PLAIN ENGLISH PROTECTION FOR TENANTS AND LANDLORDS

The Residential Landlords Association has produced the country’s first plain English tenancy agreement that complies with new deposit legislation.

[ClickPress, Fri Jun 01 2007] The Residential Landlords Association has produced the country’s first plain English tenancy agreement that complies with new deposit legislation.

It’s another ‘first’ for the RLA’s belief in simplifying legal agreements and encouraging their use for the protection of both tenants and landlords.

The first plain English Crystal-marked tenancy agreement - which records agreed letting terms – broke new ground when it was produced by the RLA seven years ago.

Now it’s been updated and revised as part of the leading professional association’s commitment to stripping away legal jargon in favour of clearly understandable plain English. And the new contract – taking recently introduced tenancy deposit schemes into account - is available to download from the RLA website.

“Too many tenants still don’t have the protection of a tenancy agreement and too few landlords offer them automatically,” says Lee Dribben, chairman of the Residential Landlords Association. “That leaves both sides very vulnerable if there is a later dispute over forfeited deposits.

“There might have been a slight excuse many years ago when old-fashioned agreements were cumbersome documents, shrouded in legal jargon, which few people could easily understand. But there’s no excuse now that we have a plain English version within the reach of everyone.”

The RLA – whose members are responsible for over 100,000 rented properties in the UK – specifically outlines the importance of a properly completed inventory of furnishings and contents that states the precise condition of furniture and fittings as well as terms for the return of a deposit.

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Photographic or video inventories are even better. “Then there is no need to rely on a subjective assessment at a later date,” says Lee Dribben.

“Deposit disputes usually involve breakages and damage to property. Both tenants and landlords need proper legal protection that clearly defines expectations and obligations in case a problem arises. This contract takes away any ambiguity that might leave judges free to decide who they are going to believe if disputes go to court.”

The RLA’s original jargon-free plain English shorthold tenancy agreement was developed in 2000 by specialist solicitors and barristers, in consultation with the Office of Fair Trading, to comply with all UK and Euro legislation. And it was praised by the Plain English Campaign who made it the first such agreement to receive their prestigious Crystal Mark for clarity.

The revised version - which also includes the essential prescribed forms for deposit schemes - is available on the Residential Landlords Association website at www.rla.org.uk/ast. It is free for members to download and costs £5 for non-members. Originals can also be ordered on parchment-style paper from £1.50, for members, and £3.00, for non-members, for a set of two - one copy each for landlord and tenant.

A workable tenancy deposit scheme is among several issues on which the Residential Landlords Association is campaigning. They also include lobbying for the formal acceptance of a Code of Practice laying down expected standards for professional landlords, a common sense approach to the implementation of Housing Act licence conditions and fees relating to houses in multiple occupation, as well as a re-think on fire safety regulations, amenity standards and housing allowance payments.


• The Residential Landlords Association is a leading national organisation for professional landlords, residential property investors and self-managers – with members owning over 100,000 properties in the UK private rented sector. The range of members’ services - on www.rla.org.uk - includes legal advice, insurance, financial services, credit referencing and training. For tenants there is www.tenantdocs.co.uk – where tips include a download of the RLA’s award-winning Plain English tenancy agreement. The RLA operates a web-based property search on www.homes2rent.net and publishes the bi-monthly Residential Property Investor magazine.

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Notes to editors
For further press information and interviews please contact

Brian Johnson at Powell Communications - tel: 0161 828 5400, fax: 0161 839 5414; e-mail: brian.johnson@powell-pr.co.uk

Graham King – tel: 0161 976 2729, fax: 0161 976 2758, mobile 07850 280213;
e-mail: graham.king@powell-pr.co.uk

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