David Cox, managing director, Association of Residential Letting Agents, comments on legislation coming into force affecting the Private Rental Sector: “As of Thursday 1st October, it will be compulsory for landlords to have fitted smoke alarms on every floor of their property where there is a room used wholly or partly as living accommodation. They will also be required to put a carbon monoxide alarm in any room where solid fuel is burnt.

“We are entirely supportive of the aims of the regulation, but have recommended that the Government has implemented too strict a timeframe for this. However, despite our calls to reconsider the timeframe, following final scrutiny of the measures a few weeks ago, the deadline was not extended and landlords must comply by tomorrow. For those who have not yet fitted smoke alarms, we urge them to do all they can today to ensure that their properties comply with the new regulations that come into play.

“There are also some changes to Section 21 which will come into force tomorrow, looking at when Section 21 notices can be served; how long they will be valid for; what needs to be served with them, and hopefully a new prescribed Section 21 notice.

“On top of all of this, new retaliatory eviction measures will also be coming into force on Thursday, banning landlords from using Section 21 for six months where a local authority has served an Improvement Notice. At ARLA, we have provided factsheets to all our members on these changes and encouragement for anyone who don’t fully understand the regulations to get up to speed as quickly as possible.”