Obtaining Possession Using Section 21 Notices Updated October 2016This article explains how to gain possession of your residential rental property in the most efficient way possible. You may just want your property back for your own use, or to sell, or you may be having prob
Winter Condensation: Its that time of year again, a time when tenants are most likely to complain about the mould appearing in those corners of the property where the walls and ceilings are really cold, and hot air with moisture always rises to the top. If its black mo
Tax Relief: Starting from 6th April 2017, those landlords with mortgages will have tax relief on their buy-to-let mortgage costs gradually reduce over a 4-year period.Many landlords dont have a mortgage (up to 50% it is said), so this change does not affect them, but many
Rent Arrears: At this time of year, soon after the Christmas spending spree, inevitably rent payments begin to suffer. If you are having problems with rent arrears, this article should help.As in most areas of life,prevention is better than cure . To re
Tax Return 2016-2017: As a general rule, and as outlined in the previous articles in this series on tax returns, landlords can claim the expenses of running and maintaining their rental properties.If the rent you charge includes additional services like water, or council tax
Tax Return 2016-17: With some costs its very easy to decide: a repair to a drain, downspout or roof tile are all allowable expenses, but what about replacing a broken single glazed window with a new plastic frame and double glazing, what about decorating and installing a
Penetrating damp, just as its name implies, is where water leaks into a building from outside the structure, through the walls or roof. Less common is where an internal leak from a water or drain pipe leaks into the structure of the building.Common causes of penetrating damp are: <ul <l
Fire Regulations in Rentals: There are several regulations relating to fire safety within rental dwellings; some affect all dwellings whereas others apply mainly to Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO).This looks complicated, but fire safety management in reality boils down t
Damp & Mould: You may have seen or heard of the 1970s TV series Rising Damp, which featured a landlord and his tenants (lodgers in this case) which rather implies that all rental properties are troubled with this kind of damp.Far from the case, but some are. In fact the
Westminster City Council has given the go-ahead to a huge new selective licensing scheme covering 15 of the London borough’s 18 wards.
Landlords could face higher mortgage rates for longer after inflation jumped by more than expected last month to 3.5%.
A data gathering exercise by the Government has highlighted new and sometimes surprising facts about the UK’s landlords and their properties, including why a quarter are plannig to sell of properties over the next 12 months.
A leading leasehold expert has warned that commonhold reforms will hit property values and shift costs onto individual flat owners including those belonging to private landlords.
A Glasgow landlord fears his tenants could be left without heating or hot water after his energy supplier delayed replacing their Radio Teleswitch Service (RTS) meter.
Duncan McLennan says harking back to previous rent control experiments isn't realistic, and that a 'revolution in home building' is needed instead.
Landlord Sales Agency helps landlords sell quickly, often in under 28 days, at strong prices even with tenants. With market changes coming, now is the time to act.
Peterborough defends decision to bring some 1,800 smaller HMOs into its licensing clutches.
Report from Handelbanken paints picture of regulation bearing down on investor sentiment with predictable results.
Councillors in Worcester have agreed to extend the city’s additional licensing scheme for another five years.
A prolific fraudster has admitted scamming numerous would-be tenants out of hundreds of pounds.
The NRLA has warned of potentially devastating consequences for the PRS unless the House of Lords approves new amendments to the Renters’ Rights Bill.
The use of ‘rent in advance’ is widespread among landlords in the UK, the leader of a coalition of tenants’ rights groups has claimed
It’s a mixed picture in the UK property markets - UK rents fall for first time in five years, house sales rise and commercial recovery property stalls
The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) has urged flat owners to check assessors’ credentials after a fire engineer was sanctioned by the Institution of Fire Engineers for unprofessional conduct.
Letting agents have warned Westminster Council that its plan to ban advertising boards outside landlords' properties borough-wide could cause delays for renters.
Rightmove says the average rent in the UK now eats up 50% of the net income of those living within the private rented sector where the monthly rent per property is now £1,526.
Numbers of non-decent homes and Category 1 hazards in the PRS have fallen in recent years, although problems with damp are on the rise.
The Scottish government’s proposed rent control formula is generous to landlords but would leave tenants vulnerable to unaffordable rent rises, says Generation Rent.
Croydon Council is calling on local residents to report concerns about unauthorised HMOs as it ramps up action against errant landlords.
There is still widespread frustration and bewilderment among landlords and agent that rent controls are the only policy intervention to help tackle affordability in Scotland
Investors have started buying up shops and offices in London rather than houses in order to turn a profit.
A landlord in Telford is to pay a huge fine after his local council took him to court over a substandard property he rented out within the town.
A Lib Dem MP has highlighted what he describes as an unfolding EWS1 form scandal after a fire safety consultant was sanctioned for unprofessional conduct.
One of the seismic changes for landlords and letting agents this year will be when the Renters’ Rights Bill bans taking rent in advance.
Camden Council wants to renew its additional licensing scheme with a potential £82 hike in fees.
Landlords in Grimbsy are being asked for their views on a new selective licensing scheme for parts of the East Marsh ward.
Over two thirds of private renters in the UK believe it is ‘too easy’ for landlords to take advantage of tenants, much higher than the global average of 59%.
The energy specialist, comparison website operator Uswitch, has released its latest “Mouldy Nation Report”
Landlords have been warned to swap their Radio Teleswitch Service (RTS) meters at rental properties by 30th June or face possible legal action.
The Scottish Government is to upgrade its Energy Performance Certificates (EPC) system.
A new consultation has been launched into how tenants at risk of unfair eviction could benefit from a £20 million a year boost in legal aid.
A rogue tenant has been prosecuted for running an illegal dog breeding service inside her filthy rented property.
