landlord best practice Archives

A Section 8 notice stamped dismissed, with rent arrears paperwork in the background.

The Section 8 misstep that left a landlord without possession

14th November 2025, 10 months ago | 6

The landlord was dealing with persistent arrears and wanted a quicker route to possession. A Section 8 notice was served,...

A rental house with a civil penalty notice showing a £12,000 fine.

The selective licensing oversight that landed a landlord in hot water

Author: Mark Alexander

14th November 2025, 10 months ago | 2

The landlord was confident they were compliant. Gas and electrical checks were up to date, deposits protected, and tenancy agreements...

A Section 21 notice stamped INVALID on a desk surrounded by legal papers.

The Section 21 notice error that ruined a landlord’s case

Author: Mark Alexander

13th November 2025, 10 months ago | 6

The landlord thought they had done everything right. Arrears were mounting, and the time had come to regain possession. A...

An overcrowded bedroom with four beds squeezed into one rental room.

The rent-to-rent risk that caught out a landlord

Author: Mark Alexander

12th November 2025, 10 months ago | 4

On paper, it looked like the perfect arrangement. A company offered the landlord guaranteed rent each month and promised to...

A damaged living room with a rejected insurance claim letter on a coffee table.

The insurance blindspot that left a landlord unprotected

Author: Mark Alexander

11th November 2025, 10 months ago | 3

The property was well looked after, the tenants were reliable, and the landlord assumed their standard home insurance would cover...

A mould-covered damp wall beneath a window, showing damage from ignored repairs.

The ignored repair that backfired on a landlord

Author: Mark Alexander

10th November 2025, 10 months ago | 0

It began with a dripping tap and a small patch of damp by the window. The tenant reported it, but...

The unlicensed HMO that cost a landlord £20,000

Author: Mark Alexander

5th November 2025, 10 months ago | 3

The property was in demand, and rooms let quickly. The landlord thought they were simply maximising space by renting each...

An unprotected tenancy deposit form beside an open padlock and broken chain.

The unprotected deposit that sank a landlord’s case

Author: Mark Alexander

4th November 2025, 10 months ago | 2

The landlord thought they were on top of everything. Rent came in, repairs were done, and the tenancy rolled on...

Halloween Tenant Nightmares: Damage That Defies Description

Author: Mark Alexander

31st October 2025, 11 months ago | 1

End-of-tenancy walk-throughs rarely shock seasoned landlords. This one did. The front door stuck on a swollen frame, the air felt...

Two people shaking hands above a torn tenancy agreement on the floor.

The verbal agreement trap that cost a landlord dearly

Author: Mark Alexander

31st October 2025, 11 months ago | 0

It all started with trust. The landlord had let to the tenant before, so when they asked to extend their...

The Inventory That Charged for Thin Air – Letting Agent Fails Series

Author: Mark Alexander

21st October 2025, 11 months ago | 0

When it comes to renting property, inventories are supposed to protect both landlords and tenants by clearly listing what is,...

The House With a Skatepark Inside

Author: Mark Alexander

6th October 2025, 11 months ago | 0

This piece is part of our International Bizarre Landlord Stories series. Today’s story was first reported in the United Kingdom....

The Tenant Who Turned the Flat into a Mini-Zoo

Author: Mark Alexander

3rd September 2025, 1 year ago | 3

When a landlord carried out a routine mid-term inspection, they expected the usual checks on smoke alarms and décor. Instead,...

When a Tenant Turned the Garden into a Rubbish Tip

Author: Mark Alexander

1st September 2025, 1 year ago | 1

Landlords expect to see gardens a little overgrown between tenancies. What one landlord found, however, was more like a fly-tipping...

The Pet Rock That Needed a Lease Clause

Author: Mark Alexander

28th August 2025, 1 year ago | 1

Some tenancy requests are simple. Others make you reach for the red pen. This one began with a straight-faced email...

Scales balancing money against a tenancy agreement with text asking if it’s fair

Fees After Tenants Break a Contract: Fair or Not?

Author: Mark Alexander

27th August 2025, 1 year ago | 0

Most tenancies end without major dispute, but when a tenant breaks their contract early the question is always the same:...

A calendar with two conflicting move-in dates showing a tenancy paperwork mistake.

The tenancy date mix‑up that spiralled into a dispute

Author: Mark Alexander

21st August 2025, 1 year ago | 2

It started with a small admin slip, the kind that happens on a busy changeover day. The tenancy agreement had...

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