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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

Inflation (RPI) and Rent

Inflation (RPI) and Rent

Information

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

Commercial Property Insurance - part 1

Commercial Property Insurance - part 1

Information

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

Can Landlords Discriminate when Selecting Tenants?

Can Landlords Discriminate when Selecting Tenants?

News

Theres recently been a spate of press reports and political wrangling about the existence of Zero-Hour Contracts. This has become something of a hot political issue as we approach a general election, and one surprising development is recent attempts to embroil landlords in the issue, as if the

User Clauses - in Commercial (Business) Leases

User Clauses - in Commercial (Business) Leases

Information

Traditionally, with commercial (business) leases, a contractual provision within the lease specifies the use, or uses to which a property may be put and the uses which are prohibited.The formal classification of Uses� are set out in the Town and Country Planning (Use Classes) Order 1987 as a

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Judge highlights  unregulated eviction 'solicitors' problem

Judge highlights  unregulated eviction 'solicitors' problem

News
News
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Court case highlights ongoing problem of legal firms that claim to be 'authorised' to help landlords evict tenants when they are not.

Generous property 'leasing scheme' for landlords goes national

Generous property 'leasing scheme' for landlords goes national

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News
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Landlords across Wales can now take advantage of a scheme that lets them lease their property to the local council for up to 20 years.

'Cut stamp duty if you want to help end housing crisis'

'Cut stamp duty if you want to help end housing crisis'

News
News
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Scotland’s landlords have urged its government to pause additional stamp duty payments in a bid to alleviate its housing emergency.

Big NE of England town latest to reign-in HMO numbers

Big NE of England town latest to reign-in HMO numbers

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News
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Darlington looks set to be the latest council bringing in tougher rules to control the growth of small HMOs.

Minister explains why pet damage insurance 'not needed'

Minister explains why pet damage insurance 'not needed'

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News
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Minister explains why pet damage insurance will not be mandated, and says current deposit of five weeks 'enough'.

Criminal gang jailed for running cannabis farms across UK

Criminal gang jailed for running cannabis farms across UK

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News
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A gang of cannabis farm operators, drug dealers and people smugglers have been jailed.

Big NW town latest to clamp down on HMO growth

Big NW town latest to clamp down on HMO growth

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News
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Wigan council says rise in number of smaller HMOs within its borders means new powers to scrutinise new applications are needed.

Flipping now 'tricky' as higher taxes and lower price rises bite

Flipping now 'tricky' as higher taxes and lower price rises bite

News
News
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The practice of property flipping to make a profit is under serious threat from both higher tax and lower house price rises.

OPINION: Awaab’s Law is coming – be warned, it has serious implications for you!

OPINION: Awaab’s Law is coming – be warned, it has serious implications for you!

Opinion
News
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Awaab’s Law: What it means for private landlords and the future of property standards

Famous village votes to ban holiday lets and second homes‍

Famous village votes to ban holiday lets and second homes‍

News
News
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Opinion
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Locals in a Norfolk seaside village have voted to ban people from buying second homes in a bid to help locals find affordable properties.

HMRC warns landlords over 'hybrid' tax avoidance scheme

HMRC warns landlords over 'hybrid' tax avoidance scheme

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News
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A tax avoidance scheme being marketed to private landlords ‘will not work’ and could lead those who take them paying more tax in the long run, HMRC has warned.

TOM'S GUIDE: Doing risk assessments

TOM'S GUIDE: Doing risk assessments

Information
News
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A fire risk assessment is a mandatory requirement for HMOs and some commercial landlords

Landlords to see '6.5% rise in rental income this year'

Landlords to see '6.5% rise in rental income this year'

Information
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Rental prices will continue to increase during the next three months, predicts agent Knight Frank which has revised its growth forecasts for 2023 to 6.5%, with a further 5% expected in 2024.

Landlord chief says Tory rented sector policies a 'failure'

Landlord chief says Tory rented sector policies a 'failure'

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News
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The gloves are off among landlords after NRLA chief Ben Beadle today said figures showing 25 tenants chasing each available rental property are proof Tory policies have been a ‘failure’.

Scottish consultation on renting reforms 'unfair and too narrow'

Scottish consultation on renting reforms 'unfair and too narrow'

Opinion
News
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The Scottish government’s PRS reform consultation does not give landlords and agents the ability to get their views across, according to the boss of automated rental payment firm PayProp UK.

EXCLUSIVE: Big city reveals plans to expand selective licencing

EXCLUSIVE: Big city reveals plans to expand selective licencing

News
News
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Manchester landlords look set to face more selective licencing after the council revealed it was recruiting a project manager to research new licensing areas.

Rogue landlord handed maximum £30,000 fine

Rogue landlord handed maximum £30,000 fine

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News
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A rogue landlord has been handed the maximum £30,000 fine after 17 people were found living in a four-bedroom house which posed a fire risk to its vulnerable tenants.

Generation Rent: Rishi's EPC U-turn 'cruel and reckless'

Generation Rent: Rishi's EPC U-turn 'cruel and reckless'

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News
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Generation Rent has labelled Rishi Sunak’s EPC upgrade U-turn as “cruel, disproportionate and reckless”, forcing many renters to suffer poor health in cold homes for years to come.

Council makes unusual move to stop licencing small HMOs

Council makes unusual move to stop licencing small HMOs

News
News
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Opinion
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Bath has made the unusual decision to ditch its additional licensing scheme because it has done such a good job of improving standards.

PIX: Terrible conditions in homes owned by banned landlord

PIX: Terrible conditions in homes owned by banned landlord

News
News
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Opinion
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A slum landlord in Sheffield has been given the longest banning order ever after being prevented from managing or letting properties for ten years.

Unusual scheme launches to help tenants buy homes off landlords

Unusual scheme launches to help tenants buy homes off landlords

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News
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A novel rent-to-buy home purchase scheme has been set up to help renters become homeowners.

UPDATED: The Story of "Landlording" - a brief History

UPDATED: The Story of "Landlording" - a brief History

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News
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The full history of landlords is lost in the mists of time, but much of modern property law - throughout the English speaking world - stems from over 1,000 years of English legal history.

Charity blames landlords for millions of tenants' poor health

Charity blames landlords for millions of tenants' poor health

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News
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Millions of renters living in damp and run-down properties are suffering worsening mental and physical health, new research by homelessness charity Shelter suggests

Landlord's sons jailed for 31 years after attacking tenants

Landlord's sons jailed for 31 years after attacking tenants

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News
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Three brothers who violently attacked vulnerable tenants at their father’s rental properties in Bedford have been handed a combined jail term of 31 years.

Housing minister rejects dedicated housing courts for landlords

Housing minister rejects dedicated housing courts for landlords

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News
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Housing minister Rachel Maclean has confirmed that a proposed housing court for landlords to help speed-up the evictions process is ‘definitely off the table’.

'Bumbling amateur' landlord fined £27,000 over property failings

'Bumbling amateur' landlord fined £27,000 over property failings

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News
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A “bumbling amateur” landlord who imposed restrictive rules on tenants in his unlicensed HMO has been hit with a £27,500 Rent Repayment Order.

Judge rejects landlord duo's appeal over £21,000 council fine

Judge rejects landlord duo's appeal over £21,000 council fine

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News
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A landlord couple have been ordered to pay a Rent Repayment Order reduced by £6,000 but will still have to fork out £21,000 between them in fines.

Minister tries to reassure landlords worried by eviction reforms

Minister tries to reassure landlords worried by eviction reforms

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News
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Housing minister Rachel Maclean has sought to reassure landlords that they will still be able to evict troublesome tenants or those who build up rent arrears during an event at the Conservative Party Conference in Manchester.

How to deal with a personal guarantee in buy-to-let mortgage applications

How to deal with a personal guarantee in buy-to-let mortgage applications

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News
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Landlords are coming under increasing financial pressure given as reports of a 41% increase [i] in buy-to-let mortgage arrears and a 7% growth [ii] in buy-to-let mortgaged properties taken into possession have emerged.

Scotland consults on radical plans for rent controls, pets and evictions

Scotland consults on radical plans for rent controls, pets and evictions

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News
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Landlords in Scotland can have their say on radical PRS reforms that would bring in rent controls, delay evictions and allow tenants to have pets.

Labour’s planned inheritance tax raid on businesses

Labour’s planned inheritance tax raid on businesses

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News
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Labour is planning a “devastating” multi-billion pound inheritance tax raid, which could affect family businesses and in particular farming families.

Gove promises Renters (Reform) Bill progress 'before Christmas'

Gove promises Renters (Reform) Bill progress 'before Christmas'

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News
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Michael Gove has confirmed that the Renters (Reform) Bill is to get its second reading within the next three months, scotching hopes among some landlords that the legislation might have been kicked into the long grass.

Official and updated ‘How to Rent’ guide published

Official and updated ‘How to Rent’ guide published

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The government has published its latest and legally required How to Rent guide with details on the new Housing Loss Prevention Service.

TV star says pay-as-you-go energy tenants must be urged to fit smart meters

TV star says pay-as-you-go energy tenants must be urged to fit smart meters

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News
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TV star Paul Shamplina has called on landlords to urge tenants using pay-as-you-go (PAYG) energy services to fit smart meters.