Repossession of a Residential Property: 5 Things a Landlord Should Do
Evicting tenants can be a complex and stressful process. This might be because they are behind on rent payments, are causing a nuisance or simply because, as landlord, you want the property back to live in or sell. Whatever the reason, you should follow the necessary procedure. Below are things you should consider if things…
Landlords’ Requirements: Rules And Regulations To Cover Your Back
Landlords in the domestic and non-domestic rental market are bound by a number of regulations which must be adhered to, and which are designed to protect both the tenant and the landlord. It is prudent for all landlords looking to rent out properties with confidence to fully explore the regulations which apply to them, but…
Everything You Need To Know About The Energy Efficiency Regulations 2018 (MEES)
March 2015 saw the Energy Efficiency Regulations passed which set out minimum energy efficiency standards (MEES) for private rented properties in England and Wales. Overview This means that from April 2018 it is unlawful for landlords to agree a new tenancy or extend an existing tenancy agreement for properties that have an energy performance certificate…
New legislation and regulations – protecting tenants or penalising landlords?
Landlords will be no doubt aware of the regulations currently in force surrounding Assured Shorthold Tenancies (ASTs) and due to new legislation this area of law is to be even more tightly regulated from 1st October 2015. The Deregulation Act 2015 (DA 2015) came into force on 1 October 2015 and the main provisions are summarised…
Ministers welcome proposals to boost private rented sector
Housing Minister Grant Shapps says the report compiled by Sir Adrian Montague provides a blueprint for building more good quality homes. Most of the private sector in the UK is managed by individual landlords. This is likely to remain the case but Sir Adrian’s report says there is potential for much greater investment in larger…
More landlords facing problems with rent arrears
Looking to the future, 37% of landlords are worried that they will experience more arrears in the coming months. NLA research shows that an average landlord with 12 lettings will have four tenants in arrears. The average cost of these arrears is £2,363. The NLA is advising landlords to work closely with tenants to help…
The importance of a landlord’s address when demanding rent
Failure to do so could result in tenants refusing to pay, as happened in a recent case that ended in legal proceedings. It involved a landlord who asked his agent to serve demands for payment of outstanding service charges. The address given on the demand was the business address of the agent. The case went…
Landlords risk losing thousands if they fail to consult tenants
In a recent case, Daejan Investments Ltd had to forfeit £270,000. Now Stenau Properties Ltd have fallen into the same trap. The Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 requires that landlords go through a thorough consultation process before imposing service charges on tenants. This process should set out what the charges are for and the precise…
Agency fined for getting information about tenant illegally
The offence took place in 2009 whenthe agency became concerned about overdue rent payments. One of its directors approached a local authority customer service adviser and asked him to obtain information about certain tenants from housing benefit records. The adviser provided the information as requested. The council began an investigation after receiving an anonymous tip-off…
Landlords must comply with new tenancy deposit rules
If they fail to do so, they could face fines and find it harder to evict tenants. The new rules are part of the Localism Act, which redefines the way landlords should protect the deposits given to them by their tenants. Tenancy deposit schemes were originally introduced in 2007. Under that system,landlords had to protect…
More ‘reluctant landlords’ entering the housing rental market
A survey of ARLA members showed that 47% had seen a rise in “unplanned lettings” by homeowners who either couldn’t sell or wanted to wait until the market improved so they would be able to sell for a higher price. It means that there are now many “reluctant landlords” who are turning to the private…
Bankruptcy and debt relief orders don’t ‘rule out possession orders’
That was the ruling of the Court of Appeal in two separate cases involving two tenants. Both tenants held assured tenancies and in both cases their landlords had applied for possession because of rent arrears. The first tenant had been made bankrupt before the possession hearing; the second tenant had obtained a debt relief order….
Demand for rented accommodation is outstripping supply
The Association of Residential Letting Agents (ARLA) says that the number of its members stating that there are more tenants than properties has reached the highest level since records began. A survey of ARLA members found that 74% of agents believe that demand is outstripping supply. This has remained constant for the last four quarters….
Buy to let landlords acquiring more properties
The Association of Residential Letting Agents (ARLA) and the Residential Landlords Association (RLA) conducted a survey of their members. The results showed that 30% of buy to let landlords in the North East had increased their portfolios in the last 12 months. The figure was 26% for both the Midlands and Greater London. The research…
Energy performance certificates needed for holiday lets
Until now, the certificates have not been necessary for short holiday lets where there is no intention to create a tenancy. That will change on 30th June when certificates will be needed for holiday homes which are let for four months or more in any 12-month period. This total can be made up of several…
Recession sparks rise in landlord and tenant disputes
Figures compiled by the legal publishers Sweet & Maxwell show a 43% increase in disputes in the High Court in London involving landlords and tenants of commercial property. The numbers rose from 28 in 2008 to 40 in 2009, the latest year for which data is available. However, these figures only cover cases involving sums…
Housing Trust’s appeal to strike out nuisance claim issued by tenant fails
This case could have real implications for landlords so is one to watch carefully. The tenant claims to have been suffering from nuisance on a paved area just outside their reception room for nearly four years (as well as nuisance from the communal areas). They issued proceedings against their landlord for failing to take reasonable…