Tenant are Consumers: The UK Consumer Protection law applies to letting agents and landlords alike when they advertise a property to let or create a new tenancy. It also applies to most private landlords when they deal with letting agents, unless they operate as a company.
Obtaining Possession Using Section 21 Notices Updated October 2016This article explains how to gain possession of your residential rental property in the most efficient way possible. You may just want your property back for your own use, or to sell, or you may be having prob
Winter Condensation: Its that time of year again, a time when tenants are most likely to complain about the mould appearing in those corners of the property where the walls and ceilings are really cold, and hot air with moisture always rises to the top. If its black mo
Tax Relief: Starting from 6th April 2017, those landlords with mortgages will have tax relief on their buy-to-let mortgage costs gradually reduce over a 4-year period.Many landlords dont have a mortgage (up to 50% it is said), so this change does not affect them, but many
Rent Arrears: At this time of year, soon after the Christmas spending spree, inevitably rent payments begin to suffer. If you are having problems with rent arrears, this article should help.As in most areas of life,prevention is better than cure . To re
Tax Return 2016-2017: As a general rule, and as outlined in the previous articles in this series on tax returns, landlords can claim the expenses of running and maintaining their rental properties.If the rent you charge includes additional services like water, or council tax
Tax Return 2016-17: With some costs its very easy to decide: a repair to a drain, downspout or roof tile are all allowable expenses, but what about replacing a broken single glazed window with a new plastic frame and double glazing, what about decorating and installing a
Penetrating damp, just as its name implies, is where water leaks into a building from outside the structure, through the walls or roof. Less common is where an internal leak from a water or drain pipe leaks into the structure of the building.Common causes of penetrating damp are: <ul <l
Fire Regulations in Rentals: There are several regulations relating to fire safety within rental dwellings; some affect all dwellings whereas others apply mainly to Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO).This looks complicated, but fire safety management in reality boils down t
Damp & Mould: You may have seen or heard of the 1970s TV series Rising Damp, which featured a landlord and his tenants (lodgers in this case) which rather implies that all rental properties are troubled with this kind of damp.Far from the case, but some are. In fact the
Renting Standards: Specialist residential property solicitor Amanda Sutcliffe of Bray & Bray looks at the importance of keeping a rental property in good condition.Research conducted by Endsleigh Insurance and TrustMark claimed that over 75% of landlords s
Sub-Letting Licenses: (SOLITAIRE) LIMITED Appellant and CHERRY LILIAN NORTON and other cases [2012]Landlords of leasehold buy-to-let flats are often asked to pay a fee (sub-letting licence or registration fee) to the freeholder when seeking permission to sub-let their flat,
Validity of Section 21 Notice: Amak Property Investments v Laura Sonny [2016]This case was an appeal by the tenant following a county court judgement relating to the validity of a s21 notice on the basis that the landlord had not complied with the deposit protection (MyDepo
Essential guide to rent reviews: why reading the lease is crucial for landlords and tenants to navigate rent adjustments effectively.
Tenant Agreement: The Law of Property Act 1925 talks about having a maximum of 4 tenants on an agreement. So what to do when you have 5, 6 or more tenants sharing a house?There is a common misunderstanding of the rules here. Landlords and agents sometimes think or have heard
Advance Rent: Piggot v Slaven and Johnson v. OldThere are two important cases which clarify (though not necessarily decisively) the position on landlords accepting rent payments in advance. One concerns the accepting of the final two months rent in advance, a common devi
Following some confusion and debate about a deferral for the new standards following the MEES* deadline in April 2018, the new government has confirmed that changes to the EPC rules, preventing landlords from renting out homes below rating E, will definitely be introduced from April 2018.Accordin
Responsibility for Repairs: Who is responsible and who is obliged to pay for repairs to leasehold blocks and flats? What is the procedure if repairs are unnecessarily delayed or not carried out to the leaseholders satisfaction? What is the Section 20 procedure?T
A leading leasehold expert has warned that commonhold reforms will hit property values and shift costs onto individual flat owners including those belonging to private landlords.
A Glasgow landlord fears his tenants could be left without heating or hot water after his energy supplier delayed replacing their Radio Teleswitch Service (RTS) meter.
Duncan McLennan says harking back to previous rent control experiments isn't realistic, and that a 'revolution in home building' is needed instead.
Landlord Sales Agency helps landlords sell quickly, often in under 28 days, at strong prices even with tenants. With market changes coming, now is the time to act.
Peterborough defends decision to bring some 1,800 smaller HMOs into its licensing clutches.
Report from Handelbanken paints picture of regulation bearing down on investor sentiment with predictable results.
Renters' Rights Bill will also end the 'flexibility' of tenure that landlords and tenants have been enjoying for decades.
From Wednesday 14 May 2025 letting agents are required to check landlords, tenants and guarantors by making anti money laundering (AML) checks
The Renters' Rights Bill will become law soon; a reader asks, what will be the result of it on my buy-to-let portfolio?
New powers for councils to auction off leases on properties which have stood empty for more than a year will take effect this summer.
As Peers prepare to debate the Government’s Renters (Reform) Bill today, the NRLA has warned that landlords exiting the sector are the ‘biggest threat’ to renters as supply narrows and rents continue to rise rapidly.
Landlords are being asked for their views on whether the Tenancy of Shops (Scotland) Act should be repealed, replaced, or reformed.
The UK has recorded the highest 21-day commercial property rent collection rates since the start of the pandemic
2024 looks set to become a record-breaking year for landlord licensing, with 25 new schemes and consultations launched so far across the UK.
A tenant who claimed she had cancer and masqueraded as a private landlord to swindle would-be tenants out of rental deposits, has been jailed.
NRLA training takes many forms, with in-person, eLearning and eClassroom courses all popular. But what of the webinar? With tens of thousands of landlords signing up - and even the housing minister getting on board - Kitty Ellison, NRLA Head of Training explains more.
A leaked report commissioned by the Labour party into the private rented sector has recommended that rents be capped in England if the party gains power.
Landlords welcome “great news” as clever selling strategies see an increase in profits
Some landlords will be able to continue serving Section 21 notices under the Renters Reform Bill, says one property expert.
A pair who traded fraudulently and defrauded victims out of at least £24,000 through letting and rental scams have been sentenced.
Landlords have been urged to ensure their tenants sign when receiving any important documents ahead of a key court ruling.
Less than half the fines levied against rogue landlords have been collected by local authorities, according to new figures.
The Jersey Landlords’ Association has slammed the “disorderly” roll-out of the Island's new property licence scheme.
Grey GR has been ordered to fix serious building safety issues at Stevenage’s Vista Tower following a long-running dispute.
The government has promised to clarify guidance outlining that tenants can soon request to keep more than one pet.
The Bank of England has left UK interest rates on hold at 5.25% for the sixth time in a row, delaying any reduction in mortgage rates.
Blackburn with Darwen Council is consulting on a new selective licensing scheme on the edge of its town centre.
Conservative MP Natalie Elphicke has defected to the Labour party after years of pushing tenant-friendly policies and decrying rogue landlords.
Red tape and hostility from Holyrood has caused some landlords to defer investments or take properties off the rental market.
Landlords should be on the lookout for the growing threat of cuckooing, which can jeopardise both their property and tenant safety.
Renters in England worked 125 days of the year solely to pay their rent, says The Adam Smith Institute.
A Nottinghamshire landlord has been fined £17,500 after local council officers discovered he was operating two properties without a licence.
Rental prices could increase by almost 20% over the next 12 months, putting the country in a cost of renting crisis, warns one lettings boss.
Ousted tenants right minister Patrick Harvie has urged the SNP’s new leader John Swinney to honour the government’s Bute House pledge to deliver rent controls and stronger tenant rights.
