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Why it's smart to keep track of energy use

Why it's smart to keep track of energy use

News

Encouraging tenants to fit a smart meter should be a top priority for landlords as a way to help them stay debt-free, according to one energy expert.

Landlord and Tenant Act 1954

Landlord and Tenant Act 1954

Information

Anyone investing in commercial property, from small retail shops to offices and workshops should have an understanding of this legislation - the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954

Court rejects challenge to Scottish rent controls

Court rejects challenge to Scottish rent controls

News

Scottish landlords have vowed to fight on after losing a judicial review of legislation that introduced a contentious rent freeze and eviction ban.

Landlords and homeowners face similar retrofit challenge

Landlords and homeowners face similar retrofit challenge

News

EPC ratings in the PRS don’t appear to be markedly different to those in owner-occupied homes, according to Office for National Statistics data.

Student accommodation facing 'unprecendented problems' warns expert

Student accommodation facing 'unprecendented problems' warns expert

News

The student rental market faces a bleak future unless urgent action is taken to support landlords and make providing rental homes a more attractive proposition.

'Join us don't fight us' landlord leader tells campaigners

'Join us don't fight us' landlord leader tells campaigners

News

The NRLA has reached out to leading members of the Renters Reform Coalition to find common ground on key issues.

Insurance costs set to drop for leasehold properties

Insurance costs set to drop for leasehold properties

News

A pledge by insurance brokers could mean owners of flats in buildings with identified fire safety issues see significantly lower insurance premiums.

Landlord handed £18,000 fine for banning order breach

Landlord handed £18,000 fine for banning order breach

News

A rogue landlord has avoided serving jail time, despite breaching a banning order and being found guilty of harassment.

New rules on Gas Safety Checks give more flexibility

New rules on Gas Safety Checks give more flexibility

Information

Gas Safety Checks: Similar the car MOT, where the test can be done ahead of time, while retaining the existing renewal date, landlord gas checks will now be allowed on the same basis, up to 2 months ahead of time

County courts inquiry to probe slowdown in cases

County courts inquiry to probe slowdown in cases

News

The Justice Committee has launched an inquiry into the work of county courts amid long-standing concerns over capacity and resources.

Letting agents 'falling foul of holding deposit rules'

Letting agents 'falling foul of holding deposit rules'

Information

Ignorance and bad practice around these legitimate deposits is creating one of the biggest areas of illegal activity in the PRS.

Family's tax ploy ends in £10,000 fine

Family's tax ploy ends in £10,000 fine

News

A father and daughter who lied about the tenancy of a dangerously overcrowded and unlicensed HMO have lost their appeal.

Ministers back council tax change for HMO landlords

Ministers back council tax change for HMO landlords

News

The government is to end the practice of banding individual rooms in HMOs separately for council tax purposes.

Ignore the buy-to-let doom mongers says Paragon

Ignore the buy-to-let doom mongers says Paragon

News

Paragon Mortgages the buy to let specialist admits that there is a challenge from rising rates, but it's not all bad news.

Landlords more resilient than they look says estate agency chief

Landlords more resilient than they look says estate agency chief

News

Most landlords are committed to their property portfolios, according to new research from Leaders Romans Group (LRG), with 68% planning to maintain their existing holdings, and 6% set to expand their investments.

Thinking of selling up? Don’t do it says Phil Spencer

Thinking of selling up? Don’t do it says Phil Spencer

News

Property surveyor, landlord and property show host Phil Spencer says landlords should “hold firm and remember their reasons for investing.”

TENANCIES: Housing minister bats off calls for two-year fixed periods

TENANCIES: Housing minister bats off calls for two-year fixed periods

News

Housing Minister Rachel Maclean has rejected another call for new tenants to be given two years before landlords can pursue a possession order.

Landlord fined £47,000 over dodgy Electrical Condition Report

Landlord fined £47,000 over dodgy Electrical Condition Report

News

A landlord has been ordered to fork out more than £47,000 for failing to licence his eight rental properties, after ignoring numerous written and verbal warnings.

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Providing a Reference

Providing a Reference

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Podcast
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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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News
Podcast
Opinion
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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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Opinion
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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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News
Podcast
Opinion
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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

Expiry of Section 21 Notice

Expiry of Section 21 Notice

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Opinion
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Expiry of Section 21 Notice - I have served a Section 21 (s21) Notice on my tenant but don't wish to start proceedings immediately. Can I wait without the notice expiring?Once a Section 21 notice has been served correctly it continues indefinitely, until such time as the tenancy is ended, either

Covenant and Covenant Strength

Covenant and Covenant Strength

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Covenant and Covenant Strength - What is a legal covenant and what is the significance of the terms in relation to rental property and lettings ?</h2>The term covenant can have several meanings and has biblical origins but it is of particulalry significance

10 year lease

10 year lease

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News
Podcast
Opinion
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2 years ago I purchased a company with a 10 year lease from my ex boss, on a 10 year lease, the lease was set up by a solicitor. After 2 years the business is struggling and is not viable. I feel that my solicitor ill advised me as there was no break clause mentioned. Where do I stand on t

City hits smaller HMO landlords with £1,000 licencing bill

City hits smaller HMO landlords with £1,000 licencing bill

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News
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Landlords in Brighton & Hove with small HMOs will have to pay £1,051 from today for an additional licence.

REVEALED: Properties with sitting tenants cost 15% less to buy

REVEALED: Properties with sitting tenants cost 15% less to buy

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News
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Opinion
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Properties with a sitting tenant cost an average of 15% less than those without, and are a whopping 24% cheaper in Scotland, according to new figures.

NRLA rounds on political parties for ignoring LHA rates 'gap'

NRLA rounds on political parties for ignoring LHA rates 'gap'

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News
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Opinion
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Landlord representative body the NRLA has rounded on all the political parties ahead of this week’s General Election for ignoring one of the ‘most important’ issues facing the private rented sector.

Paragon Bank paints optimistic picture for private rented sector

Paragon Bank paints optimistic picture for private rented sector

News
News
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Opinion
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The bank puts a positive spin on buy-to-let, despite others regularly asking, “should I give up on buy-to-let?” And Savills reveals a secret market segment that heralds growth.

Heat pumps costing landlords £5,800 each AFTER grant

Heat pumps costing landlords £5,800 each AFTER grant

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News
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Opinion
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Landlords and homeowners are paying an average of £5,787 to buy and fit a heat pump after deducting the £7,500 government grant.

Lawyer says some landlords 'in cahoots' with cannabis growing tenants

Lawyer says some landlords 'in cahoots' with cannabis growing tenants

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News
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More landlords are working together with tenants to commit fraud while running illegal cannabis farms, according to one property lawyer.

Furious investor slams 'anti landlord' Keir Starmer

Furious investor slams 'anti landlord' Keir Starmer

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News
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A furious landlord has criticised Keir Starmer for claiming landlords are ripping off tenants and making a fortune from huge deposits.

Does it still make sense to be a landlord? Or should we be looking to exit?

Does it still make sense to be a landlord? Or should we be looking to exit?

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News
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Opinion
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It’s time to cut to the chase. We’ve all been thinking it: is property becoming more hassle than it’s worth? If you’re questioning your property portfolios, you’re not alone.

Scots Government waters down holiday let regulations

Scots Government waters down holiday let regulations

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News
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All eyes are on Scotland where a scheme to regulate the holiday lets sector has caused a storm after the new licences, which cost between £260 and £520 per property, were introduced.

EXCLUSIVE: Landlord reveals how tenant's actions made him homeless

EXCLUSIVE: Landlord reveals how tenant's actions made him homeless

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News
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A despairing landlord has resorted to protesting on his roof after failing to evict a rogue tenant for the last 25 years.

So much for Gove's 'landlord crackdown' as just 5% of tenants say they will vote Tory!

So much for Gove's 'landlord crackdown' as just 5% of tenants say they will vote Tory!

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News
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The Conservatives’ anti-landlord policies have failed to win much favour among tenants who are most likely to vote Labour in the general election, it has been revealed.

London woman banned from PRS after 'egregious' sub-letting case

London woman banned from PRS after 'egregious' sub-letting case

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News
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A council in London has taken the unusual step of banning a woman from renting homes in the private sector for three years after she illegally sub-let a property in a case that is one of the worst LandlordZONE has ever reported on.

'Why one rule for councils, but another for landlords' asks expert

'Why one rule for councils, but another for landlords' asks expert

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News
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A housing safety law expert has called for Southwark Council to be hit with a multi-million pound fine after it failed to carry out required electrical safety tests at its properties.

General Election 2024; Setting the standard

General Election 2024; Setting the standard

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News
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All the major political parties have now released their manifestos ahead of the July general election. Here James Kent, the NRLA’s Chief Innovation Officer, and founder of digital compliance platform Safe2, looks at what they are promising when it comes to PRS property standards and compliance.

Landlord loses appeal against £35,000 licencing fine

Landlord loses appeal against £35,000 licencing fine

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News
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A rogue landlord who was fined £34,640 for having eight unlicensed HMOs has failed in an attempt to have his conviction overturned.

Labour's bidding wars proposal 'impossible' to enforce says legal senior

Labour's bidding wars proposal 'impossible' to enforce says legal senior

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News
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Labour party figures’ desire to end tenant bidding wars is unworkable in practice, while unenforced legislation would not lead to any real improvement, according to a top property lawyer.

WARNING: 'Unintended consequences of leasehold reforms'

WARNING: 'Unintended consequences of leasehold reforms'

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News
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A legal expert has warned that an amendment to the recently-passed Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act that raises the 25% non-residential limit in collective enfranchisement claims to 50% will have serious consequences for mixed-use developments.

NRLA to drop 'landlord' in bid to change public perceptions of sector

NRLA to drop 'landlord' in bid to change public perceptions of sector

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News
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The NRLA is to drop the word ‘landlord’ from its strapline in a bid to change public attitudes of those who rent out and manage properties.

The importance of guarantors in safeguarding tenancy payments

The importance of guarantors in safeguarding tenancy payments

Information
News
Podcast
Opinion
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Guarantors in rental agreements provide financial security for landlords. Understand their role, responsibilities, and tips for both parties.

Labour will allow 'bidding wars' but only if tenants start them

Labour will allow 'bidding wars' but only if tenants start them

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News
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The Labour party has clarified that although it will seek to stop agents and landlords encouraging bidding wars, tenants will be allowed to make ‘voluntary’ higher offers above the original rental asking price.

NRLA backs Labour's plan to stop bidding wars for rental homes

NRLA backs Labour's plan to stop bidding wars for rental homes

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News
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The NRLA has backed Labour’s proposal to stop landlords and letting agents enabling ‘bidding wars’ by requiring them to advertise a proposed rent based on market rates, with bids above that figure prohibited.

Landlord to repay tenants £21,500 after Tribunal probe

Landlord to repay tenants £21,500 after Tribunal probe

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News
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Four tenants will share a £21,515 rent repayment order after they took their landlord to court for repeatedly failing to licence his HMO.

JUDGE: Landlords cannot charge tenants who leave early for 'losses'

JUDGE: Landlords cannot charge tenants who leave early for 'losses'

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News
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A landlord has been ordered to pay two former tenants £2,252 after a judge ruled that his letting agent agreement contravened the Tenant Fees Act.

Tenants want rent controls and more rights, new poll reveals

Tenants want rent controls and more rights, new poll reveals

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News
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Private renters want the next government to control the pace of rent rises, build more homes and increase their rights and protections.

Section 21 evictions ban will not be 'immediate' Rayner interview reveals

Section 21 evictions ban will not be 'immediate' Rayner interview reveals

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News
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Labour’s deputy leader Angela Rayner has admitted her promise to ban Section 21 ‘no fault’ evictions immediately after a General Election win isn’t quite what it seems.