Most UK property investors are still confident in the value and performance of their portfolios – and 71% have not seen a decline in the value of their portfolios since December 2021. That’s when the Bank of England began raising interest rates from the historic low of 0.1%. The research from Sourced Franchise also found […]

Hello, I am having to get a DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service, I’m not sure of all the abbreviations for lettings etc.,) for my Selective License. I emailed the council, asking what the point was, and if I had a criminal record, that doesn’t stop me from owning a house and renting it out. The […]

The supply of homes to rent in London is improving, two leading firms in the sector say. Flat share platform SpareRoom says that the ratio of tenants looking for somewhere to live has fallen, year-on-year. It adds 5.6 active renters were looking for rooms last month – down from 6.2 in July last year. For […]

Hi, My Fire Risk Assessment and myself have a difference of opinion on whether emergency lighting is required in the communal area of a small block of flats. The block has 2 ground floor flats with separate entrances and 2 first floor flats who enter via a communal hallway. The communal entrance door is glass […]

Landlords need more help in achieving the government’s energy performance certificate (EPC) aims for the private rented sector (PRS) by reducing the number of hurdles to access cash help. That’s the view of Gina Peters, the head of landlord and tenant at Dutton Gregory Solicitors, who says that the government needs to review its Energy […]

Just days after threatening private rented sector (PRS) landlords with taking control of properties they don’t license and look after; a council has been told to pay a tenant £5,400 in compensation. The Housing Ombudsman announced the payment for prolonged damp and mould neglect in a home – a problem that ran for more than […]

Hi everyone, I’m seeking help for an issue the RTM (Right to Manage) is dealing with. The RTM gained legal status on April 28th, 2023, and we (I’m one of the two directors) hired a managing agent to handle the block on our behalf. Unfortunately, there’s a disagreement with the freeholder due to plans to […]

A tenant activist group says the government needs to step in and help renters and put in place long-term solutions to the housing crisis – including the unfreezing of Local Housing Allowance (LHA). The call comes from Generation Rent after the housing charity Shelter warned that 51% of tenants are ‘just one pay cheque away’ […]

Thousands of sitting tenants are facing eviction due to struggling landlords selling their properties before the tenancy agreement ends, research reveals. House Buyer Bureau says there has been a ‘landlord exodus’ in recent months across the country as landlords struggle to make a profit in the face of rising BTL mortgage rates. Its analysis also […]

Hello, a landlord owns a house which has been converted into 4 flats – 3 studios and a 2 bedroom in the loft. Each flat is registered with the council and has its own address. He is currently waiting for his application for a Lawful Development Certificate (LDC) to be approved and in the meantime, […]

The strongest tenant demand in the country is being seen by landlords in outer London and the East Midlands, research reveals. Paragon Bank says that in the second quarter of this year, 91% of landlords in outer London reported a surge in tenant demand, with 67% stating the growth is ‘significant’. In the East Midlands, […]

A survey of private renters has found that 51% of them are just one missed ‘pay cheque’ away from being made homeless. The findings from Shelter also found that more than a third said they did not have enough savings to cover their rent if they were to face unemployment. The charity’s study also reveals […]

Despite a rise in student numbers heading to university this year, there has been a big 24.5% drop in the number of student homes available to rent, a survey reveals. The findings from Savills highlight that the number of student homes to rent is lower now than before the pandemic hit, but student numbers have […]

Rising mortgage rates mean that renting a home in the UK is now a more cost-effective option than buying a home for the first time since 2010, one analysis reveals. The findings from Zoopla highlight that the average monthly rent is now £1,163, while the average monthly mortgage payments for first-time buyers, considering a 15% […]

Hello, when our tenant stormed out following bailiffs eviction, he left everything behind. Stuff on the walls and floors and items in cupboards! Our agent served Abandonment Notice on the same day, giving 21 days before we dispose of items. As I can’t start refurbishment yet, I am losing time and money, again! Can I […]

Housing associations, social landlords and developers across England are being urged by the government to allow childminders to work from their rented homes. The children and families minister, Claire Coutinho, says the initiative will help boost childminding numbers and expand childcare options for parents. She has now written to social landlords saying they should offer […]

The mismatch between supply and demand is putting huge pressure on renters, according to a new report. The latest figures from Propertymark’s Housing Insight report reveal a 38% increase in the number of prospective tenants looking for a property compared to July 2022. However, the number of properties available has only risen by 24% meaning […]

Hello, just checking if anyone has used a LawDepot tenancy agreement. I’m in the process of giving my tenant a new six-month tenancy agreement (to replace the rolling one) with a small rent rise. She agreed to this a few weeks ago and also understands that I will need to raise the rent considerably (to […]

A major shortage in rental properties leaves tenants struggling to get on the property ladder, according to a new survey. A survey of 600 tenants by estate agents HOP reveals more than 70% of respondents want to own their own home, but for three-quarters of these not having a sufficient deposit is holding them back. […]

Students will be paying 30% more in rent this year as they head back to their studies, one index has found. The NatWest student living index reveals that the increase has pushed the national monthly rent average to £591. Unsurprisingly, London is the UK’s most expensive for student rent, with an average cost of £840. […]

Hello, the government have updated the procedure for a landlord to request a direct deduction from a tenant’s benefits to pay for rent arrears and for it to be paid directly to the landlord. Landlords can also request direct rent payments if these have not already been established. Even if your tenant is not in […]