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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

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

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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

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

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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

Information

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

Information

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

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Northern city launches plan to begin selective licensing

Northern city launches plan to begin selective licensing

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Preston in Lancashire has become the latest city to launch plans to introduce selective licensing within its borders.

2025 record year for new licensing schemes as latest council launches plans

2025 record year for new licensing schemes as latest council launches plans

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Latest scheme to launch is one of 26 launched so far - making 2025 a 'record breaking year' for HMO and selective licensing.

Big city mayor fines landlords £1.5 million in two years

Big city mayor fines landlords £1.5 million in two years

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Greater Manchester has revealed a big increase in rogue landlord fines as part of its tough crackdown on the private rental sector.

New 'rent controls minister' stumbles on first outing

New 'rent controls minister' stumbles on first outing

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Newly-minted housing minister in Scotland unable to recall key statistics from her department during TV interview.

Landlord to pay £15,000 after second prosecution over same property

Landlord to pay £15,000 after second prosecution over same property

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A landlord who has ignored efforts by a city council to improve his run-down property has been fined heavily.

National Lottery gives green campaigners £1.25m to 'educate landlords'

National Lottery gives green campaigners £1.25m to 'educate landlords'

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Students Organising for Sustainability says it will use the money to improve student accommodation across the UK.

Evicting benefits tenants 'to get harder when renting reforms go live'

Evicting benefits tenants 'to get harder when renting reforms go live'

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The opaque Universal Credit rental payments will cause landlords even more headaches when the Renters' Rights Bill goes live.

Oz landlord to repay UK tenants £16,224 despite 'grey area' claim

Oz landlord to repay UK tenants £16,224 despite 'grey area' claim

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A landlord not resident in the UK must now pay a big rent repayment order after failing to license her property on time.

How to sustainably build a solid rental portfolio

How to sustainably build a solid rental portfolio

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Thinking of growing a buy-to-let portfolio? Start smart, reinvest profits, diversify, stay compliant, and think long-term for lasting success and inco

Letting agents call for short-lets crackdown in London

Letting agents call for short-lets crackdown in London

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Propertymark has urged London’s Mayor to crack down on short-term lets through licensing in a bid to tackle over-supply in the capital.

Struggling HMO giant sells off more properties

Struggling HMO giant sells off more properties

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Troubled property development company Home Holdings has put another raft of HMOs onto the market in a bid to shore up losses.

Osborne's 3% extra stamp duty is reason for BTL buying slump

Osborne's 3% extra stamp duty is reason for BTL buying slump

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The decision by George Osborne in 2015 to introduce a 3% additional stamp duty levy on landlords has seen a slump in the number of BTL properties bought in the Tory heartlands of Southern England.

'Scotland's fast-rising rents are the SNP/Green's fault'

'Scotland's fast-rising rents are the SNP/Green's fault'

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A leading letting agent in Scotland has laid the blame for the country’s rental supply woes firmly at the feet of former Tenants’ Rights minister Patrick Harvie.

Fugitive Midlands landlord faces long jail sentence

Fugitive Midlands landlord faces long jail sentence

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A rogue landlord and fugitive fraudster who intimidated his tenants is in jail after more than five years on the run.

Landlord fined for 'unlawfully profiting' from London flat

Landlord fined for 'unlawfully profiting' from London flat

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A landlord who used an agreement that tried to undermine her tenants’ rights has been fined a total of £5,800.

Protesters force South West council to evict their business tenant

Protesters force South West council to evict their business tenant

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Financially challenged Somerset Council has capitulated after a concerted campaign by protesters force it to abandon one of its business tenants

RICS survey shows signs of commercial property recovery

RICS survey shows signs of commercial property recovery

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Signs that the market is moving into a recovery phase, though there is still ample evidence that there remains a challenging backdrop. 

NEW:Landlords to face unimited fines if they illegally convert homes into HMOs

NEW:Landlords to face unimited fines if they illegally convert homes into HMOs

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New changes to planning rules mean rogue landlords who illegally convert HMOs could face an unlimited fine.

Scotland's 'rent controls tsar' Patrick Harvie loses power

Scotland's 'rent controls tsar' Patrick Harvie loses power

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The Scottish government has been urged to reverse its anti-landlord policies after the SNP ended their power-sharing agreement with the Greens.

MP's bill forcing private landlords to fix mould delayed AGAIN

MP's bill forcing private landlords to fix mould delayed AGAIN

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Private renters are most in need of Awaab’s Law due to the frequently worse conditions of mould in their homes, says Labour MP Fleur Anderson, who hopes to instigate stricter rules for the PRS.

'Ministers need to let landlords know when Section 21 is going'

'Ministers need to let landlords know when Section 21 is going'

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Figures across the private rented sector including TV star Paul Shamplina have warned that both tenants, landlords and letting agents need to know when the Section 21 eviction ban is going to take place.

Pro-landlord MP explains why he voted against renting reforms

Pro-landlord MP explains why he voted against renting reforms

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Conservative MP Anthony Mangnall voted against the Renters Reform Bill, warning that removing fixed-term tenancies could reduce housing supply.

Labour plans to ban Section 21 immediately 'would cause chaos'

Labour plans to ban Section 21 immediately 'would cause chaos'

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Abolishing section 21 as soon as the Renters Reform Bill gains Royal Assent would cause chaos in the sector and leave the statute book a “confusing mess”, according to the government.

MP's bid to make landlords pay tenants' moving costs rejected

MP's bid to make landlords pay tenants' moving costs rejected

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Conservative MP Natalie Elphicke failed to convince the government to include relocation payments for tenants and to restrict tenancy grounds in its Renters (Reform) Bill.

Government agrees not to scrap selective licencing when Portal goes live

Government agrees not to scrap selective licencing when Portal goes live

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Environmental health officers have won a concession from the Government after it agreed not to stop councils using selective licencing schemes once England’s national property portal launches.

MPs vote through renting reforms including landlord-friendly changes

MPs vote through renting reforms including landlord-friendly changes

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The Renters (Reform) Bill has been voted through its final stage in the Commons and, much to some MP's annoyance, containing several new concessions to landlords.

'Landlords and tenants need clarity on how new pets rules will work'

'Landlords and tenants need clarity on how new pets rules will work'

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Animal welfare charity Battersea has called for more details on what constitutes ‘reasonable grounds’ for refusing a tenant’s request to keep a pet, in the Renters Reform Bill.

Plans to let tenants move out at short notice will 'disrupt market'

Plans to let tenants move out at short notice will 'disrupt market'

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A leading build-to-rent firm boss has urged the government to approve an amendment in the Renters Reform Bill preventing tenants from ending contracts in the first six months – or face disrupting the market.

Do tenants need more rights to have pets? Take part in our quick survey

Do tenants need more rights to have pets? Take part in our quick survey

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Tell the politicians whether you agree with their plans to give tenants more rights to have a pet in a rented property.

EXCLUSIVE: Landlord slams council over 'misleading' licencing report

EXCLUSIVE: Landlord slams council over 'misleading' licencing report

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Blackpool Council has been accused of deliberately disguising the results of its selective licensing consultation report to help it push through a new scheme.

Renting reforms are a 'fair deal' for landlords says NRLA

Renting reforms are a 'fair deal' for landlords says NRLA

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While most tenant campaigning groups have criticised the Renters (Reform) Bill for being too ‘watered down’, the National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA) has said it represents in its current form a fair deal for tenants and landlords.

Government 'has given into landlords' claim campaigners

Government 'has given into landlords' claim campaigners

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The Renters Reform Bill will be a failure in its current form unless ministers urgently table amendments that better protect renters, a tenant group has warned.

'Angry' anti-HMO protests spill onto streets in London

'Angry' anti-HMO protests spill onto streets in London

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A crowd of angry residents have clashed with councillors during a protest against burgeoning HMOs within the London borough of Ealing.

Liverpool footballer and landlord accused of poor housing standards

Liverpool footballer and landlord accused of poor housing standards

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Tenants living in Liverpool footballer Cody Gakpo’s flats have complained of disrepair, structural problems and vermin infestations.