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Tenant Blacklist

Tenant Blacklist

Information

Question: Tenant Blacklists. I've had a very bad experience with a tenant and would like to put him on a black list so that other landlords don't have the same experience that I've had. How do I go about this?Answer: We often get asked this question.Although there have been several attempts by di

Sub-letting Leasehold

Sub-letting Leasehold

Information

Sub-letting leasehold - I want to rent out my leasehold flat but the managing agent says the freeholder wont allow it. I know that other flats in the block are rented out, so what can I do? Landlords usually prohibit sub-letting to safeguard the interest.Landlords usually prohibit sub-letting

Renting to a 17 year old

Renting to a 17 year old

Information

What are the implications of renting to a 17 year old or someone who is under the age of 18? We have an application from a 17-year old that is keen to rent but Im not sure this would be legal?</h2> Many landlords and housing providers would be concerned and therefore refuse to let to

Rent Review

Rent Review

Information

Question - Rent Review - my landlord is asking for far more rent than I expected on review. Am I obliged to pay this?Answer - Commercial leases are contractual - the parties agree to and are bound by its clauses and that includes rent review provisions.The rent review process is a way of periodic

Re-selling Energy

Re-selling Energy

Information

Re-selling Energy - As a landlord am I able to make a profit by re-selling electricity or gas?</h2>Resale of Gas and ElectricityThe maximum amount that Residential Landlords or resellers� are permitted to charge for gas or electricity is the amount they

Providing a Reference

Providing a Reference

Information

Providing a Reference - I have been asked to provide a reference for one of my tenants who is moving on. What is my legal position in this and am I putting myself at risk if I say he was a bad tenant?</h2> Referencing (seeking verification of a tenants past performance) is an increasi

Polystyrene Ceiling Tiles

Polystyrene Ceiling Tiles

Information

Polystyrene Ceiling Tiles - is it legal to have these tiles in the kitchen of a rental property?</h2> There are currently no regulations specifically banning the use of polystyrene ceiling tiles in existing rented property.However, it is unlikely that local authority fire officers and en

Misrepresentation

Misrepresentation

Information

Misrepresentation - We recently rented out our rural cottage to a couple. As they wanted to use their computers I said it was possible to get high-speed broad-band. I thought this would be possible but it seems it is not at this time. The couple are now claiming that I misled them and that

Mail for Previous Tenants

Mail for Previous Tenants

Information

I'm receiving mail for previous tenants and some of them are from debt collectors. Will this get my property black listed and cause problems for my current tenants and myself in the future?</h2> It's fairly common to have mail arriving for months and even years after residents have left,

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Landlords WILL be allowed to raise rents to pay for EPC upgrades

Landlords WILL be allowed to raise rents to pay for EPC upgrades

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Despite Energy Secretary Ed Miliband’s insistence that rents hadn’t increased when standards were raised during previous initiatives, Justice Minister Sarah Sackman has now said there are grounds for “higher market rents”.

Landlord £10,000 out of pocket as DWP rules complicated payments

Landlord £10,000 out of pocket as DWP rules complicated payments

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A tenant has built up more than £10,000 in rent arrears after the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) refused to accept her landlord’s word that the rent had increased.

Number of planning permissions for HMOs declines across UK

Number of planning permissions for HMOs declines across UK

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Report from digital planning portal suggests public fight-back against HMOs and higher taxes for landlords are beginning to bite.

US activist urges British tenants to withhold rents and resist 'despotic landlords'

US activist urges British tenants to withhold rents and resist 'despotic landlords'

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Radical renting campaigners have written a new book that aims to inspire the end of UK landlords’ “despotic control” over tenants.

Famous seaside town plans enlarged £784 landlord licensing scheme

Famous seaside town plans enlarged £784 landlord licensing scheme

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The Norfolk seaside town of Great Yarmouth has revealed plans to introduce a five-year selective licensing scheme for rented properties in three key wards.

Landlord jailed after stealing from lettings agency

Landlord jailed after stealing from lettings agency

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A landlord who worked as an estate agent assistant has been jailed for stealing more than £167,000 from her employer, it has been reported.

Bailiffs urge frustrated landlords to take eviction survey

Bailiffs urge frustrated landlords to take eviction survey

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Landlords have been urged to share their experiences of being hit by County Court delays when evicting tenants.

Big land owners say leasehold reform 'incompatible with their human rights'

Big land owners say leasehold reform 'incompatible with their human rights'

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Leaseholders have failed in their attempt to stop freeholders from challenging the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act.

Landlords welcome report critical of Welsh regulator

Landlords welcome report critical of Welsh regulator

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A critical report on the performance of Welsh landlord and agent regulator Rent Smart Wales has been welcomed after it highlighted both uneven enforcement levels and its ‘abrasive’ communication style.

Big London council votes to hugely extend selective licencing

Big London council votes to hugely extend selective licencing

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Decision by Lambeth councillors comes just a few months after an initial and expensive four-ward scheme went live.

RICS reports that the Budget gives a mixed bag for property

RICS reports that the Budget gives a mixed bag for property

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There are Autumn Budget winners and losers in the property industry as a whole

Government rejects calls for longer licencing schemes

Government rejects calls for longer licencing schemes

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The Government has rejected calls for 10-year selective licensing schemes and insists that the government recognises the burden that licensing puts on landlords.

LATEST: Bank of England cuts base rate by 0.25%

LATEST: Bank of England cuts base rate by 0.25%

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The Bank of England has cut interest rates from 5% to 4.75%, providing some welcome cheer for landlords looking to invest and remortgage.

Rent arrears climb by 22% as 'cost of living' crisis continues

Rent arrears climb by 22% as 'cost of living' crisis continues

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The average rent arrears claim climbed to £2,064 in the third quarter of this year, a 22% rise on the same period last year.

Housing minister says rent controls would damage landlords and tenants

Housing minister says rent controls would damage landlords and tenants

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Housing minister Matthew Pennycook has said rent controls in England would hit both tenants and landlords negatively by reducing supply and discouraging investment.

Generation Rent hires former Labour MP and housing campaigner

Generation Rent hires former Labour MP and housing campaigner

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Former Labour MP Dame Karen Buck has been hired as Generation Rent’s new chair of the board.

Landlording 'not a real business' says Green politician

Landlording 'not a real business' says Green politician

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Scotland’s Housing Bill has been diluted to keep landlord lobbyists happy rather than focusing on renters’ needs, according to a Green MSP.

Landlord trio given UK's largest ever HMO fine

Landlord trio given UK's largest ever HMO fine

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Three rogue landlords who operated a string of unlicensed and unsafe HMOs across Northampton have been collectively fined a whopping £452,796.

New property 'powerhouse' organisation being planned

New property 'powerhouse' organisation being planned

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The formation of a new ‘powerhouse’ organisation to represent the commercial property sector including build-to-rent and co-living is under way, it has been announced.

Labour confirms plan to force landlords to lease out shops

Labour confirms plan to force landlords to lease out shops

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Labour has confirmed that it will compel landlords of high street shops to rent out their premises if they stand empty for too long.

NRLA launches renters’ rights course nationwide

NRLA launches renters’ rights course nationwide

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NRLA launches Renters’ Rights course to help landlords navigate new laws, including Section 21 abolition and enhanced tenant protections.

Early signs of a turnaround in commercial property demand

Early signs of a turnaround in commercial property demand

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Commercial property has been hit hard over the Covid period. Rightmove, with its copious amounts of data, has identified something of a turnaround

Landlord and former estate agent becomes shadow housing secretary

Landlord and former estate agent becomes shadow housing secretary

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A former estate agent who founded one of the UK’s largest property firms has been named by Kemi Badenoch as shadow housing secretary.

Government reveals intiative to build 3,000 rented homes

Government reveals intiative to build 3,000 rented homes

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The Government is to become a significant provider of affordable private sector rental homes with plans to build some 3,000 units under a new name, Habiko.

Landlord pays a high price after forgetting to chase up licence

Landlord pays a high price after forgetting to chase up licence

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A landlord who forgot to chase up a licencing application for her rented property in London has paid a heavy price for her mistake after being ordered to return rent totalling £11,245 to her tenants.

Property licencing schemes should last for ten years, MPs are told

Property licencing schemes should last for ten years, MPs are told

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Comment has been made the Chartered Institue of Health Officers, which says such schemes should be the key tool for improving PRS home quality.

No change to CGT - but four landlords say 'we’re out!'

No change to CGT - but four landlords say 'we’re out!'

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Despite the overall good news, many landlords have remained in brace position and have reached out to exit the market and sell their buy-to-lets.

Stamp duty increase 'will reduce investment in private rented sector'

Stamp duty increase 'will reduce investment in private rented sector'

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Property auctioneers gave revealed its concerns about the Chancellor’s decision to raise Stamp Duty for those who purchase buy-to-let properties.

Prince William to 'upgrade estate' featuring mouldy rental homes

Prince William to 'upgrade estate' featuring mouldy rental homes

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Prince William has promised to upgrade the private rental properties he rents out via the Duchy of Cornwall after reports over the weekend.

Tenant activists call for 'harsher' renting reform bill

Tenant activists call for 'harsher' renting reform bill

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A lobbying group for renters’ rights is hoping to persuade MPs to make the Government’s renting reform legislation regulated landlords even harder.

COMMENT: Autumn Budget 2024

COMMENT: Autumn Budget 2024

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Investors, business owners, landlords and pension savers were braced for a painful attack on their assets, gains and savings

Scotland to limit rent rises to official inflation rate

Scotland to limit rent rises to official inflation rate

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The Scottish Government has announced a new inflation-linked rent cap in its Housing Bill in a bid to balance supporting tenants with protecting landlords’ property rights.

Leading research institute slams Chancellor over stamp duty hike

Leading research institute slams Chancellor over stamp duty hike

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The Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) has slammed the Stamp Duty rise for landlords, warning that tenants will suffer as a result of the Budget announcement.

Bringing back empty rental homes should be 'biggest priority' says landlord

Bringing back empty rental homes should be 'biggest priority' says landlord

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Landlords should be encouraged to renovate and repurpose their empty properties to help resolve the housing crisis, according to one landlord.