Date

Library

Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

Right to Rent: Minister to fix 'broken' e-Visa system ahead of deadline

Right to Rent: Minister to fix 'broken' e-Visa system ahead of deadline

News

The Government has promised to fix significant glitches that have been reported within its e-VISAs system, which is used by landlords and letting agents to verify the Right to Rent status of prospective tenants.

'More lodgers are best solution to UK's housing crisis'

'More lodgers are best solution to UK's housing crisis'

News

Lodgers’ rental costs could revert to 2017 levels if just 1% of the UK’s 26 million spare rooms were rented, according to flat sharing site SpareRoom.

Government gives Northern city green light to begin selective licencing

Government gives Northern city green light to begin selective licencing

News

Blackpool council has received the go-ahead to start selective licencing in eight inner wards despite worries among some landlords about the consultation process that preceded the decision.

Pets charities call for stronger rights for tenants with dogs and cats

Pets charities call for stronger rights for tenants with dogs and cats

News

Scotland’s animal welfare organisations have called on MSPs to support stronger protections for pet owners in the private and social rental sectors ahead of a crucial debate in Holyrood.

Property Redress celebrates 10 years of growth and new look

Property Redress celebrates 10 years of growth and new look

Information

Property Redress, one of the UK’s leading independent redress providers for the property industry, is celebrating a decade of significant growth, with more than 20,000 member offices.

‘60-minute Makeover’ - checklist to winterproof properties

‘60-minute Makeover’ - checklist to winterproof properties

Sponsored

Small, proactive steps can make a big difference, keeping tenants comfortable and protecting buildings from problematic mould and damp.

Bank data shows landlords were purchasing more commercial properties

Bank data shows landlords were purchasing more commercial properties

News

There are optimistic signs, says Shawbrook Bank. Their data on the commercial property market shows a rebound

Accidental landlords 'a dying breed' warns mortgage expert

Accidental landlords 'a dying breed' warns mortgage expert

News

Accidental landlords are a dying breed, according to one mortgage expert, who blames government policy for their eventual demise.

Labour to outlaw 'rent in advance' requests by landlords

Labour to outlaw 'rent in advance' requests by landlords

News

The Government is to make it unlawful for landlords and agents to ask prospective tenants for large sums of rent in advance, housing minister Matthew Pennycook has confirmed.

Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

Report from council keen on rent controls warns of supply problems

Report from council keen on rent controls warns of supply problems

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

A Bristol Council report has urged caution when introducing rent controls for the city. Councillors have been calling for central government to put the brakes on rent rises for months and set up the https://www.bristolonecity.com/one-city-bristol-living-rent-commission/

Quarter of landlord ads say 'no children' reveals BBC investigation

Quarter of landlord ads say 'no children' reveals BBC investigation

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

The BBC has revealed that 24% of adverts it examined listed by landlords via online letting agency OpenRent showed said no families. Of some 8,000 adverts by landlords listed on the site over a recent four-day period, 1,800 said no families while 73% of the listings

PRS reform legislation to cost landlords just �10 a year, claim campaigners

PRS reform legislation to cost landlords just �10 a year, claim campaigners

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Pro-tenant campaigners have claimed that the Governments looming overhaul of the private rented sector will cost landlords a meagre �10 each per annum. The https://www.rentersreformcoalition.co.uk/" target="_blank" Renters Reform Coaliti

Government housing policies 'not working' for landlords or tenants, MPs are told

Government housing policies 'not working' for landlords or tenants, MPs are told

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Tax increases on private landlords are reducing supply but not increasing owner occupation, making it difficult for the PRS to be commercially viable, according to a housing sector academic. Giving evidence to the Pensions and Work Committee on benefit levels, Prof

Big council looks at selective licencing to clamp down on bad landlords

Big council looks at selective licencing to clamp down on bad landlords

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

A major Midlands council is considering a selective licencing when its additional licencing scheme for HMOs finishes in 2025 as it seeks to answer critics who believe this type of property is damaging social cohesion in many areas. The Cabinet committee of West Northamptonshire

Locate rooftop solar panels on commercial buildings

Locate rooftop solar panels on commercial buildings

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Living in an era where the UK has concerns about the security of energy supply, rising energy costs, and the need to meet environmental considerations, looking to innovative energy back-up alternatives makes sense. Since the shock of the war in Ukraine, it has become increasingl

LATEST: Gove moves to reassure landlords ahead of reform bill changes

LATEST: Gove moves to reassure landlords ahead of reform bill changes

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Housing secretary Michael Gove has moved to reassure private landlords that the Government backs them, describing their work as vital to a functioning rented sector. His column for the https://www.nrla.org.uk/" target="_blank" NRLA </a

Landlord fined £44,000 over unsafe HMO during bizarre court proceedings

Landlord fined £44,000 over unsafe HMO during bizarre court proceedings

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Strange proceedings have been reported at Bristol Magistrates Court after a landlord was fined �44,000 over serious fire safety issues at an HMO he operates. Joe Sutera attended the court hearing but refused to identify himself saying he was a man and that Joe Sutera h

HOW is he still operating? 'Intolerable' landlord fined for second time

HOW is he still operating? 'Intolerable' landlord fined for second time

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

A rogue landlord has been handed a hefty fine for renting out a dangerous and mouldy property his second in two years. Hazmar Fauz, of The Avenue in Welwyn, admitted several serious defects at the house in London Road, Luton, when he appeared before magistrates and was fined

Providing a Reference

Providing a Reference

Information
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
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
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
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
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
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
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
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
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
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
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
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
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
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
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
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
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
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

10 year lease

10 year lease

Information
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

2 years ago I purchased a company with a 10 year lease from my ex boss, on a 10 year lease, the lease was set up by a solicitor. After 2 years the business is struggling and is not viable. I feel that my solicitor ill advised me as there was no break clause mentioned. Where do I stand on t

Uncollected Goods

Uncollected Goods

Information
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Good Left in the Premises or Uncollected GoodsFrequently, tenants leave goods after their tenancy has concluded or when they have abandon the premises during a tenancy. Uncollected goods and possessions left or abandoned in premises by tenants can pose a real problem for landlords.

Standing Order

Standing Order

Information
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

<h1 Standing Order</h1>What are Bankers' Standing Orders?</h3><ul <li Standing Orders allow landlords to automate the process of collecting rents</li> <li They safeguard tenants in that the landlord cannot change the payment amount, as is the case with direct debit

Section 8 Procedure

Section 8 Procedure

Information
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

The Possession Procedure - 1988 Housing ActThe possession procedure under Section 8 of the Housing Acts 1988 &amp; 1996 is known as the Section 8 Route and is available to landlords where the tenant is in breach of one or more terms of

Renting Business Premises

Renting Business Premises

Information
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Renting or Leasing Commercial Property Renting commercial property usually represents a major part of the operating costs involved in running any business. If you include surveyor's and solicitor's fees, rent, business rates, insurance,

License Agreement

License Agreement

Information
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Types of Tenure: A tenancy gives the tenant a legal interest in the land and property - in effect, legal ownership for the period of the tenancy. Tenancies can take several forms: <ul <li Rent Act or Regulated Tenancies - pre </li> <li

Joint or Single Tenancies

Joint or Single Tenancies

Information
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

<h1 Joint or Single Shared Tenancies</h1>Shared House (Joint Tenants) or Individual Rooms (Single Tenants)? Where a landlord lets to multiple and usually unrelated tenants there are two main ways of doing this:(1) As a Joint Tenancyng

Common Law Tenancies

Common Law Tenancies

Information
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

These are tenancies that fall outside the scope of the Housing Acts (1988, 1996, 2004), including the Regulated Tenancies, Assured Tenancies (AT) and Assured Shorthold Tenancies ASTs.In the case of a common law residential tenancy , the tenant's rights and obligations are ma

Business Tenancies

Business Tenancies

Information
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

What are Business Tenancies ?A tenancy is an "estate in land", granted for a determined period of time (term of years or fixed term - 6 months,1 year, 21 years, 99 years etc) or a specific period (a periodic tenancy - yearly, monthly, weekly, even daily).In return for the "time lim

Gas Safety

Gas Safety

Information
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Landlord's Duty to Ensure Installations are SafeAll Landlords have a common law duty to ensure that gas installations and appliances supplied with their properties are safe. Tenants also have certain legal obligations when it comes to gas safety - see below.I

Gas & Electrical Certificates

Gas & Electrical Certificates

Information
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Landlords' Gas and Electrical Safety Certificates:As a landlord, or as a letting agent acting on the landlord's behalf, you have a legal obligation to ensure that your accommodation is completely safe for your tenants.Several statutory regulations and general common law requirement

Furnished or Unfurnished

Furnished or Unfurnished

Information
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Letting and residential property fully furnished, part-furnished or unfurnished in England &amp; Wales no longer has any implications regarding security of tenure for the tenant or for taxation. However, Council Tax and the 10% Depreciation Allowance may be affected - you don't pay Council Tax du

Fire Certificate

Fire Certificate

Information
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

What was the Fire Certificate is no longer required as it was previously under the Fire Precautions Act 1971 for hotels, boarding houses, factories, offices, shops and railway premises. All these premises must comply with Fire Regulations, now covered by t

False Statements By Tenants

False Statements By Tenants

Information
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Ending a residential tenancy on the ground of "false statement by the tenant "The Housing Act 1988 as amended by the Housing Act 1996 makes provision for the possession of residential properties let under Assured and Assured Shorthold Tenancies.However

Bed & Breakfast Business

Bed & Breakfast Business

Information
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Running a Successful Bed &amp; Breakfast Guest HouseRunning a successful Bed &amp; Breakfast Business from the comfort of your own home has many advantages and rewards as far as being self employed is concerned:</

Taking in a Lodger

Taking in a Lodger

Information
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Taking in a LodgerIf you're considering taking a lodger there are some important things to think about first. Most of its common sense, but its a good idea plan carefully and get things right.[list type='3'] <ul <li Taking in Lodgers is a good way to earn extr