Date

Library

Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

Council becomes first in UK to take over a landlord's homes after licensing failures

Council becomes first in UK to take over a landlord's homes after licensing failures

News

A landlord in London is the first in the UK to have their properties taken over ‘long-term’ by a council.

Labour's plans to abolish fixed term tenancies 'will destroy student lets'

Labour's plans to abolish fixed term tenancies 'will destroy student lets'

News

The Government has been warned that its refusal to give student landlords an exemption from plans to scrap fixed-term tenancies will see the universit

SHOCKING 70% of tenants unaware of Renters' Rights Bill

SHOCKING 70% of tenants unaware of Renters' Rights Bill

News

Report shows reforms will have little impact on sector if tenants are largely unaware of their new rights.

New partnership to reduce the stress of moving home for tenants

New partnership to reduce the stress of moving home for tenants

News

A new partnership enables landlords' tenants to move into their home more easily, it has been announced.

Plan launched in Scotland to bring in rent caps 'immediately'

Plan launched in Scotland to bring in rent caps 'immediately'

News

MSP Maggie Chapman wants an immediate introduction of rent caps to prevent 'brutal' rent rises by 'rogue landlords'.

Lodgers Limits - taking in a lodger - is there any limit to the number of rooms? 

Lodgers Limits - taking in a lodger - is there any limit to the number of rooms? 

Information

Lodgers Limits - Is there any limit to the number of rooms I can rent out to lodgers, and are there any other implications?

Big property firm advises landlords to adopt 'pet clauses' in rental contracts

Big property firm advises landlords to adopt 'pet clauses' in rental contracts

News

John D Wood says landlords must adapt ahead of changes within the Renters' Rights Bill.

Midlands city has fined landlords £450,000 since licensing began

Midlands city has fined landlords £450,000 since licensing began

News

Birmingham's council says that while 40,000 landlords have licensed their properties since July 2023, too many have not.

Council starts crackdown on unlicensed HMOs with surprise inspections

Council starts crackdown on unlicensed HMOs with surprise inspections

News

Enforcement officers in Harlow are scouring the borough for unlicensed HMOs and unsafe properties.

Landlord duo to pay back tenants nearly £18,000 after licensing failures

Landlord duo to pay back tenants nearly £18,000 after licensing failures

News

Landlord couple ordered to pay their tenants back the cash after failing to get an HMO licence for a property in

Selective licensing schemes goes ahead despite landlord opposition

Selective licensing schemes goes ahead despite landlord opposition

News

Landlords in Grimsby have failed to convince council bosses to ditch a proposed selective licensing scheme in the town.

Landlord couple banned for nine years from renting homes

Landlord couple banned for nine years from renting homes

News

The two landlords have been banned from renting property after their legal appeal was rejected.

COMMENT: 28 Weeks to Evict a tenant, should landlords be fearful?

COMMENT: 28 Weeks to Evict a tenant, should landlords be fearful?

News

Why Landlords probably should be concerned about what the Renters’ Rights Bill could bring

Landlords excluded from Treasury plans to overhaul Stamp Duty

Landlords excluded from Treasury plans to overhaul Stamp Duty

News

Landlords would be exempt from Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ plans for a national property tax but could ultimately pay higher prices for homes.

Eviction battle between landlord and tenants makes national TV

Eviction battle between landlord and tenants makes national TV

News

Tenants at a complex of flats in Nottingham have staged a protest against their no-fault eviction after it was sold to a new owner.

Sellers’ market picks up, as fire and structural damage refuses to stop properties selling in under 2 weeks

Sellers’ market picks up, as fire and structural damage refuses to stop properties selling in under 2 weeks

Sponsored

Buy-to-let is bouncing back—landlords are selling fast, often above asking, with tenants in place. Portfolios sold in days, even with damage.

LATEST: Tenant rent arrears drop by 20% during 2025

LATEST: Tenant rent arrears drop by 20% during 2025

News

Rent arrears fell by 12% to £1,861 in Q2 2025 marking the first year-on-year decline in a second quarter since 2021.

Rent rises ease but tenants still face massive competition for homes

Rent rises ease but tenants still face massive competition for homes

News

Rent rises are easing across the UK official data has revealed this morning but experts warn that the private rental market continues to suffer from a

Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

Awards scheme for HMO landlords launched to highlight best operators

Awards scheme for HMO landlords launched to highlight best operators

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

A new property awards has launched that aims to celebrate good landlords in the previously neglected HMO sector. The HMO Awards is dedicated to highlighting good practice and will hand out gongs to HMO agents, operators and investors at a ceremony with a difference that aims to

LATEST: Greenwich agrees £2.6m selective licensing scheme after Covid delay

LATEST: Greenwich agrees £2.6m selective licensing scheme after Covid delay

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

The London borough of Greenwich has re-started its planned roll-out of selective licensing across three of its key areas Woolwich, Plumstead and Shooters Hill. Expected to go live at the beginning of July following its Cabinet committee decision, this means nearly a fifth of

Company linked to high profile investor put into liquidation owing �1.5m

Company linked to high profile investor put into liquidation owing �1.5m

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

A high-profile property investor hailed as a rent-to-rent success story has put his company StayBC Ltd into liquidation, owing creditors nearly �1.5 million.<br><br>Newport-based Ben Brand charted his rapid rise on social media, describing his introduction to the property sector after atte

How can landlords afford to upgrade their properties to EPC band C by 2025?

How can landlords afford to upgrade their properties to EPC band C by 2025?

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Like almost all industries the housing market is increasing its efforts to tackle climate change. Households account for 40% of the UKs carbon footprint and the government has forced landlords to move more quickly than others, and from 2025, all properties in the private rent

How can landlords make their properties more energy efficient?

How can landlords make their properties more energy efficient?

Information
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Practical ways landlords can boost property energy efficiency, cut costs, and meet EPC rules.

Barrister warns landlords over pitfalls of offering Ukrainian refugees whole properties

Barrister warns landlords over pitfalls of offering Ukrainian refugees whole properties

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Landlords have been warned about the legal pitfalls of offering a home to Ukrainians fleeing the war. The governments newly launched Homes for Ukraine scheme lets individuals and businesses �360 a month to provide a spare room or separate self-contained accommodation for ref

It's time to consider challenging your business rates calculation, says RVA Surveyors

It's time to consider challenging your business rates calculation, says RVA Surveyors

Information
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Business rates or non-domestic rates are a variant of a 500-year-old tax, the current version of which was introduced in 1990 to fund local services based on property values, raising approximately �25 billion a year. RVA Surveyors are business rates reduction specialists who ha

LATEST: Arguments over social problems linked to HMOs hot up in Hartlepool

LATEST: Arguments over social problems linked to HMOs hot up in Hartlepool

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Labour councillors in Hartlepool campaigning to restrict HMOs in the town have been told to find evidence of problems caused by shared properties. <figure id="" class="w-richtext-figure-type- " data-rt-type="" data-rt-align=""><div><img src="https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/63bef2f3c329ef

High Street banks will be gone by 2025

High Street banks will be gone by 2025

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Thats the prediction made by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) and banking software company, Temenos. Temenos AG is a company specialising in enterprise software for banks and financial services headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland. An overwhelming proportion of European

Uninhabitable Premises

Uninhabitable Premises

Information
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Uninhabitable Premises. My tenanted property is flooded. What are my legal obligations in this situation? Am I obliged to re-house my tenant? Must my tenant continue to pay rent?Landlords are under a general obligation to supply property in tenant able condition for the tenant to i

Tenant Blacklist

Tenant Blacklist

Information
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

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

Information
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

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

Information
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

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
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
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
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
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
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
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

Misrepresentation

Misrepresentation

Information
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
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
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
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
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
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

How long should accounts be kept

How long should accounts be kept

Information
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
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

Expiry of Section 21 Notice

Expiry of Section 21 Notice

Information
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

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

Information
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

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

Information
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

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

Information
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

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

Information
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

<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

Information
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

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

Information
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

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

Information
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

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

Information
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

<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

Information
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

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

Information
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

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

Information
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

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

Information
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

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

Information
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

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