West Suffolk Council landlord licensing
- No selective licensing in Chevington — always verify with West Suffolk Council
- Mandatory HMO licensing for 5+ person 2+ household properties
- Property Portal and PRS Ombudsman registration mandatory under Renters' Rights Act 2025
Renters' Rights Act 2025 key obligations
- Section 21 abolished — all possessions must use statutory grounds
- Fixed-term tenancies banned for new lets — all lets periodic from day one
- Rent increases via statutory Section 13 notice only
- Property Portal and PRS Ombudsman registration mandatory
EPC and energy efficiency
- Current minimum Band E for all private lets in England
- Band C target confirmed for 2030
- Rural off-grid properties may need oil, LPG or heat pump solutions
- Commission fresh RdSAP 10 assessment if certificate over 5 years old
Gas and electrical safety
- Annual gas safety check (CP12) by Gas Safe registered engineer
- Five-yearly EICR mandatory — C1/C2 defects within 28 days
- Smoke alarms every storey, CO alarms in all combustion appliance rooms
- Keep all certificates for minimum 2 years
Deposit protection
- Protect deposit within 30 days in DPS, myDeposits or TDS
- Serve Prescribed Information within 30 days of receipt
- Maximum 5 weeks' rent for annual rents under £50,000