Validity of Section 21 Notice: Amak Property Investments v Laura Sonny [2016]This case was an appeal by the tenant following a county court judgement relating to the validity of a s21 notice on the basis that the landlord had not complied with the deposit protection (MyDepo
Essential guide to rent reviews: why reading the lease is crucial for landlords and tenants to navigate rent adjustments effectively.
Tenant Agreement: The Law of Property Act 1925 talks about having a maximum of 4 tenants on an agreement. So what to do when you have 5, 6 or more tenants sharing a house?There is a common misunderstanding of the rules here. Landlords and agents sometimes think or have heard
Advance Rent: Piggot v Slaven and Johnson v. OldThere are two important cases which clarify (though not necessarily decisively) the position on landlords accepting rent payments in advance. One concerns the accepting of the final two months rent in advance, a common devi
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
The Bank of England kept interest rates at 4.5% today amid fears that inflation is still a threat.
Newly qualified nurses can’t afford to rent privately in almost half - 45% - of local authorities in England, according to new analysis from Shelter.
Landlords must not to drag their heels when it comes to improving properties’ energy efficiency rating - or face potential issues with finding tradespeople and working with letting agents, a financial expert has warned.
A growing number of tenants in the build-to-rent (BTR) sector are using deposit alternative products as many opt to invest a lump sum instead of locking it away in a traditional cash scheme.
Benefit claimants must get the Government help they need once its welfare reforms take effect, an industry body has warned.
A reduced supply of luxury rental homes in London is feeding into higher rents, which are now a third higher than before the pandemic, new research has revealed.
Labour MP Tom Hayes has launched a survey to quiz tenants and landlords in his Bournemouth East constituency, in a bid to fix the “broken” rented sector.
Liberal Democrat MP Sarah Dyke has called for WASPI women to be fairly compensated after one of her constituents was evicted.
‘Rentflation’ has cost young people an extra £1,616 on their rent bill in the past year, according to new data from Barclays.
Landlords with small portfolios are being disproportionately impacted by an increasingly regulated PRS, according to Shadow Housing Minister Kevin Hollinrake.
We thought it fitting that one of the first people our new The LandlordZONE series talked to should be the current public face of the industry.
Stringent new energy efficiency rules could see landlords hit with bills totalling tens of thousands of pounds. James Kent explains more.
The NRLA has urged the government to rethink its “unworkable and unrealistic” energy efficiency plans for the private rented sector.
A holiday property investment company has had its knuckles rapped over a misleading advert in The Times that promised investors whopping returns.
The Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH) has secured two amendments around tougher licensing rules in the next Renters’ Rights Bill debate.
Surprising new research has revealed that three quarters of landlords would allow a tenant to redecorate their home, and half of landlords would pay for the costs of completing the work.
Landlords are being invited to join a deep dive into the Renters’ Rights Bill during a two-day online conference featuring big hitters from the property sector.
Norwich Council is overhauling its HMO policy by bringing in higher standards and tougher enforcement action.
Local authorities are not enforcing private landlords’ legal duty to maintain safe housing, a BBC investigation has found.
Nottingham benefits landlord Mick Roberts has warned that the government’s push to get rental properties up to an EPC C by 2030 could backfire.
Angela Rayner’s promise to build 1.5 million new homes this Parliament is looking increasingly optimistic
Seven out of 10 landlords planning to buy a new rental property during the next 12 months will use a limited company structure, it has been claimed.
Four tenants have won £21,076 from their landlord who failed to explain why she hadn’t licensed her damp and cold HMO.
Many landlords are struggling to sell leasehold flats because management charges have reached astronomical levels with many now forking out £2,000 or more a year.
Landlords buying or selling homes will soon enjoy a smoother and quicker property transaction process after the Government announced that it is to digitise the system.
The Salvation Army has joined calls for the UK government to help prevent homelessness in Scotland by scrapping the planned freeze on Local Housing Allowance (LHA).
The government has confirmed its plan to force all private landlords to get their rental properties up to an EPC C – from the current EPC E – by 2030.
Students from the UK and overseas could miss out on a university education unless the Government makes urgent changes to its Renters’ Rights Bill.
A Birmingham Council officer has saved the lives of a family of renters during a selective licensing compliance visit.
Despite warnings about potential unintended consequences of the Renters’ Rights Bill, the Bill is speeding through Parliament
The Scottish government will scrap its temporary rent control legislation on 31st March, in a move which promises to boost landlords’ confidence.
Build-to-rent developer Grainger has seen impressive growth thanks to a supportive government and the battering of smaller private landlords.
From dwindling profits to tenant pressure groups and legislative interventions – landlords all over the UK have had enough.
The Bank of England has cut interest rates by 0.25 percentage points to 4.5%, raising hopes of better mortgage deals for landlords.
