The housing market faced yet another setback as the average house price saw a decline of -0.3% in July, Halifax reports. Its data shows this is the fourth consecutive monthly drop, and it is an average drop in value of £1,000. However, signs of resilience are emerging, driven by increased market activity, though Southern England […]

In a strange situation, a letting agency has asked a landlord to be a guarantor for their own tenants. This means should the tenants stop paying the rent it will be the landlord who covers their payments. The PRS redress schemes make it clear in their conduct codes that guarantors are separate to landlords and […]

Tenants should be protected from eviction for six years after their home’s Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) has been improved to help encourage them to apply for grants to help pay for the work. That’s the verdict of Generation Rent which says that energy efficiency grants have been provided to owner-occupiers at a rate five times […]

Hello, I have a tenant who is 6 months behind in rent.  To my shame and embarrassment, I’ve only just noticed as it is a block of flats and I own them all so the bills were still being paid. I noticed there wasn’t as much money in the account as I expected yesterday and […]

New government figures on Capital Gains Tax (CGT) point to a significant number of landlords leaving the buy to let sector, according to one wealth management firm. Quilter says the data reflects a wave of landlords who are exiting the market due to rising mortgage rates, reforms in the private rented sector (PRS), and the […]

With interest rates on the rise, landlords may face some challenges, particularly those without fixed mortgages. However, amidst the potential uncertainties, there are also opportunities that can be harnessed within the Private Rented Sector (PRS). One immediate benefit is the increased demand for rental properties. As interest rates fluctuate, the housing market remains unpredictable and […]

Landlords! Are you fully up to date with the law? Are you worried that you are not complying with all of your legal obligations? Would you like a quick refresher course? Starting on 7 August 2023 – Landlord Law will be running a new 20-part FREE email series to bring you up to date with […]

We’ve all been hearing about the government’s green plan for the private rented sector. But are the plans actually as ‘green’ as they make out to be? The government believe heat pumps could be the answer to help tackle the energy-efficiency problem in PRS homes. This Property118 investigation looks at all the details to do […]

Hello, I have a long lease on a purpose-built flat in London which I occupy. Other flats in the block have been let by their leaseholders on ASTs. The block has become very rundown and requires extensive work. Some of the ’renters’ (those with an AST) have complained to the local council about the conditions […]

Landlords who own properties with an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of D or lower are actively planning to improve their ratings to at least a C, research reveals. The findings from Landbay’s quarterly landlord survey indicate that nearly two-thirds of landlords (65%) currently possess properties rated D, E, F or G. However, 34% of […]

Generation Rent claims that three in five private renters (60%) have experienced higher rent demands in the past year – but 40% of tenants HAVE NOT seen their rents rise. The organisation’s survey also reveals that the number of tenants reporting rent hikes due to rising interest rates has tripled since the last survey in […]

Hello, the order for possession (accelerated procedure) orders the tenant to pay me fees. However, it also gives the following warning to the tenant: “If you do not pay the money owed when it is due and the claimant takes steps to enforce payment, the order will be registered in the Register of Judgments, Orders […]

Questions are being asked over a new government initiative that offers free expert legal advice – including having a lawyer in court – for tenants facing eviction or home repossession. Known as the Housing Loss Prevention Advice Service, the scheme will provide legal support for up 38,000 people every year. The renter can access the […]

Hello, I rent out a residential property to a senior citizen. There is a garage which is full of her stuff from her previous house. The problem is the garage has a leaky roof which is corrugated asbestos. I have engaged a roofer to replace the asbestos with metal sheets and remove the existing (using […]

The Bank of England has implemented its 14th consecutive interest rate hike to address surging prices. The UK’s interest rate now stands at 5.25%, up by 0.25% from the previous 5%. The move marks the first time since April 2008 that the base rate has reached this level. While lower than July’s dramatic rise .5% […]

The Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) voted by a closer majority than last time of 6–3 to increase Bank Rate by a quarter of a percent, to 5.25%. Two MPC members voted to increase the rate by 0.5% and one member preferred to stabilise and make no change. This is with the backdrop […]

Did you know that it is now possible to get ‘cashback’ when you do a product switch with your mortgage lender? A product switch can be arranged between three and six months before your existing fixed rate comes to an end. Also, if the new product switch rates reduce in that time you will get […]

The Property Ombudsman (TPO) dealt with 14,000 complaints from landlords and tenants last year about letting agents, it has been revealed. There were also 1,500 complaints from tenants about a landlord with no agent involved. And the TPO dealt with more than 3,000 complaints from leaseholders about their managing agent. However, the TPO highlights that […]

Hello, I rent out several 2-bed flats and I’m concerned about the increased fire risk when these devices are recharged in the hallway which is the escape route. What is the best solution? Should I include a disclaimer in the contract or should I give advice and just say no to recharging in the flat? […]

A lettings firm says private landlords in London need to be wary when dealing with agents who make enticing promises of rent increases. Hello Neighbour warns that, on average, there is a significant 15% drop from the initial listed rent price compared to what is agreed upon by the tenant. And in some London postcodes […]

Hello, a council tax bill was sent to my rental property which was empty for one month during a new tenancy. I notified the council that all correspondence should be sent to my residence.  In the past it has but last year it didn’t. The new tenant kept letters and demands and court orders from […]