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
What do I need to do when I protect my tenant/s deposit? If you take a deposit from your tenant/s you MUST protect the deposit and serve your tenants with the correct documentation within 30 days or face having to pay a fine and the prospect that you cannot use the s21 evict
A clear explanation of ITZA and rent review zoning — why old ITZA measurements may not always apply in new rent reviews.
Learn how a Calderbank offer can help landlords settle disputes and avoid costly rent review referrals.
According to research from the NLA, 4 in 10 landlords are either seriously considering forming a limited company or looking into the option in the coming months.Can you - and more importantly should you - set up a company to pay less tax? Heres my complete guide on becoming incorporated.<stron
What heating system should you use in your rental property? Is there a heating system that could solve landlords condensation claims problems?Its one of the most important questions to ask when letting a property for the first time. Whatever system you choose carries implications for the ef
The Residential Landlords Association (RLA) and the National Landlords Association (NLA) have called on the classified online listings service Gumtree to issue clear guidance over possible scams involving bogus letting scams.The warning has been issued to Gumtree by the NLA and the RLA after f
At rent review, the phrase 'going to arbitration' is often bandied about during negotiations as a means for one party to get its own way. Whether or not the parties can agree the rent without involving the dispute resolution procedure, it is common for a represented or experienced party to inv
From the 1st of October 2015 it became a statutory requirement that landlords issue all new tenants after that date with the latest edition of a Government publication The How to Rent Guide�, along with a current Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) and a current Gas Safety
From 1st February 2016 all new tenants in England must be given Right-to-Rent (Immigration) Checks to determine their "right-to-rent" or "right-to-reside" in the country, BEFORE they can be given a tenancy. Landlords or letting agents must do the checks - letting agents where the
This is a Guide to Tax Deductible Letting Expenses for Landlords under the new tax rules following the Summer Budget 2015. These may be subject to change and you are advised to consult a tax specialist before making any decisions.From April 2016 landlords will no longer be able to automatically d
An Edinburgh landlord set-up hidden cameras in the bedroom and bathroom of his flat, to film people in bed and in the shower.The cameras were discovered by a young couple, friends of the landlord who allowed them to use the accommodation. The couple found a box on the living room table with a cam
Amongst the ways to agree or ascertain the (open) market rent at rent review or on renewal of a lease, (per s.34-s35 Landlord and Tenant Act 1954), is the use of comparable evidence.At rent review, the market rent for the premises is not what rent the actual tenant would agree or could afford, bu
There are two instances of section 20 notices in property in England:(1) is the notice served in relation to early shorthold tenancies under the Housing Act 1988, and the other,(2) refers to section 20 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985, as amended by the Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Act (CLR
Landlord fined £8,471 for renting unsafe HMO with dangerous wiring, no fire safety, and serious structural issues.
Five fraudsters who stole £53.9 million in a huge benefits scam used false tenancy agreements to help them make claims.
The Local Government Association (LGA) has urged Minister to ignore rebel MPs’ calls for selective licencing to be replaced by the looming Landlord Portal.
The number of landlords instructing agents to rent properties has declined for a second quarter in a row, fuelling ongoing worries that the Government’s ‘anti-buy-to-let’ mood music is disrupting the market.
A landlord who blamed her agent and tenants for not telling her about a selective licensing scheme has been hit with a £10,572 rent repayment order.
If you are involved with Furnished Holiday Lets you are probably be aware by now that there are far reaching tax changes coming - what to do about them?
Total fines for London’s rogue landlords and agents have topped £10 million since the rogue landlord database launched in 2017.
Private landlords face a significant increase in competition from corporate operators within the rented sector as investors reveal a £17 billion, 60,000-home building programme concentrated on the South and Midlands.
It’s almost inevitable that court fees will have to rise considerably, and probably sooner than 2025/6 unless alternative funding is added direct from the Treasury, according to property lawyer David Smith.
One quarter of private landlords plan to sell their properties needing energy upgrades due to the government’s ambition for the sector to reach EPC targets by 2030.
The UK’s largest union wants Labour to go further with its plans to reform the PRS and has labelled the Renters’ Rights Bill as only the ‘first step’.
Data from a leading estate agency shows just 35% of former rental homes go to those entering the owner-occupier market.
A property leader has warned that Scotland's upcoming Housing Bill must not hamper much-needed investment in the rental sector.
Tenants’ union Acorn is pushing Labour to introduce tougher rent caps or face undermining work to reform renters’ rights.
A rogue landlord has been ordered to hand back nearly £34,000 to five tenants after failing to license his mouse-infested HMO.
Ben Beadle, the Chief Executive of the NRLA, has told LandlordZONE that abolishing Section 21 evictions might sound noble, but it's won't make the private rented sector fairer overnight, as many campaigning groups and Labour MPs often claim.
The UK commercial property market is in a downturn right now. As with the wider economy, commercial property is subject to economic cycles
Tenants’ union Acorn has urged Labour to curb ‘upfront payments’ for new tenants to one month’s rent in a bid to make rented homes more affordable.
Milton Keynes City Council has come up with an innovative scheme to top up rents for those moving from temporary accommodation into the PRS.
Propertymark has warned that the Renters’ Rights Bill poses critical unintended consequences unless the government ensures a fair and balanced approach between landlord and tenant rights.
A landlord with a string of more than 5,000 rental properties across the UK has been fined a whopping £97,000 over the ‘serious and deliberate’ failure to manage a block of flats in Sheffield.
NRLA trainer Henry Davis explains how his Key to Property Investment course can help you stay ahead of the game.
The government has been accused of pressing ahead with renter reform measures that will cause gridlock in the justice system, and pit landlords and tenants against each other in protracted litigation.
Few MPs stood to defend landlords during yesterday’s second reading of the Renters' Rights Bill in parliament, but a few did - with all of them being Conservative.
Landlords listing their properties for sale before potential capital gains tax rises are adding to a widening divide between supply and demand, report letting agents from around the UK.
The Renters’ Rights Bill is expected to fuel a surge in tenancy disputes following a 20% rise last year.
Walsall Council plans to implement an Article 4 Direction to restrict HMOs, despite acknowledging no strong evidence linking HMOs to crime.
Lawyers have warned that an underfunded justice system will hinder any progress made in strengthening renters’ rights.
Landlords urged not to panic amid reform and rate rises—demand stays high despite cost pressures.
Here’s an initial reaction to the Renters’ Rights Bill, thoughts that could change as it progresses through parliament - the second reading is today.
Government announces funding for EPC upgrades in low-income rental homes, but questions remain about coverage and affordability for landlords.
The Renters’ Rights Bill will become law ‘as soon as possible’ housing secretary Angela Rayner has promised as parliament debates her legislation for the first time.
A judge has massively increased the fines given to two HMO landlords who have failed in a legal challenge against their sentence.
Removing fixed-term tenancies will drive up rents as landlords switch to short-term lets, warns Propertymark.
