The Department of Social Care is introducing the Landlord and Tenant (Private Housing) Bill into the House of Keys today, Tuesday 25th March 2014.  The Bill will be taken through the House of Keys by Hon Chris Robertshaw MHK, Minister for Community, Culture and Leisure.
 
The Bill aims to achieve a fair and reasonable balance between the rights of landlords and tenants under privately-rented tenancies.
 
The Bill does this by:
 
•         Requiring landlords of rented dwellings, who are not exempt, to be registered;
•         Requiring landlords, their nominated agents, and their rented properties to comply with minimum standards;
•         Requiring landlords, who do not themselves meet the minimum standards, to use a letting agent to manage the tenancy of their properties; and
•         Empowering Government to enforce those minimum standards.
 
The Bill also makes mandatory the existing Voluntary Landlord Registration Scheme currently operated by the Department of Social Care.  The Voluntary Registration Scheme was introduced in February 2013 to enable landlords to understand and test the registration process before registration becomes mandatory under the new Bill.
 
The Department is holding meetings with key stakeholders to ensure they are kept updated and have the opportunity to ask questions as the Bill progresses.
 
Further information on the Voluntary Registration Scheme can be found on the Government website:
www.gov.im/categories/home-and-neighbourhood/affordable-housing/the-voluntary-landlord-registration-scheme-2013/
 
Or you can contact the Department with any queries:
 
Email:            landlord.registration@gov.im
Telephone: 01624 685955
Post:             Department of Social Care, Markwell House, Market Street, Douglas, IM1 2RZ