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
A member of the tenants’ union Acorn has accused landlords of being “subsidised” by public money.
The rental hotspots in England have been revealed, with West Sussex leading the way.
Room rents in London have fallen by 1% in the last year and now average £982 per month, as many tenants opt to live outside the capital.
Landlords and councils need to work together on tackling anti-social behaviour and protecting vulnerable tenants, MPs have been told.
Law firms have reported a significant rise in the number of landlords looking to end rent-to-rent agreements with councils or companies who sublet to local authorities.
Properties with bills included appear to be falling out of favour as cost-of-living rises mean landlords can lose money on them despite the 20% rent premium.
A third of private tenants in Scotland find it hard to pay their rent each month, according to a new poll.
Government schemes to improve homes by retrofitting wall insulation could become one of the biggest energy efficiency scandals to-date
Landlords are advised to sell lower-performing properties before the Renters' Rights Bill takes effect this summer, as it will bring stricter regulations and increased costs. Selling now could help maximize profits and allow reinvestment in discounted properties, growing portfolios by 2026.
Exempting build-to-rent developers from future rent controls in Scotland could result in a two-tier market and an unworkable system.
The government has been urged to clamp down on central London’s short let sector after new research found at least half were being rented out unlawfully.
A proposed 2030 deadline won’t give landlords time to get their properties to EPC C and could cause them to quit, according to Paragon Bank.
A landlord who failed to license his unsafe and overcrowded HMO has failed in his bid to have a £11,000 fine dismissed.
Energy costs are a major concern for landlords and tenants. Save on energy consumption and make your tenants’ homes more comfortable
A leading London council has revealed plans to clamp down on HMOs and the ‘fly tipping’ and rubbish their residents create, and has pointed the finger at both landlords and letting agents for not doing enough to stop the problem.
Housing minister Matthew Pennycook has hinted that extra powers to stop holiday lets and second homes may be needed - including planning permission.
Westminster City Council has launched a tenants’ charter aimed at helping private renters better understand their rights, improve living standards, and access support services.
A Portsmouth landlord has launched an online petition in a bid to stop councils using heavy-handed criteria when designing selective licensing schemes.
Private landlords are being offered attractive letting and leasing deals by the Royal Borough of Greenwich in a bid to tackle its housing crisis.
Landlords could get more choice about what type of energy efficient upgrades they fit in their properties under the government’s Warm Homes Plan.
HMRC has made the unusual step of warning landlords not to use widely-routed tax avoidance schemes which it says are being marketed to buy-to-let investors as a way to save Capital Gains Tax.
A whopping 69% of renters haven’t heard of the Renters’ Rights Bill and 75% don’t understand how it might impact them, a new survey has revealed.
The Renters' Rights Bill is set to to overhaul the eviction process, with bailiffs increasingly under pressure.
House prices dropped in April as buyers paid thousands more in stamp duty, it has been revealed.
The court system isn’t ready for the Renters’ Rights Bill, it was declared in the House of Lords this week.
A worrying 39% of landlords will probably exit the market within the next five years, according to the latest poll.
Only 9% of properties sold by landlords in Scotland in a recent 12-month period returned to the private rented sector, a new survey has found.
Only a fifth of landlords and letting agents feel prepared for the new mandatory sanctions checks on all landlords and tenants.
More landlords are investing in mixed-use properties in their quest for more robust returns.
The average asking rent of a property outside of London has increased to a new record £1,349 a month, new data reveals.
The number of homes for sale has reached a new height as demand among house hunters “cools”, it has been revealed.
How do you get started investing in property? A recent post on our LandlordZONE Forums got me thinking about this question
Tenants in Buckinghamshire fork out for the highest rents in the country - even more than those living in London’s prime SW7 postcode.
Paragon Bank has launched its cheapest buy-to-let five-year fix in almost three years, becoming the latest lender to offer landlords more attractive deals.
