Tax Return 2016-17: With some costs its very easy to decide: a repair to a drain, downspout or roof tile are all allowable expenses, but what about replacing a broken single glazed window with a new plastic frame and double glazing, what about decorating and installing a
Penetrating damp, just as its name implies, is where water leaks into a building from outside the structure, through the walls or roof. Less common is where an internal leak from a water or drain pipe leaks into the structure of the building.Common causes of penetrating damp are: <ul <l
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
Responsibility for Repairs: Who is responsible and who is obliged to pay for repairs to leasehold blocks and flats? What is the procedure if repairs are unnecessarily delayed or not carried out to the leaseholders satisfaction? What is the Section 20 procedure?T
Essential guide on how to conduct a rent review, covering key clauses and best practices to protect landlord and tenant interests.
Test Case Yeomans v Newell [2016]:When a landlord is in breach of the tenancy deposit rules he or she is prevented from serving a valid s21 notice for possession proceedings. Despite the fact that the tenancy deposit legislation has been in force since April 2007, landlords
Test Case: Superstrike Ltd v Marino. RodriguesThe case involved a landlord who had taken a deposit from the tenant before the deposit protection rules came into force in April 2007, since changed by the Deregulation Act 2015 see below. When the tenancy later became a st
Test Case: Leeds City Council v Broadley [2016]This case and the subsequent High Court ruling has brought some clarification about who is liable to pay council tax, tenant or landlord, when a rental property is vacant due to a tenant vacating early, that is, before the tena
Ending a Tenancy: What are the rules governing the ending of a statutory periodic tenancy (SPT) by the tenant, especially when the periods of the tenancy are not the standard 1 month?The answer to this question is not easily defined as it is not covered by one rule or a sing
Deposit Scheme Scam: Mydeposits says it is aware of a new scam being used by a fraudulent company imitating mydeposits and targeting landlords and letting agent members of the mydeposits Custodial scheme in England & Wales.The scam uses an email which imitates one from m
Despite promises by government & developers, house building progress is slow to affect rent levels
Government launches new consultation to help make your rental property more sustainable
The Renters’ Rights Bill could trigger an exodus among landlords, reducing the supply of affordable housing, industry leaders have warned.
Landlords should target student housing and build-to-rent (BTR) if they want a secure investment with decent yields, it has been suggested
Experts urge a fair and balanced Renters’ Rights Bill that protects both landlords and tenants as it reaches the committee stage in the House of Lords
The cost of renting and buying is the same due to small falls in mortgage rates, according to Hamptons.
Rents in London have dropped compared to a year ago, while Britain as a whole has seen values rise.
There’s an issue with the safe disposal of Vapes - disposal in normal household bins has been identified as a fire risk
A landlord has been fined more than £43,000 for renting unsafe and rodent-infested flats - but blamed tenants for the disrepair.
Older tenants are increasingly choosing alternative deposit products, in line with growth in 55+ households in the PRS.
Voluntary tax disclosures from landlords who have underpaid netted HMRC an extra £107 million last year.
Croydon landlords face having to join a selective licensing scheme in the borough after a five-year break.
What should landlords and tenants do when mail arrives addressed to previous tenants?
A new poll has revealed a decline in deposit protection compliance and significant inconsistencies in landlord behaviour.
Student housing won’t be covered by rent controls in the Housing (Scotland) Bill after a parliamentary vote.
Private landlords have borrowed millions more to improve their properties this year, according to new data.
Salford has approved a selective licensing scheme for parts of Broughton, Kersal, and Broughton Park.
A growing number of landlords are showing more interest in two-year fixes and tracker options when remortgaging.
A new AI tool combines financial modelling and local market intelligence to give BTL landlords a smarter way to invest.
Broxtowe Council has become the first local authority in England to formally serve a High Street Rental Auction notice.
Landlords in Croydon have been encouraged to use an early-intervention service before asking tenants to move out.
Thurrock landlords have failed to persuade the council that a scheme is unnecessary and too expensive.
Falling house prices, slower rent growth, and rising costs are driving landlords to sell. Now could be the best time to exit before the market weakens
Awaab’s law is coming - the full force of the law regarding condensation and mould will affect private landlords
A benefits expert has urged landlords not to succumb to tenants’ demands to pay them off after building up rent arrears.
Holiday-let landlords will have to register their properties and collect a £1.30 per-person, per-night fee from guests.
mydeposits and Fiixit have teamed up to help landlords streamline property repairs and build better relationships with tenants.
The Bank of England has voted to hold the base rate at 4% as inflationary pressures persist.
The Scottish Greens have called on the country's government to match protections coming into place in England.
House share availability has dropped by almost -60% in some parts of England, sparking fears of an HMO landlord exodus.
The Renters’ Rights Bill will be back in the House of Lords on 14th October for its final stages before becoming law.
Landlord Janice Pope was ordered to pay nearly £3,500 after ignoring the threat of legal action.
Two letting agents have been expelled from The Property Ombudsman after failing to transfer rental payments received from tenants.
