West Suffolk Council landlord licensing
- West Suffolk Council does not currently operate a selective licensing scheme in Norton
- Mandatory HMO licensing applies nationally to properties with 5 or more persons from 2 or more households
- HMO licence conditions include minimum room sizes, fire detection, annual gas safety certificate, 5-yearly EICR
- Property Portal and PRS Ombudsman registration are mandatory under the Renters' Rights Act 2025
Renters' Rights Act 2025 — key obligations
- Section 21 no-fault evictions abolished
- Fixed-term tenancies cannot be granted for new lets — all tenancies are periodic
- Property Portal registration mandatory before any property can be let
- PRS Ombudsman membership mandatory for all private landlords in England
- Rent increases must use the statutory Section 13 notice
EPC requirements
- Current minimum Band E — properties below Band E cannot be let
- EPC Band C is confirmed policy for 2030
- Mix of mains gas and off-grid properties in Norton — confirm heating type before planning improvements
- Commission a fresh RdSAP 10 assessment if certificate is over 5 years old
Gas and electrical safety
- Annual gas safety check (CP12) by Gas Safe registered engineer
- Annual OFTEC-registered service for oil-heated properties
- Five-yearly EICR mandatory; C1/C2 defects remediated within 28 days
- Smoke alarms on every storey; CO alarms in rooms with solid fuel or gas appliances
Deposit protection
- Protect deposit in DPS, myDeposits or TDS within 30 days of receipt
- Serve Prescribed Information within 30 days
- Maximum deposit 5 weeks' rent for rents under £50,000 per year
- Failure to protect exposes landlord to penalty of 1–3 times the deposit