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Letting agents who ripped off landlords brought to justice

Letting agents who ripped off landlords brought to justice

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A pair who traded fraudulently and defrauded victims out of at least £24,000 through letting and rental scams have been sentenced.

Landlords warned over evictions paperwork ahead of landmark judgement

Landlords warned over evictions paperwork ahead of landmark judgement

News

Landlords have been urged to ensure their tenants sign when receiving any important documents ahead of a key court ruling.

Only half of councils bother to collect rogue landlord fines

Only half of councils bother to collect rogue landlord fines

News

Less than half the fines levied against rogue landlords have been collected by local authorities, according to new figures.

Jersey landlords fume at licence scheme 'fudge'

Jersey landlords fume at licence scheme 'fudge'

News

The Jersey Landlords’ Association has slammed the “disorderly” roll-out of the Island's new property licence scheme.

Victory for landlord leaseholders in landmark case

Victory for landlord leaseholders in landmark case

News

Grey GR has been ordered to fix serious building safety issues at Stevenage’s Vista Tower following a long-running dispute.

Tenants to be given right to live with more than one pet

Tenants to be given right to live with more than one pet

News

The government has promised to clarify guidance outlining that tenants can soon request to keep more than one pet.

Landlords have longer to wait for mortgage rate cuts

Landlords have longer to wait for mortgage rate cuts

News

The Bank of England has left UK interest rates on hold at 5.25% for the sixth time in a row, delaying any reduction in mortgage rates.

Lancashire borough bids to bring back licensing and raise standards

Lancashire borough bids to bring back licensing and raise standards

News

Blackburn with Darwen Council is consulting on a new selective licensing scheme on the edge of its town centre.

Vocal landlord critic Elphicke defects to Labour

Vocal landlord critic Elphicke defects to Labour

News

Conservative MP Natalie Elphicke has defected to the Labour party after years of pushing tenant-friendly policies and decrying rogue landlords.

Landlords in Scotland 'feel like pariahs' amid political rhetoric

Landlords in Scotland 'feel like pariahs' amid political rhetoric

News

Red tape and hostility from Holyrood has caused some landlords to defer investments or take properties off the rental market.

Cuckoos: not just a springtime problem but a year-round threat

Cuckoos: not just a springtime problem but a year-round threat

News

Landlords should be on the lookout for the growing threat of cuckooing, which can jeopardise both their property and tenant safety.

Renters are just 'working for their landlords' as housing shortages bite - claim

Renters are just 'working for their landlords' as housing shortages bite - claim

News

Renters in England worked 125 days of the year solely to pay their rent, says The Adam Smith Institute.

Nottinghamshire landlord fined £17,500 after ignoring licencing scheme

Nottinghamshire landlord fined £17,500 after ignoring licencing scheme

News

A Nottinghamshire landlord has been fined £17,500 after local council officers discovered he was operating two properties without a licence.

Rents have risen 35% since 2020 reveals latest lettings index

Rents have risen 35% since 2020 reveals latest lettings index

News

Rental prices could increase by almost 20% over the next 12 months, putting the country in a cost of renting crisis, warns one lettings boss.

Ousted Scots minister tells SNP to honour rent controls plan

Ousted Scots minister tells SNP to honour rent controls plan

News

Ousted tenants right minister Patrick Harvie has urged the SNP’s new leader John Swinney to honour the government’s Bute House pledge to deliver rent controls and stronger tenant rights.

Renting reforms 'to outlaw rent in advance' claims expert

Renting reforms 'to outlaw rent in advance' claims expert

News

Landlords could find themselves in a legal tangle when asking for rent in advance if the Renters Reform Bill goes forward as drafted.

Government reforms undermining landlord confidence, says big firm

Government reforms undermining landlord confidence, says big firm

News

A leading letting agency in London has claimed that the Government’s Renters (Reform) Bill going through parliament, along with promises by Labour to go even further than the Tories if they gain power, are eroding landlord confidence in the private rented sector.

Letting agency to appeal banning order that will close it down

Letting agency to appeal banning order that will close it down

News

A letting agency in Liverpool has vowed to appeal a banning order successfully sought by the city’s council after the firm was found to have been operating unlicenced HMOs.

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REVEALED: Why not all EPCs are created equally

REVEALED: Why not all EPCs are created equally

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Getting a good EPC rating is important for rentals to meet the MEES regulations, and in future even higher ratings will be demanded, but this can be a challenge for some landlords� Since October 2008, rental properties in England and Wales have been required to

How safe are classified sites? Another tenant scammed by fake landlord

How safe are classified sites? Another tenant scammed by fake landlord

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A tenant has been scammed by a Gumtree advertiser who stole more than �2,000, leaving her facing homelessness. Mum-of-four, Shirley Jones, from Coventry, fell for the flat rental scam after answering the advert for a three-bedroom home in Nuneaton that was available to rent on

LATEST: Government's annual housing benefit bill rises to �30 billion

LATEST: Government's annual housing benefit bill rises to �30 billion

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The government is expecting to spend and eye-watering �30 billion on housing benefit for tenants this year, DWP minister Will Quince has told parliament. This figure is �8-10 billion more than the Office for Budget Responsibility https://obr.uk/forecasts-in-depth/tax-

BREAKING: 'Half of tenants would take out pet insurance against damage', says expert

BREAKING: 'Half of tenants would take out pet insurance against damage', says expert

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Half of all tenants who want to rent a home with their pet would be prepared to take out specialist insurance to cover their landlord against damage, a leading campaigner has revealed. Jennifer Berezai of AdvoCATS has researched an in-depth report into whether there is an appeti

Six month tenancy notice made permanent in Wales

Six month tenancy notice made permanent in Wales

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Legislation has been passed in Wales that extends the amount of notice landlords must give to their tenants, from the two month s21 period, to six months. The Renting Homes (Amendment) (Wales) Bill means (because notice cannot be served within the initial term) that the minimum

Leading private landlord moves entire portfolio to Ltd company and saves �10 million

Leading private landlord moves entire portfolio to Ltd company and saves �10 million

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One of Britains biggest private landlords is encouraging others to follow his lead by shifting property from their own name into a company structure. In what is thought to be the countrys largest ever mortgage transaction, Alastair Kerr (pictured) has transferred ownership

Regaining possession of a commercial property

Regaining possession of a commercial property

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Landlords of commercial premises may consider it necessary to bring the lease to an end or to refuse to renew a lease. This course of action might be for a number of reasons: A tenant for example might not have a statutory right to a lease renewal under the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954, the

MTD vs Self-Assessment Tax Returns - understanding the coming changes

MTD vs Self-Assessment Tax Returns - understanding the coming changes

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The big changes are in the submission frequency and digital submission process. Firstly, you will need to complete not one but five tax submissions per year � one every quar

BREAKING: Don't expect an extension to the electrical safety standards deadline, says ministry

BREAKING: Don't expect an extension to the electrical safety standards deadline, says ministry

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Landlords have been warned not to expect a grace period or extension to the deadline for properties to confirm to the new electrical safety standards. Originally, an https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/electrical-safety-standards-in-the-private-rented-sector-guid

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 & 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

False Statements By Tenants

False Statements By Tenants

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Ending a residential tenancy on the ground of "false statement by the tenant "The Housing Act 1988 as amended by the Housing Act 1996 makes provision for the possession of residential properties let under Assured and Assured Shorthold Tenancies.However

Bed & Breakfast Business

Bed & Breakfast Business

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Running a Successful Bed &amp; Breakfast Guest HouseRunning a successful Bed &amp; Breakfast Business from the comfort of your own home has many advantages and rewards as far as being self employed is concerned:</

Taking in a Lodger

Taking in a Lodger

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Taking in a LodgerIf you're considering taking a lodger there are some important things to think about first. Most of its common sense, but its a good idea plan carefully and get things right.[list type='3'] <ul <li Taking in Lodgers is a good way to earn extr

Section 8 Notices

Section 8 Notices

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Obtaining Possession Using Section 8 NoticesThis article explains how to gain possession of your residential rental property using the Section 8 procedure.Section 8 is a breach of contract court procedure.There are 17 grounds for possession listed in the Housing Acts 1988 &amp; 199

Get Notice Dates Right

Get Notice Dates Right

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How do I Ensure Notice Dates are Correct?Landlords and letting agents, at various times during a tenancy, may need to serve legal notices on their tenants.It is vital that not only do you complete and serve the notice in such as way that it is valid, but that you can

Section 21 Notices

Section 21 Notices

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Obtaining Possession - Section 21 Notices: This article explains how to gain possession of your residential rental property in the most efficient way. You may just want your property back for your own use, or to sell, or you may be having problems with the tenant, such as re