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
What heating system should you use in your rental property? Is there a heating system that could solve landlords condensation claims problems?Its one of the most important questions to ask when letting a property for the first time. Whatever system you choose carries implications for the ef
The Residential Landlords Association (RLA) and the National Landlords Association (NLA) have called on the classified online listings service Gumtree to issue clear guidance over possible scams involving bogus letting scams.The warning has been issued to Gumtree by the NLA and the RLA after f
At rent review, the phrase 'going to arbitration' is often bandied about during negotiations as a means for one party to get its own way. Whether or not the parties can agree the rent without involving the dispute resolution procedure, it is common for a represented or experienced party to inv
From the 1st of October 2015 it became a statutory requirement that landlords issue all new tenants after that date with the latest edition of a Government publication The How to Rent Guide�, along with a current Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) and a current Gas Safety
From 1st February 2016 all new tenants in England must be given Right-to-Rent (Immigration) Checks to determine their "right-to-rent" or "right-to-reside" in the country, BEFORE they can be given a tenancy. Landlords or letting agents must do the checks - letting agents where the
This is a Guide to Tax Deductible Letting Expenses for Landlords under the new tax rules following the Summer Budget 2015. These may be subject to change and you are advised to consult a tax specialist before making any decisions.From April 2016 landlords will no longer be able to automatically d
An Edinburgh landlord set-up hidden cameras in the bedroom and bathroom of his flat, to film people in bed and in the shower.The cameras were discovered by a young couple, friends of the landlord who allowed them to use the accommodation. The couple found a box on the living room table with a cam
Amongst the ways to agree or ascertain the (open) market rent at rent review or on renewal of a lease, (per s.34-s35 Landlord and Tenant Act 1954), is the use of comparable evidence.At rent review, the market rent for the premises is not what rent the actual tenant would agree or could afford, bu
There are two instances of section 20 notices in property in England:(1) is the notice served in relation to early shorthold tenancies under the Housing Act 1988, and the other,(2) refers to section 20 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985, as amended by the Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Act (CLR
Who pays for maintenance and repairs in a residential letting, landlord or tenant?Is it, for example, a tenants responsibility once they occupy my building to look after most of the regular house maintenance items? If the fridge stops working does the tenant or the landlord need to repair it?Y
With commercial property, rent reviews are generally to the open market rent, but sometimes the rent would be adjusted to the Retail Price Index (RPI). RPI is generally considered more favourable to landlords than CPI or other methodologies.There is no link between open market rent and inflatio
Amongst the thorny issues in the relationship between landlord and tenant is the building insurance premium. Unlike residential property where the landlord has a vested interest in making sure the premium is competitive, because more than likely the premium would not be recoverable from the tenan
Theres recently been a spate of press reports and political wrangling about the existence of Zero-Hour Contracts. This has become something of a hot political issue as we approach a general election, and one surprising development is recent attempts to embroil landlords in the issue, as if the
The average UK house price could surge by 17% in the next decade, based on historical data from the past 40 years, and is set to reach �400,000 by 2050. Property buying firm Good Move has studied house prices in the UK since 1980 to predict what the market might look like in th
What is a clean and tidy house to some is and unacceptably dirty mess to others; people have different standards and this will never change. Alternatively, some tenants are just too lazy to leave the place clean and tidy: dirty carpets and furniture, filthy bathrooms and toilets, and kitchen work
In every tenancy there is an implied right if not an express covenant that promises that the tenant is able to possess the premises, not just without noise, quiet enjoyment� as the term implies, but in peace and without without disturbance by hostile claimants�, including from the
If you're a landlord and you haven't yet heard of us here at <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="http://www.national-residential.co.uk/" target="_blank">National Re
Landlords have slammed the registration and licensing authority that regulates the private rented sector in Wales, taking the organisation to task for a range of failings. Rent Smart Wales was set up https://www.landlordzone.co.uk/news/starting-date-for-rent-smart-wales
The Government thinks that the risk of money laundering taking place in estate agency is on the rise, especially in high-end lettings - the top 5% of lets in value. However, there is a lot of uncertainty as to the full scale of money laundering in lettings says ARLA Propertymark. <p id="
In Beaumont Business Centres Ltd v Florala Properties Ltd (2020) the High Court considered the legal position regarding a serviced office providers right to light following an adjoining apathotel development. Beaumont Business Centres Limited took out an injunction against Fl
In this case - Duval v 11-13 Randolph Crescent Ltd - reached the Supreme court in May 2020 after a tenant in a block of flats had requested the landlords consent for alterations, but disputed by another tenant in the same block, objecting to the landlord giving consent. Under
Whatever their politics, many landlords are wondering why successive Conservative governments have proved to be so hostile to buy-to-investors, given its former party of the landlord moniker. This includes the 3% stamp duty increase, Section 24 tax relief reductions, the a
Tewkesbury Council is bucking the national trend by punishing landlords with failing EPCs.
Poorer tenants within the private rented sector (PRS) are spending 63% of their income on rent, a shocking new report from the Government has revealed.
A petition calling for rent controls launched by a hard-up mum has garnered some 42,00 signatures and counting.
Outdated 'fair wear and tear' rules are forcing tenants to face unreasonable deductions and landlords to pay higher costs, a proptech firm boss has warned.
The Welsh government has rejected proposals to give tenants compensation if they are handed a no-fault eviction notice.
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.
