopes that not only will this clear up any confusion about how much legislation landlords need to comply with but will also prove to be a useful public resource.

“We often see articles or news items discussing landlords’ legal obligations, which state that landlords have to comply with a certain number of laws and regulations,” she explains. “I have seen 400 cited, for example, and various other numbers. However, I have never seen an actual list to back this number up.”

The list only includes legislation from England and Wales (not Scotland or Northern Ireland), and both top level statutes and secondary ‘statutory instruments’, also known as secondary, delegated or subordinate legislation.  

Really useful

Shepperson now wants landlords and agents to help her complete the task. “I am sure I have missed things out, so I am inviting readers to let me know any which are missing,” she says. “Hopefully, together, we can create a really useful and informative page.”

Suggested laws should be relevant just for short lets in the private sector (the list does not include legislation regarding council houses, long leases or agricultural tenancies) and should significantly affect private landlords, such as something likely to be covered in landlord training courses.

You can find the list here and use this form to make a suggestion.