HMRC Investigation Insurance
We belong to both the National Landlords Association and the Guild of Residential Landlords. One of the benefits of the NLA is insurance should we be subject to an HMRC enquiry. We are covered up to £75,000 costs for accountant’s and legal fees. Do we have such a benefit with the Guild? Sandra McManus
read moreSprinklers Required in Wales
From 7 April 2011, all residential properties in Wales that are new build or converted after this date are required to have an automatic fire suppression system installed (sprinkler system). The legislation bringing in this requirement is the Domestic Fire Safety (Wales) Measure 2011 and as the title suggests, the provisions only apply to wales. A discussion by Ann Jones AM – Labour Assembly Member for Vale of Clwyd is available here:- PDF Quick View (via Google Docs) Welsh Fire Sprinklers Blog The measures apply to building work...
read moreNew LHA Guidance Manual
The Department of Work and Pensions has issued a new Local Housing Allowance Guidance Manual to all local authority staff who deal with housing benefit. After having a quick glance through, it seems there are no major changes except of course to add information about the changes that took effect earlier this month. The other important stuff like 8 weeks arrears and payments to landlords generally remains ...
read moreRepossession
Hi Adrian What rights does a tenant have if a property is repossessed by the bank/lender
read moreChange of Tenancy for Student
Hi, We have a student HMO property which was let out to 5 students in July 2010 to June 2011. One of the students did not move into the property and found a replacement student who moved in and started paying rent from October 2011. Before she moved in a member of staff visited her at the property and asked her to sign a tenancy agreement of which we had crossed out the previous tenant and she then signed at the bottom. All other students were there at the time but they did not resign the agreement neither was it signed by a witness (the staff...
read moreWhat is classed as the rent due date when giving notice
Hi Adrian, You can create a tenancy where the periods are one date and the rent due is another date. However, what happens if you didn’t create a tenancy like this, but a tenant has always paid on a date different to the period date and you haven’t ever written requesting the tenant to pay on the period date (thereby realistically accepting this as the rent payment date). Douglas
read moreCourt Fees Increase from 4 April 2011
From 4 April 2011, court fees are to increase. The significant changes mainly affecting landlords are as follows: Accelerated Possession Claims: £175.00 (from £150.00) Standard Procedure Possession Claim (e.g. rent arrears): £175.00 (from £150.00) On-Line Possession Claim (rent arrears): £100.00 (same as before) Application fee (set aside, restore etc.): £80.00 (from £75.00) Warrant of Execution (Bailiff fee): £110.00 (from £95.00) In addition, from 1 April 2011 (so before the fees increase) the Tribunal Service is to merge with...
read moreLHA Transitional Period
I’ve had a number of calls recently regarding the 9 months transitional period concerning the announced changes to LHA from April 2011. Most enquiries are in relation to a letter from the local authority giving examples and it would seem most examples either conflict or differ between authorities. I thought therefore we would produce some guidance as to how the transitional period works. What’s changing? As a quick summary, the following changes take effect on 1 April 2011: An additional bedroom in any case where the customer or their...
read moreMy local authority is charging me 100% council tax for an empty dwelling. Is this allowed?
My property has been empty for a few months now. The council gave me the six month empty discount but six months has now passed and they are charging me the full amount of council tax rather than 50% which they used to charge. Are they allowed to do this?
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