The Government has finally released its Guidance on the minimum level of energy efficiency required for private rented properties. Our previous post on minimum energy levels can be read here. In summary, the new minimum level of energy efficiency means that: from 1 April 2018, landlords will no longer be permitted to grant new tenancies …
On 1 October, it will become clearer how to recover possession of a property where all the occupiers have no Right to Rent. Our previous post on ending a tenancy where occupiers do not have the Right to Rent can be read here. Under the Immigration Act 2016 which amended the Immigration Act 2014, landlords were given …
Our next Seminar will take place on Thursday 16th November 2017 at The Hilton, South Terminal Gatwick Airport, London, RH6 0LL. The event will start with registration and run from 1pm to 6pm with lunch at 1pm to 2pm. Topics to be covered include the following: • GDPR • Money Laundering • Right to Rent …
The new pre-action protocol comes into force 1 October 2017 and applies to any business (including sole traders and public bodies) claiming payment of a debt from an individual (including sole traders). For agents, this protocol can be used when seeking to recover unpaid fees. Pre-Action protocols are designed to encourage early engagement and communication in …
This is our second post on notice periods. Our first blog can be read here. When a tenant’s tenancy becomes a statutory periodic tenancy, they must give their landlord a notice to quit when they want to vacate the property. The notice does not have to be in any particular form but it must be …
Our next Seminar will take place on Wednesday 8th November 2017 at The World Horse Welfare Centre, Glenda Spooner Farm Rescue and Rehoming Centre, Kingsdon, Somerton, Somerset, TA11 7LA. The seminar will start at 1pm to 5:30pm with lunch at 1pm to 2pm. There will be time at the end for questions. Topics to be …
Section 21 notices in periodic tenancies have long been a source of difficulty for landlords. The position has been simplified but there remain some key issues. Rent in Advance and S21 Where rent is paid in advance there have been difficulties with section 21 notices in periodic tenancies. In Church Commissioners v Meya, the Court …
Camden Council has successfully appealed against Foxton’s description of their agency fee in their lettings literature. Foxtons have been ordered to pay a penalty charge of £18,000. Background to case In 2015, the Council’s Trading Standards team undertook enforcement action after establishing that Foxtons was charging an administration fee of £420 for tenants and landlords. …
This is our second post on the Welsh Government’s report on Agent’s fees. Our first post can be read here. In our last post, we advised that the report recommended a ban on agent’s fees along with a number of other recommendations. Given that this ban is very likely to be introduced in England we …
The Welsh Government has commissioned a report to broaden its understanding of the fees charged by agents to tenants in Wales. The Government wishes to understand what fees and charges are applied, at what level and the potential impact on agents, landlords and agents, if the fees and charges were banned. Some of the key …
Painsmith is currently looking to recruit a Paralegal. Experience in the field of civil litigation and landlord and tenant law would be desirable but not essential for the right candidate. The role will entail dealing with all aspects of the firm’s business but with an emphasis on serving notices on tenants and conducting possession actions. If …
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has called on the Government to allow London’s boroughs to increase Council Tax bills for high-value homes that are left empty. The Mayor commissioned a report last year and this appears to be the response to that report. Specifically, the report looked into the contribution of overseas investment to …
The Home Office’s latest statistics on Right to Rent enforcement shows that an increasing number of landlords have been fined in what appears to be a new crackdown on illegal immigration. Fines totalling £163,000 were issued to 236 property owners between the start of February 2016 and June this year. That is more than one …
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