Rent payments will soon be much easier to come by if your tenant receives Universal Credit. This month, Anna Pettinger explains how landlords can avoid onerous arrears… My tenant is two months behind with her rent. As she receives Universal Credit, can I request her benefits are paid directly to Read more…
Commercial litigators, like our colleagues in many other legal fields, sometimes recommend mediation as a way to resolve disputes. It’s not suitable for everyone or every case, but if it has been suggested to you, please don’t dismiss the prospect. You may feel you want your day in court, but Read more…
Are Section 21 notices evictions ‘on a whim’ as reported in the Independent or vital legislation for landlords? As a landlord, should I be concerned about recent reports suggesting Section 21 notices are to be scrapped? The government’s housing secretary said recently that Section 21 evictions are one of the Read more…
A recent high court ruling has thrown the Right-to-Rent scheme into confusion. This month, Anna Pettinger explains your current legal position… How do I ensure my tenant is entitled to rent in the UK? Am I allowed to request ID documents as evidence? Under section 22 of the Immigration Act Read more…
Spoilers ahead for the new film Mary Poppins Returns. In Mary Poppins Returns, Michael Banks has inherited 17 Cherry Tree Lane. After the death of his wife, he runs into some financial difficulty and is forced to take out a loan from Fidelity Fiduciary Bank against the house. Unfortunately, he Read more…
Forward planning is the key to staying on the right side of private tenancy laws. I thought I’d begin the new year with a review of my responsibilities as a landlord. What changes lie ahead and what preparations do I need to make? I’m sure most private landlords would agree Read more…
Can I use social media to carry out checks on a potential tenant? A recent study conducted by Foundation Home Loans revealed increasing numbers of landlords are turning to social media platforms, such as Facebook, to find out more about potential tenants. Whilst this is not a new method of Read more…
Will a court adjourn my possession application if the tenant pleads housing benefit problems? If your tenant has substantial arrears, you must have served the requisite notice before you can apply to the court for possession. The Housing Act 1988 requires you to issue a notice explaining the grounds upon Read more…
An updated version of the government’s How to Rent guidance was released in January this year. This is the booklet that landlords must issue to tenants at the start of rental agreements created after October 1 2015. If you don’t comply, you can’t serve a valid Section 21 notice. The Read more…
Unpaid rent is probably the most common problem for landlords. This month, we look at the dos and don’ts of dealing with mounting debt… It is vital that both landlords and tenants are aware of their rights and obligations to each other. The legal system protects both parties and does Read more…