Expanding renters’ union Acorn warns ‘errant landlords’ to expect action

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Renters’ group Acorn has promised to set up more branches in England and Wales this year to tackle social inequality and challenge errant landlords.

It currently has 25 branches and groups and has plans to expand, a spokesman tells LandlordZONE: “We are certainly hoping to have more up and running soon and throughout the year, definitely – however we wouldn’t be able to give specifics as it is up to our members to get together collectively and set up groups.”

Founded in Bristol in 2014, Acorn’s newest branch – in north London’s Haringey – has scored a win against a landlord after setting up last week.

Its first direct action, which targeted a landlord who had neglected to clear toxic mould in a tenant’s flat, involved picketers who gathered outside Homelink Edmonton to present demands on behalf of the Acorn member.

Letter of demand

Although Homelink doesn’t manage the property itself, the Acorn spokesman says: “We wrote a letter of demands to the estate agent – after they had ignored our prior attempts to make contact to resolve the situation without direct action – and, after some negotiation with the manager, they agreed.”

Homelink confirmed that after speaking with the landlord, a damp specialist had been appointed who would install a professional ventilation system to solve the condensation issue, while the landlord would also organise cleaners and decorators if needed.

The union has vowed to keep up pressure on the landlord to ensure that all repairs are carried out swiftly and the spokesman adds: “It’s a spectacular start and a delicious taste of what’s to come in our community.”

Read more about Acorn.

©1999 – Present | Parkmatic Publications Ltd. All rights reserved | LandlordZONE® – Expanding renters’ union Acorn warns ‘errant landlords’ to expect action | LandlordZONE.

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Taxation of 7 months rent in advance?

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I have a problem – it sounds like a nice problem. My agent has got me a short term let for 7 months and the tenant wants to pay 7 months rent in advance. The problem is that this tax year I am a 40% taxpayer

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Sheffield, Bristol and Brum have the best landlords in the UK, online ratings show

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Sheffield boasts the best landlords in the UK while Derby and Hull share the dubious honour of having the worst, according to a new survey which studied the 20 most populated cities.

Researchers at Clear It Waste created a points-based index using landlord ratings on Yell, Marksoutoftenancy.com and Google as well as monthly search volumes per city, to work out that Sheffield had the highest level of tenant satisfaction – a total of 358 out of 400 – along with high average landlord ratings (91/100) and low searches for landlord issues.

Bristol and Birmingham came joint second, with landlords scoring 295 out of 400.

Clear It Waste says that with an average of 84/100 points on Yell in Birmingham and 95/100 on Google for Bristol, these cities are great contenders for anyone looking to move.

Despite London being known for its rogue landlords and expensive yet small properties, the capital came fourth for tenant satisfaction and scored a respectable 284 points.

Bottom of the pile

At the bottom of the pile, Derby and Hull scored just 58 out of 400. Average tenancy ratings of 4/10, Derby’s average Google rating of 3.66/5 and Hull’s Yell rating of 3.48/5 all contributed to their poor scores.

Newcastle is also a hotspot for landlord issues, scoring just 110 points overall, as the city suffers from bad Google reviews (16/100) and a high number of monthly searches for landlord problems, according to the study. Other cities with significant landlord issues include Southampton – 116/400, Cardiff – 126/400 and Belfast – 158/400.

Google data was used to find the average monthly search volumes per city for terms such as ‘landlord issues’ plus alternative terms including landlord problem(s), tenant solicitor, report landlord, landlord legal issue(s), landlord complaint(s) and bad landlord.

©1999 – Present | Parkmatic Publications Ltd. All rights reserved | LandlordZONE® – Sheffield, Bristol and Brum have the best landlords in the UK, online ratings show | LandlordZONE.

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BREAKING: New Model Tenancy to prevent ‘no pets’ blanket bans by landlords

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Housing Minister Christopher Pincher has launched an update to the Model Tenancy Agreement that when implemented will prevent landlords from issuing blanket ‘no pets’ bans.

Instead, consent for pets will be the default position, and landlords will have to object in writing within 28 days of a written pet request from a tenant and provide a good reason.

The new guidance appears to go further than Andrew Rosindell’s (pictured) proposed Dogs and Domestic Animals (Accommodation and Protection) Bill, which he told LandlordZONE last year would not make pets a ‘default right’ for tenants.

The housing ministry says that just 7% of private landlords advertise pet friendly properties, meaning many people struggle to find suitable homes.

In some cases, it claims, this has meant people have had to give up their pets all together.

Under the new agreement, rejections can only be made where there is good reason such as in smaller properties or flats where owning a pet could be impractical.

To ensure landlords are protected, tenants will continue to have a legal duty to repair or cover the cost of any damage to the property.

“We are a nation of animal lovers and over the last year more people than ever before have welcome pets into their lives and homes,” says Pincher.

Tiny fraction

“But it can’t be right that only a tiny fraction of landlords advertise pet friendly properties and in some cases people have had to give up their beloved pets in order to find somewhere to live.

“Through the changes to the tenancy agreement we are making today, we are bringing an end to the unfair blanket ban on pets introduced by some landlords.

“This strikes the right balance between helping more people find a home that’s right for them and their pet while ensuring landlords’ properties are safeguarded against inappropriate or badly behaved pets.”

The Model Tenancy Agreement is the government’s recommended contract for landlords.

©1999 – Present | Parkmatic Publications Ltd. All rights reserved | LandlordZONE® – BREAKING: New Model Tenancy to prevent ‘no pets’ blanket bans by landlords | LandlordZONE.

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Landlords unable to respond to London council’s so called “consultation”

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Landlords you need to make your voice heard! You have only until February 11th to respond to the licensing proposals of the City of Westminster council. Except you can’t. The City of Westminster has some 52,700 rental properties constituting 43% of its total housing stock.

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‘Breathing space’ debt scheme is NOT a free ride for defaulting tenants, says leading lawyer

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The new ‘breathing space’ scheme aimed at helping out those with rent arrears isn’t a free ride for defaulting tenants, warns a leading law expert.

Debt Respite Scheme regulations – which launch on 4^th May to cover most debt including rent arrears – aim to give people in debt a better chance to stabilise their finances during a 60-day moratorium on interest, charges and enforcement action while they seek help.

David Smith (picture, above), partner in the commercial litigation team at JMW Solicitors, says a moratorium isn’t there to simply delay the inevitable.

Free ride

He adds: “This is not a free ride for defaulting tenants. A section 21 notice can still be served and enforced against a tenant subject to a moratorium and so can a section 8 notice citing grounds other than arrears of rent.”

However, although he has heard of some tenants calling agents to say that the regulations mean they can’t serve a notice for rent arrears, he doesn’t believe most will use it to simply delay debt proceedings.

Smith adds that the scheme implies a need to have some degree of reasonable belief that a tenant will be able to enter into such an agreement.

He says: “Many tenants will not be aware of this option, will never become aware of it, and even if they were, will have no reasonable means of paying their debts anyway and so would not be likely to get a breathing space.”

Smith says under the scheme, tenants must still continue to pay their rent for their main home – and if they don’t, the landlord can apply to the relevant debt advice organisation to cancel the moratorium. If this is declined, they can then apply to the courts to ask for the moratorium to be ended or to allow legal action for eviction on the grounds of arrears to progress.

Read more about the Breathing Space scheme.

©1999 – Present | Parkmatic Publications Ltd. All rights reserved | LandlordZONE® – ‘Breathing space’ debt scheme is NOT a free ride for defaulting tenants, says leading lawyer | LandlordZONE.

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