Understand how to assess tenant covenant strength and why it’s key to commercial property investment decisions.
I have always found the holding deposit (an initial retainer paid to the landlord or agent to reserve a tenancy) is a very useful device to commit the tenant to your letting. But is it legal to withhold the advance deposit you take from a prospective tenant if they back out?In my experience a pro
What do I need to do when I protect my tenant/s deposit? If you take a deposit from your tenant/s you MUST protect the deposit and serve your tenants with the correct documentation within 30 days or face having to pay a fine and the prospect that you cannot use the s21 evict
A clear explanation of ITZA and rent review zoning — why old ITZA measurements may not always apply in new rent reviews.
Learn how a Calderbank offer can help landlords settle disputes and avoid costly rent review referrals.
According to research from the NLA, 4 in 10 landlords are either seriously considering forming a limited company or looking into the option in the coming months.Can you - and more importantly should you - set up a company to pay less tax? Heres my complete guide on becoming incorporated.<stron
What heating system should you use in your rental property? Is there a heating system that could solve landlords condensation claims problems?Its one of the most important questions to ask when letting a property for the first time. Whatever system you choose carries implications for the ef
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 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
With commercial property, rent reviews are generally to the open market rent, but sometimes the rent would be adjusted to the Retail Price Index (RPI). RPI is generally considered more favourable to landlords than CPI or other methodologies.There is no link between open market rent and inflatio
Amongst the thorny issues in the relationship between landlord and tenant is the building insurance premium. Unlike residential property where the landlord has a vested interest in making sure the premium is competitive, because more than likely the premium would not be recoverable from the tenan
The government should introduce three-year tenancies to protect tenants from uncertainty and rising rents, according to a liberal conservative think tank report. The Bright Blue group has teamed up with Shelter to publish, <strong id
Landlords have heavily criticised the Scottish governments decision to implement its evictions freeze and rent cap without a proper consultation. The measures, which were widely criticised earlier this year for being rushed through, are now being fought by a coalition of orga
A BTL mortgage provider has pledged to invest £50 million in a fund to help landlords enhance their property's energy efficiency.
Evictions expert Paul Shamplina warns landlords and letting agents of increased responsibilities under the Renters Reform Act.
Airbnb landlord Talha Abbasi faces £102,000 court bill after judge classifies long-term let as assured shorthold tenancy, granting tenant protections.
Labour MP Diane Abbott has told TV viewers that bad landlords are those who use Section 21 to evict their tenants, whatever the reason. Despite there being genuine reasons for using the notice, such as non-paying tenants or anti-social behaviour, the London MP appeared on <a hre
New research reveals that deposits of five weeks rent dont provide landlords with enough protection in more than 10% of cases. Alternative deposit firm Reposit studied 20,000 tenancy agreements dating back to 2016 and found that landlords needed to r
This year London is on track to see the highest level of fines levied against rogue landlords and letting agents, it has been revealed as more and more councils begin operating licencing schemes. Geospatial compliance platform Kamma says it expects to see a 50% increase in enfor
New rules on holiday lets in England and Wales have taken effect which could force many owners to pay council tax instead of business rates. Self-catering properties in England must now be available for letting commercially for short periods of 140 nights
The government has confirmed that commercial landlords won’t have to meet a proposed 2025 deadline to raise their properties to an EPC band C.
CreditLadder has teamed up with Digital ID Connect so app users can report rental payments into credit reference agencies.
Monthly rental costs fell by 0.9% across the UK during December and by 2.2% in Greater London - one of the biggest drops seen in 2023.
The government has rejected calls for private landlords to be given similar deadlines to the social housing sector for dealing with damp and mould.
The NRLA has made two top-level appointments to bolster its service at the start of a crucial year.
The Property Franchise Group (TPFG) and Belvoir Group have agreed to a merger to create a wide-reaching property franchise business.
An organised crime group which used a student letting firm as a front for their multi-million-pound empire have been guilty of drug offences.
All short-term lets in Wales will soon have to be registered and licensed under plans announced by the Welsh government.
Mortgage market drama should subside this year, thanks to stable property prices, strong rental demand, rising rents and softening mortgage interest rates.
A new adjudication process for rent controls in Scotland could add further layers of bureaucracy without benefitting landlords or tenants.
A Rent Repayment Order (RRO) is an order that allows a tenant or local authority to reclaim rent or housing benefit where a landlord rents out an unlicensed property such as a house in multiple occupation (HMO). Rent Repayment Orders are obtained through a residential property t
More landlords are being forced to reduce advertised rents in the cost-of-living crisis.
A council plans to buy 65 private rental properties through its housing company in a bid to address the shortage of homes.
Landlords in Middlesbrough have vowed to fight plans to expand selective licensing and a fee hike.
A landlord who failed to remove dangerous mould from a children’s bedroom has been handed a £10,451 fine.
A landlord living in Shropshire’s largest block of flats has vowed to stay put, despite his neighbours moving out during serious flooding.
The Socialist Party has called for rent controls, compulsory control of private landlords and the nationalisation of house builders.
Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham has warned rogue landlords that they will soon have nowhere to hide.
The Military is shunning heat pumps in favour of cheaper to install cutting-edge electric boilers in homes
Landlords are being encouraged to consider adding lucrative short lets and assisted living developments to their property portfolios this year.
Landlords and letting agents have been warned to be more careful when handling tenants’ personal data under GDPR rules.
Steeper fines for landlords flouting Right to Rent rules in England come into force on 22nd January.
Middlesborough Council has launched a consultation into plans to extend a selective licensing scheme in parts of its Newport ward.
The PRS is “broken” according to Shelter, which claims lone parents are bearing the brunt of the housing crisis.
Lobbying group Acorn has issued a statement apologising for incorrectly accusing the National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA) of ‘campaigning against the abolishment of Section 21 evictions’.
