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 - 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 - 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
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 - 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 - 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 & Safety (HHSRS), HMO, Over
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 - 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 - 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
A landlord pair have failed to convince a tribunal judge that their tenants’ relationship excused them from getting an HMO licence.
A Scottish parliamentary committee has called for an action plan to tackle the country’s “predictable and preventable” housing emergency, with the property industry also saying rent controls ‘are not the answer’.
The government has revealed that it is looking into measures that will add landlords’ eviction activity to the looming PRS database.
Landlords could face a £765 bill for delaying their selective licence application when Thurrock Council launches its proposed scheme.
Tewkesbury Council is bucking the national trend by punishing landlords with failing EPCs.
Poorer tenants within the private rented sector (PRS) are spending 63% of their income on rent, a shocking new report from the Government has revealed.
A petition calling for rent controls launched by a hard-up mum has garnered some 42,00 signatures and counting.
Outdated 'fair wear and tear' rules are forcing tenants to face unreasonable deductions and landlords to pay higher costs, a proptech firm boss has warned.
The Welsh government has rejected proposals to give tenants compensation if they are handed a no-fault eviction notice.
Letting agents have once again called on the Government to establish a network of dedicated housing courts to process evictions and help speed up the currently arduous, expensive and slow system.
Landlords and letting agents in Bristol have failed to scupper plans for city-wide additional licensing and selective licensing in the Bishopston and Ashley Down, Cotham and Easton wards.
HFIS launches Total Property, unifying brands like mydeposits and Landlord Action to streamline landlord services.
A coalition of influential housing charities and campaign groups has urged the Government to go even further with its Renters (Reform) Bill and tip the balance even further in favour of tenants living within the private rented sector.
A landlord in Peterborough is to pay a £4,800 fine after ignoring a prohibition order preventing him from renting out a ‘sheds with beds’ property at the rear of his garden.
Mortgage expert Lee Grandin's viral TikTok spoofs warn against property investment "gurus," promoting informed and cautious investing.
Michael Gove confirms Section 21 'no-fault' evictions will be banned before the general election, with reforms to follow.
Dilapidations is a process used in commercial tenancies that needs to be dealt with and dealt with in a professional way, if it is to be effective.
The cost of renting out properties and high interest rates have pushed up the number of buy-to-let (BTL) mortgages in arrears.
If you haven't revisited your tenant's rent lately, it might be time to consider doing so.
Two-thirds of landlords have experienced rising demand for private rented housing - but one-third plan to cut the number of properties they rent.
Ministers must commit to uprating grants available to disabled people or many will miss out on vital adaptations, warns the NRLA.
The government’s failure to increase housing legal aid has weakened the justice system and robbed those who face eviction and repossession of help, warns the Law Society of England and Wales.
Shelter has attacked landlords for ‘kicking out’ over 26,000 tenants using a Section 21 ‘no fault’ eviction since the Government revealed it would ban this method of regaining possession of a property five years ago.
The government has performed a U-turn over its plans to exempt accommodation for asylum seekers from HMO licensing requirements.
This year is on track to break 2023’s record for the most additional and selective licensing schemes launched across the UK.
The evictions process is in crisis with many landlords who are seeking to remove problem tenants facing huge court delays, it has been claimed.
Letting agents have revealed continuing strong demand for rental properties but no let-up in weakening supply.
Inconsistencies in the existing EPC calculation mean that property owners can currently pay out thousands of pounds for work that, when they come to sell, they find actually lowered their EPC rating.
Most renters expecting a rent increase this year believe their landlords should make energy efficiency improvements to help offset the rise.
Coventry councillors are set to approve a 12-week consultation into plans to renew the city-wide additional licensing scheme.
The number of Houses of Multiple Occupation (HMOs) in England is continuing to nosedive, official statistics seen by LandlordZONE reveal.
Build-to-rent (BTR) continues its seemingly unstoppable march across UK cities, with the British Property Federation reporting that 58,000 homes had detailed planning permission in Q4 2023, the highest number on record.
For landlords who thought they'd left their problems behind in 2023, think again. 2024 isn't letting up, and the system continues to be unfair for a growing number of them.
A landlord has evicted all his tenants from an HMO after a man forced his way into the property with a chainsaw after hearing that his stepdaughter had been bullied by fellow residents.
