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The current process has become a huge stress and strain for both the landlord and the tenant. The landlord, if having to go to court via a possession notice, currently has to accept that getting a court ruling can be a lottery depending upon where in the country the property is situated. The tenant likewise,…

Right to Rent Changes from 6th April   As we approach the April 6th deadline, landlords and letting agents need to be aware of the Right to Rent Online Checking Service, (on GOV.UK), for viewing the immigration status of existing and prospective tenants.   From 6 April 2022, landlords and letting agents will need to…

Rent Capping – a Wish too Far! The recent statement by Bristol City Council that it is looking to bringing in rent controls to try and stabilize the soaring rents in the city, has been welcomed by many as a step to enabling tenants to afford to live where they work. The theory is very…

PRS (Private Rented Sector) Crisis – Food for Thought   Everyone in the property industry must now be acutely aware that there’s a growing crisis in the private rented sector due to the lack of suitable properties available, and this has been highlighted by councils up and down the country. The District Councils Network, which…

PRS – What for 2022?   The last few months of 2021 saw a huge array of articles pretty much predicting the end of the current PRS (Private Rental Sector) boom, due in the main to Government interference and an ever increasing number of increasingly complex regulations for landlords and agents to fully understand. Many…

Energy Efficiency and EPC`s – the Final Straw that Broke the Landlord`s Back   Over half (52%) of landlords are considering selling properties due to the impending Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) changes that will force them to upgrade their homes, according to a recent Mortgage Works (TMW) Report.   The government plans to increase the…

New Smoke Alarm and Carbon Monoxide Regulations   Following a consultation on the government’s proposals to extend regulations on domestic smoke and carbon monoxide alarms in both social and private rented accommodation, the government has now confirmed its plans to amend the Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (England) Regulations 2015.   The new regulations will…

The UK Government announced recently that all new build housing are to have electric vehicle charging points installed from 2022.   Whilst this is only a small percentage of the housing stock, it is a step in the right direction and the PRS should welcome the news, particularly since many parts of England are lacking…

Recent Examples of Property Mediation   These three examples from the PRS Mediation Service, show how useful and helpful, engaging in mediation can be for both parties. Many landlord and tenant disputes start from a lack of communication, and if these can be nipped in the bud early on before both sides become entrenched in…

Two of Tenants` Biggest Worries   House prices are a major worry for tenants as many fear they will never be able to get their feet on the housing ladder. The average listing price is now a staggering £388,400 which has shown an increase of 6.7% since the beginning of 2021.   Affordability in the…

  Autumn Maintenance Checklist (Inside) If not already done, now is the time to organise, in these two articles we`ll firstly look inside and then outside the property. Internally you need to make sure:   The heating system has been checked ensuring it works properly; witness there is an in date valid gas certificate in…

Congratulations to Burrington Estates for winning Housebuilder of the Year at the Insider Residential Property Awards 2020! The award was presented by our own Phil Keddie, President of ARLA Propertymark. A big well done to all the finalists and winners, and thank you to everyone involved in creating this fantastic celebration of our industry and it’s accomplished…