July 2023 - CIA Landlords

Best Scandinavian country for young families to move to

Posted on 24 July 202321 December 2023 by Grace Cruttwell

Are you looking to move to Scandinavia with your young family but are yet to make up your mind about where exactly to settle? Scandinavia is an excellent choice for families; its stunning scenery, lovely food, friendly residents, great healthcare and education systems, and thriving economies mean it has something for everyone. Our research focuses on the best Scandinavian country to move to for young families.

Big life-changing decisions like moving overseas with a young family require a lot of thought, especially when your children are only little. So, you will want to do your research and get it right. Where will your kids go to school? Will your quality of life for your family be better in Scandinavia compared to the UK? What is the quality of the healthcare over there like?

Scandinavia is a subregion of northern Europe comprising several countries, and you may be thinking about which is the best one for your young family to relocate to.

At CIA Landlord Insurance, we have decided to take a look at the best Scandinavian country for young families to move to. Carry on reading to learn all about which country has come out on top in our research and why.

Which countries are in Scandinavia?

First things first, there has been plenty of hot debate over the years about which countries comprise Scandinavia. In short, Sweden, Norway and Denmark make up Scandinavia, with both Sweden and Norway being on the Scandinavian Peninsula.

However, culturally speaking many people today also consider the Nordic countries of Finland, Iceland, and the Faroe Islands as also being part of Scandinavia. Whilst there is an ongoing discussion as to which countries it includes, we’ll be looking more closely at Sweden, Norway, and Denmark in our research.

Get your immigration documents in order

You must first ensure that you and your family’s immigration documents are all properly in order to help facilitate your move to Scandinavia, there’s a bit more paperwork involved post-Brexit.

Your new employer in the Scandinavian host country will have to fill out relevant paperwork with immigration authorities to enable you to stay for an extended period on a work visa. That is unless you or your partner already hold a passport or residence permit for the country in question.

Denmark is the best Scandinavian country for young families to move to

Interestingly, Denmark came out on top as the best Scandinavian country for young families to move to. Sweden and Norway sit just behind in second and third. Denmark came in first place for figures on

Lowest proportion of residents living with a chronic health condition
Highest life satisfaction levels,
Highest educational performance in teenagers
The highest average monthly wage after tax.

Denmark is a beautiful country with friendly people. Denmark is part of the OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) intergovernmental organisation made up mostly of higher-income countries offering the best quality of life.

It is one of the OECD nations offering the highest overall quality of life. So, it is thereby unsurprising that it came out on top in our research.

Sweden came close behind in second, but it is full of breathtaking places to visit and our research found that it has a top education system.

Norway finished in third. Although Norway is undoubtedly a great place to live and blessed with stunning idyllic scenery, it is a little expensive and the cost of living there is high.

Overall rankings	Best Scandinavian country for young families to move to
1	Denmark
2	Sweden
3	Norway

Healthcare

In the UK, we are lucky to have access to a healthcare system that works pretty well, employs great staff, and ultimately is free. Other countries don’t structure their healthcare the same way, and therefore a large chunk of workers’ wages go into healthcare.

You will be thrilled to know that you can get excellent healthcare in Scandinavia that is free, or in the case of Norway, it requires relatively small employee contributions.

Denmark and Sweden have free public healthcare

Free public healthcare and a strong welfare state are something that this part of the world is well known for. Assessing the pros and cons of healthcare models operating in different nations will undoubtedly run through your mind as a responsible parent looking to relocate your young family to Scandinavia.

Looking for a free-to-access top-quality healthcare system? Look no further than Sweden, which has top-notch free universal health care in a decentralised system run by regions, local authorities, and municipalities.

Denmark also offers high-quality free public healthcare to all citizens and residents. Therefore, their respective healthcare systems aren’t too dissimilar from the NHS we have in place here in the UK.

Healthcare is not completely free for those over 16 in Norway

Healthcare for under 16-year-olds is free in Norway. However, healthcare for over 16s and adults is funded via taxes and payroll contributions by employees and employers alike. This system of employee contributions for over 16s means that healthcare in the Land of the Midnight Sun is not completely free.

Health is wealth and you certainly won’t want to risk moving to a country with inadequate healthcare for your young family. You need to know that you will be well looked after should one of you fall ill, or if you choose to grow your family further.

Below we go into more about some of the specific healthcare-related indicators we looked at, and on which aspects different Scandinavian countries managed to come out on top.

Life expectancy

First, we looked for data on which Scandinavian country had the highest life expectancy. Why? Well, life expectancy is a crucial indicator that tells you about the quality of healthcare and the general quality of life you can expect to find in a country.

Norway has the highest life expectancy

The data we found shows that you can expect to hope to live a reasonably long life living in Scandinavia. The winner on the metric of life expectancy was Norway with an average life expectancy at birth in 2020 of 83.2 years old, this was higher than the EU average of 80.1 years old.

The snow, fjords, and fresh Norweigan air are evidently good for your body, mind, and soul it appears! Sweden was close behind in second with a life expectancy of 83.1 years, and Denmark in third with 81.5 years old

Ranking	Country	Life Expectancy at birth in 2021
1	Norway	83.2 years old
2	Sweden	83.1 years old
3	Denmark	81.5 years old

Denmark has the lowest proportion of residents with chronic health conditions

You certainly want to avoid your children developing chronic health conditions in their youth as much as you can. Being young is about being free, eating a balanced diet, and burning off your steam by following an active lifestyle, and there is certainly plenty of space to do that in the gorgeous Scandinavian countries.

In this part of our research, Denmark had the lowest proportion of residents with chronic health conditions out of the three nations. Only 31% of Danes reported having at least one chronic health condition in 2019, compared to 36% in the entire EU. A symbol of a population ensuring they make an effort to lead a wholesome and well-balanced lifestyle

Encouraging your children to get involved with sports and exercise is a great way to integrate yourself into your new surroundings and meet new friends. All three of these countries are passionate sport-loving nations with hoards of breathtaking outdoor space ideal for ensuring active lifestyles for their citizens.

With so many activities to get involved with, your children won’t need to be fixated on screens and their devices, get them outside as much as possible.

Ranking	Country	% of people reporting living with at least one chronic health condition in 2019
1	Denmark	31
2	Norway	37
3	Sweden	38

Life satisfaction

Life is never plain sailing wherever you go and happiness is of course subjective. So, it is nice to be aware of whether people living in the country you are moving to are generally speaking happy and content with their lives.

An important indicator to give you an insight into whether or not you could be happy living with your family is to look at just how satisfied people living in Scandinavian countries are

Denmark has the population with the highest life satisfaction levels

You might think with there being so little daylight in the autumn and winter months life satisfaction levels would be low. However, The information we gathered shows that when surveyed on their life satisfaction, Scandinavians replied that they were pretty satisfied with life.

Denmark scored the highest score of 7.5 for ‘life satisfaction’ in our research. The food, great healthcare and education and stunning landscape and cultural sights are perhaps some of the things that make people simply so content with life in Denmark.

Equally, Norway and Sweden also didn’t score too badly when it comes to life satisfaction, both getting 7.3 each.

Ranking	Country	The population’s general satisfaction with life on a scale from 0 to 10
1	Denmark	7.5
2	Norway	7.3
3	Sweden	7.3

Tourism Treasures in Scandinavia

Similarly to how we love staycations in the UK, you could do the same in Scandinavia.

Why not make the most of all your new country of residence has to offer when you move over there by going on fun-filled holidays with your young family?

Scandinavia is full of fascinating tourist sites such as museums, stunning mountains, fjords, ancient monuments, hiking trails, seas, lakes, rivers, and more. These are the perfect cocktail for fun family sightseeing and holidays where you can create unforgettable memories.

Sweden has the highest number of jaw-dropping UNESCO World Heritage Sites

World Heritage Sites are specially designated beauty spots by UNESCO for having cultural, historical, scientific or other forms of significance. You will be pleased to hear that Scandinavia in all its splendour is full of UNESCO world heritage sites that you can visit and soak in as a family when your kids are growing up.

All three of the countries are fortunate enough to have jaw-dropping UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Denmark is home to eight UNESCO World Heritage sites in total, including the Viking Age rune stones in Jelling, Hamlet’s Castle in Kronborg, the Wadden Sea National Park, and more.

Norway has eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites for you to enjoy, including the majestic Western Fjords landscape, the Vega Islands fishing community, the historic harbour district of Bryggen in the city of Bergen and plenty more.

Our research unveiled it is Sweden that has the highest number of Unesco World Heritage Sites in Scandinavia, with 15 in total. Its heritage sites include the naval port of Karlskrona in Southern Sweden which dates back to 1680, the Rock Carvings in Tanum depicting bronze age art in Western Sweden, the Swedish Royal Family’s residence of Drottningholm with its beautiful garden near Stockholm, and other gems.

Ranking	Country	Number of UNESCO world heritage sites
1	Sweden	15
2	Denmark	8
3	Norway	7

Education

When moving abroad, you will most likely want your kids to be able to access an amazing education system. You want them to be able to reach for the stars and achieve their dream, and a well-designed education system will make it possible for your little ones to do just that in the future.

A good national education system will churn out impressive results from students and set young people up for top careers and bright futures. So, therefore we chose to take a further look at data on the educational attainment levels of youngsters in each Scandinavian country and compare them.

Teenagers in Sweden have the best reading levels in Scandinavia

Reading and literacy skills are crucial for general life and in the workplace. We looked at the mean PISA reading score (the OECD’s Programme for International Student Assessment) for 15-year-olds in each Scandinavian country.

A 2018 study showed Sweden as the Scandinavian country with the best PISA reading score of 502 for 15-year-olds. Sweden has a great education system, and after secondary school kids can either go to a university, or university college or follow a Higher Vocational Education (HVE) route, combining theory with practical learning.

Denmark also has an impressive education system and finished just behind on 501.

Ranking	Country	Mean PISA score for 15-year-olds in reading
1	Sweden	502
2	Denmark	501
3	Norway	499

Teenagers in Denmark are the highest performing in Scandinavia in mathematics

Having high capabilities is a great tool for your kid to have, even if they don’t want to become an accountant, financial advisor, or work in any typical number-crunching job in the future.

So, we also took a look at the PISA mathematics scores for each Scandinavian country to give you an idea of how well students do in the mathematics element of the respective national education systems.

It transpires that Denmark was a clear leader with 509 points in the mean score for the PISA mathematics assessment for 15-year-olds. So, it seems that the Danish education system works efficiently to produce highly competent mathematicians.

Ranking	Country	Mean PISA score for 15-year-olds in mathematics
1	Denmark	509
2	Sweden	503
3	Norway	501

Denmark has the highest monthly salary after tax

The cost of living crisis is real. Similarly to the UK, things can be a little pricey in Scandinavia, but it really depends on what you look at.

For instance, houses are pretty expensive in the UK, especially in London and the surrounding areas. However, shops and consumer retail prices tend to be a bit higher in these three Scandinavian countries than in the UK.

You will want to be sure about what your financial situation will look like before taking the leap of faith to move to a new country. So, thought it was important to weigh up the monthly salary in Sweden, Denmark, and Norway after tax.

Our research has uncovered Denmark as the Scandinavian country offering the highest average monthly disposable salary after tax, a handsome £2,753.

Norway was just behind with £2,583 as the average monthly disposable salary, and Sweden finished third out of the three.

Ranking	Country	Average monthly disposable salary after tax (converted into pounds)
1	Denmark	2,753
2	Norway	2,583
3	Sweden	2,052

Methodology

In our research, the aim was to get a better understanding of which Scandinavian country was the best for young families to move to. Therefore, we pulled together relevant data that would indicate the quality of life young families can expect when relocating to each one of the respective Scandinavian countries.

We included data from surveys relating to life satisfaction, the health and well-being of residents, national education systems, and average salaries after tax. We then compared each result against one another and aggregated the scores together to help us make a final decision on the best country for young families to move to in the Scandinavian region.

Sources

https://countryeconomy.com/demography/life-expectancy/

https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/country_price_rankings

https://www.oecd.org/health/

https://www.oecd-ilibrary.org

https://www.oecdbetterlifeindex.org/topics/life-satisfaction/

https://visitsweden.com/

https://www.visitdenmark.com/

https://www.visitnorway.com/

The Best Cities for a Good Night’s Sleep

Posted on 17 July 20232 December 2024 by Charlotte Crowther

According to a recent report, nearly two thirds of people in England struggle to get the recommended minimum of seven hours’ sleep every night. A lot of things can affect how well we sleep, from feeling stressed to noisy traffic keeping us awake. This led us to wonder if some locations are more sleep-friendly than others, offering residents and visitors a better night’s rest.

To find out, our team at CIA Landlord Insurance has investigated which cities across the UK – and the world – offer the best environment for getting a great night’s sleep. We took into account various factors such as air, noise and light pollution, crime rates, and quality of green spaces to crown the winner.

Welsh cities Swansea and Cardiff are the best in the UK for a good night’s sleep

If you dream of getting the perfect night’s sleep, you may want to head to Wales. Swansea and Cardiff rank as the top two cities for a good sleep in the UK, both scoring well across the board for factors contributing to sleep quality.

Swansea takes the crown in particular thanks to its low air pollution levels (20 out of 100) and high quality green spaces and parks (91.7 out of 100), which also help to purify the city’s air. You may not be aware of it, but air pollution can have a negative impact on how well you sleep, irritating your airways and causing breathing issues that reduce sleep quality. That’s why somewhere like Swansea, with a very low level of air pollution, offers a better night’s sleep.

Noise and light pollution can both negatively affect sleep quality too. Fortunately, Swansea scored 66.7 out of 100 for its quietness and low amount of light pollution at night, making it easy to tune out the sounds and sights of the city while you rest.

Cardiff in second place also has fairly low air pollution levels (30.8) and good quality green spaces (83), as well as being incredibly safe. The Welsh capital has the second lowest crime level in the UK after Newport (39.1), meaning you can feel secure enough to sleep soundly here.

Sheffield in Yorkshire rounds out the top three, once again offering low air pollution levels (30.4) and excellent quality parks and green spaces (87.5), but a slightly higher crime rate (47.3).

The top 10 best cities in the UK for a good night’s sleep

Rank	City	Air pollution	Darkness & quietness at night	Quality of green spaces and parks	Safety walking alone at night	Level of crime
1	Swansea	20.0	66.7	91.7	54.3	45.3
2	Cardiff	30.8	59.8	83.0	48.9	39.1
3	Sheffield	30.4	63.8	87.5	46.7	47.3
4	Sunderland	12.5	62.5	62.5	59.1	54.6
5	Edinburgh	25.4	63.7	82.1	61.5	61.5
6	Milton Keynes	13.2	72.5	93.4	28.2	56.7
7	Derby	26.9	59.6	77.1	42.9	50.1
8	Plymouth	26.2	54.2	73.6	41.3	45.2
8	Liverpool	28.2	59.3	79.8	46.1	54.6
9	Reading	27.8	51.1	78.3	45.6	50.1
10	Glasgow	33.6	58.3	82.6	41.4	52.0

Wolverhampton is the worst city in the UK for a good night’s sleep

You may want to avoid Wolverhampton if you struggle to get enough rest at night, as our research revealed it’s the worst city in the UK for a good night’s sleep.

Not only does it have higher air pollution levels than any other city in the country at 68.8, but it also scores very poorly for noise and light pollution. On top of that, it has a high crime rate (66.7) and received a rating of just 19.2 for the safety of walking alone at night, meaning you may find it hard to relax and unwind here.

Southend-on-Sea ranks as the second worst city for sleep, receiving the lowest score in the country for the quality of its parks and green spaces (35), as well as having even worse crime levels than Wolverhampton (70.5). This is followed by Bradford, Coventry and Birmingham.

The 10 worst cities in the UK for a good night’s sleep

Rank	City	Air pollution	Darkness & quietness at night	Quality of green spaces and parks	Safety walking alone at night	Level of crime
1	Wolverhampton	68.8	25.0	50.0	19.2	66.7
2	Southend-on-Sea	45.0	29.2	35.0	19.5	70.5
3	Bradford	62.5	30.6	42.9	27.3	70.2
4	Coventry	42.2	36.5	50.0	27.3	65.9
5	Birmingham	47.1	46.3	58.6	26.4	69.6
6	Manchester	49.6	44.5	53.0	33.5	63.2
7	Blackpool	30.0	33.3	66.7	29.0	64.6
8	London	62.8	45.0	80.4	39.0	63.4
9	Nottingham	45.3	56.3	70.5	39.0	58.3
10	Luton	22.5	54.2	62.5	37.0	62.2

Bern, Switzerland is the best international city for good quality sleep

As well as ranking cities within the UK, we also investigated all 38 OECD capital cities to find out which offers the best night’s sleep. Our research revealed Bern is the winner, thanks to its low pollution levels and excellent safety scores. The Swiss city boasts the lowest air pollution of all cities (6.7), as well as the lowest crime rate (10).

Reykjavik, Iceland follows in second place, scoring particularly highly for how quiet and free of light pollution it is (80.7). We also found that people in the city work just 27.9 hours per week on average, which is fairly low. Fewer hours spent working means more time to enjoy other activities and less stress overall, which can massively improve sleep quality.

In third place is Helsinki, Finland, which again offers fantastic air quality, great quality green spaces and low crime rates.

The top 10 best international cities for a good night’s sleep

Rank	City	Air pollution	Darkness & quietness at nigh	Quality of green spaces and parks	Average weekly hours worked per worker	Safety walking alone at night	Level of crime
1	Bern, Switzerland	6.7	67.1	84.8	29.4	75.9	10.0
2	Reykjavik, Iceland	13.0	80.7	74.2	27.9	72.3	17.6
3	Helsinki, Finland	9.9	76.4	84.6	28.8	70.5	21.9
4	Vienna, Austria	15.8	71.2	85.2	27.8	68.0	25.0
5	Luxembourg, Luxembourg	15.8	72.0	86.9	28.3	61.1	25.7
6	Ljubljana, Slovenia	27.5	60.0	88.6	31.1	76.7	11.8
7	Vilnius, Lithuania	24.3	69.7	88.0	31.2	64.3	26.4
8	Oslo, Norway	22.7	69.5	86.0	27.4	58.2	34.1
9	Amsterdam, Netherlands	23.0	62.3	83.4	27.4	65.3	30.1
10	Tallinn, Estonia	15.0	67.5	77.5	34.0	69.7	21.6

Bogotá, Colombia is the worst international city for a good night’s sleep

Bogotá, unfortunately, comes bottom of the list, with a higher crime level than any other city (79.1) and a rating of just 19.2 for the safety of walking alone at night. There’s also a lot of air pollution in the Colombian capital (76.6), making it more likely for breathing problems to disrupt sleep.

Santiago in Chile is the second worst city for a good night’s sleep, with similarly high levels of both crime and pollution. The average number of hours worked per week in Santiago is also on the higher end at 37.8, meaning locals are more likely to feel stress that may negatively impact their sleep.

Athens follows as the third worst international city for sleep. While air pollution levels are slightly lower in the Greek capital (56.2), it has the worst-quality green spaces on the list (26.9).

The 10 worst international cities for a good night’s sleep

Rank	City	Air pollution	Darkness & quietness at nigh	Quality of green spaces and parks	Average weekly hours worked per worker	Safety walking alone at night	Level of crime
1	Bogotá, Colombia	76.6	42.4	55.2	n/a	19.2	79.1
2	Santiago, Chile	80.3	46.4	51.4	37.8	27.9	70.8
3	Athens, Greece	56.2	44.9	26.9	36.3	38.6	58.2
4	Tel Aviv, Israel	49.1	47.8	65.8	36.4	23.8	73.6
5	Brussels, Belgium	63.8	45.1	70.5	n/a	34.9	59.5
6	Paris, France	65.8	41.3	57.6	29.1	37.1	61.2
7	Mexico City, Mexico	81.3	36.6	53.0	42.8	77.7	22.4
8	Ankara, Turkey	60.2	50.0	39.0	n/a	49.9	38.1
9	Rome, Italy	64.6	44.6	60.9	32.6	41.7	55.2
10	Bratislava, Slovakia	34.9	54.8	58.0	31.2	24.6	64.1

Tips for a good night’s sleep

While we can’t control things like air pollution and crime rates, there are certain steps we can take to guarantee a better night’s sleep. Here are some top tips to help you sleep better at night, no matter where you are.

Make time to relax: Stress can make it harder to fall asleep at night and lead to less restful sleep overall, so give yourself plenty of time to relax and destress before bed. Things like meditation and mindfulness techniques can help with this.
Practice good sleep hygiene: Good sleep hygiene means creating an environment and routine that make it easier for you to sleep. This might include things like going to bed at the same time every night, making sure your bedding is comfortable, keeping your room dark and limiting caffeine intake.

Get enough exercise: Exercising regularly has many health benefits, including helping you sleep better. However, try to avoid exercising too close to bedtime as this can have the opposite effect and make it difficult to fall asleep.
Avoid electronics before bed: Devices like your phone and laptop emit blue light, which causes you to produce less of the sleep hormone melatonin. Try to avoid looking at screens for an hour before you go to bed.

Richard Wayman, Finance Director at CIA Landlord Insurance, comments:

“Our environment plays a very important part in how well we sleep at night. Landlords – particularly those in the worst-ranking cities on our list – should consider taking steps to make their properties as sleep-friendly as possible for tenants.

“This could include things like installing double glazing and sealing any gaps to block out noise, hanging blackout curtains or blinds to stop light getting in, fitting air filters or purifiers to reduce pollutants and allergens, and making sure all locks on doors and windows are secure so tenants feel safe at night.”

Methodology and Sources

We created an index to determine the best cities in the UK for a good night’s sleep, based on the top 30 most populated cities (excluding London boroughs).

The metrics considered for each location were:

Each location was awarded an overall index score based on these metrics, then ranked from highest to lowest score. We also created an index of the best cities in the world for a good night’s sleep, based on the 38 capital cities in the OECD. This index used the same metrics and methodology, as well as taking into account the average number of hours worked per worker.

The ultimate guide to the new rental reform for landlords

Posted on 4 July 20232 December 2024 by Grace Cruttwell

Are you in the know about the latest changes from the rental reform? The UK government has announced a number of reforms to the rental market, which is set to come into effect from, well…now.

These reforms are designed to make renting fairer and more secure for tenants. In addition, they have been drawn up to improve the quality of rented homes and to prevent any inadequate living conditions

Before we jump in, let’s get a look at the larger picture of how many this new rental reform will affect.

How many landlords are there in the UK?

Surprisingly, there are some 383,600 landlords across the nation. Considering that there are this many landlords, it makes you realise just how many properties are under the management of landlords.

How many landlords own more than one property in the UK?

43% of landlords own one rental property in the UK. Looking more closely at the 43%, this suggested that 20% of tenancies are represented by this majority.

So how many landlords own more than one rental property? 39% of landlords own between two and four rental properties representing 31% of tenancies and 18% of landlords own five or more. This upper bracket of landlords ultimately represents 48% of UK tenancies.

Bearing in mind, the amount of autonomy UK landlords have over tenants’ habitable space, finance and tenancy agreement length, the government have rightly placed a firm foot in the door to bring tenants’ well-being into the frame more.

What changes should landlords expect from the rental reform?

Getting ahead of any changes will be imperative to your understanding of how the rental reform will affect you this year and beyond. In fact, you may have already started to feel the impact of these changes and had to make adjustments yourself.

We’ve pinpointed a few highlights that we think landlords, like yourself, would deem essential action points.

Ban on Section 21 evictions

One such reform is the ban on Section 21 evictions, which previously allowed landlords to evict tenants without a reason. Instead, landlords are now required to provide a minimum of three months’ notice before evicting a tenant.

New ombudsman service

Additionally, a new ombudsman service has been established to help resolve disputes between landlords and tenants.

Pets allowed

Unless your property is deemed ‘unsuitable or unsafe’ for a pet, you won’t be able to refuse your tenant’s pet ownership. You will still be able to find a breach in their tenancy agreement if the pet is a danger to neighbours, causing destruction or violating noise levels.

What does the abolishment of section 21 mean for landlords?

Section 21 has been the main antagonist in many tenants’ stories of housing nightmares. With landlords being able to enforce this section previously, many tenants have been left high and dry with little or no explanation as to why.

What’s the problem with section 21 of the Housing Act 1988?

Section 21 is a provision that grants private landlords the power to repossess their properties from assured shorthold tenants without having to prove fault on the part of the tenant.

This is why it is commonly referred to as the ‘no-fault’ ground for eviction. However, private tenants, their representatives, and other professionals in the sector argue that this ability of landlords to end a tenancy at short notice has a negative impact on tenants’ well-being.

Research has shown that tenants are often hesitant to assert their rights to secure repairs or challenge rent increases due to the ease with which landlords can evict them.

Respondents to a 2018 consultation on overcoming the barriers to longer tenancies in the private rented sector reported feeling unable to plan for the future due to housing insecurity, which has knock-on effects on children’s education and residents’ mental health.

How does the new rental reform affect Section 21 evictions?

Section 21 evictions are currently the most common way for landlords to evict tenants. However, the government has announced that they will be banned from 2023. This means that landlords will no longer be able to evict tenants without a reason.

If a landlord wants to evict a tenant after 2023, they will need to have a valid reason for doing so. This could include rent arrears, anti-social behaviour, or if the tenant has broken the terms of their tenancy agreement.

Reasons landlords are able to evict tenants without the use of Section 21

Nonpayment of rent.
Lease violations: If the tenant violates significant terms of the lease, such as subletting without permission, causing damage to the property, or engaging in illegal activities, the landlord may have the right to evict.
Expired agreement: If the lease agreement has reached its specified end date, and the tenant has not renewed or entered into a new lease, the landlord can initiate eviction procedures.
Illegal activities: If the rental property is used for illegal purposes, such as drug dealing or other criminal activities, the landlord may have grounds for eviction.
Nuisance or disturbance: If their behaviour creates a nuisance or significantly disturbs other tenants or neighbours, the landlord may have the right to evict them.
Failure to maintain the property: Neglecting the property’s maintenance responsibilities and causing significant damage or deterioration, the landlord may have grounds for eviction.
Conversion of property use: If the tenant uses the rental property for a purpose other than what was agreed upon in the lease (e.g., turning a residential property into a commercial space), the landlord may be able to evict.

Notice periods

The government has also announced that landlords will be required to give tenants a minimum of three months’ notice before evicting them. This is an increase from the current two months notice period.

The three-month notice period will apply to all tenancies, regardless of when they were started.

What do landlords need to do in response to the Renters Reform Bill?

Action is better than reaction in the face of the new renter’s reform bill. Landlords, take a look at these three points for starters and see how you will need to adjust your practices accordingly.

Before you start you feel like the new rental reform is targeted at demonising landlords, just remember that with better conditions and relationships with your tenants, you’re set to establish more quality and consistent tenancy agreements that leave you feeling secure and your tenants happy.

Some of the key measures in the Renters’ Reform Bill include:

A ban on landlords using rent increases to make up for the cost of improvements.

A requirement for landlords to provide a minimum of energy efficiency rating of E for all rented homes.

A requirement for landlords to provide a copy of the gas safety certificate to tenants.

Check with your local council as to when these measures are being introduced. Each local council will have more authority over requirements and disputes between landlords and tenants.

What do landlords need to do to protect themselves against rental reform changes?

We want you to feel secure with the new practices in place. Landlords need to be aware of the changes that are coming to the rental market, and they need to take steps to ensure that they are compliant with the new rules.

Some of the things that landlords can do to prepare for the new rental reform include:

Review their tenancy agreements to ensure that they are compliant with the new rules.
Start to build relationships with their tenants so that they can work together to resolve any problems that may arise.
Get familiar with the new ombudsman service so that they know how to access it if they need to.

The new rental reform is likely to have a significant impact on landlords, but it is important that they understand their rights and responsibilities under the new system.

By taking steps to prepare for the changes, landlords can ensure that they continue to provide good-quality homes for their tenants.

What does the new rental reform say about pets?

The new rental reform in England will make it easier for tenants to keep pets in rented homes. Under the new rules, landlords will be required to consider a tenant’s request to keep a pet, and they will only be able to refuse the request if they have a good reason.

Some of the reasons that a landlord may be able to refuse a request for a pet include:

The pet is a dangerous breed.
The pet is too large for the property.
The property is not suitable for pets, for example, if it is a listed building.
The tenant has a history of letting their pet cause damage to the property.

If a landlord refuses a request for a pet, they will need to provide the tenant with a written explanation of their reasons. The tenant will then be able to challenge the decision by making a complaint to the ombudsman.

The new rules are expected to come into effect in 2023.

Here are some additional things to keep in mind about pets and the new rental reform:

Landlords will still be able to charge tenants a pet deposit, but the deposit will be capped at £250.
Landlords will be able to require tenants to take out pet insurance, but they cannot charge tenants an additional fee for doing so.
Tenants will be responsible for any damage caused by their pets, but landlords will be required to keep the property in a good state of repair.

The new rental reform is a positive step for tenants who want to keep pets. It will make it easier for tenants to find homes that allow pets, and it will give tenants more rights if their landlords refuse their requests for pets.

If you’re concerned about the pet in question, make sure you involve your local council from the get-go. As stated before, your local ombudsman will be able to offer advice and guidance if you feel the pet in question is not compliant with the list above.

Keeping a clear trail of communication and evidence which can be taken during your six-month visits can be of great help when presenting your case to your local council. You must be able to prove that you’ve been reasonable with your requests as well as set deadlines that a tenant is able to meet.

How can landlords prepare for the new rental reform?

Now is a good time to begin preparing as many of these changes are in place. Here are some tips on how landlords can prepare for the new rental reform:

Review your tenancy agreements. Make sure that your tenancy agreements are compliant with the new rules. This may involve updating your agreements to include new clauses, such as the requirement to consider tenants’ requests for pets.
Get familiar with the new ombudsman service. The new ombudsman service will be a valuable resource for landlords and tenants who need to resolve disputes. Make sure that you understand how to access the service and what it can do for you.

Start to build relationships with your tenants. Good communication and a positive relationship with your tenants can help to resolve any problems that may arise. Get to know your tenants and their needs, and be responsive to their concerns.

Make sure your properties are in good condition. The new rental reform will place a greater emphasis on landlords’ responsibilities to maintain their properties in a good state of repair. Make sure that your properties are up to standard and that any repairs are carried out promptly.

Extra steps you should take to keep in the know about The Renters Reform Bill

Even though these new steps are currently in action, that doesn’t mean they aren’t subject to change or adjustment.

Keeping ahead of any further changes will hold you in good stead.

Get professional advice. If you are unsure about how to comply with the new rules, it is a good idea to get professional advice from a solicitor or property manager.
Stay up-to-date with the latest changes. The new rental reform is still being developed, so it is important to stay up-to-date with the latest changes. You can do this by subscribing to newsletters or following relevant news sources.
Be proactive. Don’t wait until the new rules come into effect to start preparing. The sooner you start, the more time you will have to make any necessary changes.

What should a landlord change in the tenancy agreement to comply with the new rental reform?

Get your tenancy agreement up to speed with the new rental reform. Remember, you always have your local council to ask if you’re unsure of the changes you need to make.

Remove Section 21 evictions. Section 21 evictions are currently the most common way for landlords to evict tenants. However, the government has announced that they will be banned from 2023. This means that landlords will no longer be able to evict tenants without a reason.

Increase the notice period. The government has also announced that landlords will be required to give tenants a minimum of three months’ notice before evicting them. This is an increase from the current two months’ notice period.

The three-month notice period will apply to all tenancies, regardless of when they were started.

Remove rent review clauses. Rent review clauses are clauses in tenancy agreements that allow landlords to increase rent at regular intervals. The government has announced that they will be banned from 2023. This means that landlords will no longer be able to increase rent automatically.

Landlords will still be able to increase rent, but they will need to negotiate with their tenants.

Include a pet clause. The new rental reform will make it easier for tenants to keep pets in rented homes. Under the new rules, landlords will be required to consider a tenant’s request to keep a pet, and they will only be able to refuse the request if they have a good reason.

Some of these changes could help to protect landlords, while others could make it more difficult for them to rent out their properties.

Will the new rental reform help protect landlords?

Yes. With tenants receiving support from the new rental reform, so will landlords, as seen in the reforms highlighted below.

One of these reforms is an increase in the minimum notice period that landlords must give tenants before evicting them, from two months to three months. This change is expected to provide landlords with more time to find new tenants and avoid financial losses.

Additionally, the rental reform will introduce a right-to-rent scheme, which will require landlords to check the immigration status of their tenants before renting to them. This will help to protect landlords from renting to tenants who are not legally allowed to live in the UK.

Another significant change is the introduction of a new ombudsman service to help landlords and tenants resolve disputes effectively, avoiding costly and time-consuming legal action.

Lastly, the rental reform will establish a new Decent Homes Standard, which will set minimum standards for the condition of rented homes. This will help to protect landlords from being held liable for damage caused by tenants and ensure that tenants have access to safe and habitable living conditions.

However, it might not all be roses. Let’s be realistic and take a glance at the challenges landlords may face with the new rental reform being put in place.

What challenges will landlords face as a result of the new rental reform?

Unfortunately, some changes could make it more difficult for landlords to rent out their properties. Take a look at these points below and just keep them in the forefront of your mind and landlord practice as you continue on with your property business.

Abolition of Section 21 evictions will mean that tenants can only really carry out Section 9 evictions. This could make it more difficult for landlords to get rid of tenants who are not paying their rent or who are causing problems.

Look out for increased costs. The new rental reform could lead to increased costs for landlords. This could include the cost of repairs to bring their properties up to the new Decent Homes Standard, the cost of professional fees, and the cost of insurance.

How will insurance help landlords when the new rental reform measures come in?

Our insurance expert Jackie from CIA Landlords stated

“Landlords should always have the correct insurance and the reform will not change this.

When taking our insurance Landlords should always ensure that all the information provided when obtaining a quotation is correct and that the building and contents, if required, are insured for the correct amount. The Building Sum insured can be calculated using the BCIS website. We recommend calling CIA to discuss a quotation to ensure the policy will cover all the individual landlord needs”

Discuss your landlord insurance and landlord contents insurance policy with us today. We’re passionate about finding the right policy for you. Have peace of mind and request a callback today.