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Providing a Reference

Providing a Reference

Information

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

Polystyrene Ceiling Tiles

Information

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

Misrepresentation

Information

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

Mail for Previous Tenants

Mail for Previous Tenants

Information

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

Long Term AST

Information

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

Lodgers Limits

Information

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 &amp; Safety (HHSRS), HMO, Over

How long should accounts be kept

How long should accounts be kept

Information

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

Expiry of Section 21 Notice

Information

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

Covenant and Covenant Strength

Information

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

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London politician calls for action against rogue landlords

London politician calls for action against rogue landlords

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Comments have been made after residents at a property that was illegally converted into 11 bedsit flats remain worried about its condition.

Landlord trio sell portfolio for £22m citing 'complex renting environment'

Landlord trio sell portfolio for £22m citing 'complex renting environment'

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Three landlord brothers have had a whopping £22 million pay day after selling their property portfolio to an investment trust.

EXPERT: Renting reforms will make 'horrendous housing crisis' worse

EXPERT: Renting reforms will make 'horrendous housing crisis' worse

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A leading property expert says the UK is heading for a “horrendous housing crisis” that could worsen with the advent of the Renters’ Rights Bill.

Social housing in crisis as tenants’ complaints go through the roof

Social housing in crisis as tenants’ complaints go through the roof

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New report from the Housing Ombudsman shows complaints about substandard living conditions in social housing in England are five times higher than they were five years ago

Midlands council to stop landlords evicting tenants via new scheme

Midlands council to stop landlords evicting tenants via new scheme

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Wolverhampton Council has launched a mediation service for private landlords and tenants to help prevent evictions.

HMOs 'a real real problem' and need restricting says Reform

HMOs 'a real real problem' and need restricting says Reform

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HMOs in Southend face a crackdown as the council considers proposals to limit landlords’ future applications.

Latest EPC shake-up to be 'good for flats, bad for houses'

Latest EPC shake-up to be 'good for flats, bad for houses'

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Upcoming changes to EPCs next month could end up costing landlords more and see properties downgraded if they don’t have energy upgrade documents, it has been claimed.

OPINION: Landlords and agents had a chance to avoid licensing, and blew it

OPINION: Landlords and agents had a chance to avoid licensing, and blew it

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It is not unusual to hearletting agents and their landlord clients complaining that operating within theprivate rented sector is has become increasingly tangled with red tape.

WARNING: Money lost to 'investment scams' rises to £144 million

WARNING: Money lost to 'investment scams' rises to £144 million

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The public has been warned to be vigilant following a new report that shows the number of people relieved of their savings by ‘investment scams’ has increased by value for the first time since 2021, reaching £144 million.

SW agents say landlords quitting sector 'in droves'

SW agents say landlords quitting sector 'in droves'

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Two letting agents in the South West has claimed that landlords are leaving the private rental market in droves.

Scotland to give landlords more time to meet minimum EPC rules

Scotland to give landlords more time to meet minimum EPC rules

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The Scottish government has backtracked on plans to force the private rented sector to meet energy efficiency deadlines by 2025.

Judge slams 'disrespectful' council over landlord's licencing complaint

Judge slams 'disrespectful' council over landlord's licencing complaint

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A First Tier Property Tribunal has criticised Barking and Dagenham Council for failing to support a landlord who mistakenly failed to get a selective licence.

Government works with Facebook to end property rental scams

Government works with Facebook to end property rental scams

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A new Online Fraud Charter aims to thwart property rental scams including fake accommodation listings on Facebook Marketplace used to lure in unsuspecting tenants.

Will landlords HAVE to use new ombudsman? Yes, says Court of Appeal

Will landlords HAVE to use new ombudsman? Yes, says Court of Appeal

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Landlords have been warned that a Court of Appeal decision issued late last week will mean that in future they will have to settle their differences with tenants via an ombudsman before going to court.

Landlords battle council over 'bad' new HMO licencing system

Landlords battle council over 'bad' new HMO licencing system

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New licensing application software introduced by Portsmouth City Council has been slammed for being badly written, hard to use and too demanding.

Serving fire officer to pay £25,000 over HMO blaze risks

Serving fire officer to pay £25,000 over HMO blaze risks

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A serving fire officer whose tenants were at risk of dying in a fire in his unsafe HMO has been fined more than £15,000.

Reform bill will make PRS 'more hostile' to landlords, warn letting agents

Reform bill will make PRS 'more hostile' to landlords, warn letting agents

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The UK's leading property trade association has warned MPs that the Renters Reform Bill contains measures likely to make the PRS increasingly hostile to landlords.

London landlord to repay tenants £10,000 in rent

London landlord to repay tenants £10,000 in rent

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A London landlord has been ordered to repay his tenants nearly £10,000 in rent following a Property Tribunal hearing.

Legal Case: AGAs and GAGAs - commercial tenancy guarantees

Legal Case: AGAs and GAGAs - commercial tenancy guarantees

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Commercial tenants, with the landlord's consent, not to be unreasonably withheld, can assign their lease (transfer it) to a third party (a new tenant).

Liverpool to spend £2 million on new 'rogue landlord' taskforce

Liverpool to spend £2 million on new 'rogue landlord' taskforce

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Liverpool City Council has launched a new taskforce to go after criminal landlords who exploit vulnerable tenants.

Leasehold WILL eventually be abolished for flats says minister

Leasehold WILL eventually be abolished for flats says minister

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The government has signalled that it will bring in more leasehold reforms for flat owners following the introduction of the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Bill.

Agency boss says mortgage interest tax relief for landlords 'must be reinstated'

Agency boss says mortgage interest tax relief for landlords 'must be reinstated'

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Leaders Romans Group (LRG) has called for a landlords’ reform bill to protect landlords and safeguard the housing sector.

Huge HMO prevention scheme launched by big Midlands city

Huge HMO prevention scheme launched by big Midlands city

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Coventry has gone ahead with a huge new scheme to prevent properties being converted into HMOs without full planning permission.

Does a missing landlord address invalidate a Section 8 notice?

Does a missing landlord address invalidate a Section 8 notice?

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This was a question answered during a recent appeal case covered here by Tom Entwistle In the Prempeh v Lakhany (Oct 2020) appeal the tenant claimed that a Section 8 notice was invalid because it did not contain the la

Shamplina among 20 winners at landlord awards

Shamplina among 20 winners at landlord awards

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Paul Shamplina has won Seminar Speaker of the Year at the National LIS Awards 2023, the third time in a row the Landlord Action founder has received the honour.

Letting agent caught blatantly refusing to return tenant's deposit

Letting agent caught blatantly refusing to return tenant's deposit

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A letting agent has been found to have blatantly broken the law by refusing to hand back a holding deposit.

Landlords warned they must ensure property ads are accurate

Landlords warned they must ensure property ads are accurate

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Landlords have been warned that they will have to work much harder with their letting agent to ensure property adverts for their homes to rent include all the ‘material information’.

Up to 50% of southern England landlords looking to sell up

Up to 50% of southern England landlords looking to sell up

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One in five landlords hit by rising costs are considering selling up, with a stark divide between those with properties in the north and south of the country.

Minister claims rent controls 'are working' for tenants and landlords

Minister claims rent controls 'are working' for tenants and landlords

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Scotland’s housing minister has defended the country’s policy of rent and eviction controls despite new figures showing rents continuing to rise.

Landlord couple to face jail following HMO tenant's fire death

Landlord couple to face jail following HMO tenant's fire death

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A landlord couple could face jail after admitting a string of offences which led to the death of one of their tenants in a fire.

Social housing ombudsman to deal with private landlords too, says Minister

Social housing ombudsman to deal with private landlords too, says Minister

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Disputes between landlords and their tenants will soon be handled by the social housing ombudsman, it has been confirmed by Government minister Jacob Young.

Tenant abandonment - what is it?

Tenant abandonment - what is it?

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What is Abandonment? Abandonment is when a tenant leaves the property (usually without notifying the landlord or agent) before the tenancy has ended.

Double council tax aims to get owners letting properties

Double council tax aims to get owners letting properties

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Argyll and Bute councillors have approved a plan to charge a double council tax on second homes.

London council bids to continue clampdown on small HMOs

London council bids to continue clampdown on small HMOs

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Haringey Council has urged landlords to share their views on plans for a new additional licensing scheme in the borough.