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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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Landlord success in the new regime – Suzanne Smith explains

Landlord success in the new regime – Suzanne Smith explains

Podcast
News
Podcast
Opinion
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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'

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
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Information

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

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
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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

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
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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

News
News
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Opinion
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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

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
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Information

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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Information

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

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
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Information

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

BTL mortgage rates fall despite interest rate hold

BTL mortgage rates fall despite interest rate hold

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
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Information

The Bank of England has resisted the temptation to cut interest rates, which remain at 5%.

REPORT: Scots law fails to significantly improve PRS

REPORT: Scots law fails to significantly improve PRS

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
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Information

Legislation in Scotland has done little to improve affordability in the PRS, according to new research.

Utilita Energy helps landlords winterproof against mould and damp

Utilita Energy helps landlords winterproof against mould and damp

Sponsored
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Times are hard for tenants and landlords alike and this coming winter is causing a worry for many. Almost a quarter of households are already in energy arrears and 9 out of 10 households are worried about increasing energy bills. With heating being the largest proportion of the average energy bill,

Tenant lifestyle not always to blame for damp, says legal expert

Tenant lifestyle not always to blame for damp, says legal expert

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
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Information

Landlords should not be so quick to lay the blame on tenants for problems and instead use new tools to tackle issues.

Rental prices continue to climb at near-record rate

Rental prices continue to climb at near-record rate

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
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Information

Average UK private rents increased by 8.4% in the 12 months to August, down from 8.6% in the 12 months to July.

Portfolio landlords buying more properties through companies

Portfolio landlords buying more properties through companies

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
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Information

Landlords who use limited company structures are incorporating a much larger proportion of their portfolios to mitigate tax changes.

Generous renters dip deep to help homeless youngsters

Generous renters dip deep to help homeless youngsters

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Kind-hearted mydeposits customers have donated more than £66,000 of interest earned on their deposits to the Centrepoint charity.

NRLA calls for clarity on new PRS standards and enforcement

NRLA calls for clarity on new PRS standards and enforcement

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News
Podcast
Opinion
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Information

Renters’ Rights Bill sets new Decent Homes Standard, digital PRS database, and stronger enforcement to improve rental property safety and quality.

Landlords urged to offer more tenant-friendly technology

Landlords urged to offer more tenant-friendly technology

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Nearly three-quarters of UK tenants (73%) who aren’t using digital tools in their rental properties would like to give them a try.

Edinburgh landlords win legal challenge over suspensions

Edinburgh landlords win legal challenge over suspensions

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
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Information

Short-term let landlords in Edinburgh have won a third successful challenge against the council’s licensing scheme.

Proptech in focus at 2024 NRLA conference

Proptech in focus at 2024 NRLA conference

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News
Podcast
Opinion
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Information

With one eye on the horizon the NRLA is always looking for ways to streamline the lettings process, making it quicker and easier for landlords and tenants. Here James Kent, the NRLA’s Chief Innovation Officer, and founder of digital compliance platform Safe2, looks forward to the association’s 2024

Renters' Rights Bill due back in Commons next month

Renters' Rights Bill due back in Commons next month

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
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Information

The Renters’ Rights Bill returns to the Commons for its second reading next month, as the new government fast-tracks its shake up of the PRS.

Landlord fined for failing to improve cold and mouldy home

Landlord fined for failing to improve cold and mouldy home

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
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Information

A rogue landlord who persistently ignored requests to carry out improvement works on her property has been ordered to pay £2,400.

TECH: Platform delivers insights to ease property-buying process

TECH: Platform delivers insights to ease property-buying process

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
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Information

Landlords are being encouraged to trial a tech tool that gives them new insights to make property buying less risky.

North-South rental gap is smallest in a decade

North-South rental gap is smallest in a decade

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
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Information

The gap between rents in the North and South of England has closed to its smallest level since 2013.

Councils’ disastrous journey into commercial property investments

Councils’ disastrous journey into commercial property investments

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

English councils collectively went on a near £7bn commercial property buying spree, a reel into cinemas proved to be a disaster...

Landlord left family living in fear at unlicensed home

Landlord left family living in fear at unlicensed home

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
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Information

A rogue landlord who left a family of eight living in damp and dangerous conditions has been told to pay more than £3,000 by magistrates.

Calls grow for short-let licensing to rebalance PRS

Calls grow for short-let licensing to rebalance PRS

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
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Information

MPs are pushing the government to introduce a licensing scheme for short-term lets in England.

Stock crisis predicted to worsen as landlords brace for bad news

Stock crisis predicted to worsen as landlords brace for bad news

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
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Information

More than one in 10 homes for sale on Zoopla in July were formerly rented, prompting fears that a challenging autumn budget could further increase sales.

Expected tax grab prompts fearful landlords to quit

Expected tax grab prompts fearful landlords to quit

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
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Information

An ongoing shortage of rental properties is expected to keep pushing rents higher as more landlords look to scale back their portfolios.

Suspended jail term for landlord who ignored safety checks

Suspended jail term for landlord who ignored safety checks

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
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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
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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

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News
Podcast
Opinion
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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
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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

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