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Green party leader wants more energy efficiency rules for landlords.

Leader of the Green Party and the MP for Brighton Pavilion Caroline Lucas, has criticized the government's "green deal" and claims that it doesn’t go far enough to tackle poorly insulated privately rented accommodation. Under the terms of the currently proposed law, from 2015 tenants in accommodation rated E or less on their EPC, can request reasonable improvements to improve the energy... Read more

Posted by Dan @ Upad on April 13th, 2011 in Energy Performance Certificates EPC, Landlord Legislation, Legal, Property Management

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Green your property with ARLA

From 2015, the government has decided that all let properties with an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of F or G must be improved to grade E or above. This is no bad thing, we say. Anything that moves towards improving the condition of the housing stock in the UK is to be welcomed and climate is a very real threat. That said, it might not be an easy undertaking for older properties and... Read more

Posted by Dan @ Upad on February 23rd, 2011 in Landlord Legislation

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Ask Upad: Have I misled my tenants and must I compensate them?

Q: I’ve recently let a house in a rural location to a professional couple. During the viewing, I advised them that as far as I was aware they could probably get a high speed broadband connection at the property. It turns out that high speed connections are not available and they are claiming I misled them. They have threatened to break the tenancy agreement unless I offer some compensation.... Read more

Posted by Dan @ Upad on February 7th, 2011 in Ask Upad, Landlord Legislation

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Bankruptcy saves landlord from £62,500 fine

A Cornish landlord, convicted of 13 separate offences against HMO legislation, has avoided a £62,500 fine because of her impending bankruptcy. The Newquay property is being repossessed, but its owner has still been found guilty of failing to provide various safety features in the property, including fire alarms, fire doors and emergency escape lighting. She also failed to supply certification... Read more

Posted by Sue @ Upad on January 27th, 2011 in HMOs, Landlord Legislation

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Would you know if your tenant was unemployed?

The news this week from the government regarding the number of jobless people and the leap in unemployment doesn’t make happy reading. The Prime Minister David Cameron has described the current situation as being of "huge concern". Roughly, 2.5 million people in the country are unemployed, including nearly 1 million young people (that’s roughly one in five). The situation obviously varies... Read more

Posted by Dan @ Upad on January 26th, 2011 in Buy-to-let, Landlord Legislation, Mortgages, Tips for New Landlords

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Landlords need proper action on eviction, not tinkering.

The latest from ever-present, effervescent Housing Minister Grant Shapps regards eviction: he plans to give councils and housing associations new powers to help landlords evict so-called “neighbours from Hell” from social housing. It can, apparently, take as much as a year to evict anti-social social tenants. The new powers will include a new “mandatory ground for possession” to speed... Read more

Posted by Dan @ Upad on January 13th, 2011 in Buy-to-let, Evicting Tenants, Landlord Legislation

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Lancs. landlord registration has not improved area

A landlord registration scheme designed to improve the Trinity area of Burnley, Lancashire, has not improved life, according to residents. 85.9% of those responding to a survey for the local council said the area has not improved since the scheme was introduced in October 2008. 80% also said that there had been an increase in the number of badly-managed privately-rented homes. The scheme was... Read more

Posted by Sue @ Upad on December 27th, 2010 in Landlord Legislation

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Why every landlord should join a landlords’ association

Whether you’re an “accidental” landlord renting one flat out, or a portfolio landlord with a dozen properties, you can get a lot of value from being a member of a landlord’s association such as the National Landlords Association, the Residential Landlords Association, the Scottish Landlords Association and the Southern Landlords Association. For mere pounds, they give you access to all... Read more

Posted by Dan @ Upad on December 17th, 2010 in Landlord Insurance, Landlord Legislation, National Landlords Association NLA, Tips for New Landlords

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Tenants should protect own deposits, says lawyer

A top lawyer has said that tenants should pay their deposits directly into a deposit protection scheme, instead of handing them over to their landlord or lettings agent. John Stephenson, head of the Residential Property Team at Bircham Dyson Bell, said: "My advice to tenants is to pay their deposit directly into a scheme - not directly to the landlord - or if dealing via an agent, get an... Read more

Posted by Sue @ Upad on November 25th, 2010 in Landlord Legislation, Property Rental

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Landlords should welcome new ‘green’ standards says Upad CEO James Davis

Climate Change secretary Chris Huhne recently announced an Energy Bill which includes provision that landlords will have new responsibilities come 2015 when it comes to ensuring energy efficiency in rented homes. Tenants asking for reasonable energy efficiency improvements can expect them to be made. Local authorities will also have the power to insist that landlords improve the worst performing... Read more

Posted by Dan @ Upad on November 23rd, 2010 in Energy Performance Certificates EPC, Energy Saving, Landlord Legislation

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Insurance matters for Landlords

On the massive list of things that every landlord needs to do and remember, should be the important matter of insurance. Yes, it’s yet another expense and another hassle. It’s most likely that you’ve never had to make a claim. But when the worst happens, and it sometimes does, you’ll be glad of it. But it’s surprising that many landlords aren’t covered at all or have the wrong... Read more

Posted by Dan @ Upad on November 10th, 2010 in Landlord Insurance, Landlord Legislation, Tips for New Landlords

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Over 2,000 landlords demand change in the law

In their drive to improve the legal process for landlords by making the tenant eviction for problem tenants easier and improving landlords’ rights of access , the campaign, ‘Rebalancing the Law’ – spearheaded by Landlord Action – has gained the support of over 2,000 landlords in just one month. The petition, which will be presented to Downing Street by Landlord Action and Mike... Read more

Posted by Landlord Action on November 1st, 2010 in Evicting Tenants, Landlord Legislation

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Tenants protected from landlord repossessions

Tenants are now protected against sudden eviction if their landlord defaults on a mortgage on their home. Under the Mortgage Repossessions (Protection of Tenants etc) Act 2010, which came into force on 1st October, the courts have the power to delay repossession proceedings to allow tenants time to find a new home. Lenders must now inform tenants in writing that their home is to be... Read more

Posted by Sue @ Upad on October 6th, 2010 in Evicting Tenants, Landlord Legislation, Mortgages

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Brighton landlord fined £2000 for unlicensed HMO

A landlord in Brighton has been fined £2000 plus costs of £750 after pleading guilty to failing to register an HMO. Brighton Magistrates Court found Warwick Armsby-Ward guilty of letting an unlicensed property to five tenants. HMO licenses cost £640 in Brighton and Hove and last up to five years. More than 800 landlords have signed up and licensed HMOs (a house in multiple occupation) in the... Read more

Posted by Dan @ Upad on September 29th, 2010 in HMOs, Landlord Legislation

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Are you claiming your Landlords Energy Saving Allowance?

You don’t get much in this world for free. And whilst the Landlord’s Energy Saving Allowance (LESA) isn’t that elusive free lunch that Milton Friedman tells us doesn’t exist, it is a useful tax allowance available to landlords who are undertaking property improvements. That’s right. It’s a little tax break for landlords who have taken steps to improve the energy efficiency of property... Read more

Posted by Dan @ Upad on September 28th, 2010 in Energy Saving, Landlord Legislation, Landlord Tax

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