Poor Buy to Let Housing Is the Government’s Fault, Say Academics
Buy to let regulation is too confusing and patchy because the government does not have a joined up policy for the private rental sector, claims a new report. Too many departments and agencies are involved and make decisions without evidence leaving landlords and...
Prescribed Information (How To Rent Guide) To Be provided
Prescribed Information (How To Rent Guide) To Be provided The next job for landlords in England is to provide “prescribed information” which should be given to a tenant at the time of granting a new tenancy and ultimately before a section 21 notice can be...
Hefty Penalties for Landlords Missing HMO Licensing Deadline
Time is running out for landlords to apply for shared house licences in England under new legislation that starts from October 1. Around 160,000 houses in multiple occupation in England need a licence under the new rules even though they fall outside of the current...Completing Bailiff Form (N325)
High Court Enforcement Officers If you have obtained permission to transfer to the High Court at the time of applying for possession and still wish to transfer and use the High Court Enforcement Officer, please continue to follow that guidance. If you haven’t...
HMRC Cracks Down on Home Owners Claiming CGT Relief
The tax man is cracking down on cases where home owners are claiming reliefs against capital gains tax. Two recent appeals before the First Tier Tax Tribunal demonstrate how HM Revenue & Customs is scrutinising filings by home owners living in properties for a...
Ruling Outlaws Landlord Eviction Services as Illegal
Landlords instructing rent eviction specialists who are not solicitors to evict tenants need to be careful as the eviction specialist will normally not be allowed to represent the landlord. A judge has ruled that eviction services that take tenants to court are acting...
Landlord Damage Claims Curtailed in Tenants Fees Bill
Landlords will no longer be able to claim excessive fees for minor damage or lost keys when tenants move out of a private rented home. The move is a much-sought after amendment to the Tenant Fees Bill which bans landlords and letting agents claiming upfront fees at...
Shared House Was Worst Housing Officers Had Seen in a Decade
Landlord David Green owns the worst letting property housing officers have seen in Birmingham for a decade. Inspecting his four-storey shared house split into 10 flats, they recorded a catalogue of shameful breaches of fire, health and safety rules. The home had...
How Buy to Let Profits Can Fund Uni Tuition Fees
Investing in buy to let to help children through university is proving profitable with landlords. Property prices in the leading university towns and cities have risen so fast over the past three years that the profits in some easily cover tuition fees. Coventry leads...Trespasser Possession Procedure
Introduction Before using this procedure, you should check by reading the other parts of this section that the occupier is truly a trespasser. In addition some form of notice before proceedings are commenced should have been served on the occupiers explaining you...Trespasser or Tenant?
The definition of when a claim against a trespasser can be made is: “a possession claim against trespassers’ means a claim for the recovery of land which the claimant alleges is occupied only by a person or persons who entered or remained on the land...
Banning Orders – Housing and Planning Act 2016
As previously reported, from 6 April 2018, parts of the Housing and Planning Act 2016 commence introducing banning orders and a database of rogue landlords and property agents in England. Banning orders If a landlord is convicted of a “banning order offence” a local...
New Law to Tackle Bad Landlords and Unsafe Rented Homes
Landlords will have to take a more professional approach to managing rental property if a bill before Parliament becomes law. The Homes (Fit for Human Habitation) Bill is awaiting the last stage of debate and amendment in Westminster. Having won government backing,...
Tenant Demand Is Drying Up, Says Buy to Let Lender
Buy to let tenant demand is stagnating and stands at the lowest level for six years, according to research by a leading lender. The study by The Mortgage Works, the buy to let arm of the Nationwide Building Society, shows 37% of landlords report no change in tenant...
Landlords Building Insurance
Guild subscribers can get discounted landlords buildings insurance especially designed for landlords
