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Grainger’s REIT conversion – what landlords need to know

Grainger’s REIT conversion – what landlords need to know

News

Grainger PLC is the UK’s biggest listed residential landlord - it has just converted into a Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT)

WARNING: Rent increases will soon have to be done officially, not informally

WARNING: Rent increases will soon have to be done officially, not informally

Information

Landlords have been urged not to fall foul of looming rent rise legislation by updating their records and processes.

Landlords are 'the solution, not the problem' says leading Tory

Landlords are 'the solution, not the problem' says leading Tory

News

Scots Conservative Thomas Heald bangs the drum for the private rented sector and rejects rent controls as solution to high rents.

A tax too far? Why landlords are being pushed to the brink

A tax too far? Why landlords are being pushed to the brink

Opinion

Landlords face rising taxes, regulations, and costs - prompting many to sell up. Is government policy pushing small landlords out of the

When will the Renters' Rights Bill become law?

When will the Renters' Rights Bill become law?

News

We explore what happens next to the Renters’ Rights’ Bill following Monday's debate in parliament.

£955 licensing scheme goes ahead after landlord court failure

£955 licensing scheme goes ahead after landlord court failure

News

A heavily contested selective licensing scheme is to go ahead in Scunthorpe after landlords lost their High Court battle to stop it.

Repeat rogue landlord faces renting ban

Repeat rogue landlord faces renting ban

News

Tariq Mahmood Khan faces the ultimate sanction after being convicted for failing to comply with a prohibition order - again.

Landlords to house 'million more pets' when reforms go live

Landlords to house 'million more pets' when reforms go live

News

More than one million extra renters might get a pet when the Renters’ Rights Bill takes effect, according to new research.

Institutional shake-up: how the PRS REIT sale impacts UK landlords

Institutional shake-up: how the PRS REIT sale impacts UK landlords

News

PRS REIT enters £631.6M sale, highlighting growing institutional interest and potential shifts in the UK rental market.

Renters' Rights Bill to become law without major changes, says minister

Renters' Rights Bill to become law without major changes, says minister

News

Renters' Rights Bill is to get Royal Assent very soon unmolested by any major amendments, last night's Parliamenatry debate revealed.

Another £1,000+ licensing scheme launches, this time in Essex

Another £1,000+ licensing scheme launches, this time in Essex

News

Thurrock landlords will be hit by a pricey new HMO licensing scheme as number of new schemes this year hits record

New housing secretary 'no friend of landlords' speeches reveal

New housing secretary 'no friend of landlords' speeches reveal

News

New housing secretary's critical views of landlords revealed by previous speeches and voting record in parliament.

Some landlords 'proud of their slum properties' claims politician

Some landlords 'proud of their slum properties' claims politician

News

Southampton's former Lord Mayor has made controversial comments about some of city's landlords.

In the dying days of Section 21 – don’t get tripped up

In the dying days of Section 21 – don’t get tripped up

News

With the impending implementation of the Renters’ Rights Act, Section 21 evictions are now on borrowed time

New housing secretary appointed following Rayner tax debacle

New housing secretary appointed following Rayner tax debacle

News

Landlords have a new housing secretary after Steve Reed was confirmed in the role following the resignation of Angela Rayner.

TikTok craze ruining end-of-tenancy deposit returns

TikTok craze ruining end-of-tenancy deposit returns

News

Sticky back plastic tiles have been singled out as the biggest scourge faced by landlords at the end of a tenancy.

Most property investors give Labour planning reforms thumbs down

Most property investors give Labour planning reforms thumbs down

News

Three quarter of property investors have not welcomed the Government's planning reforms, saying they won't get Britain building.

Scots landlords meet new housing minister over rent control worries

Scots landlords meet new housing minister over rent control worries

News

Landlords in Scotland are encouraged by the new Housing Secretary’s willingness to collaborate but remain concerned abou rent controls.

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Rising rents fall back from record high

Rising rents fall back from record high

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Average rent in England increased 9.2% to £1,369 in the 12 months to December - slightly down on the previous record-high annual growth.

Pensioner landlords demanded to take over tenant's room

Pensioner landlords demanded to take over tenant's room

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News
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A landlord couple who moved into their tenant’s spare bedroom while she was still living there have been fined.

MPs send amended Renters' Rights Bill to the Lords

MPs send amended Renters' Rights Bill to the Lords

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News
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The Bill has moved another step closer to becoming law, with MPs agreeing amendments that include preventing landlords from taking more than one month’s rent.

January's tax deadline approaches, thoughts turn to this annual task

January's tax deadline approaches, thoughts turn to this annual task

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Keeping on top of your accounts month by month makes the annual self-assessment tax return task easier and makes sure you are in control of your business

Top six misconceptions about Ltd company BTL mortgages

Top six misconceptions about Ltd company BTL mortgages

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Limited Company buy to let mortgages are increasingly popular, however there are still many myths that need debunking.

Landlords hit with former owners' massive council tax bills

Landlords hit with former owners' massive council tax bills

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News
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Landlords in Kent are inheriting huge council tax bills racked up by the previous owners when buying empty properties.

Portfolio landlords boost share of incorporated properties

Portfolio landlords boost share of incorporated properties

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News
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The proportion of incorporated property held in portfolios of landlords who use limited companies has more than doubled since Q1 2020.

Renters' Rights Bill could exclude scores of private tenants

Renters' Rights Bill could exclude scores of private tenants

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News
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A leading property lawyer warns that removing risk mitigation strategies will make many tenants on lower incomes “unlettable”.

Landlord slapped with £20,000 repayment order for unlicensed HMO

Landlord slapped with £20,000 repayment order for unlicensed HMO

News
News
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A landlord must repay tenants £20,000 in rent after he failed to convince a tribunal he wasn’t aware of a licensing scheme.

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

Fire Certificate

Fire Certificate

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What was the Fire Certificate is no longer required as it was previously under the Fire Precautions Act 1971 for hotels, boarding houses, factories, offices, shops and railway premises. All these premises must comply with Fire Regulations, now covered by t