Landlords and Tenants take note – new Notices to take effect from 6 April 2015

On 9 March 2015, the Assured Tenancies and Agricultural Occupancies (Forms)(England) Regulations 2015 ("the Regulations") were passed. The Regulations, which come into force on 6 April, introduce replacement statutory notices to be served under the Housing Act 1988.

The forms and notices which are replaced, which can be found in the Schedule to the Regulations, include (but are not limited to):

• Notice Seeking Possession of a property (aka Section 8 Notice)
• Landlord's Notice proposing a new rent
• Application to the Rent Tribunal for a determination of a new rent
• Tenant's notice proposing that an assured tenancy be replaced with an assured shorthold tenancy

The Regulations are not retrospective and therefore notices served before 6 April 2015 need not be reissued. Anyone serving statutory notices under the Housing Act 1988 should, however, familiarise themselves with the new notices and forms and ensure that their systems and precedents are updated to ensure any notice or form served on or after 6 April 2015 are compliant with the Regulations.

This article is for general guidance only. It provides useful information in a concise form. Action should not be taken without obtaining specific legal advice.