Page 261 – Property118

Can I sell though I’m going to trial?

7th December 2023

Hello, I issued my tenants with a s21 which they defended because the first Gas Safety certificate upon moving in was not valid as I didn’t use a Gas Safe engineer. I went to a possession hearing last week and now it’s going to trial next year. I’m thinking about selling my property with the […]

Councillor Grace Williams smiling in a white shirt against a plain background

Homeless refugees on the rise in London amid accommodation crisis

7th December 2023

London Councils is warning of a surge in rough sleeping among refugees and asylum seekers who are evicted from Home Office accommodation without adequate support. The cross-party group represents the 32 boroughs and the City of London, and it has released new research showing that 846 refugees and asylum seekers were homeless in October after […]

heating complaints, property 118

Service charge allocation: was a consultation required?

7th December 2023

Hello, my question is in the context of the Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Act 2002. Here is the relevant part of the law: “If your landlord – proposes works on a building or any other premises that will cost you or any other tenant more than £250, or proposes to enter into an agreement for […]

Property fraud risk is higher in some UK regions

7th December 2023

A new study has revealed that some regions of the UK may be more prone to property fraud than others, due to the higher proportion of mortgage-free properties in those areas. The study, conducted by client compliance platform Thirdfort, analysed data from a survey of 2,054 adults and found that the East Midlands, North East, […]

Labour wants to ban tenant bidding wars – landlord explains why that won’t work

6th December 2023

The Labour Party says it wants the UK to outlaw tenant bidding wars for rented homes, adopting a New Zealand policy, the Party’s Shadow Housing Minister, Matthew Pennycook, says. Several Australian states have also apparently followed suit and Labour says the practice ‘creates a competition among tenants’ which only benefits the landlord. Mr Pennycook says: […]

Tenant bidding wars lead to them paying £1,200 more

6th December 2023

A survey has revealed that four in 10 households renting privately (39%) that moved within the last year are paying an average of £1,200 a year above the advertised rate for their property. The findings from the New Economics Foundation (NEF) highlight the level of demand for falling numbers of homes to rent in England. […]

Real estate Sales manager giving keys to customer after signing rental lease contract of sale purchase agreement, concerning mortgage loan offer for and house insurance.

Freehold to leasehold flat – should I abandon the sale?

6th December 2023

Hi everyone, I had an offer accepted on a top floor flat which shares the building (built late 1800s) with two other flats. Each flat has its own freehold and each owner wants to convert the freeholds to leaseholds ASAP. The current situation is that building work/repairs and building insurance is split equally between each […]

Business professional in light blue blazer smiling against grey background

Landlords increase rent to cope with higher mortgage costs

6th December 2023

The majority of buy to let landlords in the UK have increased rent in the past year, mainly to cover higher mortgage costs, a new survey reveals. The findings from Landbay, which polled 1,000 landlords, revealed that 76% of them have raised rent over the past 12 months, with 51% citing mortgage payments as the […]

snooping

Snooping on benefit bank accounts (including landlords?)

6th December 2023

Hello, benefit claimants will reportedly have their bank accounts monitored under new “Big Brother” anti-fraud plans drawn up by the UK government. The law change was introduced in the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement. According to reports, benefit claimants could have their bank account checked every month to verify whether the claimant is telling the truth about […]

Periodic tenancies could make being a landlord riskier

6th December 2023

The Renters’ (Reform) Bill will scrap fixed-term tenancies (ASTs) and introduce periodic ones that could expose landlords’ properties to more damage, NoLettingGo warns. The managing director of the inspection specialists, Nick Lyons, said: “With ASTs there is a tenancy timescale in place from the start – 6, 12, 24 months – whatever it may be. […]

Two professionals discussing withheld landlord documents during a property handover.

Do I have a say in new leasehold managing company?

6th December 2023

Hi, I have just received a letter from the leasehold managing company informing me they are no longer going to manage in the future and that a new company will be taking over in January. My question is should I have been consulted on this? Can they just transfer to the new leasehold managing company […]

Sadiq Khan wants EPC measures for the PRS reinstated

5th December 2023

The mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, is calling for the legal power to impose a rent freeze in the capital AND reinstate the minimum EPC requirement for rented homes. He says that London’s renters could be paying more for their energy bills for years to come after the Prime Minister Rishi Sunak ditched the need […]

pic of landlord tenant law book RTM property118

Do I need to hand out the How to Rent leaflet?

5th December 2023

Hello, I have provided the How to Rent literature to my tenants when they moved in (and used a great deal of my printer ink!). I have since heard that I need to serve all my existing tenants with the Government’s latest version of this leaflet? If this is correct, am I alone in thinking […]

Replace old combi boiler?

5th December 2023

Hello, I’m considering replacing a combi boiler. However, in view of proposed changes in legislation regarding home heating that may (or may not) come into effect in the next few years, is now the time to reconsider what kind of heating system I should replace it with. I am considering different options such as a […]

Tenant’s deposit not registered by agent?

5th December 2023

Hello, Where does the landlord stand from the legal point on the following scenario? Tenant paid deposit when he moved in but apparently the letting agent didn’t register the deposit with any of the government backed schemes. Tenant had signed his AST tenancy agreement which stated that his deposit will be deposited with DPS. The […]

Renters are happy with location and flexibility, but not landlords or agents

5th December 2023

Most renters (76%) are happy with their current rented home, and more than half (54%) live in their preferred area, but many are dissatisfied with their landlords and letting agents, a new report reveals. The findings from OSB Group also found that tenants also value the flexibility of renting, as it allows them to move […]

Help! Tenancy without satisfactory EICR?

5th December 2023

Hello, I’m looking for some advice please. I had an EICR carried out a while ago, all arranged by the agents who arrange my ‘tenant find service’. The report came back as unsatisfactory, however, the agents have entered me into a tenancy agreement with the new tenants anyway. I am in the process of arranging […]

City unveils taskforce to crack down on criminal landlords

5th December 2023

A new initiative to combat criminal landlords who exploit vulnerable tenants and engage in criminal activities has been unveiled by one city council after it received £2 million from the Department for Levelling Up. Councillors on Liverpool City Council say its Private Sector Housing Intelligence and Enforcement Task Force will disrupt those landlords who work […]

Chief executive commenting on falling rent prices in England’s private rental sector

Rents rise across England despite winter slowdown

5th December 2023

Rents have increased across England by 7.3% compared to November 2022, despite the onset of the winter season, a leading rental index reveals. The latest report from Goodlord shows that the average price per property in November 2022 was £1,087, while the current figure is £1,166 – a £79 rise. The firm also says there […]

ONS data exposes UK’s soaring rent prices

5th December 2023

New data paints a picture of a widespread surge in rental prices across the UK. The ONS has published for the first time data, showing trends in rental price movements for local authorities in England and Wales and regions of Scotland. The figures reveal rents have spiked across England with Bristol seeing a staggering 60% […]

Propertymark policy head highlights concerns over the Renters’ Rights Bill’s impact on landlords and tenants

Legislation uncertainty causing chaos in PRS, claims industry body

5th December 2023

Uncertainty in legislation is causing high rents in the private rented sector, according to a new report. Propertymark’s Housing Insight Report, reveals 44% of letting agents have seen rents rise in October. One agent told the report that the Renters (Reform) Bill has caused landlords to become somewhat cautious. More carrot and less stick Nathan […]