As landlords and lettings agents know, they should provide the current ‘How to rent: a checklist for renting in England’ (the ‘Guide’) to tenants at the outset of a new or renewal tenancy. An updated version of the Guide is expected today…   Updates The Guide has been updated to reflect recent legal changes, […]

  The Supreme Court has ruled that Rent Repayment Orders (‘RROs’) cannot be made against a superior landlord. This is great news for those who find their property has been unknowingly sublet…   The Facts The superior landlord was Mr Rakusen, the leaseholder of a flat in North London. In May 2016, he granted a […]

  Sometimes landlords will need to obtain a license from the local authority, not only when the property is an HMO, but also when the authority puts a selective licensing scheme in place… Failure to obtain a license when required is problematic as the landlord can be punished by service a penalty notice or proceedings […]

  It is usual (and perfectly acceptable) for a landlord to seek to increase the rent for a property. There are different ways to do this, depending on whether the tenancy is within the fixed term or has become periodic and whether the tenancy agreement specifies how rent can be increased. For periodic tenancies where […]

  Landlords and lettings agents are no doubt aware of the numerous changes to the mandatory right to rent checks which were introduced in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. From tomorrow, the final change applies and there will hopefully be no more changes…   From 01/10/2022, you must carry out a prescribed check of a […]

  The Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (Amendment) Regulations 2022 will come into force on 01/10/2022, extending the Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (England) Regulations 2015. The updated Regulations are coming into force without any transition period and must be complied with immediately.   At the moment the Regulations are that: 1. A smoke alarm […]

  The answer is: the long-awaited Renter’s Reform White Paper*, which was (finally!) released yesterday. I have poured through all 43 pages of the White Paper and the accompanying 50-page consultation response** to update landlords on everything they want and need to know.   12-Point Plan Government have confined their agenda to deliver “a fairer, […]

  In yesterday’s Queen’s Speech – which set out government’s agenda for new laws to be introduced over the coming months – ministers again vowed to introduce a ‘Renters’ Reform Bill’ (the ‘Bill’). The Prime Minister’s Office has confirmed that the Bill “will abolish so-called ‘no fault’ Section 21 evictions and strengthen landlords’ rights of […]

  A section 21 notice can be served so long as the relevant gas safety certificate (‘GSC’) has been given to the tenant before the notice is served, said the Court of Appeal in the case of Trecarrell House Ltd v Rouncefield [2020] EWCA Civ 760 on 18/06/2020.   In refusing permission for the tenant […]

  From today, changes to Right to Rent legislation will come into force, affecting checks for some groups of tenants.   You can see the guidance which is now force here.    Biometric Card Holders  From today, landlords must check the right to rent of those tenants with a Biometric Residence Card, Biometric Residence Permit, or […]