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Sub-letting Leasehold

Sub-letting Leasehold

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Sub-letting leasehold - I want to rent out my leasehold flat but the managing agent says the freeholder wont allow it. I know that other flats in the block are rented out, so what can I do? Landlords usually prohibit sub-letting to safeguard the interest.Landlords usually prohibit sub-letting

Renting to a 17 year old

Renting to a 17 year old

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What are the implications of renting to a 17 year old or someone who is under the age of 18? We have an application from a 17-year old that is keen to rent but Im not sure this would be legal?</h2> Many landlords and housing providers would be concerned and therefore refuse to let to

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

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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

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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

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Big London borough to launch double landlord licensing push

Big London borough to launch double landlord licensing push

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Hackney plans to launch selective licensing in 17 of its 21 wards as well as a borough-wide additional licensing scheme.

EPCs: Landlords seeking five-year BTL loans 'could be turned down'

EPCs: Landlords seeking five-year BTL loans 'could be turned down'

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Landlords currently seeking a five-year fixed rate BTL mortgage on a property with an EPC rating below band C could be turned down before net

Council admits selective licensing will 'push up rents'

Council admits selective licensing will 'push up rents'

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Great Yarmouth council has revealed more details of its proposed selective licensing scheme for landlords.

'Give landlords back tax relief to ease housing crisis', urges Shamplina

'Give landlords back tax relief to ease housing crisis', urges Shamplina

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Landlord Action founder also says landlords have been unfairly cast as villains in recent years.

Landlords urge new Minister to delay tax hike

Landlords urge new Minister to delay tax hike

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Scottish landlords have urged their government to pause Additional Dwelling Supplement (ADS) for landlords to help ease the 'housing crisis'.

Majority of landlords in city against council's HMO licensing plans

Majority of landlords in city against council's HMO licensing plans

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Just 44% of landlords agree with Southampton Council’s plans to introduce additional licensing.

Bolton brings in harsher planning rules after HMO increase 'concerns'

Bolton brings in harsher planning rules after HMO increase 'concerns'

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Bolton Council has agreed tough new rules to control HMO conversions – two years after first coming up with the idea.

LEGAL update: Consumer protection laws – what landlords need to know

LEGAL update: Consumer protection laws – what landlords need to know

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This Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act has important implications for private landlords when letting their properties

Will Renters' Right Bill make councils prosecute ALL bad landlords?

Will Renters' Right Bill make councils prosecute ALL bad landlords?

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Lawyer David Smith looks at several clauses within the Act which appear to mandate local authorities to bring all errant landlords to book.

A recovering commercial property market is beginning to stall...

A recovering commercial property market is beginning to stall...

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A recent RICS survey finds that interest rate hikes and cost of living pressures are beginning to weigh on sentiment. Credit conditions have deteriorated to such an extent that 43% of respondents to the RICS survey felt we're in early downturn.� Investor sentiment is steady, but the ma

NEW: HMRC confirms CGT property disposal rules for landlords after six-month wait

NEW: HMRC confirms CGT property disposal rules for landlords after six-month wait

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HMRC has confirmed that landlords must file a capital gains tax (CGT) property return - even if the disposal has already been reported on a self-assessment (SA) return. The government introduced the requirement to report disposals of UK residential property and pay the subsequen

Give tenants 'right to buy' their rented homes, says poverty organisation

Give tenants 'right to buy' their rented homes, says poverty organisation

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A leading poverty organisation has called for a radical overhaul of the private rented sector including a government-backed right to buy scheme for private renters. The Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF), which was founded by a Quaker philanthropist and sweets manufacturer i

LATEST: UK's first rent-to-own property scheme launches, backed by Nationwide

LATEST: UK's first rent-to-own property scheme launches, backed by Nationwide

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Kettel Homes has launched the UKs first open market rent-to-own programme for first-time buyers who cant access traditional home financing. Under the scheme, Kettel buys existing freehold single-family homes between �125,000 and �400,000 outside London, charging first-ti

'Government's plans to ban Section 21 evictions will lengthen evictions' - claim

'Government's plans to ban Section 21 evictions will lengthen evictions' - claim

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Landlords seeking to evict tenants face more delays when Section 21 notices are abolished, warns the boss of an insurance and referencing firm. Clogged courts and a shortage of judges and county-court bailiffs mean that cases are taking months to be heard, it is claimed. <p i

Rogue landlady faces jail over long-running campaign of violence against tenants

Rogue landlady faces jail over long-running campaign of violence against tenants

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A rogue landlady has been convicted of illegally evicting tenants during a decade-long campaign of violence, theft and vandalism. Sohila Tamiz , of Flint Lane, Lenham, even helped organise a gang of 10 to douse one man in petrol and smash his teeth, the tri

'Don't panic' as BTL mortgage rates rise, urges financial expert

'Don't panic' as BTL mortgage rates rise, urges financial expert

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A mortgage expert has urged landlords not to panic as buy-to-let mortgage rates continue to rise. <figure id="" class="w-richtext-figure-type- " data-rt-type="" data-rt-align=""><div><img src="https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/63bef2f3c329eff8e3a4af45/64cb992aa1ba8a68d7aa0638_dan-lee.jpeg"

City-backed firm to spend �1bn buying thousands of PRS properties with low EPCs

City-backed firm to spend �1bn buying thousands of PRS properties with low EPCs

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A proptech firm is to spend �1 billion buying up 3,000 private rented properties with low EPC ratings around the UK, which it plans to retrofit and rent out on behalf of its backers. With many individual landlords threatening to quit the sector - faced with licensing schemes an

40% of privately rented homes won't make 2028 deadline - agents claim

40% of privately rented homes won't make 2028 deadline - agents claim

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Forty per cent of privately rented homes in England are unlikely to achieve the energy efficiency rating target that is due to come into force in 2028. Trade organisation Propertymark says its analysis of the latest English Housing Survey shows that 60 per cent of the rental sec

Looming EPC rules to cause mayhem in the rental market, warns senior figure

Looming EPC rules to cause mayhem in the rental market, warns senior figure

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A staggering one-third of landlords plan to quit the sector or do nothing to address energy efficiency failings if and when new EPC regulations kick in. Research carried out on behalf of Paragon Bank reveals that 21% of landlords would not carry out any necessary works to bring

'Landlords NOT worried over proposals to give tenants more pet rights' says NRLA

'Landlords NOT worried over proposals to give tenants more pet rights' says NRLA

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The NRLA has played down landlords fears about new Government proposals to give tenants the right to request a pet. Speaking on the Radio 4 You and Yours programme, director of policy Chris Norris said many landlords werent too worried about the government

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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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