Government’s approach is almost certainly unlawful

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Evidence is emerging that County Court Bailiffs and High Court Sheriffs (HCEOs) are declining to enforce warrants and writs of possession.

Guidance has apparently come from the Lord Chancellor to Bailiffs, and the High Court Enforcement Officers Association has also publicised a letter received from Robert Buckland

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Warwick University refuses to answer key questions after leaving 500 private landlords in the lurch

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Hundreds of landlords face trying to find new tenants for their student HMOs after the University of Warwick ditched its property management scheme.

But despite LandlordZONE trying to contact its representatives for two days, no-one at the University of Warwick was available for comment.

Under its Head Lease Scheme, landlords signed-over their houses to the university for years at a time for guaranteed rent, which then did the marketing, management and maintenance via its own letting operation.

More than 500 Coventry and Warwickshire landlords have now been told they’re on their own this term, which means that more than 3,000 HMO rooms will be coming onto the non-student rental market.

Purpose-build blocks

While Covid-19 would have been a factor in its decision, the university has also been working with Coventry City Council and developers in recent years to build thousands of extra student rooms in purpose-built blocks.

However, according to Patrick Sullivan, CEO of Red Brick Lettings in Coventry, this new approach means that many of these landlords may have not stayed on top of current legislation and regulations, particularly HMO licensing.

He tells LandlordZONE: “At least ten landlords have come to us in the last week looking for help, one of whom didn’t have an HMO licence.

Coventry City Council’s additional licensing scheme changed in the summer so that HMOs with three people now need a licence – when it was five people the university sorted the licence for them.”

He adds that there are now thousands of high spec and en-suite purpose-built new rooms available in the city that will be competing for students. Although the university has promised to set up an advertising platform, some of these landlords will now be feeling lost, Sullivan says.

“As they’ve been used to getting less rent, if they start renting the properties out themselves, they could use the extra money to make some improvements,” he advises.

ADVICE: How to rent to student tenants.

©1999 – Present | Parkmatic Publications Ltd. All rights reserved | LandlordZONE® – Warwick University refuses to answer key questions after leaving 500 private landlords in the lurch | LandlordZONE.

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Panicky tenants drive demand for ‘joint and several’ rent arrears protection

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Renters feeling more anxious about their financial obligations during the pandemic have pushed up demand for rent arrears protection.

Part of the Housing Hand rent guarantor group, Only My Share reports that demand for its joint and several liability cover increased by 82% between March and September compared to the same time period last year.

It provides rent arrears protection to tenants who rent rooms individually to prevent them from being liable if a housemate defaults on their rent.

With uncertainty around job security and university placements, renters are more cautious while parents don’t want to be potentially liable for thousands of pounds of somebody else’s rent, according to the platform.

And while it primarily serves university students living in HMOs, 44% of its users are in the 25- 44 age bracket, as more Generation Renters have signed up too.

Group MD Jeremy Robinson (left) says that as understanding of rent arrears protection grows, it’s predicting a continuing increase in demand. “The economic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic hasn’t yet been fully felt,” he says.

“It’s encouraging that so many more people are protecting themselves from becoming liable for other tenants’ rent arrears before it is.”

Only My Share also provides a bespoke service for landlords and agents looking to guarantee rent, receive contents cover and get help with rent recovery, and is set to launch a new B2B service for them online.

Read more: Everything landlords need to know about Coronavirus.

©1999 – Present | Parkmatic Publications Ltd. All rights reserved | LandlordZONE® – Panicky tenants drive demand for ‘joint and several’ rent arrears protection | LandlordZONE.

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Do I have to accept a Smart Meter?

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My new tenant wants to have a smart meter installed. I’m not so sure as they have been problematic and not always able to give accurate readings plus some suppliers don’t like taking on new customers with these.

I would therefore prefer her not to.

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Watch: How to prevent tenants complaining about damp, mould and condensation

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Damp is a common issue, particularly over the winter months. Everyday activities like showering or drying clothes create moist air. When that air has nowhere to go, it can seep into the walls, leading to unsightly marks and mould – and tenant complaints.

But what are the differences between damp, mould and condensation? And how can you identify the cause early and avoid further problems developing in your property?

To help you understand how to prevent the development of damp, mould and condensation, our landlord insurance partner, Hamilton Fraser Total Landlord Insurance has put together a short video.

Visit Hamilton Fraser Total Landlord Insurance’s expert guide to learn more about how you can identify and treat damp, mould and condensation before it damages your property and becomes an unwanted expense.

Hamilton Fraser Total Landlord Insurance has also put together a helpful advice sheet to assist your tenants in identifying and managing the effects of damp, mould and condensation.

For further guidance on getting your property ready for the winter months visit Get winter ready – everything you need to protect your property.

Watch: Top 3 actions you can take to protect your rental property

©1999 – Present | Parkmatic Publications Ltd. All rights reserved | LandlordZONE® – Watch: How to prevent tenants complaining about damp, mould and condensation | LandlordZONE.

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Pandemic flat sharing boom under way as locked-down tenants seek companionship and lower bills

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Tenants looking to avoid isolation and save money during the pandemic are turning to flat shares instead of renting their own homes.

Online rental platform Spotahome says the trend is particularly pronounced in London as the capital’s renters look to reduce their monthly outgoings and improve their personal wellbeing by avoiding months on end living alone. 

As a potential second national lockdown looms, its new research finds that the average rent for a one-bedroom property in London is £1,307, while renting a three-bed flat-share costs £2,013, working out at just £671 per person and a 49% reduction in rent.

It found eight London boroughs where opting for a three-bedroom rental property can cut the monthly rental outgoings by at least 50%, with the biggest reduction in Hillingdon where the cost of £464 per person for a three-bedroom property is 55% lower than the cost of renting a one-bed (£1,027).

Predictably, Kensington and Chelsea offers the smallest reduction, although renters can still make a 20% saving compared to spending £2,062 renting alone in the borough.

UK and Ireland country manager, Nadia Butt (left), says that while many renters have found themselves on furlough or out of work – making the decision to flat-share financially motivated – there’s also a strong demand from those who would have traditionally rented a space of their own.

“Sharing a rental property with others not only helps your bank balance but it can bring a huge benefit to your personal and mental wellbeing,” she says.

“While it will no doubt present its own issues that may not arise living on your own, we’re seeing more and more tenants opt for a shared living space due to the pros outweighing the cons.”

Visit Spotahome.com
More: Difference between bedsit and an HMO.

©1999 – Present | Parkmatic Publications Ltd. All rights reserved | LandlordZONE® – Pandemic flat sharing boom under way as locked-down tenants seek companionship and lower bills | LandlordZONE.

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Rent to Rent furniture sale taxable?

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Hi everyone, I’ve had a Rent to Rent HMO in Liverpool since March 2013. I’m now passing it on to someone else, furnished, and tenanted, as I’ve had enough myself, but it is a good house.

When I first got the house

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Get your skates on! Nearly half of landlords planning to apply for a Green Homes Grant

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The Green Homes Grant is proving a hit with landlords with just under half saying they plan to take up the government’s £5,000 cash offer, according to research by lender Paragon.

But it says landlords need to get their skates on; there are only 650,000 vouchers available to home owners whether they are landlords or not, and the vouchers must be redeemed and the work completed by 31^st March next year.

The popularity of the grant among landlords is not surprising – the Covid-related scheme, which is designed to both generate economic activity and help the government reach its green targets, coincides with the new Mandatory Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) that went live on April 1^st this year.

Change of tenancy

These now prevent landlords letting properties with an EPC rating of F or G even where there has been no change of tenancy, and they must now improve the property rating to E or register an exemption if they want to continue to let it.

The Green Homes Grant therefore helps landlords bypass a major stumbling block that dogged previous efforts to encourage landlords to upgrade their properties; cost.

That’s because the MEES funding rules prior to Covid capped a landlord’s spend at £3,500 and, if a property could not be brought up to an E rating at that price, then an exemption could be applied for.

The Green Homes Grant pays two-thirds of the cost of improving a property up to £5,000, with the landlords paying the rest.

Richard Rowntree, MD for mortgages at Paragon, says: “Doing this, with the help of government subsidy, benefits the landlords themselves, their tenants and the environment, so it’s a sensible move.”

Read the full updated MEES regulations.
MORE: 15 important dates for landlords this including MEES.

©1999 – Present | Parkmatic Publications Ltd. All rights reserved | LandlordZONE® – Get your skates on! Nearly half of landlords planning to apply for a Green Homes Grant | LandlordZONE.

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The National Landlord Investment online Super Show – Tuesday 3rd November

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The National Landlord Investment team to host their online Super Show, Tuesday 3rd November with over 1200 minutes of free content! Join the team and over 40 expert speakers and connect with 50+ exhibitors online. Click Here

The team delivered their first online event on 8th October which covered the Midlands and Manchester areas.

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We are now in a completely different operating environment

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In the past, if someone was in a reasonable job, I was willing to risk taking them on without a guarantor. In fact, it seemed rude to ask a professional in their 30s or 40s for one. The worst thing that could happen would be me losing about 6 months rent –

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