Landlord

Landlords shift from short-lets as Coronavirus takes hold

In a sudden shift from recent developments, there is evidence that landlords are shunning often more profitable short lets, in favour of longer-term tenancies. As the Coronavirus spread gathers pace and the Government announces wide-ranging measures of support across multiple industries, it appears the UK's residential lettings sector is also rallying around those in need, to do their part to ensure there are enough long-term rental homes available for those who need them.

 

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Rent Guarantor Mar 30, 2020

Landlord

Council may offer certain, 'good' landlords property improvement loans

Portsmouth City Council is considering offering property improvement loans to landlords who behave fairly and opt into a licensing scheme. The council is considering a five-year plan where, if certain conditions for landlords are met, then improvement loans could be approved to those landlords to help modernise and upgrade rental stock across the city.

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Rent Guarantor Mar 25, 2020

Tenant

What proportion of your wages should be considered an 'affordable' rent payment?

When it comes to paying rent, the word affordability is often used to describe different areas. Rents in central London aren't considered affordable for the majority of workers, while the outskirts of the city is more affordable for a larger number of people. However, a proptech firm has described affordable rent as 50% of earnings, a claim which some may not agree with.

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Rent Guarantor Mar 23, 2020

Landlord

Property Ombudsman Warns Landlords Not to Discriminate Against DSS Tenants

The Property Ombudsman (TPO) is warning landlords and letting agents that they should not discriminate against tenants through a no DSS policy or anything similar to that. The reminder follows two legal cases were the tenants won and settled out of court along with much press coverage over the past 18 months or so.

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Rent Guarantor Mar 18, 2020

General

Over 1 million tenants rely on overdrafts to pay rent

Around 13% of tenants in the UK, which is equivalent to around 1.2 million people, use their banking overdraft facilities to pay their rent each month. While the way individuals make use of their overdrafts is personal and specific to them, with new rules about overdraft charging being put in place, this could end up being an expensive way for tenants to pay their rent.

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Rent Guarantor Mar 17, 2020

Student

Some Students Urged to Take Full Advantage of the Homes Act as it Comes into Full Force

On March 20 2020, the Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018 comes into force across all secured and assured shorthold tenancies in the UK. Following this update, an online student magazine is encouraging its readers to go 'lawsuit crazy' and sue their landlords if the home they rent isn't kept to a good standard.

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Rent Guarantor Mar 16, 2020