Lettings

Subletting is a recurring subject in the world of rental property. For those who are not familiar with the term,subletting is when the original tenant named on the legal agreement moves out and rents the entire property to someone else. Alternatively, the original tenant stays in the property and rents out a room or multiple rooms. Unless the landlord has agreed to subletting, the act will be a breach of the tenancy agreement and constitutes grounds for eviction.

Tenants have a duty of care to look after gardens, roof terraces, courtyards and balconies. This covers what grows outside, what is added – or taken away – and what happens in the outside space. Failure to look after the great outdoors could result in deductions from the deposit, so it’s vital to know what is expected of tenants.

May was the month when the Renter’s Reform Bill was introduced to Parliament. The Government has a deadline to keep as it wants the contents to become law before the next general election, which has to happen by 28thJanuary 2025.

Life has got more expensive for the majority of us and a review of finances is frequently needed to ensure we’re balancing the books. This is especially true for landlords who, for the first time in many years, will find mortgage rates have doubled since they last looked at home loans.

Making a ‘house a home’ is a saying that applies to everyone, including tenants, but there is often confusion over what a renter can do to a property in terms of DIY and decorating. In this blog, we explain how a tenancy agreement will provide clarity, and we’ll suggest a number of ways to personalise a rental property without making permanent changes.

The new year has certainly started on an upbeat note for the lettings sector. A survey by Finbri found more than 50% of UK property investors intend to expand their property portfolios in 2023. 

In terms of rented properties, we are often asked how tenants can keep their fuel bills down. As well as recommending the advice of the Energy Saving Trust, we thought it would be useful to share the answers to our most frequently asked energy questions.

Some tenancy applications that don’t proceed are a result of failed tenant reference checks. Knowing what may trip you up before you apply for a rental property will reduce the risk of you being turned down.

The latest Statistical Briefing by The Deposit Service – which represents the Tenancy Deposit Scheme, SafeDeposits Scotland and TDS Northern Ireland – found poor standards of cleanliness was the top reason for deposit disputes across the UK.

Landlords are legally required to uphold gas and fire safety standards in properties they rent to tenants, with a number of compulsory laws in place. Here we share the most frequently asked questions from landlords, along with our answers.

In the past, landlords would have been happy to purchase on older property stock and make improvements – perhaps adding value along the way. Today, however, there is a perfect storm of factors casting a cloud over investing in resale buy-to-lets. 

There are millions of people in Generation Z – or Gen Z for short – and they are highly likely to need rental accommodation as this age bracket encompasses undergraduates, those leaving university and young professionals.