Q. I manage a property that is let under a protected Rent Act tenancy (the tenants have been there since 1982). Will the Renters’ Rights Bill affect me at all?

A. For the main part, no, the bill mainly affects assured and assured shorthold tenancies. Most of the bill is amending the Housing Act 1988, which does not affect protected tenancies.

However, you will need to join the new Landlord Redress Scheme when it is set up and provide information for the new Landlord Database. It also looks as if the decent homes standard will be applied to protected tenancies. There may be other things – keep an eye on the legal press.

Q. I have just bought a property at auction, which has a tenant in situ who says he is a protected tenant under the Rent Act 1977. I want to give him a new tenancy agreement and convert his tenancy to an Assured Shorthold tenancy. However, he is refusing to sign the tenancy agreement. What can I do?