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Date set for Renters' Right Bill final stage on Monday

Date set for Renters' Right Bill final stage on Monday

News

The Renters’ Rights Bill is now almost certain to become law before the political parties break for the party conference season.

COMMENT: HMRC Spot Checks on Landlords – be prepared for a “Fishing Expedition”

COMMENT: HMRC Spot Checks on Landlords – be prepared for a “Fishing Expedition”

News

HMRC spot checks – “fishing expeditions” – what they mean for you and how to be prepared

Big pet charity warns Ministers off rental property pet deposits

Big pet charity warns Ministers off rental property pet deposits

News

Battersea Cats and Dogs Home has warned Labour not to allow landlords to demand that tenants take out pet deposits.

BLOG: 'Small landlords are under siege and it won't end well'

BLOG: 'Small landlords are under siege and it won't end well'

News

The UK’s private rental sector is undergoing one of the most dramatic shifts in decades and not for the better says leading broker.

Big NW council brings in unusual 'immediate' HMO restrictions

Big NW council brings in unusual 'immediate' HMO restrictions

News

Halton council, which includes two big towns outside Liverpool, wants to heavily restrict HMO conversions.

Two thirds of landlords 'unprepared' for renting reform tsunami

Two thirds of landlords 'unprepared' for renting reform tsunami

News

Only one in six landlords (16%) are fully prepared for the Renters’ Rights Bill says new poll.

Labour's NI taxation plan for landlords to cost £722 per property

Labour's NI taxation plan for landlords to cost £722 per property

News

The true extent of extra cost faced by landlords by the Chancellor's NI plans are revealed.

'Ensuring tenants can pay their rent isn't controversial'

'Ensuring tenants can pay their rent isn't controversial'

News

Fergus and Judith Wilson say their reputation isn't justified, and argue that they are good landlords.

Council faces backlash over selective licensing scheme renewal

Council faces backlash over selective licensing scheme renewal

News

Private tenants already been warned that rents will rise by £15 a month to pay for new scheme.

Angela Rayner urged by nearly 50 organisations to U-turn on pet damage insurance

Angela Rayner urged by nearly 50 organisations to U-turn on pet damage insurance

News

Pet campaigners have written to Angela Rayner in a last-ditch attempt to reinstate landlords’ ability to require pet damage insurance in the Renters’

Council leader attacks 'hard-nosed' landlords over illegal HMOs

Council leader attacks 'hard-nosed' landlords over illegal HMOs

News

Essex borough of Basildon reveals huge crackdown on landlords who run unlicensed HMOs.

Small-Scale Build-to-Rent, a hidden gem opportunity for SME landlords

Small-Scale Build-to-Rent, a hidden gem opportunity for SME landlords

News

Direction of travel: all the regulatory changes to the private rented sector (PRS) say, it’s go bigger or get out

How have Labour changed the lettings market in one year?

How have Labour changed the lettings market in one year?

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Labour’s first year: Renters' rights up, reforms underway, pace lags promises.

New report reveals shocking facts about UK's rogue landlords

New report reveals shocking facts about UK's rogue landlords

News

A major investigation into rogue landlords within he private rented sector has made some shocking claims.

BLOG: 'Renters' Rights Bill will change everything for landlords and tenants'

BLOG: 'Renters' Rights Bill will change everything for landlords and tenants'

Opinion

Landlord and tenant dispute specialist explores some of the key issues that the looming Renters' Rights Bill will throw up.

Labour's NI tax raid 'to hit millions of pensions'

Labour's NI tax raid 'to hit millions of pensions'

News

Landlords have claimed that HM Treasury plans to charge National Insurance (NI) on rents is a raid on millions of people’s pension

BLOG: 'Any NI raid on rents will hit HMO landlords hardest'

BLOG: 'Any NI raid on rents will hit HMO landlords hardest'

Opinion

COHO founder Vann Vogstad says HMO landlords will shoulder a particularly large share of any NI levy on rental income.

Westminster to renew £1,540 licensing scheme for smaller HMOs

Westminster to renew £1,540 licensing scheme for smaller HMOs

News

London’s Westminster Council has revealed plans to renew its additional HMO licensing scheme covering many of the borough’s streets.

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Activists call for total overhaul of tenant deposits system

Activists call for total overhaul of tenant deposits system

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News
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Deposits should be lodged with a single, not-for-profit organisation, the campaigning group has claimed.

RICS reveals big slowdown in rental properties available to rent

RICS reveals big slowdown in rental properties available to rent

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News
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Surveying trade organisation says its estate agent members have reported weakest supply of rented homes since 2020.

River Island escapes administration at landlords’ expense

River Island escapes administration at landlords’ expense

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News
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Landlord pain, tenant gain scenario where a High Court ruling has allowed River Island to impose a restructuring plan

Campaigner: Renting reforms amendment will allow 'more unfair evictions'

Campaigner: Renting reforms amendment will allow 'more unfair evictions'

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News
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Tom Darling says landlords should not be able to evict tenants to sell a property under any circumstance.

Landlords urged to join mould campaign backed by the King

Landlords urged to join mould campaign backed by the King

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News
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MPs have been urged to help get landlords involved in a campaign to raise awareness about damp and mould.

Landlord profits rises despite costs of maintenance, evictions and arrears

Landlord profits rises despite costs of maintenance, evictions and arrears

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News
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A new poll of landlords has found that 87% make a profit on their properties despite spending a fifth of their gross rental income on property repairs

'Housing minister's resignation proves Labour's renting reforms not rational'

'Housing minister's resignation proves Labour's renting reforms not rational'

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News
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A thinktank director has said Labour's renting reforms will put many landlords off investing in the private rented sector.

'Landlords should be free to set their own rents', says leading Tory figure

'Landlords should be free to set their own rents', says leading Tory figure

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News
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Senior Tory figure David Gauke says Government should be concentrating on building more homes to rent, and ignore calls for rent controls.

New spate of 'fake landlord' scams revealed by Trading Standards

New spate of 'fake landlord' scams revealed by Trading Standards

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News
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Criminals presenting as landlords are conning would-be tenants across London out of thousands of pounds a day.

Tenant Blacklist

Tenant Blacklist

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Question: Tenant Blacklists. I've had a very bad experience with a tenant and would like to put him on a black list so that other landlords don't have the same experience that I've had. How do I go about this?Answer: We often get asked this question.Although there have been several attempts by di

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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

How long should accounts be kept

How long should accounts be kept

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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

Expiry of Section 21 Notice

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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

Covenant and Covenant Strength

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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

10 year lease

10 year lease

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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

Uncollected Goods

Uncollected Goods

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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.

Standing Order

Standing Order

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<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

Section 8 Procedure

Section 8 Procedure

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The Possession Procedure - 1988 Housing ActThe possession procedure under Section 8 of the Housing Acts 1988 &amp; 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 Business Premises

Renting Business Premises

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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,

License Agreement

License Agreement

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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

Joint or Single Tenancies

Joint or Single Tenancies

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<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

Common Law Tenancies

Common Law Tenancies

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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

Business Tenancies

Business Tenancies

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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

Gas Safety

Gas Safety

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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

Gas & Electrical Certificates

Gas & Electrical Certificates

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Landlords' Gas and Electrical Safety Certificates:As a landlord, or as a letting agent acting on the landlord's behalf, you have a legal obligation to ensure that your accommodation is completely safe for your tenants.Several statutory regulations and general common law requirement

Furnished or Unfurnished

Furnished or Unfurnished

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Letting and residential property fully furnished, part-furnished or unfurnished in England &amp; Wales no longer has any implications regarding security of tenure for the tenant or for taxation. However, Council Tax and the 10% Depreciation Allowance may be affected - you don't pay Council Tax du