According to the Association of Independent Inventory Clerks (AIIC) a large number of landlords and letting agents don’t have a clear understanding of what defines ‘fair’ wear and tear. As a result of a general lack of clarity many have unrealistic expectations at the end of a tenancy, which can lead to
According to major insurance companies, far too many landlords don’t have the correct insurance policies on their properties. Many buy the cheapest buildings and contents insurance policies in the mistaken belief that they are then covered, only to discover when they have to make a claim that they are
Research carried out by accommodation website SpareRoom.co.uk has revealed than an increasing number of tenants are under financial pressure, despite the fact that unemployment levels are falling and the economy is beginning to recover.
Undoubtedly there are plenty of letting agents who are fair,
The government’s Business Minister, Matthew Hancock, is aiming to introduce a new law that prevents landlords from banning a tenant from starting a home-based business. The way things currently stand a tenant has to ask his landlord for permission before he can start trading from a rented
Brent Council in London is considering whether to introduce a selective licensing scheme for private landlords. The cabinet is meeting next week to discuss proposals for the new licensing scheme and if the scheme is approved, it will be introduced into three wards initially (Willesden Green,
There has been a lot of mention in the popular press about so-called ‘retaliatory evictions’ whereby private landlords evict tenants when they complain or ask for repairs to be carried out. The Residential Landlords Association (RLA) wants to put these claims to rest and
Insurance firm Axa is warning landlords that they need to do more to protect themselves. According to research carried out by Axa, approximately 66% tenants freely admit to breaking their tenancy agreement. A further breakdown of the survey results revealed some
The National Landlords Association (NLA) has issued a press release reminding landlords of the importance of understanding and meeting their obligations to tenants. They are concerned that an increasing number of inexperienced landlords are entering the buy to let market, many of which
A Bill is being introduced into the House of Lords, which could eventually abolish the unfair and archaic chancel repair liability. If the Bill is eventually passed into law, home owners, including landlords, will no longer have to foot the bill for costly repairs to their local parish church.
Fire safety is a serious business, whether you are a home-owner or a landlord, but if you are a landlord, you cannot afford to ignore your responsibilities or people could die. Sadly there are fires in rented homes every year, some of which cause fatalities. Worryingly many of these are in
40,000 letters from HMRC are being sent to landlords all over the UK in the next four months, which is an indication that HMRC has stepped up its campaign to target property owners who it suspects are not paying any or enough tax on their property earnings.
Residents’ associations and tenants from Sedgefield, County Durham, are calling for a compulsory landlord registration scheme to be implemented in the hope that it will reduce the number of instances of anti social behaviour, noise, drug abuse and mess caused by a small minority of tenants.
One of the perils of being a landlord is that sometimes tenants move on without settling their utility bills. Since a tenant is responsible for paying the bills at a rental property (unless it says otherwise in the tenancy agreement), utility companies shouldn’t harass the landlord for the money. But when
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