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Repair Reporting Issues and Section 21

Repair Reporting Issues and Section 21

Information

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

Information

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

Information

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

Information

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

Dispute Resolution Procedure at Rent Review - Calderbank offer

Dispute Resolution Procedure at Rent Review - Calderbank offer

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Basically, what is known as a Calderbank offer is a 'without prejudice;' offer to settle a dispute to avoid the extra costs and associated risks of a full referral.From Calderbank v Calderbank [1976] and originally confined mainly to family property disputes, an offer of settlement made before th

Should I set up a company to pay less tax?

Should I set up a company to pay less tax?

Information

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 for Rental Property?

What heating system for Rental Property?

Information

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

Warnings about Gumtree advertised letting scams

Warnings about Gumtree advertised letting scams

News

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

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Rental homes that aren’t up to scratch are under increased threat

Rental homes that aren’t up to scratch are under increased threat

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Private landlords whose properties aren’t up to scratch face a significant increase in pressure and threat when the Decent Home Standard kicks in.

Tenants urged by housing minister to challenge unfair rents

Tenants urged by housing minister to challenge unfair rents

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Tenants are being urged by the housing minister to challenge unfair rent increases.

Parents as landlords strain family relationships

Parents as landlords strain family relationships

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The ‘parent landlord’ phenomenon has caused increasing numbers of adult children to put a strain on family life, a new survey finds.

Student landlords urged to review contract accuracy

Student landlords urged to review contract accuracy

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Student landlords have been warned their existing contracts won’t be entirely accurate once the Renters’ Rights Bill takes effect after the summer.

Small landlords could soon be replaced, warns top property lawyer

Small landlords could soon be replaced, warns top property lawyer

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Small landlords with one or two properties could end up being replaced by larger portfolio or corporate landlords as part of the Government’s push to improve standards, according to a top property lawyer.

NAEA warns of unintended consequences of rental auctions

NAEA warns of unintended consequences of rental auctions

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The agent’s professional body NAEA Propertymark has raised concerns about the running of the rental auctions scheme

One in four households pay four times more for heat

One in four households pay four times more for heat

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A Utilita study shows 25% of UK households pay up to four times more for heating by using electric heaters instead of gas central heating, with added CO₂ emissions of 34 kg per year.

Empty homes rather than holiday lets should be targeted by the Government

Empty homes rather than holiday lets should be targeted by the Government

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Empty homes should be targeted by the Government, rather than punishing the short-let sector, a holiday let firm has argued.

Less than 10% of rentals pet-friendly, says Zero Deposit

Less than 10% of rentals pet-friendly, says Zero Deposit

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Less than one in ten rental properties currently on the market are pet-friendly, new research has revealed.

Lib Dem manifesto promises renters a fair deal

Lib Dem manifesto promises renters a fair deal

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The Liberal Democrats have vowed to make three-year tenancies the default and to require landlords to achieve an EPC C or above by 2028.

mydeposits and No Letting Go launch strategic partnership

mydeposits and No Letting Go launch strategic partnership

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mydeposits partners with No Letting Go to enhance inventory management and deposit protection for landlords and agents.

When does a tenancy legally commence?

When does a tenancy legally commence?

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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

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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!

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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

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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'

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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

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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'

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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

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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

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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

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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?

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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

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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'

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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.

'Landlords part of solution to housing crisis, not the problem'

'Landlords part of solution to housing crisis, not the problem'

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Any new government must continue to encourage private landlords if it is to effectively tackle the housing crisis, according to property lawyer David Smith.

'Outdated and inaccurate' EPCs need reform say experts

'Outdated and inaccurate' EPCs need reform say experts

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Calls are growing for a thorough overhaul of the EPC regime amid claims that the information in many could be inaccurate and misleading.

Tenants continue to stay longer in homes, new research reveals

Tenants continue to stay longer in homes, new research reveals

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Private tenants are still renting their homes for longer than they did a decade ago, according to analysis by Zero Deposit.

Landlord fined £500 after sending housing minister racist emails

Landlord fined £500 after sending housing minister racist emails

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A landlord who sent offensive emails to MSP Patrick Harvie (main image) about his anti-landlord policies has been convicted of behaving in a threatening or abusive manner.

Landlord to pay £25,000 fine over new windows and messy bins

Landlord to pay £25,000 fine over new windows and messy bins

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A rogue landlord who ignored multiple planning enforcement notices has been ordered to pay more than £25,000.