Following some confusion and debate about a deferral for the new standards following the MEES* deadline in April 2018, the new government has confirmed that changes to the EPC rules, preventing landlords from renting out homes below rating E, will definitely be introduced from April 2018.Accordin
Responsibility for Repairs: Who is responsible and who is obliged to pay for repairs to leasehold blocks and flats? What is the procedure if repairs are unnecessarily delayed or not carried out to the leaseholders satisfaction? What is the Section 20 procedure?T
Essential guide on how to conduct a rent review, covering key clauses and best practices to protect landlord and tenant interests.
Test Case Yeomans v Newell [2016]:When a landlord is in breach of the tenancy deposit rules he or she is prevented from serving a valid s21 notice for possession proceedings. Despite the fact that the tenancy deposit legislation has been in force since April 2007, landlords
Test Case: Superstrike Ltd v Marino. RodriguesThe case involved a landlord who had taken a deposit from the tenant before the deposit protection rules came into force in April 2007, since changed by the Deregulation Act 2015 see below. When the tenancy later became a st
Test Case: Leeds City Council v Broadley [2016]This case and the subsequent High Court ruling has brought some clarification about who is liable to pay council tax, tenant or landlord, when a rental property is vacant due to a tenant vacating early, that is, before the tena
Ending a Tenancy: What are the rules governing the ending of a statutory periodic tenancy (SPT) by the tenant, especially when the periods of the tenancy are not the standard 1 month?The answer to this question is not easily defined as it is not covered by one rule or a sing
Deposit Scheme Scam: Mydeposits says it is aware of a new scam being used by a fraudulent company imitating mydeposits and targeting landlords and letting agent members of the mydeposits Custodial scheme in England & Wales.The scam uses an email which imitates one from m
Freezing Pipes: This time of year, as we head towards colder weather and freezing conditions, buy-to-let properties and indeed all rental properties are vulnerable to potentially expensive winter water damageIn this article digital inventory app developer Imfuna Le
Guide to commercial tenancy rent-free periods and full repairing leases, explaining tenant obligations on lease expiry or termination.
Landlords and letting agents should by now be conversant with the 2014 regulations on blinds and curtains and the measures necessary to prevent accidents with children. It is particularly important to ensure that blinds and curtains supplied in rental properties meet these regulations, otherwise,
Changes to the law on Section 21 and in particular how landlords deal with reported repair issues is now of crucial importance if section 21 claims for possession are to be successful. Careful pre-planning is now essential at the time of setting-up Assured Shorthold Tenancies (AST).The Section 21
Understand how to assess tenant covenant strength and why it’s key to commercial property investment decisions.
I have always found the holding deposit (an initial retainer paid to the landlord or agent to reserve a tenancy) is a very useful device to commit the tenant to your letting. But is it legal to withhold the advance deposit you take from a prospective tenant if they back out?In my experience a pro
What do I need to do when I protect my tenant/s deposit? If you take a deposit from your tenant/s you MUST protect the deposit and serve your tenants with the correct documentation within 30 days or face having to pay a fine and the prospect that you cannot use the s21 evict
A clear explanation of ITZA and rent review zoning — why old ITZA measurements may not always apply in new rent reviews.
Learn how a Calderbank offer can help landlords settle disputes and avoid costly rent review referrals.
According to research from the NLA, 4 in 10 landlords are either seriously considering forming a limited company or looking into the option in the coming months.Can you - and more importantly should you - set up a company to pay less tax? Heres my complete guide on becoming incorporated.<stron
Barnet Council is reintroducing borough-wide HMO licensing in a bid to improve property standards despite less than impressive figures in its previous additional licensing scheme. According to one of the respondents in the consultation report, only 32% of licensable properties h
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
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
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
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
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
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
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"
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
An suburban area of outer London has been revealed as the areas where landlords are most likely to be fined for rule breaches or face a Rent Repayment Order (RRO) secured by tenants.
A landlord and his property manager who both evicted a tenant illegally have been found guilty of a ‘despicable act’.
A new government crackdown kicks in today to ensure criminal tenants and landlords can’t enter into rental agreements.
After UK tax changes due to apply after 6 April 2026, family business owners will have their ownership subject to inheritance tax for the first time
A letting agent has penned a new guide for landlords that has already topped Amazon book charts.
Legal expert Tessa Sanderson is offering landlords a free webinar covering the risks posed by the Renters' Rights Bill.
Landlords in the North West of England are invited to free roadshow this week during which Paul Shamplina, star of the hit Channel 5 TV show Nightmare Tenants, Slum Landlords, will be speaking.
Unprepared landlords face “Armageddon” once the Renters’ Rights Bill becomes law, one property expert has warned.
Landlords in Northern Ireland could soon face more stringent rental reforms than those in England, if a Private Members’ Bill gains traction.
Investment in buy-to-let has been grinding to a halt since extra stamp duty charge, new researsch has revealed.
A mortgage and property financing platform has revealed a service that is claimed to be the first in the UK to use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to helps investors and landlords choose properties to buy and rent out.
Two landlord brothers have been fined £20,000 and put on the rogue landlord database after failing to license their overcrowded HMO.
Letting agents have been warned to heed legal changes that will impact their dealings with tenants and landlords.
Landlords struggling to get their properties back have been urged to consider enforcing their judgments through the High Court.
UK Finance has warned that mortgaged landlords’ properties won’t reach EPC C until between 2037 and 2043 – way off the expected 2030 target.
The Bank of England has cut interest rates to 4.25% from 4.5% in a boost to landlord borrowing.
Sefton Council has been rapped on the knuckles for wrongly advising a tenant he could stay put, despite knowing it could not prevent an eviction.
Landlords owe a duty of care to their tenants, in particular to protect them from injuries caused by any defects in the rental property
Letting agents have warned that introducing rent controls for purpose-built student accommodation in Scotland will have a “chilling” effect on investment.
A new coalition in the capital aims to accelerate the removal of unsafe cladding on residential buildings over 11 metres.
The government has rejected calls to introduce an additional pet damage deposit as part of the Renters’ Rights Bill.
Starmer’s migrant housing scheme and incoming legislation are pushing landlords to rethink their strategy. With market prices still high, smart landlords are selling underperforming properties now to reinvest later when prices drop. Landlord Sales Agency offers a fast, profitable way to sell and sta
Exempting build-to-rent developers from future rent controls in Scotland could result in a two-tier market and an unworkable system.
The government has been urged to clamp down on central London’s short let sector after new research found at least half were being rented out unlawfully.
A proposed 2030 deadline won’t give landlords time to get their properties to EPC C and could cause them to quit, according to Paragon Bank.
