Following a consultation on conditions in the private rented sector, the government has announced new measures requiring the installation of carbon monoxide and smoke detectors in rented homes. They say it will help to prevent up to 36 deaths per year. Landlords are welcoming the changes, which come into effect in October 2015.
A recent decision taken by the Upper Tribunal (Lands Chamber) could have a big effect on UK landlords. Leaseholders Charged for Expensive Improvements In Waaler v Hounslow [2015] the tenant disputed an obligation to pay for the cost of replacement windows in a block of flats.
New figures released by the National Landlords Association (NLA) have revealed that many tenants are bargaining with landlords to secure rental homes at below the advertised rent. Tenants Benefit from Bargaining Power The NLA data shows that 16 per cent of homes in the private rental sector are being let to tenants below advertised rates,
Back in April 2013, HMRC removed a tax concession that allowed landlords to claim wear and tear tax relief when they replaced white goods, curtains and carpets. However, according to research carried out by the Residential Landlords Association, 75 per cent of landlords are blissfully unaware of this important change in the tax rules.
Landlord deposits have risen by 15 per cent in the last 12 months. Landlords are now putting down an average of £100,000 as a deposit, which is a jump of more than £13,000. Because landlords are able to hand over larger deposits when they invest in new properties, they are able to access better interest […]
A Birmingham landlord has a nightmare clean up operation ahead after piles of rubbish were dumped outside one of his vacant properties following the departure of the tenants. The property has become a dumping ground for local residents and the pile of black bags, pallets, food waste and general rubbish is growing by the day.
The Scottish Government is introducing mandatory electrical testing on properties in the private rental sector that are covered by the Repairing Standard. The statutory regulation will come into effect from the beginning of December 2015 for new tenancies (which includes existing tenants who are signing a new lease).
The UK student sector has changed a lot over the last few years. Privately owned halls of residence accommodation have become more common in larger university cities and towns, which means that private landlords operating student accommodation are having to work harder in order to compete for student tenants.
Figures released by the Council of Mortgage Lenders show that buy to let lending soared in the UK during the last quarter of 2014. More than £7.7 billion was lent to landlords between October and December 2014, which is 32% more than the same period of 2013.
A large number of landlords have received letters from HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) warning them that HMRC knows they have rental properties. This comes after databases held by tenant deposit agencies were handed over to the taxman.
The Labour-controlled Welsh Government has introduced major new reforms to the private rental sector in Wales and if Labour is successful at the forthcoming general election, these changes will probably be rolled out across the rest of the UK.
Campaign group, Generation Rent claims private landlords are benefiting from government subsidies to the tune of £26bn a year. This figure is made up of housing benefit paid on behalf of tenants and tax breaks on property ‘wear and tear’, mortgage interest payments, and capital gains tax.
A government consultation is currently under way to look into whether eviction fees for county court possession should be increased by £75 per claim. If the scheme does not meet much in the way of disagreement, then the government will raise an £15 million by putting this into effect.
Many students feel that they are being charged too much rent. Over the last few weeks, students in Scotland and London have been campaigning against unfair rent increases, which in London are claimed to be around 5%.
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