Tenancy Deposits – a rounding error could cost landlords dear!
Author: Ian Narbeth
19th November 2025, 12 months ago | 8
Ian Narbeth
Landlords: Enervating bureaucracy and sullen rage!
Author: Ian Narbeth
22nd March 2024, 3 years ago | 3
Renters Reform Bill – the end of fixed term tenancies
Author: Ian Narbeth
23rd May 2023, 3 years ago | 33
Consultation on single banding HMO rooms – Levelling-up and Regeneration Bill
Author: Ian Narbeth
21st March 2023, 4 years ago | 0
Ground rent reform – a sledgehammer to crack the wrong nut
Author: Ian Narbeth
7th December 2021, 5 years ago | 29
Generation Rent wants the Government to force landlords to accept more risk
Author: Ian Narbeth
1st June 2021, 5 years ago | 40
New Year brings “Interesting” problems and Misguided Guidance
Author: Ian Narbeth
4th January 2020, 7 years ago | 6
What if some of the obstacles to S21 claims are also applied to S8 claims?
Author: Ian Narbeth
9th October 2019, 7 years ago | 8
The flawed Call for Evidence over Tenancy Deposits
Author: Ian Narbeth
8th July 2019, 7 years ago | 17
Tenant Fees Act 2019 – Elephant trap for the unwary!
Author: Ian Narbeth
17th May 2019, 7 years ago | 28
Forfeiture of holding deposits/reservation fees
Author: Ian Narbeth
9th April 2019, 8 years ago | 14
Ian Narbeth
Registered with Property118.com
8th July 2013
Total Posts
21
Total Comments
2,095
Bio
Solicitor specialising in commercial property since 1985. Residential BTL and HMO landlord.
Platinum Property Partners franchisee since 2012. Advocate for fair treatment of landlords and tenants.
Reply to comment left by Reluctant Landlord at 03/11/2026 - 11:05
Reply to the comment left by Reluctant Landlord at 11:05 "if the council are trying to move someone off their books then its probably with good reason otherwise they would be offering them a place themselves wouldn’t they….". Too right....
Read More →3rd November 2026, 1 week ago
A few points to make. First, as Jo points out, 74 is a very small sample size. Second, that 6 cases were struck out suggests the landlord did not have his paperwork in order. Analysing the figures further shows: Number...
Read More →Reply to comment left by [email protected] at 02/11/2026 - 12:03
Reply to the comment left by Accommod8 at 12:03 A landlord may well decide to sell because he cannot make a profit but the market rent for a property is not directly correlated with additional costs that the landlord has...
Read More →2nd November 2026, 1 week ago
Landlords, be aware that if you seek an increase and the tenant challenges it, the tribunal may reduce the rent. Unless you have good evidence that the market rent is higher, it is risky to “try it on”. Leave things...
Read More →Reply to comment left by Robert Jackson at 24/10/2026 - 08:33
Reply to the comment left by Robert Jackson at 08:33 Robert Under the RRA, notice of two clear months has to be given, ending on the start or end of a rental period. So if the tenancy runs from the...
Read More →Reply to comment left by Chris Byways at 29/10/2026 - 14:10
Reply to the comment left by Chris Byways at 29/10/2026 - 14:10Chris BRMA is the Housing Allowance rate which will almost always be below the market rent. The market rent depends not just on location and number of bedrooms but...
Read More →Reply to comment left by John Hole at 27/10/2026 - 13:11
Reply to the comment left by John Hole at 27/10/2026 - 13:11"[F]or tenants on benefits make all rent payments directly to the landlords including top ups that could be deducted from tenants benefits at source." Except that if there is...
Read More →Reply to comment left by Judith Wordsworth at 24/10/2026 - 11:14
Reply to the comment left by Judith Wordsworth at 11:14 Judith Tenants can only challenge the initial rent within 6 months of the start of the tenancy. "[I]f rents drop in the area [after the start of the tenancy] and...
Read More →Reply to comment left by [email protected] at 24/10/2026 - 11:06
"Why can the Government not introduce a measure that would allow any Landlord to increase rents say 1-2 % over annual inflation . Simple legislation in my view." With the utmost respect (lawyer-speak for you are out of your mind),...
Read More →Reply to comment left by [email protected] at 22/10/2026 - 16:30
Reply to the comment left by Simon F at 22/10/2026 - 16:30Hi Simon My matter concerning references didn't get to Tribunal. The Council accepted my point when I challenged them at the introduction of Selective Licensing.
Read More →23rd October 2026, 3 weeks ago
Appealing a rent increase as a tactic to deliberately create delay was always on the cards as anyone with half a brain (Pennycook, you are excused) could foresee. Not backdating rent increases makes it a one way bet for the...
Read More →22nd October 2026, 3 weeks ago
Karen, do nothing. You cannot anticipate security alerts or war. Who is recommending you stock up on candles and food? (What about loo paper, dried food and demijohns of drinking water?) If your gas or electricity supply is disrupted you...
Read More →Reply to comment left by Ian Narbeth at 22/10/2026 - 11:10
Reply to the comment left by Ian Narbeth at 22/10/2026 - 11:10I should have added that the very fact the Council allows you to require students sharing a house to be bill-payers weakens the Council's case.
Read More →22nd October 2026, 3 weeks ago
Neil I suggest you take legal advice, or if you feel confident (perhaps aided by an AI agent such as ChatGPT) challenge the condition on your own. Section 67(6) of Housing Act 2004 says: "A licence may not include conditions...
Read More →Reply to comment left by joe bloggs at 21/10/2026 - 16:40
Reply to the comment left by Joe Bloggs at 16:40 Joe, Yes the rent might be increased by having a new APT but I am not aware that the tenant can bind himself legally not to challenge the rent. One...
Read More →21st October 2026, 3 weeks ago
I have every sympathy for tenants who need a property adapted. However the Renters' Rights Act has made their situation much worse than before. Suppose a tenant could say: "If you put in [a stairlift][a ramp][an accessible bath][some other change],...
Read More →Reply to comment left by Ryan Stevens at 20/10/2026 - 10:49
Reply to the comment left by Ryan Stevens at 20/10/2026 - 10:49"However, if a tribunal actually cuts the existing rent then that may well trigger a decision to sell ". I agree. My point is that serving a s8 notice...
Read More →20th October 2026, 3 weeks ago
Mairi MacRae says “Decades of poor political choices have driven down the supply of genuinely affordable social homes and pushed millions into expensive private renting." Ms MacRae misses the point. Whether the homes are "social" or private, the problem is...
Read More →Reply to comment left by [email protected] at 19/10/2026 - 20:50
David I am no fan of this government and the previous soi-disant conservative government was almost as bad. However, Reluctant Landlord is advocating acting precipitately. If you are planning to sell anyway, why bother trying to increase the rent? If...
Read More →Reply to comment left by Ryan Stevens at 19/10/2026 - 16:02
Reply to the comment left by Ryan Stevens at 19/10/2026 - 16:02It's your business but it may just happen that rents go down and you have to accept it. That's life. In the example cited the landlord was unable to...
Read More →Showing 20 of 2,095 comments