Landlords and tenants split on tenancy deposit schemes
Landlords and tenants are split on whether tenancy deposit schemes are a viable alternative to an upfront security deposit, research from letting agent Upad.co.uk has revealed. Deposit schemes work by allowing tenants to pay money into an insurance policy instead of paying for a deposit up front. A third (35%) of tenants reckon insurance deposits […]
Lawyers and MP draft Bill to give more repair powers to tenants
The Law Society Gazette has given more details of a Parliamentary Bill in preparation to give more powers to tenants to legally oblige landlords to fix hazards that pose a serious threat to their health and safety. The Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation and Liability for Housing Standards) Bill will have its second reading in […]
Rogue landlords enjoy an easy ride as councils fail to prosecute
Most local authorities have not secured a single prosecution, figures released under Freedom of Information Act reveal. Councils across Britain have been accused of letting rogue landlords off the hook, after new figures revealed that most have failed to secure a single prosecution. Almost six in 10 councils had not prosecuted any landlords in the […]
Theresa May is a buy to let landlord earning £10,000 a year
It’s been reported that Theresa May and her husband Philip jointly own a London apartment which is now let out and earns around £10,000 a year in rent. The property – modest by London standards, as it is said to be worth only £100,000 – has been occupied since August 2016; it used to serve […]
Insurance-Based Deposit Schemes Divide Buy To Let Sector
New insurance-based tenancy deposit schemes have divided landlords and tenants with regard to their effectiveness. A number of schemes have recently been launched with the aim of resolving tenant’s difficulties in raising the cost of a deposit by instead offering a monthly insurance payment. New research conducted by letting agent Upad.co.uk revealed differing concerns from […]
Confidence in UK housing slumps to five-year low
Londoners are the least confident about economic and housing prospects Confidence in UK house prices has plummeted to its lowest level since December 2012, according to the latest Halifax Housing Market Confidence Tracker. The survey, which tracks consumer sentiment on whether house prices will be higher or lower in a year’s time – has dropped […]
Young tenants hit by tax hike on landlords
One in five private landlords now less willing to rent to young people as a result of tax increases. New research shows one in five private landlords now less willing to rent to young people as a result of tax increases. With half of 16 to 34 year olds now living in the private rented […]
‘Help the rental sector solve the housing crisis’ Chancellor is told
A leading accountancy and business advice consultancy says residential landlords who want to downsize their portfolios because of recent tax changes should be incentivised to do so – and make more homes available to buy, as a result. Bishop Fleming says the Budget on November 22 is an opportunity for government to make it easier […]
Scottish Association of Landlords releases private residential tenancy video
A short video has been produced by the Scottish Association of Landlords (SAL) to inform landlords about the private residential tenancy agreement set to come into force in December. The changes to the private sector tenancy will apply to all new tenancies beginning on or after 1 December 2017. The aim of these changes […]
Illegal eviction of tenant leads to 12-month Community Service Order
A local authority has prosecuted a landlord for illegally evicting a tenant. Tendring district council prosecuted Lisa Bottone of Chelmsford who admitted the offence and was handed a 12 month Community Service Order with a rehabilitiation activity requirement of 20 days. She was further ordered to pay £75 costs to the victim Regina Dewar. The […]