Refusal To Allow Entry For Gas Safety Inspection and Ant-Social Behaviour – Ground 14
Landlord’s Housing Management Functions A very common question that we get is what to do when a tenant refuses to allow a landlord or contractor entry for routine maintenance such as gas safety records or fire alarm testing. We have a number of letters available but...
New Online Development Course For Accreditation
The Private Rented Sector Accreditation Scheme (PRSAS) has produced a new online development course for landlords or agents wishing to become accredited. The new design provides enhanced navigation through the course and achievement badges are awarded at specific...
Change to Rent Book Prescribed Information in Wales
Where a person occupies premises and the rent is payable weekly, a landlord must provide a rent book [section 4 Landlord and Tenant Act 1985]. Such a rent book must contain the name and address of the landlord and where the tenancy is an assured or assured shorthold...
Land Registry launches Property Alert service to help fight property fraud
Today, (4 March 2014), the Land Registry is launching a new service called Property Alert aimed at anyone who thinks their property could be at risk of fraud. Property fraud can happen in many ways. For example, fraudsters may attempt to acquire ownership of a...
More Robust Tests For In Work Migrants From EEA
Migrants from the European Economic Area (EEA) who claim to have been in work or self-employed in order to gain access to a wider range of benefits will face a more robust test from 1 March 2014. Being defined as a ‘worker’ under EU law allows people more generous...
Change of Calculation to Local Housing Allowance in Certain Areas
From April 2014 [2], a different method of setting the local housing allowance will apply in some broad rental market areas and category of dwellings. In these cases, the rate will be increased by 4 per cent, subject to a maximum local housing allowance of £258.06 for shared accommodation, £258.06 for one bedroom, £299.34 for two bedrooms, £350.95 for three bedrooms and £412.89 for four bedrooms.
Review of property conditions in the private rented sector
The government [announced a package of measures](https://www.gov.uk/government/news/a-brighter-future-for-hardworking-tenants) on 16 October 2013 to help ensure that tenants get a good deal when they rent a home. The measures included a commitment to undertake a...
Masih v Yousaf – Section 8 Notice and Schedule 2
Masih v Yousaf [2014] WL 320301 6 February 2014 (no transcript of the judgment available at the moment, working off a Westlaw report) Section 8 notice When a tenant is in rent arrears, a section 8 notice may be served and is commonly used where the tenant is in...
Universal Credit and Rented Housing Frequently Asked Questions
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has produced a FAQ document specifically aimed at Universal Credit and rented housing. [1] Timescales of Universal Credit The document explains the roll out of Universal Credit … By spring 2014, Universal Credit will be...
Annexes With Relatives to Get Discounted Council Tax
In respect of annexes, there is already a Council Tax exemption where it is occupied by a dependant aged 65 years or over, or if severely disabled. [1] However, it does not apply to families. From 1 April 2014, The Council Tax (Reductions for Annexes) (England)...
Spencer v Taylor Section 21 Notices Final Thoughts
Time has passed since Spencer v Taylor [2013] EWCA 1600 changed everything we...
Council Tax Material Interest – The Final Determination
Introduction CT v Horsham...
Direct Payment Demonstration Project: Learning and Payment figures
During it’s preparations for the rollout of Universal Credit, six projects have been testing various aspects of Universal Credit including direct payment to landlords when arrears accrue. The legislation allows for direct payment to landlords in certain circumstances...
Housing Benefit Uplift for Special Cases
Housing benefit rates are determined by calculating average rents for each category of property (such as shred room, one bedroom etc.) in accordance with the Rent Officers (Housing Benefit Functions) 1997 or the Rent Officers (Universal Credit Functions) Order 2013....
Section 21 Notices – Spencer v Taylor – Fixed Term and Periodic
Spencer v Taylor [2013]...
MyDeposits To Automatically Un-Protect Certain Deposits Where Statutory Periodic Tenancy Arises
MyDeposits has announced that it is to automatically unprotect some deposits where tenancies turn statutory periodic from the winter of 2013 / 2014 Unless landlords or letting agents take some action. No actual date has been announced. According to their website: You...
Universal Credit and Credit Union Accounts
One of the worries about the new Universal Credit currently being rolled out in phases is direct payment to landlords. Although it looks like direct payment will be possible in much the same way as is currently available (where a certain amount of arrears are reached...
The Value of a Rogue Landlord
We hear a lot of talk about “rogue landlords” but what is the head of a rogue landlord worth I wonder? Well it would seem that the Housing Minister Mark Prish MP has put a price on such a head because he has just written to all local housing authorities...
Another Report Into The Private Rented Sector
The House of Commons Communities and Local Government Committee has published a first report on the private rented sector. In the lengthy report a number of recommendations are made including: Conduct a wide-ranging review to consolidate legislation, with the aim of...
Article 8 Proportionality and Private Landlords Possession
The idea that an Englishman’s home is his castle is firmly embedded in English folklore and it finds its counterpart in the common law of the realm which provides a remedy to enable the owner of the castle to secure the eviction of trespassers from it. But what...
Coronavirus Guidance
Landlords Building Insurance
Guild subscribers can get preferential rates for landlords buildings insurance especially designed for landlords
