Subletting is a very complex area for tenants and landlords to navigate. Whilst it can help a tenant who needs to move out for legitimate reasons, it also exposes landlords to a lot of risk. This risk has increased since the Renters’ Rights Act came into force, as it gives the First-tier Tribunal the power […]
What happens when a relationship between tenants breaks down and the couple splits up, sharers fall out, or one of the joint tenants simply wants to move out. Relationship breakdown is very common, with around one third of marriages in England and Wales ending in divorce. This amounts to over 100,000 divorces each year. On
What happens when one person leaves a joint tenancy? View Post »
Mice and rats can be hugely destructive, gnawing through wires, leaving a mess and making a lot of noise at night. I speak from experience, as I’ve lived in many houses over the years where mice have been a problem. I also moved into a rented bedsit in London in the 1990s where the bed
Who is responsible for pest control in a rental property? View Post »
Whether you’re a tenant looking to get back their full deposit, or a landlord wanting to ensure their property is thoroughly clean before new tenants move in, this is a guide to help you do a proper job of deep cleaning a rental property. Tenants need to leave the property in the same state of
Did you know almost anyone can set up shop as a letting agent? Unlike solicitors, accountants, and chartered surveyors, agents don’t need qualifications or previous experience. To make matters worse, it’s very easy for someone to set up as a fake letting agent. All they need is a website, access to images of properties, and
How to avoid being scammed by rogue or fake letting agents View Post »
Renting from a private landlord in England involves a web of terminology, legal rights and obligations that aren’t always obvious. This guide explains both how the private rented sector works and what tenants’ rights and responsibilities are at each stage of a tenancy. It gives straightforward answers to the questions tenants ask most often. This
The Renters’ Rights Act has considerably strengthened Rent Repayment Orders which are, as per the government guidance, “an important tenant-led enforcement tool that complements the strengthened local authority enforcement powers introduced by this Act”. The Act increased the number of offences that can lead to an RRO from 7 to 13, although the three offences
Rent Repayment Order rules after the Renters’ Rights Act View Post »
The Renters’ Rights Act has inserted a new Section 16A into the Housing Act 1988, which means that there is now an implied term in all assured tenancies that a tenant can keep a pet. However, tenants must follow the statutory process and the landlord can turn down a request if they have a good reason.
Tenants’ rights to have pets in Renters’ Rights Act View Post »
Whilst there is, quite rightly, much discussion in the media about the legal obligations of landlords, there is less recognition that tenants themselves have a number of legal responsibilities. The relationship between landlords and tenants is two way, with both owing each other obligations. This blog post is an objective guide to the responsibilities of
Tenants’ legal responsibilities for repairs and maintenance View Post »
Now that all of the political parties have published their manifestos for the 2024 General Election, what are they actually promising for the private rented sector? None of the parties has reform to the private rented sector front and centre of their manifesto. It took a word search of “evict” and “landlord” to find Labour’s
Election: Analysis of the political parties’ policies for landlords View Post »
