New Future Renting conference announced

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The Residential Landlords Association will hold its next Future Renting conference in London this September. The one-day conference will be held at Imperial College London on September 13 and comes hot on the heels of successful events in Wales and Manchester. The event, at the college’s Kensington campus, will include a packed programme, featuring a […]

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Help! I can’t find a suitable short let tenancy agreement.

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I am hoping to let my property for 2 months while it is on the market to sell. Bills will be included but it will not be furnished. I know that you can use an AST for shorter than 6 months but this does not protect me against a tenant wanting to stay on and not pay if under 6 months

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The government has produced a series of PRS guides

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PRS Guides:

New ‘how to’ guides include checklists for new and existing tenants, landlords and letting agents which the government says will “help renters and leaseholders to know their rights.�

The list includes the latest version (June 2018) of the mandatory “How to Rent Guide.

Landlords, leaseholders and tenants will be:

“armed with vital information on their rights and responsibilities thanks to new online rental guides published by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government today (26 June 2018),� says housing minister, Heather Wheeler MP.

These guides form a key part of government’s, “continuing crackdown on poor practice by a minority of landlords and agents in the private rented and leasehold sectors. Evidence shows that Citizens Advice helped 65,000 private renters with more than 100,000 problems about their tenancy in 2017.

“As part of government’s commitment to ensure everyone has a decent, safe place to live, the ‘how to’ guides include checklists for new and existing tenants, landlords and letting agents to ensure they are complying with their legal responsibilities.�

Published on the government website GOV.UK today these guides have been produced in partnership with landlord, tenant and letting and managing agent groups, professional bodies and local housing authorities with the aim if driving up living standards in the sector.

The ‘how to’ series comprises:

How to let

This new guide will help private landlords learn more about their key legal responsibilities and best practice when letting a property, including how to protect tenancy deposits, carry out gas safety checks and install smoke and carbon dioxide alarms.

How to Lease

By reading this new document, leaseholders can learn about their unique set of rights and responsibilities. For example, a managing agent or landlord could be responsible for running a leaseholder’s block or estate – but the leaseholder does have a say in how they do it.

How to rent a safe home

This document will help current and prospective tenants identify potential unsafe conditions in rented properties. It gives tenants an overview of the most common hazards to look out for in rented properties, including gas and electrical safety, damp and mould and trips and falls hazards, and how they should report dangerous conditions.

How to rent

This updated (June 2018) guide provides a step-by-step process to renting privately. Tenants can learn how to challenge poor practice and understand private landlords’ legal obligations. It is a legal requirement for all landlords to provide their tenants with this document.

Landlords should be aware that it is important when serving this mandatory guide on tenants that the current version is used. This is particularly important when serving belatedly, as the version current at the time the tenancy stated must be served. For archived older versions, see: https://www.landlordzone.co.uk/documents

The Housing Minister, Heather Wheeler MP said:

“Every day across the country thousands of people move house – from young people leaving home for the first time, to those relocating after years in the same property.

“Whatever the circumstance, we want to ensure renters, landlords and leaseholders are armed with information so they know their rights, responsibilities and can challenge poor behaviour.

“The guides will be reviewed in light of any new legislation to ensure tenants, landlords and leaseholders are supplied with up-to-date information.�

Further information

Government says it is “committed to protecting the rights of tenants and giving them more security. We will shortly be launching a consultation seeking views on the benefits and barriers to landlords offering longer and more secure tenancies in the private rented sector.

“We have already announced our intention to require private landlords to belong to a redress scheme, and that we will require all letting agents to be regulated and belong to a client money protection scheme in order to practice.

“Our consultation on ways to make redress more accessible and effective across housing closed on 16 April and we will issue a response in due course.�

Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government and Heather Wheeler MP

Online guides will help renters and leaseholders to know their rights – see here

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Scrap the new homes tax argue landlords

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Ministers need to scrap the tax on new homes which is punishing those in need of a home to rent, the UK’s leading landlord body argues. A new report being published today by the Residential Landlords Association’s (RLA) research exchange, PEARL, warns that the country faces a net loss of 133,000 homes for private rent […]

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Burnley – Yield of Dreams

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Analysing average rental yields across UK local authorities, properties in Burnley in Lancashire offer the best returns for landlords with an annualised rental yield of 7.1%. With average house price values in the town at £76,300 and annual rents of £5,388

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Virgin Money now providing BTL for portfolio landlords

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New criteria is in from Virgin Money who will now lend to ‘Portfolio’ Buy to Let Landlords. Portfolio landlords are defined by having 4 or more mortgaged rental properties including the property they are making the application for.

Portfolio landlords will be assessed against additional criteria and need to provide some extra documentation to prove affordability and the additional criteria is quite lengthy.

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Reading agent is fined for HMO regulations breaches

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HMO Regulations:

A Reading property agent, Martyn Russell, has been convicted of HMO failings and ordered to pay fines and court costs totalling almost £25,000.

Martyn Russell a property managing agent of Chapel Green, Wokingham had failed to maintain a fire alarm system in a four-storey house in multiple occupation (HMO).

Russell, who was managing the HMO, appeared before Reading Magistrates Court on 25th May 2018 facing a total of 31 charges.

Reading magistrates were told that officers from the Council’s Private Sector Housing Team had inspected the HMO in Russell Street, west Reading, following reports of disrepair they had received in August 2017.

The inspection revealed a main fire alarm system that was not working, leaving the tenants vulnerable had a fire occurred. In addition, other items of disrepair included inadequate fire doors in the property, hallways obstructed with miscellaneous items, fire extinguishers not being maintained, damaged electrical fittings, damage to an external door and an overgrown back yard.

Following the housing team’s report, requests to have the fire alarm system reinstated urgently took Russell three months to comply.

63 years-old Martyn Russell, operated his business through a limited company, Martyn Russell Property Services Limited, which was charged with 31 offences under the Licensing and Management of HMOs (Additional Provisions) Regulations 2007, which come under the Housing Act 2004.

Russell admitted to all 31 offences, reported by www.reading.co.uk, and his company, of which he is sole director, was fined a total of £15,000 and ordered to pay costs of £936 and a victim surcharge of £170, totalling £16,106. Russell himself received fines totalling £7,500 plus costs of £445 and victim surcharge of £150, totalling £8,095.

Reading Magistrates said they considered the offences to be very serious, and especially those relating to the fire risks, and obstruction of the fire escape route, which was reflected in the severity of the fines.

Councillor John Ennis, Lead Councillor for Housing, said:

“There is no excuse for anyone responsible for a House in Multiple Occupation to have a fire alarm in place which is not working. There is even less excuse for that person to ignore repeated requests to fix the problem urgently.

“This appears to show a complete disregard for the safety of the tenants of this four-storey building, not to mention the shoddy condition of other parts of the property.  A majority of landlords and agents in the private rented sector in Reading are responsible and law abiding but it is reassuring to know the Council is there to tackle the minority who disregard the rules.�

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Can’t start eviction without the new “How to Rent Guide”

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A new version of “How to Rent Guide� (England) was published 26th June 2018. Landlords cannot start eviction proceedings under the section 21 route unless the tenant has been provided with the up-to-date version of the guide.

The purpose of the “How to Rent Guide� is for tenants and landlords to be aware of their rights and responsibilities as well as providing additional information on specific areas for example

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Elfin supplies kitchen solution to floating pod concept

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Compact Kitchens:

Elfin Kitchens has supplied a 1,000mm Premium kitchen to a bespoke floating pod – dubbed the ‘Flotel Room’ – in Hartlepool Marina.

Providing a suitable kitchen area was a key factor in making the 4 x 6 metre space practical, so the designer behind the project, Luke Robertson, turned to experts in small kitchen ideas, Elfin Kitchens. Luke opted for the 1000mm Premium model (M-100-Ms-RK), which is supplied with an integrated fridge freezer, 20 litre combination microwave oven and grill, hotplates, sink and tap, plus two handy soft close storage drawers.

Explaining his decision to specify Elfin Kitchens, Luke said: “We started off looking at adapting regular kitchen carcasses, but they simply didn’t look right in the space and we weren’t convinced they would be durable enough. So, rather than trying to adapt products to fit our needs, we set out to find a kitchenette that was specifically designed for small spaces.

“After a quick online search, we came across Elfin Kitchens, who appeared to offer the perfect solution. We arranged to meet up with them at the Glamping Show to see the products first hand. We were particularly impressed with the build quality, which was a key consideration for the pod design, as we needed to ensure the kitchen could withstand constant use.

“Once we’d talked through the requirements with the Elfin team, we opted for the 1000mm Premium model, which fitted the space perfectly. We didn’t have to make any alterations to the compact kitchen; we simply plugged and plumbed it in, and it was ready to go.

It was in March 2017 that Luke Robertson and his father set out on the floating pod project, with the premise of tapping into the emerging glamping market. The idea was to manufacturer a bespoke floating pod, that would offer a unique boutique hotel experience and provide guests with everything they required in a small space, including double bed, kitchen area, wet room, outside seating, speaker system and even Wi-Fi.

Summing up, Luke said: “Overall, we’re really impressed with the Elfin Kitchen; it’s the perfect product for small areas. The next pod we have in mind to make will have a double bed and the capacity to fit five people in – so we’re sure to use Elfin Kitchens again.�

The Premium range of kitchens incorporates high-quality appliances, including a refrigerator, sink and tap, plus a choice of solo or combination microwave, oven and grill. In addition, Premium models are supplied with optional soft close drawers and/or ceramic hotplate.

The ‘Flotel Room’ is designed for two people and has been constructed with a base of 10mm thick plastic injected with polystyrene to make it float.

To add a splash of colour to a kitchen, Elfin’s premium models are also available in a range of colours, from gloss powder-coated White and Claret, to matt powder-coated Sand and Bronze.

Elfin’s compact kitchens save space and offer great flexibility, with right or left-hand versions available. In addition, the kitchens can be quickly installed on site, arriving in a single pallet which offers a ‘plug and play’ solution.

For information on the entire range of kitchens and accessories, visit: www.elfinkitchens.co.uk

About Elfin Kitchens

Established in 2006, Elfin Kitchens is the home of pre-built compact kitchens. With unparalleled knowledge of the UK construction, housing and rental markets, Elfin has created a superb range of kitchen units that have durability at the heart of every design.

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CGT and IHT guidance for unmarried couple with 2 residences?

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I was just chatting to a friend following a funeral today. She has been with her partner for 30+ years, but they are not married (and have no children). She owns an unencumbered holiday cottage in the country which they only use for themselves (not FHL/AirBnB/BTL).

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