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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

Dispute Resolution Procedure at Rent Review

Dispute Resolution Procedure at Rent Review

Information

At rent review, the phrase 'going to arbitration' is often bandied about during negotiations as a means for one party to get its own way. Whether or not the parties can agree the rent without involving the dispute resolution procedure, it is common for a represented or experienced party to inv

Government releases 'How to Rent'� guide

Government releases 'How to Rent'� guide

News

From the 1st of October 2015 it became a statutory requirement that landlords issue all new tenants after that date with the latest edition of a Government publication The How to Rent Guide�, along with a current Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) and a current Gas Safety

Doing Right to Rent - Immigration Checks

Doing Right to Rent - Immigration Checks

Information

From 1st February 2016 all new tenants in England must be given Right-to-Rent (Immigration) Checks to determine their "right-to-rent" or "right-to-reside" in the country, BEFORE they can be given a tenancy. Landlords or letting agents must do the checks - letting agents where the

Tax Deductible Letting Expenses

Tax Deductible Letting Expenses

Information

This is a Guide to Tax Deductible Letting Expenses for Landlords under the new tax rules following the Summer Budget 2015. These may be subject to change and you are advised to consult a tax specialist before making any decisions.From April 2016 landlords will no longer be able to automatically d

Landlord uses hidden cameras to spy on tenants

Landlord uses hidden cameras to spy on tenants

News

An Edinburgh landlord set-up hidden cameras in the bedroom and bathroom of his flat, to film people in bed and in the shower.The cameras were discovered by a young couple, friends of the landlord who allowed them to use the accommodation. The couple found a box on the living room table with a cam

Comparable Evidence

Comparable Evidence

Information

Amongst the ways to agree or ascertain the (open) market rent at rent review or on renewal of a lease, (per s.34-s35 Landlord and Tenant Act 1954), is the use of comparable evidence.At rent review, the market rent for the premises is not what rent the actual tenant would agree or could afford, bu

What is a Section 20 Notice ?

What is a Section 20 Notice ?

Information

There are two instances of section 20 notices in property in England:(1) is the notice served in relation to early shorthold tenancies under the Housing Act 1988, and the other,(2) refers to section 20 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985, as amended by the Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Act (CLR

Who Pays for Maintenance and Repairs

Who Pays for Maintenance and Repairs

Information

Who pays for maintenance and repairs in a residential letting, landlord or tenant?Is it, for example, a tenants responsibility once they occupy my building to look after most of the regular house maintenance items? If the fridge stops working does the tenant or the landlord need to repair it?Y

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'Blue-rinse' seaside resort seeks to restrict number of HMOs

'Blue-rinse' seaside resort seeks to restrict number of HMOs

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The borough council’s planning committee will vote on whether to introduce an Article 4 direction next week.

Council secures criminal conviction for landlord over unlicensed HMO

Council secures criminal conviction for landlord over unlicensed HMO

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A West Sussex landlord has been prevented from letting out HMOs after he admitted operating an unlicensed property.

Landlords WILL be allowed to raise rents to pay for EPC upgrades

Landlords WILL be allowed to raise rents to pay for EPC upgrades

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Despite Energy Secretary Ed Miliband’s insistence that rents hadn’t increased when standards were raised during previous initiatives, Justice Minister Sarah Sackman has now said there are grounds for “higher market rents”.

Landlord £10,000 out of pocket as DWP rules complicated payments

Landlord £10,000 out of pocket as DWP rules complicated payments

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A tenant has built up more than £10,000 in rent arrears after the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) refused to accept her landlord’s word that the rent had increased.

Number of planning permissions for HMOs declines across UK

Number of planning permissions for HMOs declines across UK

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Report from digital planning portal suggests public fight-back against HMOs and higher taxes for landlords are beginning to bite.

US activist urges British tenants to withhold rents and resist 'despotic landlords'

US activist urges British tenants to withhold rents and resist 'despotic landlords'

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Radical renting campaigners have written a new book that aims to inspire the end of UK landlords’ “despotic control” over tenants.

Famous seaside town plans enlarged £784 landlord licensing scheme

Famous seaside town plans enlarged £784 landlord licensing scheme

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The Norfolk seaside town of Great Yarmouth has revealed plans to introduce a five-year selective licensing scheme for rented properties in three key wards.

Landlord jailed after stealing from lettings agency

Landlord jailed after stealing from lettings agency

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A landlord who worked as an estate agent assistant has been jailed for stealing more than £167,000 from her employer, it has been reported.

Bailiffs urge frustrated landlords to take eviction survey

Bailiffs urge frustrated landlords to take eviction survey

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Landlords have been urged to share their experiences of being hit by County Court delays when evicting tenants.

Chancellor 'preparing tax raid on holiday-let property owners'

Chancellor 'preparing tax raid on holiday-let property owners'

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Chancellor Jeremy Hunt is considering a tax raid on holiday let owners, it emerged over the weekend.

Landlords call on Chancellor to fix LHA gap during Budget

Landlords call on Chancellor to fix LHA gap during Budget

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The NRLA has urged Chancellor Jeremy Hunt to definitively fix the broken housing benefit system by tackling the Local Housing Allowance (LHA) funding gap.

Rental market still 'running hot' says big lettings platform

Rental market still 'running hot' says big lettings platform

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Rents increased in February for only the second time in the last six years as the market continues to run hot.

Plans to end selective licencing 'concerning' say environmental health chiefs

Plans to end selective licencing 'concerning' say environmental health chiefs

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The Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH) has voiced concern about a new property portal threatening the future of selective licensing.

Unusual rental ad sparks debate over 'lodgers'

Unusual rental ad sparks debate over 'lodgers'

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An advert on Spareroom.com has sparked a debate about the unusual nature of ‘lodgers’ versus ‘tenants’ after a family in London advertised for someone to look after their children, pay rent but only live there during the weekdays.

Rightmove: 'Help landlords pay for energy efficiency upgrades'

Rightmove: 'Help landlords pay for energy efficiency upgrades'

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Rightmove has called for more green home incentives for the private rented sector after its poll showed a big fall in landlords planning to make improvements to their properties.

Gove backs landlords and say he's 'listening to rebel MPs'

Gove backs landlords and say he's 'listening to rebel MPs'

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Michael Gove has voiced his support for landlords and insists he wants to make the Renters (Reform) Bill work for them.

Scots tenants told to confront landlords over rent rises

Scots tenants told to confront landlords over rent rises

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The Scottish government has urged tenants to tackle unfair tenancies before the emergency rent cap and additional evictions protections end on 31st March.

TV investigation warns landlords over title fraud by tenants

TV investigation warns landlords over title fraud by tenants

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Landlords have been warned by a TV programme to watch out for tenants who attempt to steal their properties via title fraud.

Councils call for eviction notice periods to be doubled to four months

Councils call for eviction notice periods to be doubled to four months

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Council leaders are the latest group to lobby Michael Gove over the Renters (Reform) Bill, urging him to extend notice periods for evictions from two to four months.

New amendments to Renters (Reform) Bill published by rebel MPs

New amendments to Renters (Reform) Bill published by rebel MPs

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The group of rebel Tory MPs backing moves to make significant changes to the Renters (Reform) Bill has today published its comprehensive list of amendments, along with the full names of the 49 MPs within the group (see list at end).

Report questions council's 'ringfencing' claim for landlord fees

Report questions council's 'ringfencing' claim for landlord fees

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A financial report has revealed Nottingham Council’s struggle to keep money raised from selective licensing ring-fenced.

'Court reform delays mean binnng Section 21 must be reconsidered'

'Court reform delays mean binnng Section 21 must be reconsidered'

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The Government has delayed its already-announced reforms of the courts, making it even less likely that the UK’s County Courts will be ready to take on the extra work created by banning Section 21 evictions, it has been claimed.

Rebel MPs on brink of 'pro-landlord' changes to reform bill

Rebel MPs on brink of 'pro-landlord' changes to reform bill

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The Government has taken on board a list of changes to the Renters (Reform) Bill requested by some 50 rebel Tory MPs, it has been reported

BLOG: When landlords talk to their MPs, politicians listen

BLOG: When landlords talk to their MPs, politicians listen

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The anticipation surrounding the Renters (Reform) Bill has remained a constant topic recently, with discussions over the timing of the abolition of Section 21 constantly fluctuating.

Minister admits 'errors' within identity system for overseas tenants

Minister admits 'errors' within identity system for overseas tenants

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The Government has admitted that the issuing of Biometric Residence Permits (BRPs), which are used by non-UK citizens to prove they have a right to rent properties, has been taking too long.

Landord fined £1.4m and has rental property confiscated

Landord fined £1.4m and has rental property confiscated

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An absentee landlord has been stung with a £1.44 million penalty after he continually broke planning rules in a decade-long stand-off with Ealing Council.

Report urges Labour to spend £11.8bn on affordable rented homes

Report urges Labour to spend £11.8bn on affordable rented homes

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Building 90,000 social homes a year will end the housing emergency and pay for itself within three years due to the wider economic benefits, according to a study by Shelter and the National Housing Federation.

ADVICE: How to deal with tenants who fake tenancy applications

ADVICE: How to deal with tenants who fake tenancy applications

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Tom Entwistle passes on some thoughts on dealing with tenant selection and securing a good tenant-letting in the current economic climate

Council chases former landlord for tenant's 20-year tax debt

Council chases former landlord for tenant's 20-year tax debt

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A former landlord has been ordered to pay a council tax demand dating back nearly 20 years.

Landlord pays heavy price for ignoring Improvement Order

Landlord pays heavy price for ignoring Improvement Order

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A rogue landlord has been ordered to pay more than £9,000 for ignoring notices to improve his dangerous property.

Major building society stops lending to holiday let investors

Major building society stops lending to holiday let investors

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Leeds Building Society has stopped lending to investors buying holiday lets in areas of North Norfolk and North Yorkshire in a bid to relieve pressure on local housing.

Lords to put letting agents' service quality under spotlight

Lords to put letting agents' service quality under spotlight

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The quality of service provided by letting agents to landlords is under the spotlight again after an influential group within the Lords revealed it is to probe into the sector.

Rebel Tory MPs seek amendments to renting reform

Rebel Tory MPs seek amendments to renting reform

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It has been confirmed over the weekend that a group of 49 ‘rebel’ Tory MPs are working hard have the Renters (Reform) Bill amended.

MPs given more details on holiday short-lets clampdown

MPs given more details on holiday short-lets clampdown

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MPs have been given more details of the Government’s plans to clamp down on holiday lets in tourism hotspots following Michael Gove’s announcement this week.