All posts by Ian Narbeth
Renters Reform Bill and Anti-Social Behaviour...
The Government is trumpeting that the Renters Reform Bill will help landlords deal with anti-social behaviour. A number of commentators have been taken in by this spin. Ben Beadle of NRLA has said: “We...
Renters Reform Bill – the end of fixed term tenancies...
By abolishing fixed term tenancies, the Renters’ Reform Bill will cause serious problems for landlords of student accommodation. The issue is not that the tenants may stay after the end of the tenancy...
Renters Reform Bill worse than feared...
It is only a Bill and has just been published but the Renters’ Reform Bill appears at first sight worse than many have feared. All tenancies are to become periodic, meaning landlords will have no...
Consultation on single banding HMO rooms – Levelling-up...
Please can Property118 post a request for interested landlords to respond to this consultation. The deadline is 31st March.
NC7 (New Clause 7) is Dame Caroline Dinenage’s amendment to the Levelling-up...
Tenants and Pets...
The Government’s White Paper “A Fairer Private Rented Sector” sets out proposals to allow tenants in private rented properties to keep pets. As always, the devil will be in the detail but things...
My letter to the Times – Tenants and Pets...
Sir, Paul Grover (letter, Jun 17; report, Jun 16) is mistaken that landlords forced to accept pets “will require much larger deposits”.
The Tenant Fees Act 2019 prohibits deposits exceeding five weeks’...
Our city is facing a rent crisis...
Landlords, especially any in Bristol, may be interested to listen in to this event: Click here
Bristol Renters Summit 2022: Wed, 2 March 2022 18:30 – 20:30 GMT
“Our city is facing a rent crisis...
Ground rent reform – a sledgehammer to crack the wrong...
This week, the House of Lords will scrutinise the Leasehold Reform (Ground Rent) Bill 2021-22. When enacted it will impose onerous penalties and yet it signally fails to tackle what most MPs and the public...
Generation Rent wants the Government to force landlords to accept...
Many people will have heard on the radio over the Bank Holiday weekend reports about the eviction ban ending. A Joseph Rowntree Trust claim that 800,000 households face losing their homes was repeated...
Satisfaction not Guaranteed...
Given current economic circumstances, many more landlords than previously will accept tenants who are or may in future be in receipt of benefits. With the ending of furlough and possible widespread redundancies,
New Year brings “Interesting” problems and Misguided...
2020 is upon us and the Government has announced it intends to remove so-called no-fault evictions and magically to make one tenancy deposit serve two masters (details awaited). Last year’s Tenant Fees...
What if some of the obstacles to S21 claims are also applied...
Landlords are concerned that the Government has announced it will abolish section 21. Labour and Liberal Democrats are also in favour. I may written elsewhere about why abolition is a very bad idea: ‘Removal...
Removal of Section 21 Housing Act 1988...
The Government consultation on “A new deal for renting: resetting the balance of rights and responsibilities between landlords and tenants” closes on 12th October. I would urge all landlords to make...
The flawed Call for Evidence over Tenancy Deposits...
The Government (or at least the Ministry for Housing Communities and Local Government (MHCLG)) has got it into its head to interfere with tenancy deposits to make it easier for tenants to move house.
Don’t Panic ARLA...
The Tenant Fees Act 2019, which came into force on June 1st, is causing concern amongst landlords and agents. ARLA Propertymark, which represents residential letting agents and has over 9,000 members,
Watch those pennies or it could cost you dear!
Landlords and agents will need to be especially careful taking holding deposits when the Tenant Fees Act 2019 comes in to force on June 1st. No more than “one week’s rent” may be taken. That is defined...
Tenant Fees Act 2019 – Elephant trap for the unwary!
Landlords be warned – From 1st June 2019 if you take a holding deposit (which must not exceed one week’s rent) ahead of a new letting, the Tenant Fees Act 2019 says it must be repaid if you go...
Forfeiture of holding deposits/reservation fees...
Imagine this scenario. A prospective tenant, T, answers an ad and phones up and arranges to view a property. T meets the Landlord, L, and agrees to rent the property for 12 months starting in 14 days’...