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Rent Review

Rent Review

Information

Question - Rent Review - my landlord is asking for far more rent than I expected on review. Am I obliged to pay this?Answer - Commercial leases are contractual - the parties agree to and are bound by its clauses and that includes rent review provisions.The rent review process is a way of periodic

Re-selling Energy

Re-selling Energy

Information

Re-selling Energy - As a landlord am I able to make a profit by re-selling electricity or gas?</h2>Resale of Gas and ElectricityThe maximum amount that Residential Landlords or resellers� are permitted to charge for gas or electricity is the amount they

Providing a Reference

Providing a Reference

Information

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

Polystyrene Ceiling Tiles

Information

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

Misrepresentation

Information

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

Mail for Previous Tenants

Mail for Previous Tenants

Information

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

Long Term AST

Information

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

Lodgers Limits

Lodgers Limits

Information

Lodgers Limits - Is there any limit to the number of rooms I can rent out to lodgers, and are there any planning implications ?</h2> There are several parts of legislation in England and Wales that affect this question. Perhaps four main ones apply: Health &amp; Safety (HHSRS), HMO, Over

How long should accounts be kept

How long should accounts be kept

Information

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

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Legal expert reveals when each part of renting reforms to go live

Legal expert reveals when each part of renting reforms to go live

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Lawyer David Smith casts an expert eye over the legislation and divines when its different parts will become law.

Landlords urged to sign Stamp Duty reform petition

Landlords urged to sign Stamp Duty reform petition

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Leading organisations including Phil Spencer back the campaign, which seeks to give landlords more time to pay their Stamp Duty.

HFIS pays tribute to industry leader Mike Morgan

HFIS pays tribute to industry leader Mike Morgan

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HFIS is deeply saddened to announce the passing of Mike Morgan, a key figure at Property Redress and Client Money Protect

Encourage, not DISCOURAGE landlords from investing, urges leader

Encourage, not DISCOURAGE landlords from investing, urges leader

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Comments follow new research that reveals rise in tenants being evicted as their landlords prepare to sell up.

The UK discrimination laws and the Renters' Rights Bill 

The UK discrimination laws and the Renters' Rights Bill 

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What Landlords need to know now! Protection from discrimination to be a key component of the new Act

Midlands landlord first in UK to voluntarily withdraw from renting homes

Midlands landlord first in UK to voluntarily withdraw from renting homes

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Aunberin Saddique is the first landlord in the UK to make the undertaking under the Digital Marketing, Competition and Consumer Act 2024.

Pressure grows for landlord database to 'go much further'

Pressure grows for landlord database to 'go much further'

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New Economics Foundation says Private Rented Sector Database must be a major tool to fund and direct enforcement.

Eight years on from tradgedy, Grenfell Tower to be taken down

Eight years on from tradgedy, Grenfell Tower to be taken down

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The government has vowed to carefully dismantle Grenfell Tower behind its white outer wrapping to “respect the unique circumstances of the tragedy".

Lets party? Lads' mag founder turns his hand to landlord advice

Lets party? Lads' mag founder turns his hand to landlord advice

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Former enfant terrible of the publishing world, James Brown, has revealed his tips for successful holiday let.

OPINION: Why do landlords get the blame for rejecting tenants on Universal Credit?

OPINION: Why do landlords get the blame for rejecting tenants on Universal Credit?

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An official briefing document for MPs has underlined the contradictory position the government has manoeuvred itself into over landlords and letting agents who advertise properties as No DSS. The House of Commons Library document makes for interesting reading because, base

Well-known landlord jailed after defrauding HMRC out of £500,000

Well-known landlord jailed after defrauding HMRC out of £500,000

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A landlord who defrauded HMRC out of almost �500,000 by keeping deductions from his employees wages has been jailed for three years. Michael Stainer, 74, (inset, main picture) was found guilty of two counts of cheating the public revenue and one of fraud by false representat

Many UK buildings are in danger of becoming unusable in heatwaves

Many UK buildings are in danger of becoming unusable in heatwaves

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As temperatures in England and Wales soar this week, many office buildings will become unusable says real estate sustainability expert Chris Bennett of consultancy https://evoraglobal.com/" target="_blank" Evora Global - it should act as a powerful warning for real estate

'War on landlords' latest - 46,000 rental properties to disappear this year

'War on landlords' latest - 46,000 rental properties to disappear this year

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An estate agency has claimed that the governments war on landlords will cost the private rented market some 46,000 this year, or some 3,800 every month. Hamptons , which has branches all over the UK, says its research confirms that, as LandlordZONE

The cost of living crisis affects landlords as well as tenants

The cost of living crisis affects landlords as well as tenants

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With the cost of living crisis being the political issue of the day, and a political leadership contest underway, theres something of a hiatus in the way its being dealt with. But the situation is now quite urgent. Financial distress is now higher than during the pandemic.

Frustrated landlord quits after 20 years in the sector

Frustrated landlord quits after 20 years in the sector

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After 20 years, landlord Sue quits the sector, citing frustration with anti-landlord sentiment and increasing regulatory burdens.

Minister defends excluding PBSA from tenancy changes

Minister defends excluding PBSA from tenancy changes

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Minister defends exempting student housing from new tenancy rules to keep in step with academic year agreements/

EXCLUSIVE: Can landlords still access councils' empty homes funding?

EXCLUSIVE: Can landlords still access councils' empty homes funding?

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Landlords with empty properties are being urged to take advantage of council cash to help fight the housing shortage. About 300 councils currently offer a scheme mainly loans to carry out repairs - although some provide grants, usually ranging from �5,000 to more than �25,

What landlords letting abroad need to know about Making Tax Digital

What landlords letting abroad need to know about Making Tax Digital

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News
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Letting out property abroad can be a great way of generating extra income. The property might have been bought primarily as an investment but for others or it could be second or holiday home let out when not in use. There are plenty of things to think about, though.

LATEST: Leicester ploughs on with selective licensing despite landlord criticism

LATEST: Leicester ploughs on with selective licensing despite landlord criticism

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Leicester is going ahead with its selective licensing extension in three areas of the city, charging landlords �1,090 per property - the highest fee in the Midlands. The council is introducing the scheme in parts of Westcotes, Fosse, Braunstone Park and Rowley Fields wards, whi

Landlords told to 'brace themselves' for inspections at 29,000 properties

Landlords told to 'brace themselves' for inspections at 29,000 properties

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Durham Council has warned landlords covered by its new selective licensing scheme to brace themselves for inspections next month. At least 29,000 properties, 42% of the countys PRS, are covered by the scheme which launched in April after winning government approval. <p id

LATEST: 18% of rented homes will need �10,000 spent on them to achieve EPC band C

LATEST: 18% of rented homes will need �10,000 spent on them to achieve EPC band C

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Nearly one-fifth of private rented homes would need work costing more than �10,000 to bring them up to an EPC Band C, according to the latest PRS figures. The English Housing Survey Private Rented Sector report for 2020-21 found that these were more likely to need larger sums o

London rents have seen record rises in a very hot spring market

London rents have seen record rises in a very hot spring market

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The latest figures available from Rightmove show that London rents jumped by around 14 per cent in the last year, with some property experts calling it the most competitive market on record Matt Hutchinson, a director at SpareRoom, the flat sharing website, has said: <p

What's the outlook for UK commercial property, post pandemic & Brexit?

What's the outlook for UK commercial property, post pandemic & Brexit?

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The pandemic has had a devastating impact on commercial property, with lockdowns, social distancing, working from home (WFH), all accelerating the move to online and home deliveries. The likes of Tesco, Ocado and the other big supermarket deliveries were the saviour of the public during the

LATEST: Rent controls take another step towards reality in Wales

LATEST: Rent controls take another step towards reality in Wales

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Welsh politicians have reaffirmed their desire to consider rent controls in the PRS while announcing plans to crack down on the holiday let sector. Plaid Cymru leader Adam Price (main pic, right) suggested rent controls could be on the table when the long-awaited but now <a href

Michael Gove sacked after joining his housing ministers in calls for Boris to resign

Michael Gove sacked after joining his housing ministers in calls for Boris to resign

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Michael Gove, arguable the best housing secretary for some years, has been sacked from his job after joining a chorus of Tory cabinet ministers calling on the PM to resign. During a fast-moving day in politics which has seen over 40 MPs quit the government or withdraw their supp

Wales to licence 'commercial holiday lets' landlords to help solve renting crisis

Wales to licence 'commercial holiday lets' landlords to help solve renting crisis

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Welsh government leaders have revealed radical plans to licence holiday lets in a bid to get tough on the causes of long-term rental shortages. The region is to introduce a cap on the number of second and holiday homes while bringing in measures to put more homes into common own

Put your EICR date in the diary now to avoid a shocking bill

Put your EICR date in the diary now to avoid a shocking bill

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HMO landlords face paying thousands of pounds for https://www.landlordzone.co.uk/news/safety-peer-asks-why-private-landlords-must-do-electrical-checks-when-social-ones-are-exempt/" electrical equipment when new regulations kick in later this year. An amendment

LATEST: Manchester reveals more details of its selective licensing expansion

LATEST: Manchester reveals more details of its selective licensing expansion

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Manchester aims to double the size of its selective licensing scheme by adding another 1,884 properties in eight areas. The council has given it the go-ahead to the https://www.landlordzone.co.uk/news/manchester-mayor-vows-to-launch-1-5m-landlord-licensing-across-city/"

Clamp down on letting second homes planned

Clamp down on letting second homes planned

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Owners of second homes in many coastal and holiday locations could face a ban on renting using lettings websites like Airbnb. Tourist hotspots such as coastal towns in Cornwall and Devon are particularly affected. Communities being eroded In many of these towns, loca

BREAKING: Brighton reveals plans to limit Airbnbs as Gove prepares national restrictions

BREAKING: Brighton reveals plans to limit Airbnbs as Gove prepares national restrictions

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Brighton and Hove has its sights set on being the first city to slap a ban on second homes and holiday lets. The Green-controlled council is looking to clamp down on landlords profiting from the staycation boom amid fears that the rapid growth has impacted on the availability of

Prepare now as Leasehold Reform Act takes effect 30 June

Prepare now as Leasehold Reform Act takes effect 30 June

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Prepare for the Leasehold Reform Act on 30 June: what landlords need to know about new ground rent rules and leasehold fairness.

OPINION: What abolishing Section 21 evictions will mean for landlords

OPINION: What abolishing Section 21 evictions will mean for landlords

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The long-awaited Government White Paper, https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1083378/A_fairer_private_rented_sector_web_accessible.pdf" target="_blank" A Fairer Private Rented Sector ,

It's now cheaper to rent than to buy...

It's now cheaper to rent than to buy...

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According to recent research buy property agents Hamptons International, for the last 11 months its been cheaper to buy a home with a 10% deposit than rent. This is because to rental growth was tearing away before and mortgage rates were near their record lows. In May this ye

Abolishing fixed‑term tenancies could ruin student lettings

Abolishing fixed‑term tenancies could ruin student lettings

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Abolishing fixed-term tenancies risks ruining the student rental market, warns leading provider of major housing contraction.