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When does a tenancy legally commence?

When does a tenancy legally commence?

News

A tenancy agreement between the landlord and the tenant is just like any other contract, it is legally binding on both parties.

Letting agent's contract renewal email spurs author to write book

Letting agent's contract renewal email spurs author to write book

News

A private tenant has been inspired to pen her first novel by a contract renewal email sent by a letting agent - and has even named it after the letting platform involved.

Irony of ironies: Gove 'evicted' from his Ministerial home!

Irony of ironies: Gove 'evicted' from his Ministerial home!

News

Housing Secretary Michael Gove faces eviction from his government-owned mansion on 5th July, the morning after the election.

HMO group wins gong for changing official tax policy

HMO group wins gong for changing official tax policy

News

HMO Reform Group won a Lifetime Achievement Award at this year’s annual HMO Awards for its campaigning work to change the law on council tax being imposed on individual HMO rooms.

Next Government 'must fund better enforcement of rogue landlords'

Next Government 'must fund better enforcement of rogue landlords'

News

Rogue landlords continue to give the sector a bad name because many councils enforce private rented sector standards weakly or not at all, a new report reveals.

Labour to help thousands of tenants get on the property ladder

Labour to help thousands of tenants get on the property ladder

News

Labour has revealed an uncosted plan to help 80,000 young renters get onto the property ladder, assuming his party gains power atthe General Election.

WARNING: 'Bashing landlords will make PRS as bad as social homes'

WARNING: 'Bashing landlords will make PRS as bad as social homes'

News

Standards in the PRS will soon fall to those in the social sector if regulation and licensing continues to push smaller landlords out, a leading letting agent and landlord has warned.

Landlords must update their home address or face fines, says judge

Landlords must update their home address or face fines, says judge

News

Landlords need to update their home address with their local council’s property licensing department or risk a penalty, an appeal judge has ruled.

Landlords take council to High Court over 'rapacious' licensing fee

Landlords take council to High Court over 'rapacious' licensing fee

News

Disgruntled landlords have started legal action against Middlesbrough Council in a bid to squash its upcoming selective licensing scheme.

If you’re thinking of selling, here’s how to get the highest price for your properties this year

If you’re thinking of selling, here’s how to get the highest price for your properties this year

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We’ve all seen the headlines, from mixed-message articles to advice from experts and landlords, but if now REALLY is the best time to sell, how can we ensure we’re getting the highest amount in the fastest time?

Letting agents flag huge worries over landlords leaving market

Letting agents flag huge worries over landlords leaving market

News

Letting agents are concerned that increasing numbers of landlords are exiting the market.

London rental market cools down but will rest of UK follow?

London rental market cools down but will rest of UK follow?

News

The capital’s rental market continues to show signs of slowing down, with prices rising by just 1% year-on-year in May while the number of viewing request per property has dropped too.

Controversial landlord calls on Reform to back landlords with tax breaks

Controversial landlord calls on Reform to back landlords with tax breaks

News

Fergus Wilson has questioned whether new Reform UK leader Nigel Farage would restore Landlord Tax to the previous headline rate and put Capital Gains Tax down to a flat 10% for all landlords - the level of tax paid if held in a company.

Generation Rent says private rented homes must be 'nationalised'

Generation Rent says private rented homes must be 'nationalised'

News

Generation Rent has called for private rented homes to be brought into public or tenant ownership in its list of demands for the next government.

Build-to-rent giants hoover up 1000s of homes in southern England

Build-to-rent giants hoover up 1000s of homes in southern England

News

The rise of ‘built-to-rent’ homes as a major competitor for tenants with private landlords took a leap forward this week after two US firms revealed they had bought 1,750 homes off a UK builder that will now be rented out rather than sold.

Court refuses to alter terms of a commercial lease on renewal

Court refuses to alter terms of a commercial lease on renewal

Information

When the terms of a commercial renewal lease cannot be varied in the agreed between the parties, according to the provisions of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954

CLADDING: Leaseholders still facing mortgage problems despite official promise

CLADDING: Leaseholders still facing mortgage problems despite official promise

News

Nearly a quarter of mortgages on mid-rise flats required an ESW1 form this year, despite government promises that leaseholders in these blocks affected by the cladding scandal would no longer need one when selling or remortgaging.

Labour to re-start renting reforms abandoned by Tories, predicts NRLA

Labour to re-start renting reforms abandoned by Tories, predicts NRLA

News

Labour is likely to reintroduce the Renters (Reform) Bill in a similar form if it wins the election and has already confirmed its view that the court process needs speeding up.

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Renting to a 17 year old

Renting to a 17 year old

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

How long should accounts be kept

How long should accounts be kept

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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

Labour's bidding wars ban 'noble but misplaced' says NRLA

Labour's bidding wars ban 'noble but misplaced' says NRLA

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NRLA chief executive Ben Beadle believes the impending ban on bidding wars could mean landlords will simply charge higher asking rents.

Labour to fund EPC upgrade work on rented homes up to £30,000

Labour to fund EPC upgrade work on rented homes up to £30,000

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Labour has revealed plans to fund the upgrade of rented properties to meet its 2030 plan to have all rented homes reach an EPC band C or above.

Government reveals wide-ranging plans to overhaul EPCs

Government reveals wide-ranging plans to overhaul EPCs

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News
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The Government has committed to an overhaul of both Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) and the MEES system that underpins them, it has been announced.

I’m Selling 35 Homes’: Landlords Struggling, but Public Says 'Good Riddance.

I’m Selling 35 Homes’: Landlords Struggling, but Public Says 'Good Riddance.

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I never expected my recent interview with The Telegraph to “go viral” when I spoke to them explaining why so many landlords are feeling the pinch and exiting the market.

Labour's eviction reforms send 'wrong message to rent dodgers'

Labour's eviction reforms send 'wrong message to rent dodgers'

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Labour’s pledge to introduce more robust possession grounds is factually incorrect and sends the wrong message to rent dodgers, says NRLA chief executive Ben Beadle.

NEW: Landlords with public workplace pensions 'backing BTR'

NEW: Landlords with public workplace pensions 'backing BTR'

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Nest - the public body that runs workplace pension schemes - is investing £350 million in build-to-rent (BTR), meaning that some landlords’ pensions are effectively funding competitors.

Airbnb boss reveals plans to go into longer-term property rentals

Airbnb boss reveals plans to go into longer-term property rentals

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Landlords may soon be able to rent their homes out via Airbnb to more than just holiday makers, its co-founder has revealed.

North East landlords' meet to help landlords 'weather the storm'

North East landlords' meet to help landlords 'weather the storm'

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TV star and evictions expert Paul Shamplina is due to give landlords advice on how Labour’s looming and significant changes to the way homes are rented in England and Wales will impact them at an event on Thursday, September 26th.

Landlord couple who ignored HMO rules fined £18,000 by court

Landlord couple who ignored HMO rules fined £18,000 by court

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News
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A landlord couple who ignored requests from the local authority and Planning Inspectorate to stop using their property as an HMO have been fined £18,000.

Miliband says rented homes under EPC minimum 'C' will be banned

Miliband says rented homes under EPC minimum 'C' will be banned

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News
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Ed Miliband, Labour’s Energy Security and Net Zero Secretary, has told the party’s annual conference that landlords will have to upgrade their homes to a minimum EPC ‘C’ rating by 2030 or be unable to rent their properties legally.

'Renting reforms and EPC upgrades will push out benefits landlords'

'Renting reforms and EPC upgrades will push out benefits landlords'

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News
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A benefits landlord has voiced fears that new laws and standards in the PRS will force her -and others like her - to stop renting to social tenants.

Mould 'clamp down' plans for landlords 'imminent' says Rayner

Mould 'clamp down' plans for landlords 'imminent' says Rayner

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Labour will continue to ramp up the pressure on landlords to update their properties by consulting on a Decent Homes Standard.

Landlord fined £5,000 after failing to get HMO licence

Landlord fined £5,000 after failing to get HMO licence

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A landlord in Colchester has been handed a £5,000 civil penalty notice for failing to license his unsafe HMO.

Labour’s tax plans could drive landlords out of the market

Labour’s tax plans could drive landlords out of the market

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Landlords face potential £90,000 capital gains tax hit under Labour's proposed reforms, prompting many to consider selling before new tax laws take effect.

Investment property is a steal - but there's a catch

Investment property is a steal - but there's a catch

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Landlords with a burning ambition to take on a major project might consider bidding on this home in the Welsh valleys, priced £0.

EXPERT: Clarity needed over PBSA exemption from reforms

EXPERT: Clarity needed over PBSA exemption from reforms

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There is confusion around whether Purpose-Built Student Accommodation will be exempt from changes in the Renters’ Rights Bill.

Borough's HMO landlords trial new appeals portal

Borough's HMO landlords trial new appeals portal

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Landlords in Barnet who are refused permission for change of use to an HMO can challenge the decision through a new online portal.

BTL mortgage rates fall despite interest rate hold

BTL mortgage rates fall despite interest rate hold

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News
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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

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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

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Times are hard for tenants and landlords alike and this coming winter is causing a worry for many.

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

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

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News
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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

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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

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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

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