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Beware using WhatsApp to discuss rental contracts, warns lawyer

Beware using WhatsApp to discuss rental contracts, warns lawyer

News

A property lawyer has warned that landlords might fail to realise their tenant has given notice after a court ruled that a WhatsApp exchange was sufficient to create a contract.

CLAIM: Fees ban has saved tenants £1bn and 'didn't push up rents'

CLAIM: Fees ban has saved tenants £1bn and 'didn't push up rents'

News

Private renters in England have saved nearly £1 billion in letting agent fees since the 2019 Tenant Fees Act, research by Generation Rent has found.

Student HMO landlords face tenancies-in-advance 'crunch' this November

Student HMO landlords face tenancies-in-advance 'crunch' this November

News

One of the UK’s leading student lettings agencies has pointed out a huge ‘crunch point’ for HMO landlords when the Renters’ Rights Bill goes live later this year.

Landlords to raise rents when reform restrictions go live

Landlords to raise rents when reform restrictions go live

News

New poll shows landlords are planning to raise rents in response to new restrictions within the looming Renters' Rights Bil.

BLOG: 'Tenants and landlords will see harder times when section 21 is abolished'

BLOG: 'Tenants and landlords will see harder times when section 21 is abolished'

News

Property lawyer Ian Narbeth takes a detailed but scathing look at Labour's looming Renters' Rights Bill and predicts there is trouble ahead.

London politician calls for action against rogue landlords

London politician calls for action against rogue landlords

News

Comments have been made after residents at a property that was illegally converted into 11 bedsit flats remain worried about its condition.

Landlord trio sell portfolio for £22m citing 'complex renting environment'

Landlord trio sell portfolio for £22m citing 'complex renting environment'

News

Three landlord brothers have had a whopping £22 million pay day after selling their property portfolio to an investment trust.

EXPERT: Renting reforms will make 'horrendous housing crisis' worse

EXPERT: Renting reforms will make 'horrendous housing crisis' worse

News

A leading property expert says the UK is heading for a “horrendous housing crisis” that could worsen with the advent of the Renters’ Rights Bill.

Social housing in crisis as tenants’ complaints go through the roof

Social housing in crisis as tenants’ complaints go through the roof

News

New report from the Housing Ombudsman shows complaints about substandard living conditions in social housing in England are five times higher than they were five years ago

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mydeposits Issues Deposit Scam Warning

mydeposits Issues Deposit Scam Warning

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News
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Deposit Scheme Scam: Mydeposits says it is aware of a new scam being used by a fraudulent company imitating mydeposits and targeting landlords and letting agent members of the mydeposits Custodial scheme in England & Wales.The scam uses an email which imitates one from m

Landlords and Agents Reminded about Burst Pipes

Landlords and Agents Reminded about Burst Pipes

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Freezing Pipes: This time of year, as we head towards colder weather and freezing conditions, buy-to-let properties and indeed all rental properties are vulnerable to potentially expensive winter water damageIn this article digital inventory app developer Imfuna Le

Rent-free period

Rent-free period

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Commercial Tenancies: The idea of the full repairing (including decorating) lease is that when the tenant yields up the premises on expiry of the contractual term, or sooner termination, the state of repair and condition that the premises are left in would be as envisaged in

Safety Standards for Blinds and Curtains

Safety Standards for Blinds and Curtains

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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,

Repair Reporting Issues and Section 21

Repair Reporting Issues and Section 21

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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

Assessing Covenant Strength

Assessing Covenant Strength

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Assuming a commercial property is let already, the proposition an income-producing investment, the investor would be buying the building/property, not the tenant's business. Since the purchase price is geared to the passing and reversionary rent, it is normal to assess the tenant's ability to per

Holding or Pre-Contract Deposits

Holding or Pre-Contract Deposits

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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

Tenancy Deposit Documentation

Tenancy Deposit Documentation

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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

ITZA revisited

ITZA revisited

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I am revisiting ITZA in the light of an experience I am enduring concerning some tenants that are inexperienced of rent review. Tenant contention is that an ITZA adopted/agreed for a previous review should be used again for a current review.Unless the ITZA is documented in a binding agreement, th

Half capital's short let owners flout law to boost income

Half capital's short let owners flout law to boost income

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News
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The government has been urged to clamp down on central London’s short let sector after new research found at least half were being rented out unlawfully.

Give landlords more time to improve EPC or risk rental shortages, says bank

Give landlords more time to improve EPC or risk rental shortages, says bank

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News
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A proposed 2030 deadline won’t give landlords time to get their properties to EPC C and could cause them to quit, according to Paragon Bank.

Landlord pays a high price for ignoring HMO rules - £11,000

Landlord pays a high price for ignoring HMO rules - £11,000

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News
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A landlord who failed to license his unsafe and overcrowded HMO has failed in his bid to have a £11,000 fine dismissed.

GUIDE: What to do as energy costs go through the roof

GUIDE: What to do as energy costs go through the roof

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News
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Energy costs are a major concern for landlords and tenants. Save on energy consumption and make your tenants’ homes more comfortable

HMO landlords 'culpable' as council tackles fly-tipping epidemic

HMO landlords 'culpable' as council tackles fly-tipping epidemic

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News
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A leading London council has revealed plans to clamp down on HMOs and the ‘fly tipping’ and rubbish their residents create, and has pointed the finger at both landlords and letting agents for not doing enough to stop the problem.

Minister says 'more powers to regulate holiday let landlords' may be needed

Minister says 'more powers to regulate holiday let landlords' may be needed

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News
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Housing minister Matthew Pennycook has hinted that extra powers to stop holiday lets and second homes may be needed - including planning permission.

Big London council launches 'tenants' rights' charter

Big London council launches 'tenants' rights' charter

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News
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Westminster City Council has launched a tenants’ charter aimed at helping private renters better understand their rights, improve living standards, and access support services.

Landlord fighting licensing 'overeach' urges YOU to get behind new petition

Landlord fighting licensing 'overeach' urges YOU to get behind new petition

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News
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A Portsmouth landlord has launched an online petition in a bid to stop councils using heavy-handed criteria when designing selective licensing schemes.

Is this councillor offering Britain's most generous landlord deal?

Is this councillor offering Britain's most generous landlord deal?

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News
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Private landlords are being offered attractive letting and leasing deals by the Royal Borough of Greenwich in a bid to tackle its housing crisis.

Landlords to get access to 'expanded boiler upgrade scheme'

Landlords to get access to 'expanded boiler upgrade scheme'

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News
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Landlords could get more choice about what type of energy efficient upgrades they fit in their properties under the government’s Warm Homes Plan.

HMRC warns landlords off CGT avoidance schemes and closes loopholes

HMRC warns landlords off CGT avoidance schemes and closes loopholes

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News
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HMRC has made the unusual step of warning landlords not to use widely-routed tax avoidance schemes which it says are being marketed to buy-to-let investors as a way to save Capital Gains Tax.

Seven out of ten tenants haven’t heard of the Renters’ Rights Bill

Seven out of ten tenants haven’t heard of the Renters’ Rights Bill

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News
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A whopping 69% of renters haven’t heard of the Renters’ Rights Bill and 75% don’t understand how it might impact them, a new survey has revealed.

Bailiffs under pressure: The ripple effects of the Renters’ Rights Bill

Bailiffs under pressure: The ripple effects of the Renters’ Rights Bill

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News
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The Renters' Rights Bill is set to to overhaul the eviction process, with bailiffs increasingly under pressure.

House prices dropped in April as buyers paid thousands more in stamp duty

House prices dropped in April as buyers paid thousands more in stamp duty

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News
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House prices dropped in April as buyers paid thousands more in stamp duty, it has been revealed.

Courts are not ready for the Renters’ Rights Bill, it was declared in the House of Lords this week

Courts are not ready for the Renters’ Rights Bill, it was declared in the House of Lords this week

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News
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The court system isn’t ready for the Renters’ Rights Bill, it was declared in the House of Lords this week.

Two out of five landlords to leave the market, survey predicts

Two out of five landlords to leave the market, survey predicts

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News
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A worrying 39% of landlords will probably exit the market within the next five years, according to the latest poll.

Only 9% of properties sold by landlords in Scotland return to the private rented sector

Only 9% of properties sold by landlords in Scotland return to the private rented sector

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News
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Only 9% of properties sold by landlords in Scotland in a recent 12-month period returned to the private rented sector, a new survey has found.

Only a fifth of landlords are prepared for new mandatory sanctions checks

Only a fifth of landlords are prepared for new mandatory sanctions checks

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News
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Only a fifth of landlords and letting agents feel prepared for the new mandatory sanctions checks on all landlords and tenants.

Landlords investing in mixed-use property in bid for higher returns

Landlords investing in mixed-use property in bid for higher returns

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News
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More landlords are investing in mixed-use properties in their quest for more robust returns.

Average asking rent of a property outside of London jumps to new record £1,349 a month

Average asking rent of a property outside of London jumps to new record £1,349 a month

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News
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The average asking rent of a property outside of London has increased to a new record £1,349 a month, new data reveals.

Housing market begins to "cool" amid higher number of properties for sale

Housing market begins to "cool" amid higher number of properties for sale

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News
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The number of homes for sale has reached a new height as demand among house hunters “cools”, it has been revealed.

COMMENT: How do you get started investing in property?

COMMENT: How do you get started investing in property?

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How do you get started investing in property? A recent post on our LandlordZONE Forums got me thinking about this question

Tenants in Buckinghamshire fork out for the highest rents in the country

Tenants in Buckinghamshire fork out for the highest rents in the country

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News
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Tenants in Buckinghamshire fork out for the highest rents in the country - even more than those living in London’s prime SW7 postcode.

Paragon Bank launches cheapest buy-to-let five-year fix in almost three years

Paragon Bank launches cheapest buy-to-let five-year fix in almost three years

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News
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Paragon Bank has launched its cheapest buy-to-let five-year fix in almost three years, becoming the latest lender to offer landlords more attractive deals.

London Renters Union protest against “slumlords”

London Renters Union protest against “slumlords”

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London Renters Union protested against “slumlords” in the capital at the weekend, calling for housing justice for all.