Private Rented Sector Buy to Let Consultants
The government has started 2020 by showing it will not leave the private rented sector alone. The latest idea to be buzzing around Westminster concerns passporting of tenancy deposits. Passporting of Tenancy Deposits The government seems to be inclined to consider breaking up the way tenancy deposits are handled, in yet another move to continue to curry favour with tenants. […]
Read moreZero or Nil Tenancy Deposit Schemes In the last month, another “Zero Tenancy Deposit Scheme” has been launched, but are they a good idea? Deposits are now limited to five weeks’ rent for all tenancies starting on or after 1st June 2019, by order of the recent Tenant Fees Act, (except for where annual rents are over £50,000, (where, for […]
Read moreShould you take photographs when you do tenancy inspection visits of your let property, asks David Lawrenson of www.LettingFocus.com? This can be a tricky one, but need not be if you are sensitive and respectful. Tenancy Inspection Visits We aim to do an inspection visit around 3 months after the start of a tenancy and then once more after another […]
Read moreFrom 1st June 2019, landlords and letting agents will no longer be able to charge tenants fees for many of the things they used to charge for. The Tenant Fees Act controls what payments landlords or letting agents can ask for in England. Basically, ALL payments are prohibited unless it is a payment for something that is expressly allowed for […]
Read moreTenancy Deposits to be Limited to 5 Weeks The government has done a U-turn on the decision to cap tenancy deposits at 6 weeks rent. Now, for rents under £50,000 a year, they will be reduced to just 5 weeks rent, when the long delayed Tenant Fees Bill becomes the law, says David Lawrenson of www.LettingFocus.com. (If the annual rent […]
Read moreAlternatives to Tenancy Deposits Is there an alternative to taking a deposit from tenants asks David Lawrenson, private rented sector and landlord advisor at www.LettingFocus.com. In this article I will explore if “no deposits” are feasible or sensible. Alternatives to Taking Tenancy Deposits – The Situation Today Landlords will soon be unable to take more than a six week deposit. […]
Read moreThe government’s plan to restrict the amount landlords can ask for tenancy deposits to one month of rent will make it much harder for people on low incomes, the benefit dependent, students and people with pets to secure private rented accommodation. It is the latest ill thought out proposal from the government who seem to have failed to assess the consequences for tenants, says […]
Read moreLettingFocus.com brings you news of a rather idiotic court case and a judge’s decision that has wide implications for tenancy deposits. You may have read about a recent legal judgment in a case relating to tenancy deposit schemes which is now causing chaos and confusion for all landlords who have taken a deposit and also for those who have not […]
Read moreDavid Lawrenson of www.LettingFocus.com prefers tenancy deposit schemes where a landlord does not have to hand over the cash. Since April 2007, landlords letting property in England and Wales and who take a deposit on an assured shorthold tenancy (AST) must protect it in a tenancy deposit scheme, tell the tenants which scheme it is in and give them the […]
Read moreOn Wednesday 21st March, I wrote a piece explaining the changes to the tenancy deposit protection scheme rules in England and Wales. The new rules came into effect on April 6th, 2012. However, it is clear from a blog piece I wrote for “The Guardian” that a lot of the “experts” out there in blogland still misunderstand the rules and […]
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