Following a consultation launched in the summer that sought views from planners, councils and the wider public, the government has announced its plan for enabling the delivery of more homes across England. A housing need formula is currently used to provide a starting point in the process of local planning for new homes. An updated method […]

We own and rent out a maisonette (c. 1900) which is a single building, with one entrance leading to the ground floor flat and the second leading directly to the first floor flat. It appears that it was split into two flats sometime after it was built (perhaps c. 1960s). We purchased the property in […]

Despite having been a landlord for over 20 years, I only became aware yesterday of the existence of contractual periodic tenancies, as opposed to statutory periodic tenancies! I am now rather worried about this; when one of our fixed-term tenancies has come to an end I have – in good faith – been telling our […]

When foreign students rent an HMO, the landlord would normally require a UK guarantor or substantial rent up-front, since the ability to follow through with tenancy problems is probably non-existent. I was wondering what the situation is like though for dealing with the courts in Northern Ireland? Are there any student landlords out there with […]

The Government has responded to the petition – ‘Extend the Stamp Duty Holiday for an additional 6 months after 31st March 2021.’ Click Here It does not seem intent on extending the relief and easing the cliff edge many property purchases are looking to complete before despite the massive backlog in conveyancing. The response said: […]

For individual landlords and relatively new Partnerships, the changes to HMRC’s manuals could be very welcome news. The 3% additional rate does not apply to residential properties if a property rental business has a commercial element, e.g. flats over a shop or any other commercial property. Together with the Chancellors Stamp Duty incentive on transaction […]

I understand that disposal of a rental property must be reported and CGT paid within 30 days of the sale, but that reporting it is not required if there is no associated taxable gain. What I am not clear on is when a modest property profit combines with the profit on non-property disposal to exceed […]

Rightmove has forecasted an average 4% house price growth in 2021. The unexpectedly high market momentum of 2020 despite the pandemic and its economic fallout continues, and although uncertainties remain, demand for housing and buyer affordability appear to be strong enough to outweigh deflationary pressures. Rightmove is, however, predicting price rises to soften next year […]

Rough sleepers across England will receive extra support to help them recover from drug and alcohol misuse, Minister for Rough Sleeping and Housing, Kelly Tolhurst MP announced. Forty-three areas across England will receive support from a £23 million government fund designed for those with drug and alcohol support needs to get the help they need […]

14% of people have fallen behind on essential bills including energy, water, mobile phone and broadband bills, council tax, rent or mortgage payments the equivalent of seven million people in the UK, according to new research from Citizens Advice. A poll of 6,004 people, conducted by ICM Unlimited for the charity, also reveals 60% of […]

Moneyfacts UK Savings Trends Treasury Report data, not yet published, reveals that interest rates have dipped to record lows across the savings spectrum. This month the average easy access rate fell to 0.19%, which is less than a third of the rate of 0.60% paid a year ago. Fixed rates have also dropped with the […]

Landlords can have useful and symbiotic relationships with some councils providing accommodation where the area and property suit. There are vast differences between local authorities in their attitude and relationship with landlords and the ever-increasing pressure to turn to the private rented sector to relieve the strain on their Emergency Accommodation lists. This can lead […]

Dear Denise, The Government has responded to the petition you signed – “Allow Landlords to evict tenants where there are 14 days rent arrears”. Government responded: Landlords can seek possession where tenants have 14 days rent arrears, given emergency legislation, landlords must give 6 months’ notice in such cases before starting formal possession proceedings. We […]

Tenants, another reason why you are homeless – DWP have more holidays than Tamara Ecclestone. More reasons below why Landlords/Letting Agents are refusing Benefits tenants. Shelter, please talk to us. With your help & force & Media on your side, we can change this & thousands less will be homeless. And it’s FREE, CHEAPER! And […]

Thursday 10 December 2020 MHCLG has published an updated version of the How to Rent Guide (England). This guide sets outs the rights and responsibilities of both Landlords and Tenants within the private rented sector. Landlords, you (or your agent) must issue this up to date version of the ‘How to Rent Guide’ issued to […]

Hi there, I have a question regarding a rental lease taken out by my company naming me as the tenant. The particular director who authorised the lease has since resigned. The rent hasn’t been paid up to date and the Landlords want the house back. I received a letter saying we are squatting as the […]

Who is liable for additional out-of-pocket costs due to early termination of a lease by the tenant? An AST Lease was renewed in November 2019 to end on a fixed date 31 January 2021. The tenants want to leave on 21 December 2020 and rent has been paid until 31 December 2020. Because no notice […]

The Communities Secretary, Robert Jenrick, announced business owners affected by the pandemic will be protected from eviction until the end of March 2021. This final extension to protections from the threat of eviction will give landlords and tenants 3 months to come to an agreement on unpaid rent. The government is clear that where businesses […]

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has today (10/12/2020) updated the How to Rent guide: Click here to download. The statutory requirement is for a tenant to be provided with the version of the guide current at the time of the new tenancy and failure to serve the most up to date guide […]

As the government prepares to roll out the first coronavirus vaccines, much of the nation will be anticipating a return to a more ‘normal’ life in 2021, but for London’s housing market there may be no going back to normal. New research from flatshare site SpareRoom shows that 49% of London’s renters who intend to […]

the National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA) Wales have released their manifesto for the forthcoming election, explaining that only when the private rented sector (PRS) is regarded as part of the solution to the housing crisis can landlords and tenants prosper. The representative body has six key calls for parties standing in the 2021 Welsh Parliament […]