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Rent Review

Rent Review

Information

Question - Rent Review - my landlord is asking for far more rent than I expected on review. Am I obliged to pay this?Answer - Commercial leases are contractual - the parties agree to and are bound by its clauses and that includes rent review provisions.The rent review process is a way of periodic

Re-selling Energy

Re-selling Energy

Information

Re-selling Energy - As a landlord am I able to make a profit by re-selling electricity or gas?</h2>Resale of Gas and ElectricityThe maximum amount that Residential Landlords or resellers� are permitted to charge for gas or electricity is the amount they

Providing a Reference

Providing a Reference

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Newly qualified nurses struggle to afford to rent privately, Shelter claims

Newly qualified nurses struggle to afford to rent privately, Shelter claims

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Newly qualified nurses can’t afford to rent privately in almost half - 45% - of local authorities in England, according to new analysis from Shelter.

Landlords must not drag their heals over EPC ratings, warns bank director

Landlords must not drag their heals over EPC ratings, warns bank director

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Landlords must not to drag their heels when it comes to improving properties’ energy efficiency rating - or face potential issues with finding tradespeople and working with letting agents, a financial expert has warned.

More tenants are using alternative deposit schemes, new data reveals

More tenants are using alternative deposit schemes, new data reveals

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A growing number of tenants in the build-to-rent (BTR) sector are using deposit alternative products as many opt to invest a lump sum instead of locking it away in a traditional cash scheme.

Tenants who are on benefits must get the Government support they need, says Propertymark

Tenants who are on benefits must get the Government support they need, says Propertymark

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Benefit claimants must get the Government help they need once its welfare reforms take effect, an industry body has warned.

Fewer luxury homes to rent in London feeds into higher rents

Fewer luxury homes to rent in London feeds into higher rents

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A reduced supply of luxury rental homes in London is feeding into higher rents, which are now a third higher than before the pandemic, new research has revealed.

Rogue landlords come under attack from Labour MP Tom Hayes

Rogue landlords come under attack from Labour MP Tom Hayes

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Labour MP Tom Hayes has launched a survey to quiz tenants and landlords in his Bournemouth East constituency, in a bid to fix the “broken” rented sector.

WASPI women need to be fairly compensated after constituent was evicted, says MP

WASPI women need to be fairly compensated after constituent was evicted, says MP

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Liberal Democrat MP Sarah Dyke has called for WASPI women to be fairly compensated after one of her constituents was evicted.

‘Rentflation’ costs young people an extra £1,616, says Barclays

‘Rentflation’ costs young people an extra £1,616, says Barclays

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‘Rentflation’ has cost young people an extra £1,616 on their rent bill in the past year, according to new data from Barclays.

Tenants on benefits will be pushed into poverty, warns NRLA

Tenants on benefits will be pushed into poverty, warns NRLA

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Almost half of all private renters who receive Local Housing Allowance experience a shortfall between their payment and monthly rent, according to new analysis by the NRLA.

Gloucester plans clampdown on spread of HMOs

Gloucester plans clampdown on spread of HMOs

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Gloucester Council is to apply for an Article 4 Direction in a bid to curb the number of shared houses in the city.

'Labour's reforms will cost landlords and tenants'

'Labour's reforms will cost landlords and tenants'

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The Renters’ Rights Bill will add extra costs for tenants as well as landlords, and it will cause landlords to leave the private rented sector

Property groups call for more homes, not rent controls

Property groups call for more homes, not rent controls

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Property groups have called on the Scottish government to focus on building homes rather than rent controls in a bid to address the country’s housing crisis.

Labour to spend £20m helping tenants fight evictions

Labour to spend £20m helping tenants fight evictions

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Civil legal aid fees for eviction cases and immigration are to receive a £20 million boost, marking the first increase since 1996.

Looming open-ended tenancies to have 'unintended consequences for tenants'

Looming open-ended tenancies to have 'unintended consequences for tenants'

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The Government should further consider its plans to mandate open-ended tenancies as a legal requirement, as set out in the Renters’ Rights Bill going through parliament.

New tech enables landlords to make money from solar

New tech enables landlords to make money from solar

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A new tech launch allows landlords to generate and sell electricity from rooftop solar panels either to their tenants or back to the grid without going through the main meter.

Landlords: Get Your Properties Sold Fast and Cash in the Bank before the New Year!

Landlords: Get Your Properties Sold Fast and Cash in the Bank before the New Year!

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Thousands of landlords are feeling the pinch as rising costs, talk of rent caps, and upcoming EPC regulations add pressure to an already challenging rental market.

Allowing tenants to rent out homes via Airbnb 'a huge risk'

Allowing tenants to rent out homes via Airbnb 'a huge risk'

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A leading letting agent has warned that a new Airbnb initiative allowing tenants to rent out their homes could put landlords at risk.

How to future-proof your rental business

How to future-proof your rental business

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Buy-to-let is a long-term investment, often requiring 15+ years to maximise returns. To ensure success over time, landlords should take these key steps to protect their rental business.

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

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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'

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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.

Lawyer questions Labour's 'fanciful' cost estimates for reforms

Lawyer questions Labour's 'fanciful' cost estimates for reforms

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A leading property lawyer has poured scorn on government estimates that the Renters’ Rights Bill will cost landlords £12 per rented property each year.

Holiday let landlords to collect new tourism levy AND register properties

Holiday let landlords to collect new tourism levy AND register properties

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Landlords with holiday let properties in Wales will soon have to register their properties and collect a £1.25 per person, per night fee from clients.

Big Midlands council green lights more HMO licencing

Big Midlands council green lights more HMO licencing

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West Northamptonshire Council has given the go-ahead for an extended additional licensing scheme in Northampton.

Big London council moves to stamp out bidding wars

Big London council moves to stamp out bidding wars

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A big council in London has called on letting agents to stop pitting tenants against one other in “exploitative” bidding wars within the borough.

Landlords ARE 'working people' says housing minister

Landlords ARE 'working people' says housing minister

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Keir Starmer got into hot water recently after saying landlords did not ‘work’ for their income, but Scotland’s housing minister has taken a very different approach.

Airbnb encourages tenants to sublet their homes

Airbnb encourages tenants to sublet their homes

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Airbnb has teamed up with global landlord Greystar to allow tenants in three London apartment blocks to rent out their homes.

Full details of landlord fines and prosecutions (or lack of them) revealed

Full details of landlord fines and prosecutions (or lack of them) revealed

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More than 100 local councils in England and Wales have not prosecuted any rogue landlords in the last five years despite getting thousands of complaints.