Providing a Reference - I have been asked to provide a reference for one of my tenants who is moving on. What is my legal position in this and am I putting myself at risk if I say he was a bad tenant?</h2> Referencing (seeking verification of a tenants past performance) is an increasi
Polystyrene Ceiling Tiles - is it legal to have these tiles in the kitchen of a rental property?</h2> There are currently no regulations specifically banning the use of polystyrene ceiling tiles in existing rented property.However, it is unlikely that local authority fire officers and en
Misrepresentation - We recently rented out our rural cottage to a couple. As they wanted to use their computers I said it was possible to get high-speed broad-band. I thought this would be possible but it seems it is not at this time. The couple are now claiming that I misled them and that
I'm receiving mail for previous tenants and some of them are from debt collectors. Will this get my property black listed and cause problems for my current tenants and myself in the future?</h2> It's fairly common to have mail arriving for months and even years after residents have left,
Long Term AST - My prospective tenant has asked for a tenancy term of 6 years. Can I use the usual Assured Shorthold Tenancy agreement for this?</h2> The Assured Shorthold Tenancy is the default tenancy for residential lettings and since October 2010 this applies to rents up to �100,000
Question: How long should accounts be kept to satisfy the authorities, things like accounting files, invoices and tax records, as a property landlord?Answer: You must keep your records for 6 years after the tax year to which they apply, whether or not you complete a tax return.It's a good idea, a
Expiry of Section 21 Notice - I have served a Section 21 (s21) Notice on my tenant but don't wish to start proceedings immediately. Can I wait without the notice expiring?Once a Section 21 notice has been served correctly it continues indefinitely, until such time as the tenancy is ended, either
Covenant and Covenant Strength - What is a legal covenant and what is the significance of the terms in relation to rental property and lettings ?</h2>The term covenant can have several meanings and has biblical origins but it is of particulalry significance
2 years ago I purchased a company with a 10 year lease from my ex boss, on a 10 year lease, the lease was set up by a solicitor. After 2 years the business is struggling and is not viable. I feel that my solicitor ill advised me as there was no break clause mentioned. Where do I stand on t
Good Left in the Premises or Uncollected GoodsFrequently, tenants leave goods after their tenancy has concluded or when they have abandon the premises during a tenancy. Uncollected goods and possessions left or abandoned in premises by tenants can pose a real problem for landlords.
<h1 Standing Order</h1>What are Bankers' Standing Orders?</h3><ul <li Standing Orders allow landlords to automate the process of collecting rents</li> <li They safeguard tenants in that the landlord cannot change the payment amount, as is the case with direct debit
The Possession Procedure - 1988 Housing ActThe possession procedure under Section 8 of the Housing Acts 1988 & 1996 is known as the Section 8 Route and is available to landlords where the tenant is in breach of one or more terms of
Renting or Leasing Commercial Property Renting commercial property usually represents a major part of the operating costs involved in running any business. If you include surveyor's and solicitor's fees, rent, business rates, insurance,
Types of Tenure: A tenancy gives the tenant a legal interest in the land and property - in effect, legal ownership for the period of the tenancy. Tenancies can take several forms: <ul <li Rent Act or Regulated Tenancies - pre </li> <li
<h1 Joint or Single Shared Tenancies</h1>Shared House (Joint Tenants) or Individual Rooms (Single Tenants)? Where a landlord lets to multiple and usually unrelated tenants there are two main ways of doing this:(1) As a Joint Tenancyng
These are tenancies that fall outside the scope of the Housing Acts (1988, 1996, 2004), including the Regulated Tenancies, Assured Tenancies (AT) and Assured Shorthold Tenancies ASTs.In the case of a common law residential tenancy , the tenant's rights and obligations are ma
What are Business Tenancies ?A tenancy is an "estate in land", granted for a determined period of time (term of years or fixed term - 6 months,1 year, 21 years, 99 years etc) or a specific period (a periodic tenancy - yearly, monthly, weekly, even daily).In return for the "time lim
Landlord's Duty to Ensure Installations are SafeAll Landlords have a common law duty to ensure that gas installations and appliances supplied with their properties are safe. Tenants also have certain legal obligations when it comes to gas safety - see below.I
Signs that the market is moving into a recovery phase, though there is still ample evidence that there remains a challenging backdrop.
New changes to planning rules mean rogue landlords who illegally convert HMOs could face an unlimited fine.
The Scottish government has been urged to reverse its anti-landlord policies after the SNP ended their power-sharing agreement with the Greens.
Private renters are most in need of Awaab’s Law due to the frequently worse conditions of mould in their homes, says Labour MP Fleur Anderson, who hopes to instigate stricter rules for the PRS.
Figures across the private rented sector including TV star Paul Shamplina have warned that both tenants, landlords and letting agents need to know when the Section 21 eviction ban is going to take place.
Conservative MP Anthony Mangnall voted against the Renters Reform Bill, warning that removing fixed-term tenancies could reduce housing supply.
Abolishing section 21 as soon as the Renters Reform Bill gains Royal Assent would cause chaos in the sector and leave the statute book a “confusing mess”, according to the government.
Conservative MP Natalie Elphicke failed to convince the government to include relocation payments for tenants and to restrict tenancy grounds in its Renters (Reform) Bill.
Environmental health officers have won a concession from the Government after it agreed not to stop councils using selective licencing schemes once England’s national property portal launches.
A group of companies involved in substantial property investment scams has been wound up by the High Court and an official received appointed to liquidate the four firms involved. These are Sentor Solutions Commercial Ltd , Fabcourt Deve
The RICS global Commercial Real Estate Market Monitor (Q3 2022) is indicating that the sector is in the early stages of a downturn. Thats according to around 81% of the surveys respondents in Q3 2022. It marks a significant increase from the previous quarter sample when just 11% of th
A concerned landlord has shared his frustration at the way councils manage problem tenants facing eviction by telling them to stay put while they are found alternative accommodation, informing the tenants that they will be making themselves 'intentionally homeless' if they move out. <p i
Continued demand for detached properties and a post-Covid resurgence in rent for flats has pushed annual increases in London above inflation. Average rents have accelerated by 4% to �1,499 during Q3 more than double the previous quarters rise and up 11% (�160) highe
The Rishi effect has started to impact mortgage rates just a day after the new PM was announced. As former Chancellor Rishi Sunak moves into number 10, some lenders have announced plans to drop their rates from tomorrow; Coventry Building Society is reducing its new busine
Nottingham landlords could face a �5,000 fine if their property doesnt have an EPC E rating as the city council bids to crack down on cold homes. The authority has agreed to adopt financial penalties under the Energy Efficiency (Private Rented Property in Engla
In this episode of The Property Cast, we discuss how landlords and agents can stay on top of their legal obligations. Landlords now have to meet 168 rules and regulations to let a property legally, but what are the latest legislative updates that landlords and agents need to kno
In this episode of The Property Cast, Eddie and Paul welcome energy expert and Head of Tenancy Services at Goodlord, Rik Smith. Drawing on his in-depth knowledge of the residential energy market, Rik cuts through the jargon to explain what is happening in the energy market at la
The Property Cast returns for 2022 and our first episode discusses what the Governments strategy is to achieve decarbonization of the private rented sector? What is the NRLA doing to support landlords? And what do landlords need to know? Eddie and Paul are joined by CEO of th
With inflation now into double figures, with all the financial shenanigans over the mini budget, the 10 year risk free bond yield at around 5 percent, its sending mortgages rates above 6 per cent, so how low will house prices go? It seems inevitable prices will fall, but by h
A prominent landlord in the North East has told the BBCs Newsnight programme that unless variable mortgage rates reduce he will have to start handing the keys back to the ten or so properties within his portfolio. <figure id="" class="w-richtext-figure-type- " data-rt-type="" da
Outspoken landlord Tina Knight has incurred the wrath of social media users by outlining the sectors eviction headaches on Good Morning Britain. She told presenters Susanna Reid and Richard Madeley that tenants have too much power and described some landlords
The Newcastle headquartered firm Greggs has won an initial High Court ruling in a �150m Covid related case against the insurance company, Zurich. Greggs claim was over its business interruption insurance with Zurich in which the firm claims it is due monetary compensation fo
London mayor Sadiq Khan says families would save about �3,000 during the next two years if he was given the power to freeze rents in the capital. We are asking government to give us the powers to have rent controls,� he toldhttps://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m0
Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has announced that the government will reverse almost all the tax measures announced in its recent growth plan. While it will still go ahead with cutting stamp duty, a planned 1p cut to the basic rate of income tax will now be shelved indefinitely� wh
The Renters Reform Bill will be introduced during the current parliamentary session, the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities has told MPs. <figure id="" class="w-richtext-figure-type- " data-rt-type="" data-rt-align=""><div><img src="https://uploads-ssl.webflow.c
This case highlights the dangers of responding to emails (phishing schemes) and social media appeals promising tax rebates and otherwise ways of receiving large pay outs in return for information. Four men were arrested in a coordinated operation across England by over 50 office
The new Chancellor and former Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt has been tasked with sorting out the Kwamiikaze mini budget introduced by his predecessor, who holds the dubious gong of having the 2nd shortest tenure in the job ever. Hunt, who has made two weak
Demand for shared rooms is at an all-time high, while supply has hit a nine-year low, according to flat share site SpareRoom. The shocking figures have also led to average monthly room rents reaching record highs and increasing across every UK region in Q3 2022; Scotland is up 2
AirBnb owners are switching to long term lettings following changes to Scotlands short-term lets laws, according to a leading property firm. In a reverse of the recent trend thats seen scores of landlords ditch tenancies for holiday lets, DJ Alexander says it has been appr
Council tax re‑banding HMOs sparks fury—MP warns Truss-era reclassification in 50+ towns deals tenants a blow.
The Prime Minister has scotched rumours yesterday that she intends to U-turn on the previous Conservative governments commitment to get rid of Section 21 no-fault evictions. During a packed Prime Ministers Questions in the Commons this morning, she confirmed in a ter
Lloyds bank has entered into a �180million financial partnership with specialist buy-to-let lender, LendInvest PLC. The lenders partnership with the leading high street retail bank will be a boost to the innovative lenders business, helping the AIM listed company grow its buy-to-let
A tweet by the political editor of The Times newspaper has claimed that Liz Truss is about to U-turn on abolishing Section 21 evictions. Steven Swinfordhttps://twitter.com/Steven_Swinford/status/1579586149999181824" took to the social media
Guidance for landlords and tenants on addressing dampness, condensation, and mould issues, covering responsibilities and prevention strategies.
