Date

Library

Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

Tenant activists insist "landlords need us”

Tenant activists insist "landlords need us”

News

Acorn has taken aim at private landlords again, this time questioning whether their existence is even necessary.

Ban on new leasehold flats moves closer

Ban on new leasehold flats moves closer

News

Government vows to finish the job of ending ‘feudal’ leasehold system in England and Wales

Rents rise and void periods shorten, reveals Goodlord

Rents rise and void periods shorten, reveals Goodlord

News

Average rents in England jump 4% in a year to February while voids dropped from 24 to 20 days

Younger people targeted in tenant fraud

Younger people targeted in tenant fraud

News

Almost three quarters of rental fraud involves young people, official data has revealed.

Book Review: Carl Bayley’s book, Shelter your Family from the Taxman: How to Save Inheritance Tax

Book Review: Carl Bayley’s book, Shelter your Family from the Taxman: How to Save Inheritance Tax

News

Carl Bayley is the author of more than twenty ‘Plain English’ TaxCafe published tax guides designed for the layperson and the non-specialist

Expert sounds alarm over rent arrears court decision

Expert sounds alarm over rent arrears court decision

News

Court ruling lets tenants challenge rent arrears from Universal Credit, risking landlords avoiding tenants on benefits, expert warns.

Big East of England town rushes in anti-HMO rules

Big East of England town rushes in anti-HMO rules

News

Fenland Council has introduced an immediate Article 4 Direction before its consultation in a bid to clamp down on burgeoning HMOs in Wisbech.

Northern council heralds landlord fines of £1.38 million... so far!

Northern council heralds landlord fines of £1.38 million... so far!

News

Landlords in County Durham have had to fork out fines totalling £1.38 million in the three years since selective licensing was introduced.

Dozens of new amendments proposed for Renters' Right Bill

Dozens of new amendments proposed for Renters' Right Bill

News

Peers have tabled amendments to the Renters’ Rights Bill which, if approved, would shape the legislation into a version of the previous Renters’ Reform Bill.

Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

Providing a Reference

Providing a Reference

Information
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
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
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
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
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
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
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
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
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
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
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
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
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
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

Expiry of Section 21 Notice

Expiry of Section 21 Notice

Information
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Expiry of Section 21 Notice - I have served a Section 21 (s21) Notice on my tenant but don't wish to start proceedings immediately. Can I wait without the notice expiring?Once a Section 21 notice has been served correctly it continues indefinitely, until such time as the tenancy is ended, either

Covenant and Covenant Strength

Covenant and Covenant Strength

Information
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Covenant and Covenant Strength - What is a legal covenant and what is the significance of the terms in relation to rental property and lettings ?</h2>The term covenant can have several meanings and has biblical origins but it is of particulalry significance

Suspended jail term for landlord who ignored safety checks

Suspended jail term for landlord who ignored safety checks

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

A rogue landlord has been handed a suspended jail sentence after she failed to maintain gas appliances at her rental property.

Rogue exempt accommodation landlords face tough crackdown

Rogue exempt accommodation landlords face tough crackdown

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

The government has vowed to take action on rogue landlords who exploit vulnerable residents in exempt accommodation.

Landlord Exodus: Tough New Rules spark mass Sell-Off

Landlord Exodus: Tough New Rules spark mass Sell-Off

Sponsored
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

A mass sell-off is currently underway in the landlord sector, and it only looks set to increase. EPC requirements, The Renters Reform Bill, mounting financial pressures, the list of reasons goes on.

Steep house prices curb renters' home buying ambitions

Steep house prices curb renters' home buying ambitions

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

A third of renters (33%) don’t plan to ever own their own home, up from a fifth (20%) in 2022.

Warning: Landlords will race to beat Section 21 ban

Warning: Landlords will race to beat Section 21 ban

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

A “tsunami of landlords” will put in Section 21 notices before the ban is implemented, predicts Landlord Action’s Paul Shamplina.

Landlords face biggest reform with Section 21 ban

Landlords face biggest reform with Section 21 ban

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Landlords are bracing themselves for the impact of a ban on Section 21 after the government published its Renters’ Rights Bill.

Rental listings see big uplift after recent rate cut

Rental listings see big uplift after recent rate cut

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

The first base rate cut since 2020 has boosted rental stock levels across major British cities, according to new research.

Landlords' views sought on updating house sale process

Landlords' views sought on updating house sale process

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Landlords are being asked to share their experiences of conveyancing to help strengthen the case for digital property packs.

Ministers debate even tougher rules for holiday let owners

Ministers debate even tougher rules for holiday let owners

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

The government is considering a further crackdown on short-term lets in a bid to free up more homes for local people.

Cut corners on inventories at your peril, landlords warned

Cut corners on inventories at your peril, landlords warned

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Landlords and letting agents aren’t carrying out inventory inspections on nearly a third of tenancies, leaving themselves open to disputes.

Landlord tax burden puts the squeeze on maintenance budgets

Landlord tax burden puts the squeeze on maintenance budgets

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Landlords have been warned that cutting maintenance budgets could jeopardise their ability to rent out properties and puts renters at risk.

Court throws out rent-to-rent ruling against superior landlord

Court throws out rent-to-rent ruling against superior landlord

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

A landlord has successfully overturned a rent repayment order after he argued he wasn’t responsible for an unlicensed HMO.

Condensation and mould – how can I deal with this knotty problem?

Condensation and mould – how can I deal with this knotty problem?

Information
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

It’s that time of year again. The first signs of the UK’s autumn cold arrives as we see more cooling rain and wind, and a noticeable drop in temperature

Landlords: Avoid £30k penalties with safety compliance

Landlords: Avoid £30k penalties with safety compliance

Sponsored
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

A Hastings landlord is counting the cost after failing to provide their local authority with an essential safety certificate – a timely reminder to make sure you’re up-to-date with all your safety certificates.

Renting campaigners call for Labour to go further with reforms

Renting campaigners call for Labour to go further with reforms

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

The Renters’ Reform Coalition has called for more radical renter reforms including longer eviction notice periods, longer protected periods free from eviction when a tenancy starts and limits on rent increases during a tenancy.

CGT hike 'to be final nail in rental sector's coffin' claims expert

CGT hike 'to be final nail in rental sector's coffin' claims expert

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

A Capital Gains Tax rate change could be the final nail in the PRS coffin as investors ditch bricks and mortar, according to one big financial analyst.

Big landlords tell Labour "it's time to work with us to solve crisis"

Big landlords tell Labour "it's time to work with us to solve crisis"

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

A portfolio landlord group has urged the government to voice support for the sector and work with it on finding a solution to the country’s housing crisis.

Hoarding under the spotlight in new NRLA courses

Hoarding under the spotlight in new NRLA courses

Sponsored
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Hoarding is an issue for an estimated six per cent of the population so at some point, many landlords will house a tenant that is affected.

Council slammed after 'quietly' rolling out more landlord licensing

Council slammed after 'quietly' rolling out more landlord licensing

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Waltham Forest has been slammed for failing to adequately publicise details of its new additional licensing scheme.

Minister backs PRS support amid landlord backlash on rent controls

Minister backs PRS support amid landlord backlash on rent controls

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Landlord groups are hoping Scotland’s First Minister has softened his hard-line stance on impending rent controls amid promises to boost the PRS.

Wales to reform contentious HMO council tax banding system

Wales to reform contentious HMO council tax banding system

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

The Welsh government looks set to follow England’s lead by launching a consultation into how HMOs are valued and banded for council tax purposes.

Landlords leaving rental market amid tax and cost pressures

Landlords leaving rental market amid tax and cost pressures

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Rightmove reports 18% of homes for sale were previously rentals, up from 8% in 2010, as landlords exit amid rising taxes and costs.

There’s never been a better time to convert commercial buildings to residential

There’s never been a better time to convert commercial buildings to residential

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Architect Matthew Robinson argues that there’s never been a better time to convert commercial buildings to residential use...

TECH: New app gives tenants ability score landlords' properties

TECH: New app gives tenants ability score landlords' properties

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

A new app aims to help prospective tenants decide whether a rental property ticks all the right boxes.

Councils urged to follow Merton's lead and repossess landlord homes

Councils urged to follow Merton's lead and repossess landlord homes

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

A councillor has called for more local authorities to follow Merton’s lead and strip rogue landlords of their properties.