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Figures just out show that private rents increased in the past 12 months at a rate well above inflation. At the same time, as prospects seem to be diminishing of the renters reform bill passing before the election, record numbers of tenants are being forced to move. It might seem at a casual glance that this is all great news for buy-to-let owners, but it’s actually not that simple. If you’re a private la

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has just released the official figures for landlord repossessions during the period October to December 2022 — and they’re alarming. The number of repossessions in that time has risen by 98%. So why is this? And how can you avoid having to go through the costly and time-consuming procedure of getting your property back? The Rise in Repossessions The MoJ figures make alarming reading. Dur

If you rent out residential properties, you must be aware of the tragic case of Awaab Ishak, the Rotherham toddler who died in 2020 from exposure to mould in a rented home. In this case, the property was owned by a housing association, but if you let your property privately, you could be personally responsible for such an incident. So, what do you need to know about mould and how to prevent it? What Are the Dangers f

Whether you’re a landlord with a single property or a property manager with a large portfolio, it’s vital to keep your properties in good condition. Besides it being in your own interest to prevent them from diminishing in value, failing to do so could be considered as a breach of your obligations to your tenants. Here are a few things to bear in mind about maintaining your properties. Preparation Is Essential When s

The many regulations imposed on landlords of residential rental properties may seem a hassle at times, but most are simply what a responsible landlord would want to conform to. This is certainly true of the rules around carbon monoxide alarms — and these are to be updated in a couple of months. Why Are Carbon Monoxide Alarms Essential? The last thing any landlord wants is for tenants or their guests to be killed by c

When you’re selecting a letting agent to manage your rental properties, it’s vital to pick the right one. There are plenty of good agencies around, but unfortunately not every agency meets the minimum standards. Picking the wrong one could leave you in financial trouble. No doubt you have a list of questions for any prospective letting agency, but does this include whether they’re a member of a client money protectio

During the Covid lockdown, many businesses unable to trade or use their premises fell into arrears with their commercial rent. Although businesses are generally up and running again, many have found difficulties in catching up with these arrears. This has obviously also impacted on landlords’ finances, but the government’s Commercial Rent (Coronavirus) Act 2022, which came into force on 24th March, has se

One of the more onerous duties imposed on landlords in the past few years has been the obligation to carry out Right to Rent checks on their tenants. Since March last year, the requirements have been adjusted to allow for lockdown rules, but what will the future bring? What Are Right to Rent Checks? The Immigration Act 2016 made it a criminal offence to rent a home or part of a home to anyone whose immigration status

The perfect balance for any landlord is to ensure a regular, unbroken income from your property with a minimum of effort and hassle. And the best way of ensuring that is to keep any good tenants you already have. The obvious advantage of keeping a good tenant is that you won’t have gaps in the rent coming in, but there are other benefits. If the tenancy isn’t constantly changing, you’ll be spending

Early in the pandemic, the government brought in a moratorium on evictions for rent arrears. While this was good news for tenants struggling to pay, often through no fault of their own, it’s been a nightmare for some landlords, who have been unable to do anything about lack of rent. From 1st June, however, the moratorium no longer applies — but is this really back to normal for landlords? The History of the Mor