New Rules for Section 21 :Landlords and Agents need to be aware of the changes affecting Section 21 rules and Notices and other changes for the letting of residential properties in England (and in many cases Wales) introduced during 2015 . This article explains the new rules
Many landlords have long suspected that the DCLG approved national calculation methodologies and software programs were seriously flawed when they produced EPC ratings for buildings following energy assessments.So news that new software is being introduced which is claimed to be more accurate is
Serving Notices: Landlords and agents often get confused as to how they should serve Notices on their tenants.Ordinarily it wouldnt matter what method is used, but if you end up in court with a possession or money claim, or some such court action, then what and how you se
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
Local councils across the UK have been offering private landlords sweet deals for some time now to help solve the housing crisis, but one borough council is offering one that goes the extra mile.
Landlords in Greater Manchester are being asked to help mould the city region’s new Good Landlord Charter, designed to improve renting.
Lloyds Banking Group is making another foray into the housing sector by turning its former office buildings into affordable homes.
There are a number of ways you can support renters who have fallen behind on their rent. NRLA trainer and debt expert Julie Ford explains more.
Polling by build-to-rent (BTR) landlord UNCLE shows that 32% of those it polled who were between 18 and 24 years old said they ‘chose to rent’ rather than being compelled to by the housing market, while the figure was 31% for those between 25 and 34 years old.
With the victory for Labour now over a week behind us, what should landlords expect from the change in government?
Councillors in Brighton have backed a petition by campaign group Living Rent to introduce rent controls during a debate yesterday at its monthly full council meeting.
Landlords in Wales have found themselves unable to make deductions to deposits when using occupation contract templates, it has been claimed.
Northumberland council is the latest to approve more selective licencing with two wards in the seaside town of Blythe.
Comments are made after landlords in the city is ordered to pay £10,000 after ignoring HMO licensing conditions for a property.
A landlord who asked his tenants to only shower once a week and limit cooking to light meals has been landed with a £17,574 Rent Repayment Order.
The private rented sector now has a new champion for their sector in the form of James Cleverly, who has been appointed shadow secretary for housing.
Comments made by Conservative housing spokesperson in Lords as Renters' Rights Bill nears becoming law.
Luton Council is to face yet another legal challenge in its attempt to introduce a long-delayed selective licensing scheme.
Benefits landlord Mick Roberts has slammed Nottingham Council for its inflexible stance on licensing fees for homes he’s trying to sell.
The government is to hand councils the power to carry out secret inspections on private rental properties
Tenants in Scotland have been told to fight back against private landlords by urging MSPs to keep their commitment to robust rent controls.
Generation Rent has called for a complete overhaul of the deposit system amid claims that it is failing renters and lining landlords’ pockets.
One councillor's 'slum' comments have spurred several industry figures to fight back against poor perception of HMOs.
Law Society chief and evictions expert say reforms are too late, too little and won't reduce evictions case backlog.
A council-run scheme to help people facing homelessness access private rented homes is proving a success.
Total Property sponsored the Landlord Investment Show, highlighting landlord concerns over the government's removal of pet protections in rental laws,
Scotland’s new Housing Secretary has been warned not to push rent controls over housing growth.
Landlords in the North East are being urged to sign up for charity boxing event, Rumble with the Agents.
Commercial landlords thought they had escaped the kind of tenant empowering measures being meted out to residential landlords - not so fast
The Renters’ Rights Bill won’t receive Royal Assent until after the parliamentary summer break.
Landlords celebrated 40 years of Portsmouth & District Private Landlords Association (PDPLA) with a garden party for old and new members.
Local authorities will be able to enter private rented properties without informing landlords in advance.
Landlords could get caught out by tougher rules around discrimination unless they evidence legitimate reasons.
"Landlord Whales”: the Super–Landlords quietly exiting the sector for big cheques
Planning red tape has caused a slowdown in build-to-rent (BTR) schemes that risks undermining investor confidence, according to the new Build to Rent
The government risks creating uncertainty and conflict between landlords and tenants unless rules are clarified soon.
Many tenants are staying put for much longer due to their struggle to find rentals and the prospect of paying higher rents for a new property.
