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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,

Long Term AST

Long Term AST

Information

Long Term AST - My prospective tenant has asked for a tenancy term of 6 years. Can I use the usual Assured Shorthold Tenancy agreement for this?</h2> The Assured Shorthold Tenancy is the default tenancy for residential lettings and since October 2010 this applies to rents up to �100,000

Lodgers Limits

Lodgers Limits

Information

Lodgers Limits - Is there any limit to the number of rooms I can rent out to lodgers, and are there any planning implications ?</h2> There are several parts of legislation in England and Wales that affect this question. Perhaps four main ones apply: Health &amp; Safety (HHSRS), HMO, Over

How long should accounts be kept

How long should accounts be kept

Information

Question: How long should accounts be kept to satisfy the authorities, things like accounting files, invoices and tax records, as a property landlord?Answer: You must keep your records for 6 years after the tax year to which they apply, whether or not you complete a tax return.It's a good idea, a

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Weaker tenant demand cools off rental market, says Zoopla

Weaker tenant demand cools off rental market, says Zoopla

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News
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Weaker demand and growing affordability pressures have pushed rental growth to a four-year low.

'Fixed term contracts will soon be illegal - are you ready?'

'Fixed term contracts will soon be illegal - are you ready?'

Opinion
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Opinion
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Landlords are facing one of the private rented sector biggest changes in years when it ends fixed-term tenancy agreements.

Rogue estate agents pay heavy price for ignoring redress scheme

Rogue estate agents pay heavy price for ignoring redress scheme

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News
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Nearly 50 estate agencies were expelled from the Property Redress scheme during a six month period last year, the organisation has revealed

Law Commission rules out major change to security of tenure rules for commercial leases

Law Commission rules out major change to security of tenure rules for commercial leases

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News
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The Law Commission has published an interim report on its initial conclusions about security of tenure for business leases

Why can't all licensing schemes cost just £230 - this NW one does

Why can't all licensing schemes cost just £230 - this NW one does

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Landlords in Wirral might not welcome yet another selective licensing scheme, but a reduced £fee will make it one of the cheapest in UK.

Landlord banned by Tribunal after 'outrageous' safety failings

Landlord banned by Tribunal after 'outrageous' safety failings

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News
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A landlord in Aberdeen has been banned for failing to repair dangerous electrics in his rental property.

BIG SHIFT: Many young landlords 'don't own their own homes'

BIG SHIFT: Many young landlords 'don't own their own homes'

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News
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Growing numbers of young people in the UK now prefer to invest in rental properties than buy their own home, an estate agency has claimed.

Third of UK adults say BTL 'safest' way to build long-term wealth

Third of UK adults say BTL 'safest' way to build long-term wealth

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News
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Despite the sometimes hostile environment endured by current landlords, a third of UK adults aspire to invest in buy-to-let to build their long-term prosperity.

New independent report tracks BTR's huge growth

New independent report tracks BTR's huge growth

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News
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The first independent report into the build-to-rent (BTR) sector has tracked huge growth in urban areas and city centres where it’s taking up the slack from traditional landlords.

Renting reforms will 'break' local councils warn environmental health officers

Renting reforms will 'break' local councils warn environmental health officers

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News
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The Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH) has warned that the Renters’ Rights Bill will place a huge enforcement burden on already stretched local councils.

Landlord success in the new regime – Suzanne Smith explains

Landlord success in the new regime – Suzanne Smith explains

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Podcast
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We talk to lawyer turned self-managing landlord, Suzanne Smith, founder of The Independent Landlord.blog and co-host of a weekly podcast called Good Landlording.

Council says £840 licencing scheme has seen 'incredible improvement'

Council says £840 licencing scheme has seen 'incredible improvement'

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News
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Nottinghamshire local authority Gedling Council is relaunching selective licensing in its Netherfield ward in the new year after seeing “incredible improvements” to living standards.

Government promises to tackle business rates anomalies

Government promises to tackle business rates anomalies

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News
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Following years of lobbying, Labour has promised to act on what is generally agreed is an unfair UK business rates system

Labour to 'go further' than Tories with holiday lets regulation

Labour to 'go further' than Tories with holiday lets regulation

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News
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Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook has hinted heavily that the government will go further than the Tories in its bid to regulate holiday lets.

Labour's Manchester mayor urges landlords not to quit sector

Labour's Manchester mayor urges landlords not to quit sector

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News
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Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham has confirmed he doesn’t want landlords to exit the market, in marked contrast to comments made by his national Labour colleagues in Parliament.

Rents to rise faster than property values over next three years

Rents to rise faster than property values over next three years

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News
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Opinion
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Hamptons predicts that rents will rise by 17% between 2024 and 2027, outpacing house price growth of 12.5%.

Why it's time for landlords to get digital

Why it's time for landlords to get digital

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News
Podcast
Opinion
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Now is a great time for landlords to look at ways to manage their property portfolios online as wide-reaching legislation change looms, including a new digital Private Rented Sector database.

Half of Facebook rental ads are fake, claims Generation Rent

Half of Facebook rental ads are fake, claims Generation Rent

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News
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More than half the rental listings on Facebook Marketplace are likely to be scams, according to an investigation by Generation Rent.

First meeting of London Rent Commission held at City Hall

First meeting of London Rent Commission held at City Hall

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News
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The group, which includes politicians and activists, say the commission is the step toweards rent controls in the capital.

Total Landlord wins 'best insurance provider' for SEVENTH time

Total Landlord wins 'best insurance provider' for SEVENTH time

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News
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For the seventh year, Total Landlord, part of Total Property, has been named the 'Best Landlord Insurance Provider' at the Insurance Choice Awards 2024.

Rents in England close to 'affordability ceiling' says Savills expert

Rents in England close to 'affordability ceiling' says Savills expert

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News
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Opinion
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Rents will carry on rising next year as the supply of rental homes continues to be outstripped by supply – but an ‘inflection point’ where rents become too expensive for many tenants will eventually arrive, and already has done in London.

Big London council votes to hugely extend selective licencing

Big London council votes to hugely extend selective licencing

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News
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Opinion
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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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News
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Opinion
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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

News
News
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Opinion
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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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News
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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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News
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Opinion
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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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News
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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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News
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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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News
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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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News
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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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News
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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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News
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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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News
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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