The Housing Act 2004 makes significant changes to the regulation of residential property in both the private and public sector, and will bring about a fundamental change to the conveyancing process. A guide to this vast Act will be indispensable to those involved in the management of housing and disputes about housing standards, and those involved in the buying and selling of residential property. The Act will introduce: a new system for assessing the seriousness of hazards affecting residential occupiers; a new range of enforcement measures available to local authorities to improve housing standards generally and to bring unoccupied houses back into use; Home Information Packs which will move the burden to the seller to provide and pay for all information relating to the sale of residential property; new licensing schemes for HMOs and selective licensing for other properties to ensure minimum housing standards; compulsory tenancy deposit schemes to provide a more professional and transparent system for dealing with tenants' deposits in the private sector; reforms to the protections offered to mobile home owners; the requirement that Gypsies' accommodation needs be considered as part of local authorities' periodic housing needs; and other measures to include restrictions on the right to buy, enhanced powers to regulate RSLs and new provisions relating to anti-social behaviour and public sector housing. The full text of the Act and extracts from the Housing Health and Safety Rating System Guidance are included.