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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

Information

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

Information

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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Half of renters lack contents insurance, Monzo claims

Half of renters lack contents insurance, Monzo claims

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News
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Opinion
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Half of private renters either don’t have contents insurance or don’t know what it is, leaving them financially vulnerable to theft, damage, or loss.

Only 2.5% of rented homes affordable for benefit tenants

Only 2.5% of rented homes affordable for benefit tenants

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News
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Opinion
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Only 2.5% of private rented properties listed in England were affordable for people on housing benefit between April and October last year according to Crisis, down from 12% in 2021 to 22.

Billionaire landlord ordered to repay £263K for unlicensed HMOs

Billionaire landlord ordered to repay £263K for unlicensed HMOs

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News
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A billionaire landlord has been ordered to repay tenants £263,555 for operating two East London buildings as unlicensed HMOs.

House price growth steady despite stamp duty changes

House price growth steady despite stamp duty changes

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News
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House price growth remained steady last month, but is expected to soften in the coming months as the stamp duty holiday comes to an end.

Third of landlords plan to sell in next year, says Landbay

Third of landlords plan to sell in next year, says Landbay

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News
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More than a third of landlords plan to offload some of their rental properties in the next 12 months, according to a new survey.

Avoid repeat of rent restrictions, urges Scottish lawmakers

Avoid repeat of rent restrictions, urges Scottish lawmakers

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News
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Letting agents have urged Scottish lawmakers not to repeat the mistake of restricting rents that has ultimately increased costs for tenants.

Scotland raises £13M/week in property tax revenue

Scotland raises £13M/week in property tax revenue

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News
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Almost £13million a week was raised in property taxes for the Scottish Government, new analysis has revealed.

Student rents may surge due to renters’ rights bill

Student rents may surge due to renters’ rights bill

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News
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Student rents could surge following the introduction of the Renters’ Rights Bill, say landlords, who have warned that it also discriminates against foreign students.

Landlords could face CGT hike if economy dips, IFS warns

Landlords could face CGT hike if economy dips, IFS warns

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News
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Landlords could face a hike in Capital Gains Tax (CGT) if the economy dips before the Autumn Budget, the Institute of Fiscal Studies (IFS) has warned.

Campaigners blame Section 21 evictions for homelessness rise

Campaigners blame Section 21 evictions for homelessness rise

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News
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More than 84,000 households have been put at risk of homelessness due to no-fault evictions since 2019, renting campaigners have claimed.

Landlords: we’ll sell your buy-to-let properties, fast, for the best price

Landlords: we’ll sell your buy-to-let properties, fast, for the best price

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News
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Opinion
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As we enter April it’s been a mixed bag for landlords, with many “nervous" landlords looking to sell amidst a growing apprehension of market conditions and general elections.

Tycoon urges ALL rental homes to be inspected regularly

Tycoon urges ALL rental homes to be inspected regularly

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News
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Opinion
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A leading businessman has entered the political fray with a book in which he lays out his ideas on how to solve the housing crisis including planning and rental market reform.

HMO landlord to pay £26,000 after adding storey to house

HMO landlord to pay £26,000 after adding storey to house

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News
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An HMO landlord who added another storey on his property to squeeze in more tenants has been ordered to pay £26,535 for breaching numerous safety rules.

More landlords turn to 'safer' HMOs as economy remains tough

More landlords turn to 'safer' HMOs as economy remains tough

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News
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Opinion
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HMOs are becoming more popular among landlords as many turn to them as a ‘surer bet’ than other types of rental property in a time of economic uncertainty, it has been claimed.

Housing crisis tops voters' list of key issues to solve

Housing crisis tops voters' list of key issues to solve

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News
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Opinion
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Voters say the ongoing housing crisis tops the list of key priorities that need to be addressed by the current and incoming government, according to renters in a SpareRoom poll.

Property portal: Can tech free up cash to tackle criminal landlords?

Property portal: Can tech free up cash to tackle criminal landlords?

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Opinion
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With the abolition of Section 21 stealing the headlines Government proposals for a property portal have largely flown under the radar. Here James Kent, the NRLA’s chief innovation officer and founder of property compliance platform Safe2, explores what it could – and should – look like

Half of landlords thinks pets and eviction reforms 'bad idea'

Half of landlords thinks pets and eviction reforms 'bad idea'

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News
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Opinion
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New research among landlords reveals that although a majority are adopting a ‘wait and see’ approach to the Government’s looming renting reforms, it’s the changes to pets rules and evictions that are troubling them the most.

NRLA backs platform that helps landlords move to limited company status

NRLA backs platform that helps landlords move to limited company status

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News
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Private landlords considering a move to limited company ownership of their rented properties are being urged by the NRLA to use its latest partner service.

Landlord fined £8,471 over hazardous HMO wiring

Landlord fined £8,471 over hazardous HMO wiring

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News
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A landlord has been handed a £8,471 bill for allowing his tenants to live in a property with serious structural issues, dangerous wiring and a lack of fire safety measures.

Fake tenancies at heart of Bulgarian's gang's £53m scam

Fake tenancies at heart of Bulgarian's gang's £53m scam

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News
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Opinion
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Five fraudsters who stole £53.9 million in a huge benefits scam used false tenancy agreements to help them make claims.

Councils lobby Ministers not to scrap selective licencing schemes

Councils lobby Ministers not to scrap selective licencing schemes

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News
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Opinion
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The Local Government Association (LGA) has urged Minister to ignore rebel MPs’ calls for selective licencing to be replaced by the looming Landlord Portal.

TWO new reports reveal weakening supply of rented property

TWO new reports reveal weakening supply of rented property

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News
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The number of landlords instructing agents to rent properties has declined for a second quarter in a row, fuelling ongoing worries that the Government’s ‘anti-buy-to-let’ mood music is disrupting the market.

'Ignorance of law no excuse' as landlord repays tenants £10,500

'Ignorance of law no excuse' as landlord repays tenants £10,500

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News
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Opinion
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A landlord who blamed her agent and tenants for not telling her about a selective licensing scheme has been hit with a £10,572 rent repayment order.

Tax shock for furnished holiday let owners – how to react while there’s still time

Tax shock for furnished holiday let owners – how to react while there’s still time

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News
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Opinion
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If you are involved with Furnished Holiday Lets you are probably be aware by now that there are far reaching tax changes coming - what to do about them?

Record fines for London landlords push total to £10 million

Record fines for London landlords push total to £10 million

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News
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Total fines for London’s rogue landlords and agents have topped £10 million since the rogue landlord database launched in 2017.

Big money to spend £17 billion in South and Midlands building rental houses

Big money to spend £17 billion in South and Midlands building rental houses

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News
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Private landlords face a significant increase in competition from corporate operators within the rented sector as investors reveal a £17 billion, 60,000-home building programme concentrated on the South and Midlands.

Court costs for landlords 'will keep on rising' predicts lawyer

Court costs for landlords 'will keep on rising' predicts lawyer

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News
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It’s almost inevitable that court fees will have to rise considerably, and probably sooner than 2025/6 unless alternative funding is added direct from the Treasury, according to property lawyer David Smith.

Accreditation key to tenant confidence

Accreditation key to tenant confidence

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As a tenant how do you know your landlord – or agent – is a good one? There are checks renters can carry out – looking at online reviews, the government’s rogue landlord database, or contacting The Property Ombudsman.

Sadiq Khan vows to 'hold landlords to account' as re-election looms

Sadiq Khan vows to 'hold landlords to account' as re-election looms

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London mayor Sadiq Khan has vowed to build 6,000 new ‘rent control’ homes across London if he’s elected for a third term in next month’s election.

London council goes live with bigger selective licencing scheme

London council goes live with bigger selective licencing scheme

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News
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Redbridge Council has gone live with its big new selective licencing scheme that applies to most private rented properties in 15 of the London borough’s wards.

New visa rules for foreigners 'not damaging student housing market'

New visa rules for foreigners 'not damaging student housing market'

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News
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Unite Students is poised to report rental income growth of at least 6% due to sustained demand, despite new visa rules affecting international students.

Wales to follow England's landlord stamp duty reliefs withdrawal

Wales to follow England's landlord stamp duty reliefs withdrawal

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News
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Landlords and property investors who buy privately-held multi-property portfolios in Wales are to lose another tax perk.

Why is Government making investing in PRS more difficult, asks leading landlord

Why is Government making investing in PRS more difficult, asks leading landlord

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News
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A leading landlord in the SW has slammed the Government’s ongoing assault on the private rented sector, saying the efforts of Michael Gove and his predecessors puzzle ‘honourable and decent’ operators like him.

WARNING: Hunt's tax changes will hit landlords AND renters

WARNING: Hunt's tax changes will hit landlords AND renters

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News
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Changes to income and Capital Gains Tax (CGT) that came in over the weekend could mean reduced investment in the PRS and insurance premiums, warns an insurance expert.