Can anyone advise on the periodicity / frequency with which Fire Assessments and Health and Safety Assessments should be undertaken? We own two maisonettes in a development of 8 – there are 4 ground floor apartments and 4 first floor apartments – all of which have their own entrances and there are no internal communal […]

Over the past year we have seen Mandatory HMO licensing increased in scope to include all properties with 5 or more occupants, where they belong to two or more households. Since this we have seen a dramatic increase in the use of prosecutions, civil penalty fines and Rent Repayment Orders against Landlords. Many landlords, doing […]

Landlords of private rented homes and their agents are urging the Scottish Government to consider the consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic on Scotland’s ongoing efforts to improve the energy efficiency of Scotland’s private rented homes. Four membership organisations representing the private rented sector have joined forces and written an open letter to Kevin Stewart, Minister […]

Homelessness Minister Luke Hall has announced charities supporting vulnerable rough sleepers will be able to continue their vital work, backed by £6 million of government funding. A total of 132 charities across England will have access to the funding meaning they can continue to support those experiencing homelessness during coronavirus and beyond. This includes providing […]

Okay so we are working through the new extended claim form for possession of property (tenant wants to be evicted…… so she can get her council house). Doing very well, but stumped at Question 14 which appears initially to be a very simple question: Has the claimant given the defendant, and to anyone who paid […]

I have a tenant who has decided to withhold her rent for each day the hot water has been off. Is she being reasonable or am I right to be miffed? I have had a few problems with my boiler lately, but also pay for a gold service plan with the manufacturer. Unfortunately they usually […]

Hello, I had a property ready for rent and the contract had been signed with party moving in. However, after almost 2 weeks the other party pulled out and said they were no longer able to move in due to change in job circumstances. I now have lost the two weeks rent plus I am […]

If it wasn’t enough that we are now expected to provide housing services for free for very lengthy periods – due to the eviction ban – where tenants decide not to pay the rent, the left are also trying to get rent arrears cancelled and even rent-free housing. I don’t know what planet they are […]

At the beginning of May we responded to a Call for Evidence to an Inquiry by MHCLG. Our ‘evidence’ and criticism of the governments treatment of the PRS in general and more specifically during the Suspension of Possession proceedings was brutal. The First interim report by MHCLG ‘Protecting rough sleepers and renters’ was published on  […]

Do I have to issue a completely new Tenancy Agreement (TA) if the only thing that is changing is adding a tenant’s partner to the contract? The initial TA was set up and agreed – a single mum and two kids. I knew the father of the kids visited on and off, but when I […]

Moneyfacts UK Mortgage Trends Treasury Report data, not yet published, reveals that there are glimmers of hope emerging for the Buy to Lat mortgage market, following the significant initial impact of the Coronavirus pandemic. In welcome news to many landlords, the choice in products has increased, and some higher loan-to-value (LTV) average rates have reduced. […]

I would like to ask whether a signed and witnessed completed Deeds of Grant of Estate Rent, can be changed at a later date by the Residents Association? I am a freeholder on a mixed tenancy development and as the grantor wish to secure the proper maintenance of the works listed with the deeds. The […]

The tenant fee ban transition period ended on the 1st of June 2020 in England. I have ASTs that started before 1st June 2019 and have transitioned into statutory and contractual periodic tenancies started before 1st June 2019. My question is do I need to refund the extra deposit taken before to meet 5 weeks […]

The government extended the suspension of new evictions in England and Wales until 23 August. The extension announced by the Housing Secretary takes the moratorium on evictions to a total of five months. Ministers are also working with the judiciary, legal representatives and the advice sector on arrangements, including new rules, which will mean that courts […]

The NRLA have expressed disappointment at the decision by Ministers to extend the ban on evictions in rented housing by a further two months. It will be a further impetus to landlords leaving the market as confidence is at an all-time low. Ben Beadle, Chief Executive of the National Residential Landlords Association said: “This decision […]

With the lockdown caused by Covid-19, we saw the UK property market effectively shut down for a period of two months, with only essential moves taking place. Lenders responded by cutting LTVs, reducing product ranges, or closing the door for new applications altogether. For those in the property market, it was an event reminiscent of […]

There is no eviction crisis looming for private sector tenants, as new independent polling shows almost all have been able to pay their rent as usual during the coronavirus pandemic. In the survey of over 2,000 tenants across England and Wales, 90 per cent said that they had paid their rent as usual since the […]

The latest Halifax House Price index is showing on a monthly basis, house prices in May were 0.2% lower than in April and in the latest quarter (March to May) house prices were 0.5% lower than in the preceding three months (December to February) However, house prices in May were 2.6% higher than in the […]

I own a small rental house miles away from me which is fully managed by an agent. My tenant constantly falls into arrears which until now she has eventually paid off, but she either ignores the agents or makes them promises she does not keep so she has caused a constant fuss. After the virus […]

Really need some help or advice please! A close friend has very recently let her property and is now having to deal with everyone’s worst nightmare, a non paying tenant who is very difficult! Long story short the tenant moved in April 6th after pressuring her with all sorts of stories (having to live in […]

This week, Secretary of State Thérèse Coffey took questions from the Economic Affairs Committee on the economics of Universal Credit.  As part of this she told MPs that she does not want to see a return to the widespread use of direct rent payments to landlords with tenants in receipt of housing benefit, despite praising […]