The local authority of Waltham Forest has successfully prosecuted an agent who was unlawfully subletting a property in breach of the HMO regulations. The agent applied for a license for the property to be used as a single-family dwelling. However, the local authority carried out an inspection and discovered that the property was in fact …
The Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has announced that it will amend the Energy Efficiency (Private Rented Property) (England and Wales) Regulations to require landlords to carry out improvements with or without funding where the cost will be no more than £3,500 inc VAT. Background The minimum energy performance rating of E …
The Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government (MHCLG) has announced plans to tighten health and safety standards for rental accommodation in order to ensure that tenants have a safe place to call home. The Housing Minister, Heather Wheeler, has announced plans to overhaul health and safety standards for rental accommodation to help keep safe …
The Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Bill has passed through the House of Commons and will now be scrutinised in the House of Lords, starting later in November. The Bill is likely to become law so below is a summary of the main provisions. At present there is no legal requirement for landlords to keep …
At a meeting on 8October Croydon Council passed a motion calling for the abolition of Section 21 notices in the private rented sector (PRS). Section 21 notices enable landlords to commence the process of ending a tenant’s tenancy without giving a reason. However, Croydon Council along with some lobby groups, argue that some landlords use …
Buy-to Let Mortgage providers have been accused of discriminating against tenants who claim benefits. It is understood that landlords who apply for buy-to-let mortgages and in some cases landlord’s insurance are being refused products when they reveal that potential tenants are claiming benefits. The Residential Landlords Association (RLA) has carried out research which found 66% …
The government has issued a landlords’ guide to Universal Credit to help them understand the process and procedure of the payment made either direct to tenants or alternatively to them. Universal credit payments are a single payment made up of an aggregate of different benefits including those dealing with housing costs such as rent. In …
Housing Minster Heather Wheeler has announced plans to raise standards across the property agent sector in England. A working group chaired by Lord Best and made up of property experts across the property sector will consider options so that landlords and tenants, amongst others, receive the best service. The options likely to be considered are …
The Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government has released a Private Rented Sector (PRS) newsletter this month. The MHCLG hope to regularly update readers on what the Government is doing in the PRS sector with key headlines on what is happening in a form that they hope is easy to read and follow. The …
In Nottingham City Council v Parr and another, the Supreme Court has held that the power to impose conditions under the Housing Act 2004 can be used to limit the class of persons, for whom the HMO is suitable. 2 properties in Nottingham were both used for letting to students and each had an attic …
On 1 October Hackney council expanded their property licensing scheme. The application process opened on 25 September and landlords have until 2 December to submit their applications. Enforcement will commence by Hackney council on 3 December. This is one of a number of new licensing schemes and comes as the government has widened the use …
At the Labour party conference, Labour has pledged £20 million to help fund a tenants’ union in order to give tenants more power. The Labour pledge of £20 million to set up a tenant’s union is aimed at supporting millions of private tenants across England. There is no mention of what will happen in the …
The Government announced on 5th September further protections for tenants against what they refer to as ‘unfair’ letting fees. The Bill placed before the House of Lords can be viewed here. However, we understand that this Bill will now be amended to include further protections as summarised below. The Government press release states as follows: Tenants …
Thurrock Council has successfully prosecuted a landlord for failing to comply with an Improvement Notice. Thurrock Council initially commenced proceedings in March this year against a landlord for failing to comply with an improvement notice under the Housing Act 2004. The improvement notice was issued following complaints by the occupiers of a private rented property …
This is just a quick reminder of the HMO changes also coming into force on 1 October 2018. Mandatory Licensing, the provision of suitable refuse storage facilities and the mandatory national minimum sleeping room sizes provisions will all come into effect on 1 October 2018. Anyone concerned that they may not be in a position …
On 1 October 2015 the Deregulation Act 2015 introduced a number of changes to the Section 21 regime. For assured shorthold tenancies created on or after 1 October 2015 one of these changes was to require the prescribed Form 6A to be used where a landlord wished to serve notice to the tenant under s21. …
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