West Suffolk Council landlord licensing
- No selective licensing in Whepstead — verify with West Suffolk Council before letting
- 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
- All new lets are periodic tenancies from day one
- Property Portal registration mandatory before letting
- PRS Ombudsman membership mandatory
EPC and energy efficiency
- Current minimum Band E for all private lets
- Band C target confirmed for 2030
- Off-grid rural properties need oil or heat pump improvement plans
- Commission fresh RdSAP 10 assessment if certificate over 5 years old
Gas and electrical safety
- Annual gas safety check (CP12) for mains gas properties
- OFTEC service recommended for oil-heated properties
- Five-yearly EICR mandatory — C1/C2 defects within 28 days
- Smoke alarms 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