01420 565310

0
0
Subtotal: £0.00

No products in the basket.

No products in the cart.

Painsmith Blog

Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018 – Guidance

The Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government has issued guidance for landlords and tenants on the Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018. This post will concentrate on the guidance issued to landlords which can be read here.  The Act came into force 20 March 2019 and applies to all tenancies which commence on …

Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018 – Guidance Read More »

Agent rating scheme

Property agents in Teignbridge, Devon are being invited to participate in a voluntary rating scheme similar to the ‘food hygiene rating scheme.’ Teignbridge District Council has introduced a Property Agent Rating Scheme (PARS) similar to the ‘food hygiene rating scheme.’ Landlords and tenants will see participating agents display window stickers and certificates in their offices …

Agent rating scheme Read More »

Right to Rent – case

On 1 March the High Court released its decision in the case of Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants (JCWI) against the Secretary of State for the Home Department. The High Court has held that the Right to Rent policy is unlawful. This is a summary of the judgement which can be read in …

Right to Rent – case Read More »

Right to Rent unlawful

On Friday the High Court held that the Right to Rent is in breach of the Human Rights Act and therefore unlawful. However, despite this decision landlords and agents will need to continue with their checks as they have done in the past. We have previously posted about the JCWI’s legal challenge of the Right to …

Right to Rent unlawful Read More »

Fraudulent documents

A landlord has been given a prison sentence for submitting forged documents to Barking and Dagenham Council who were investigating an HMO breach.  An Essex landlord was reported to Barking and Dagenham Council for converting a 3 bedroom house into a HMO. During their investigation the council enforcement officers discovered that the property had been …

Fraudulent documents Read More »

Overcrowding

Brent Council recently raided a property in Wembley and discovered 19 tenants in occupation.  Overcrowded properties have always been an issue in the private rental sector. However, the problem appears to be on the increase resulting in a number of prosecutions of unscrupulous landlords. Enforcement officers of Brent Council raided a property in Wembley and …

Overcrowding Read More »

Authority to Instruct

When taking instructions, it is always important to ensure that agents know who the landlord is and whether the person giving instructions (if different) has the legal power to do so.  This is one of those issues that we often discuss with clients on the PainSmith Helpline and it is usually not straightforward. We are …

Authority to Instruct Read More »

Tenant Fees Act

The Tenant Fees Bill received Royal Assent on 12 February 2019 meaning that it is now the Tenant Fees Act and will come into force on 1 June 2019.  In summary the Act bans letting fees paid by tenants to an agent or landlord in the private rented sector and caps tenancy deposits in England.  …

Tenant Fees Act Read More »

To-Let signs ban

Residents in parts of Lincoln will no longer see ‘To Let’ signs after the council was granted permission by the government to ban them altogether. Lincoln city council applied to the government for the ban under Regulation 7 of the Town and Country Planning (Control of Advertisements) (England) Regulations 2007. The ban is proposed to …

To-Let signs ban Read More »

Rogue Landlord Project

The Luton Rogue Landlord Project (RLP) has successfully prosecuted a landlord for multiple breaches of the House in Multiple Occupation Management Regulations.  The RLP is an initiative by Luton Borough Council, in partnership with the Bedfordshire Fire & Rescue service, Bedfordshire Police, Luton Law Centre and Luton Citizen’s Advice Bureau.  The project aims to tackle …

Rogue Landlord Project Read More »

Electrical Safety – update

The Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government (MHCLG) has published its formal response to the consultation held on electrical safety in Private rented properties.  The response reiterates what has been said previously in that subject to parliamentary time, regulations will be introduced requiring private landlords to undertake 5 yearly checks of electrical installations in …

Electrical Safety – update Read More »

Landlord Redress Schemes

The Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government (MHCLG) has announced this month that it will bring forward legislation to require landlords to join a mandatory redress scheme. This is part of a wider set of proposals to shake up redress across the entire residential sector and fill in gaps in existing redress. MHCLG is …

Landlord Redress Schemes Read More »

Quick Links

Registered address

PainSmith Solicitors,
1 Mansfield Business Park,
Station Approach,
Lymington Bottom Road,
Medstead, Hampshire
GU34 5PZ

Nice to know

Authorised and Regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA Number 562686)

Painsmith Solicitors Limited trading as Painsmith Solicitors, Director: Marveen Smith. Registered No. 07617210.

Scroll to Top