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Providing a Reference

Providing a Reference

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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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'It will be a lively debate' promises Shamplina ahead renting reform webinar

'It will be a lively debate' promises Shamplina ahead renting reform webinar

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Property investors are invited to sign up for a unique property investor network event next month examining the Renters' Rights Bill.

Council to seek more powers to 'hold rogue landlords to account'

Council to seek more powers to 'hold rogue landlords to account'

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Hillingdon Council has agreed to consider additional licensing after residents raised concerns about growing problems in the London borough.

Reform-run Midlands council to 'go further' on HMO regulation

Reform-run Midlands council to 'go further' on HMO regulation

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West Northamptonshire Council has proposed a new forum to prepare its HMO landlords for likely new rules as the council reviews its approach this kind

Stop landlords 'cashing in' on EPC upgrade grants, urges Labour MP

Stop landlords 'cashing in' on EPC upgrade grants, urges Labour MP

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A Labour MP has urged the government to stop landlords from 'cashing in' on retrofit grants.

The conundrum landlords face - providing for EV charging points

The conundrum landlords face - providing for EV charging points

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They are “plugged out”; why tenants are struggling to charge their electric vehicles

NEW: Student accommodation now most popular investment among landlords

NEW: Student accommodation now most popular investment among landlords

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Universities are a key driver of BTL activity and lending as more landlords choose to invest in areas with large student populations.

Tenant hospitalised 'indefinitely' after admitting landlord's murder

Tenant hospitalised 'indefinitely' after admitting landlord's murder

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A former tenant who murdered her landlord and stabbed his cat to death has been given an indefinite hospital order.

Rogue gas-fitter jailed over dangerous work at property

Rogue gas-fitter jailed over dangerous work at property

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Antony Clifton, 52, was sentenced to 46 weeks in custody after he carried out the work while falsely claiming to be a member of the Gas Safe Register

Big Northern council takes another step towards HMO restrictions

Big Northern council takes another step towards HMO restrictions

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County Durham hopes to restrict HMO conversions across the county amid fears that rising numbers are impacting communities.

Tenants pocket �16,000 after landlord and agent's regulatory mistakes

Tenants pocket �16,000 after landlord and agent's regulatory mistakes

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A landlord has failed to convince a court that stress and financial difficulties excused her from paying a rent repayment order. Instead, Jaya Sanahs four tenants will share �16,191 after ahttps://www.landlordzone.co.uk/tag/first-tier-property-tribunal-2...

Details on higher EPC ratings for PRS a long way off, admits energy minister

Details on higher EPC ratings for PRS a long way off, admits energy minister

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Landlords are to wait many more months to find out the details of Government proposals to raise the minimum Energy Performance Certificate for rented properties. Energy minister Andrew Bowie (main picture) has admitted during a Lords debate that progress h

Lloyds Bank's plans to build 'thousands' of rental homes prove over optimistic

Lloyds Bank's plans to build 'thousands' of rental homes prove over optimistic

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Lloyds has grown its rental portfolio to 1,000 properties and has another 700 in the pipeline as it bids to become one of the UKs biggest landlords, albeit far off its original objectives. The bank has some way to go if the publicly-owned institution is to meet its target of

Landlord pays �40,000 fine after large HMO 'put tenants at risk'

Landlord pays �40,000 fine after large HMO 'put tenants at risk'

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A landlord in Norfolk has payed fines totalling �40,000 after he was found to have housed tenants in a way that put tenants at risk. Issues were reported at the Watton property (pictured) to Breckland Council last year, which prompted an inspection by officers who found a block

Landlord secures huge victory in �18,000 Rent Repayment Order case

Landlord secures huge victory in �18,000 Rent Repayment Order case

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An Upper Tribunal has slashed a landlords Rent Repayment Order by �16,000 after taking pity during an appeal hearing on her precarious financial position�. A First Tier Property Tribunal https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6239f607e90e07799cd3de67/LO

BREAKING: Landlords face higher mortgage costs as base rate rises by 0.5%

BREAKING: Landlords face higher mortgage costs as base rate rises by 0.5%

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The Bank of England has this lunchtime raised its base rate by 0.5% as the venerable institution fights to bring down inflation, which yesterday was revealed to be sticking stubbornly at 8.7%, way above the bank's target of 2%. Commentators and mortgage holders alike had hoped t

Welsh minister backs review of existing higher stamp duty rates for landlords

Welsh minister backs review of existing higher stamp duty rates for landlords

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Welsh Minister for Climate Change Julie James has backed the NRLAs call for a review of property taxation in the PRS. Speaking at thehttps://www.landlordzone.co.uk/news/breaking-landlords-tell-housing-minister-face-to-face-that-sector-needs-support/" <strong i

Treasury chief says landlords and homeowners 'will not get mortgage help'

Treasury chief says landlords and homeowners 'will not get mortgage help'

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The Treasury has confirmed that it will not introduce tax relief on mortgage interest payments for either homeowners or landlords despite the ongoing mortgage cost crisis. As we https://www.landlordzone.co.uk/news/mortgages-landlord-tells-bbc-how-payments-have-tripled-o

New report hails growth of institutional build-to-rent

New report hails growth of institutional build-to-rent

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JLL's latest report highlights the rapid growth of institutional Build-to-Rent (BTR) in the UK, with over 82,000 homes completed and rising demand.

BE WARNED: Why keeping records is so important for landlords

BE WARNED: Why keeping records is so important for landlords

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Suzy Hershman (main picture), Resolution Department Lead at HFIS, examines a shocking case her team dealt with recently and highlights what landlords can learn from it . The case</h4>A landlord with a four-bedroom property i

Famous landlord to pay �166,000 legal costs after losing court claim

Famous landlord to pay �166,000 legal costs after losing court claim

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Multi-millionaire landlord Judith Wilson (main picture, inset) has been hit with a �166,000 court bill after losing a legal battle against Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council. Wilson, wife of the controversial Fergus, who was once dubbed Britains

VIDEO: 'Best landlord in UK' gives unusual advice to other investors about profits

VIDEO: 'Best landlord in UK' gives unusual advice to other investors about profits

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Treat tenants like customers and stop thinking about profit if you want to make a success of property investing - thats the advice of lettings and landlord professional Tom Soane, who boasts that its made him the 'best landlord in the UK'. Your property is a product, te

Landlords across UK given more time to find out about licencing launches

Landlords across UK given more time to find out about licencing launches

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Councils have been given three months longer to launch selective licencing schemes, new Government guidance has revealed. An update to the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities advice to local authorities considering or planning a selective licencing scheme has

NEW: Former rental properties now account for 11% of homes for sale

NEW: Former rental properties now account for 11% of homes for sale

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More than 1 in 10 (11%) homes for sale on Zoopla are former rental properties after private landlords faced with tax changes and higher borrowing costs have rationalised their portfolios or quit the market. Before the pandemic, half of these homes for sale returned to th

MORTGAGES: Worried landlord tells BBC how his payments have tripled

MORTGAGES: Worried landlord tells BBC how his payments have tripled

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Paul Bradley, a landlord with a single rental property in North London, has told the BBC how the ongoing mortgage crisis has seen his monthly interest-only loan payments triple over the past 12 months. His case illustrates vividly the significant challenges that the approximatel

Tenant Referencing Failures Surge Amid Cost-of-Living Crisis

Tenant Referencing Failures Surge Amid Cost-of-Living Crisis

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Rising cost of living causes tenant referencing pass rates to drop from 35% to 25%, increasing rental risk for landlords, reports Housing Hand.

UPDATED: consider these things before you increase your tenant’s rent

UPDATED: consider these things before you increase your tenant’s rent

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With interest rates rising and this reflected in mortgage rates, landlords are being forced to contemplate rent increases. If you go down this road you need to be aware and follow the rules.

Powerless councils could make or break reforms, says Labour MP

Powerless councils could make or break reforms, says Labour MP

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A Labour MP has called on the government to extend notice periods from two to four months to prevent landlords from unjustly evicting tenants. <figure id="" class="w-richtext-figure-type- " data-rt-type="" data-rt-align=""><div><img src="https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/63bef2f3c329eff8e3

Licencing scheme off to weak start after only a third of landlords register

Licencing scheme off to weak start after only a third of landlords register

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Only one-third of Oxfords private rental properties have been registered for its city-wide selective licensing scheme and could soon face steeper fees or a hefty fine. The scheme, which launched last September, has received more than 10,500 licence applications from the 3

Landlord pleads with council to consider HMO tenants as housing shortages bite

Landlord pleads with council to consider HMO tenants as housing shortages bite

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An https://www.landlordzone.co.uk/news/braverman-under-pressure-to-reverse-outrageous-new-hmo-rules-for-asylum-seekers/" HMO landlord says desperate new tenants are moving in hours after the previous tenants leave due to a dearth of available properties. In he

'Despicable fraudster' gets eight-year ban for stealing landlords' deposits and rent

'Despicable fraudster' gets eight-year ban for stealing landlords' deposits and rent

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A letting agent who ripped off dozens of landlord clients has been banned from being a company director for eight years. https://www.landlordzone.co.uk/news/letting-agent-who-stole-80000-from-dozens-of-landlords-admits-fraud/" Frank Smart , 46, the owner of Sma

UPDATED: consider these things before you increase your tenant's rent

UPDATED: consider these things before you increase your tenant's rent

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With interest rates rising and this reflected in mortgage rates, landlords are being forced to contemplate rent increases. If you go down this road you need to be aware and follow the rules.As landlord you can't legally increase your rent whenever you like, or by any amount you see fit. You need

Landlords encouraged to sell this month as property prices rise by 0.2%

Landlords encouraged to sell this month as property prices rise by 0.2%

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In a market where interest rates are sky high, tax bills are extortionate and mortgage payments are higher than rents, coupled with a backlog of refurb costs and difficult tenant situations, landlords are rushing to cash in and sell their property portfolios. If you were a landl

REFORM: 'We need legislation that works with landlords, not against them'

REFORM: 'We need legislation that works with landlords, not against them'

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With one in five households now renting, the private rented sector is an essential part of the housing market. As the government has reduced its housebuilding strategy for all local authorities from mandatory to advisory, with some councils scrapping targets all together, the ho

Portal launches in UK offering landlords direct online advertising to find tenants

Portal launches in UK offering landlords direct online advertising to find tenants

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A European lettings portal has launched in the UK aimed at globe-trotting students and young professionals. Rotterdam-based https://housinganywhere.com/" HousingAnywhere , which specialises in mid- to long-term rentals, now covers London,