Some landlords are charging “pet rent” running into hundreds of pounds a year in an attempt to recoup losses from a ban on unfair letting fees enforced by the Tenant Fees Act 2019. The new practice means tenants with animals are being charged up to £50 a month additional rent for a single pet. The […]
A tenancy deposit scheme safeguards tenancy deposits paid in connection with shorthold tenancies. Landlords commonly require tenants to pay a deposit, as security for any damage that the tenant may do to the property. Chapter 4 of the Housing Act 2004 sets out the framework for tenancy deposits. The core purpose of Chapter 4 of […]
Please note: this guidance applies to England only. What fees can I ask a tenant to pay? You cannot require a tenant (or anyone acting on their behalf or guaranteeing their rent) to make certain payments in connection with a tenancy. You cannot require them to enter a contract with a third party or make […]
New Form of Section 21 Notice The Section 21 Notice is being amended to incorporate the changes made under the Tenant Fees Act 2019 which brings further restrictions on serving a Section 21 Notice under the Housing Act 1988 where a landlord has taken a prohibited payment. The amendments to the Section 21 Notice (Form […]
Following the first announcement from the Government to reform the way in which landlords can recover possession of their properties in England, James Brokenshire, the current Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government has made a written statement on 23 April 2019 concerning the Governments’ intention to repeal section 21 of the Housing […]
Government Proposal to Abolish Section 21 Following a recent announcement by Theresa May, the Government will be launching a consultation for the proposed abolition of the ground for eviction, known as the “no-fault eviction”, section 21 of the Housing Act 1988. Prime Minister Theresa May said: “Everyone renting in the private sector has […]
Tenant Fees Ban The banning of tenant fees under the Tenant Fees Act 2019 (“the Act”) will now come into force on 01 June 2019 in England and applies to both landlords and letting agents (or anyone acting as an agent on a landlords behalf). The ban applies to assured shorthold tenancies (except social housing […]
What to do when your tenant dies? Where a property is rented under an assured shorthold tenancy to a sole tenant and that tenant dies, the death of the tenant does not automatically bring the tenancy to an end. Sometimes there will be a successor to the tenancy. Their only or principal home On the […]