Page 297 – Property118
pic of a tenant signing tenancy contract property118

Forged signature? Court hearing for possession claim

22nd May 2023

Hello, I have a tenant who denied that she signed the tenancy receipt document at the court hearing in April. I tried to evict her using section 21. The judge told her to write a witness statement that she did not sign the NRLA Tenant Receipt Document. She denied receiving How to Rent, the EPC, […]

pic of landlord changing a light bulb tenants property118

How many tenants does it take to change a light bulb?

22nd May 2023

Hello, During a routine property inspection by my letting agents, the tenant advised that the bulb in a bathroom wall fixture had failed. He said he did not know how to undo the fixture to replace the bulb and the inspection report has come back that it is a “landlord repair”. The fixture itself is […]

pic of sun and climate change as landlords worry about epc ratings property118

41% of landlords see the ‘importance of EPC regulations’

22nd May 2023

Landlords are apparently feeling the pressure over proposed environmental regulations with 41% believing it is essential to meet the planned Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) requirements, research reveals. According to Mortgage Advice Bureau, landlords are keen to do their bit ‘for the greater good of the planet’. There is currently no legal obligation for a landlord […]

Smart home energy dashboard displaying EPC efficiency ratings for property upgrades

EPC A-C proposals affecting landlords/tenants and owner occupiers alike?

22nd May 2023

Hello, the Renters’ Reform Bill, should it be enacted, will as we know mean even fewer rental properties available and higher rents (supply and demand). Never mind rental properties not being able to meet EPC A-C  that cannot legally be rented out! What happens to those tenants living in properties that cannot meet EPC A-C? […]

property prices, rents,

Improving house market pushes prices up to a record high

22nd May 2023

The UK’s property prices are rocketing again with the latest figures revealing a surge in the average price of homes being put up for sale, research reveals. Rightmove says there has been a whopping 1.8% increase – or £6,647 – in price to push them up to a new record of £372,894. The property platform […]

pic of a cannabis farm - landlords warned about criminals property118

Landlords warned of criminals using properties as cannabis farms

22nd May 2023

A new campaign has been launched to raise awareness of rented properties being used by criminal gangs to produce cannabis. The charity Crimestoppers has launched a campaign after it received more than 14,000 anonymous reports in 2022 about cannabis being illegally grown in their community. It says that illegal cannabis cultivation can cause thousands of […]

Knight-themed Landlord Crusader logo symbolizing landlord advocacy

Landlord Crusader: Section 21 abolition – congratulations to Shelter et al

19th May 2023

And so, it came to pass – section 21 notices to gain possession of a rented property will be no more and there was only the wailing of landlords that could be heard. So, I guess, congratulations to Shelter and Generation Rent and all the others on a media campaign that focussed on the vilification […]

pic of major works sign leaseholder wants to know about paying upfront property118

Do I pay upfront for major works?

19th May 2023

Hello, I own two flats in a block of four, so there are 3 lessees. There is a managing agent for the freeholder who is less than efficient and very expensive but that’s another matter. Major works are scheduled (and required) and we have agreed on the contractor after tenders went out. The agent has […]

Hybrid LLP Action Group Motives

19th May 2023

Mark Smith, Head of Chambers at Cotswold Barristers said … “This (the Hybrid LLP Action Group) is not a knee-jerk reaction or an attempt to undermine other advisers’ work for the sake of it.  The Hybrid LLP Action Group arises from a number of landlords approaching us with concerns about the robustness of their structures […]

Pic of frustrated landlord because a tenant will not leave.

Tenant will not let anyone into property?

19th May 2023

Hello, Can anyone from the Property118 community please offer me any advice? My tenant has not paid for a year (Don’t ask, that’s a whole other story!) and the gas and electric certificates are due but the tenant will not let anyone into the property or answer any communications directed to her at all! My […]

Is this the death of property investing?

19th May 2023

Many people believe that we are seeing “The Death of Property Investing” because single-let properties, just don’t stack up any more.  And for the 82% of landlords who only have single lets properties this might be true. However, at times like this, the only way to prosper with property is to control property which generates […]

pic of man hugging a tree greens want a rent freeze and evictions ban property118

Greens want rent freezes as part of the Renters’ Reform Bill

19th May 2023

The Green Party is calling for the Renters’ Reform Bill to go much further than the government is planning for – and says there should be an ‘immediate rent freeze’. The party is also urging for councils to get the power to implement rent freezes where they might be necessary. There is also a call […]

pic of landlady leaseholder researching leasehold law uk property118

Ambiguity in lease – who does it fall to?

19th May 2023

Hi, Our block of flats has recently had a section 20 notice issued, with a large cost attributed to the four leaseholders in the building. All of us have contested this as we believe that not only are the works unnecessary, the costs are unfair and unreasonable. We feel that the lease is ambiguous on who […]

Pic of landlord with rent guarantee insurance forms property118

Rent guarantee insurance recommendations?

19th May 2023

Hello, I have adequate landlord buildings insurance etc and that comes with legal protection etc. What I do not have is rent guarantee insurance. I don’t want to sign up to an agent to get access to this, nor do I need cover that overlaps with what I have. I also only want it for one […]

Property expert warns landlords rushing Section 21 evictions before ban

Renters’ Reform Bill: Landlords panic and are selling up

19th May 2023

One firm says it has been seeing landlords panic and sell up over the prospect of what the Renters’ Reform Bill means for them. The eviction and housing law specialists Landlord Action says April was its busiest month for 23 years. It also says that the serving of section 21 notices has rocketed by 91% […]

Pic of court order after s21 landlord tenant property118.com

Is applying for a CCJ before applying for a section 8 a good idea?

19th May 2023

Hello, my agent sent this in response to a tenant in arrears. Is this legal? Response: The tenant currently owes £2350 in rent arrears we will take steps to secure this debt by way of a CCJ. It will be about 14 days before we are in a position to submit the CCJ application, the […]

Renters Reform Bill worse than feared

18th May 2023

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 security of income and student landlords in particular will find the tenants will not pay for the summer holidays. One […]

Pic of tenant's moving boxes eviction s8 landlord property118

Does a landlord give notice for end of tenancy agreement?

18th May 2023

Hello, I have a tenant on a six month assured tenancy agreement who is currently refusing to pay rent. I have issued a section 8 notice and this is going through due process. The tenancy ends on 15th July 2023 with the last rent due on 16th June. My concern is, among others, that the […]

Pic of suspended ceiling in a leasehold flat landlord epc property118

EPC challenge with a flat within a social housing block?

18th May 2023

Hello, I own a flat on the top floor of a social housing block of 60 flats owned by Wandsworth Council. I’ve just had the EPC renewed in order to replace my mortgage as it is coming off its cheap deal and it has come in as a poor D on account of the flat […]