MHCLG will not consider an exemption of the tenant fees ban for pets

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Tory MP Andrew Rosindell sent a letter backed by Labour’s Andrew Gwynne, Green MP Caroline Lucas and Lib Dem leader Ed Davey to the Housing Secretary asking for the Tenants fees act Legislation to be amended and reduce unnecessarily obstacles to renters owning pets.

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Tenant Referencing – who do you use for a thorough check these days?

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Hello, I used to use TenantReferencing.co.uk and was very happy with their application form and their 9-point checks. They left the market some time ago, and I still haven’t found a suitable replacement thorough referencing company.

Paying for a link to be sent to a prospective tenant before I’ve assessed an application doesn’t work for me.

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NEW: Live show promises ‘gloves off’ debate on rogue tenants

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Visitors to the first live Property Investor Show for nearly two years are in for a treat as key members of the sector confirm they will be gathering for ‘gloves off’ sessions at the event.

This follows one of the toughest periods for the private rented sector during the pandemic, during which thousands of landlords have been prevented from evicting tenants and, particularly in England, direct financial support for those who have struggled with rent arrears has been thin on the ground.

Those appearing to fulminate on these subjects include TV star and Landlord Action founder Paul Shamplina, who will be telling landlords how to protect themselves from tenant fraud, along with leading estate agent Krstjan Byfield.

The pair recently appeared on the BBC investigative programme Inside Out when it examined the problems of rogue tenants who illegally sub-let landlords’ properties.

“There’s often a disproportionate focus on so-called rogue landlords and this tiny section of the sector tends to get huge attention,” says Shamplina (main pic).

“But I will be discussing the growing problem of bad tenants taking advantage of Airbnb popularity and how many landlords are being taken for a ride financially with dodgy individuals sub-letting properties illegally. Who should take responsibility? That’s the big question”.   

Others appearing at the show include outspoken property industry figure Russell Quirk (pictured), Eddie Hooker of Hamilton Fraser, David Cox formerly of ARLA and now at Rightmove and Chris Norris, Director at the NRLA.

Quirk, who will be chairing a panel discussion on ‘what next’ for the PRS, says: “The past 18 months has seen a bumper property market and that’s benefited landlords and property investors hugely with capital gains in the double digits.

“But this surely cannot be sustained, and I will be asking the panel what they think 2022 and beyond looks like from a property value and tenant demand perspective – and adding my own perspective of course. When does the runaway train stop, if at all.”

Further big names and panel subjects are to be revealed soon.

The Property Investor Show is taking place at the Excel Centre, London on 15^th and 16^th October 2021.

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Minister rejects law reform calls to help more landlords rent to pet owners

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The government has rebuffed last week’s efforts by campaigners, MPs, Lords and private rental sector organisations to help more landlords accept tenants who wish to live with their pets.

In a written House of Commons reply by junior housing minister Eddie Hughes (main picture) made in response to campaigning MP Andrew Rosindell, the government said the current deposit law set out within the Tenant Fees Act was sufficient to enable landlords to charge tenants an additional deposit.

Rosindell (pictured, left) asked: “What assessment his department has made of the potential merits of adding pet deposits to the list of permitted payments in the Tenant Fees Act 2019 for pet ownership in rented accommodation?”.

Hughes replied that: “The five week cap should be considered the maximum, rather than the default amount charged. This approach should therefore accommodate private renters who wish to keep pets, without the need for a separate pet deposit.”

The minister’s answer, which also said the government had no plans at this time to amend the Tenant Fees Act, would suggest Ministers are unaware that the vast majority of letting agents and landlords now charge the full five-week rental deposit as standard.

This means, in order to comply with Hughes’ suggestion, landlords would have to charge a lower overall deposit, something many are reluctant to do as it become more and more difficult to recoup rent arrears through the courts.

Jen Berezai (pictured) who has been helping coordinate attempts to move the government’s position on deposits, tells LandlordZONE: “The five week cap is near enough equal to a month’s rent, and should a tenant leave a property without notice or in arrears, only covers a landlord for that initial void, with nothing left over for any potential damage by humans or pets.

“Tenants WANT a negotiating tool, they WANT to be able to pay a deposit or insurance premium in order to keep their pets. The system is broken and the government MUST take heed and seriously consider the proposals set out in the Heads for Tails! report.”

Read more: ‘Tenant Fees Act has backed landlords into a corner over accepting pets’

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How to put my rental property on the market?

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Hi, I am sure many landlords are probably in the same situation as myself, and I am looking to now sell a rental property.

I know I have to give 4 months notice, but can I still get the property on the market before the tenant’s notice expires

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Buying younger children an investment?

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Hi, I want to purchase a flat for cash, for my two boys (aged 15 & 13yrs). The income will take care of any maintenance and service charges as well, and the balance contributing to their ISA’s. It also gives them a place to live sometime in the future should they want to live in the city of Manchester.

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‘Tenant Fees Act has backed landlords into a corner over accepting pets’

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AdvoCATS founder and pets campaigner Jen Berezai sympathises with landlords who have been backed into a corner by the government’s Tenant Fees Act over accepting pets.

The charity is calling for the Act to be amended to allow landlords to either take additional deposits off tenants seeking to rent with pets or require tenants to take out extra insurance.

It has prompted a cross-party group of 35 MPs, peers and industry figures to write an open letter to housing secretary Robert Jenrick urging him to make it easier for landlords and agent to accept tenants with pets.

It now wants MPs to table a question in the debate on the Renters Reform Bill and is pushing for its proposal to be included in the White Paper.

Frustration

Landlord Mick Roberts has voiced the frustration of many in the sector, saying that, in the past, landlords could just charge a higher deposit and those tenants who didn’t cause damage would get all their money back.

“There’s no better insurance than the tenants’ own money,” says Roberts, who adds that if landlords are forced to take tenants with pets, they have no choice but to increase rent across the board – even for those without pets.

Berezai says the modern tenancy agreement doesn’t cut it and agrees that landlords want to be able to cover potential damage – but their hands are tied.

She tells LandlordZONE: “Landlords currently haven’t got many options and we’re trying to provide them with some.”

Berezai started the charity in 2018 while working at a rescue shelter, after becoming frustrated at the number of people wanting to adopt pets but being refused permission by their landlord.

“Lockdown rammed it home to people who had never experienced loneliness or isolation just how valuable a pet is,” she adds.

Visit Advocats

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