West Suffolk Council landlord licensing
- No current selective licensing in Dalham — 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 via statutory grounds
- All new lets are periodic tenancies from day one
- Property Portal registration mandatory before letting
- PRS Ombudsman membership mandatory for all English landlords
EPC and energy efficiency
- Current minimum Band E — properties below Band E cannot be let
- Band C target for 2030 — likely required for new lets from 2028
- Off-gas-grid rural properties require oil/LPG improvement plans
- Commission updated RdSAP 10 assessment if certificate over 5 years old
Gas and electrical safety
- Annual gas safety check (CP12) for mains gas properties
- OFTEC engineer service recommended for oil-heated properties
- Five-yearly EICR mandatory — C1/C2 defects remedied within 28 days
- Smoke alarms on every storey, CO alarms in all combustion appliance rooms
Deposit protection
- Protect deposit within 30 days in DPS, myDeposits or TDS
- Serve Prescribed Information within 30 days
- Maximum 5 weeks' rent for annual rents under £50,000