When taking over management of a tenancy, or working with a landlord to buy a house with a tenant in situ, one thing to always find out is when the tenant first occupied the property. This is to ensure you are fully covered, and know the full story if a problem were to arise. In this weeks blog we explore a case study from our partners at Woodstock Legal Services as well as look at what rights the tenants have in regards to a protected shorthold tenancy and a Rent Act tenancy.

Even the best tenants can fall on hard times, and if their circumstances change, they could make a request to terminate the agreement earlier than the end of the fixed term.

Our legal services provider, Woodstock, has noted an increase in the need for possession proceedings. Local councils appear to be advising tenants to remain in their homes until they are evicted by bailiffs.

Reports are being received that some courts in London are experiencing delays, with landlords finding it challenging to secure eviction dates. As a result, some are waiting up to nine months for a bailiff appointment. While last year’s delays were attributed to shortages of bailiffs and PPE equipment, the reasons behind this year’s delays remain unclear.

In March, a letter was sent by Michael Gove to Conservative MPs setting out further plans for the Renter’s Reform Bill in response to concerns. This letter was leaked on X , so in this blog we look at those improvements outlines in the letter and what this could mean for the bill moving forward.

Every letting agent knows that when a tenant pays a deposit for their rental home, it must be protected in a recognised deposit scheme, and the appropriate information provided to the tenant. The tenant has a right to know where the money is being held, as well as when and why their landlord may seek to make deductions from the deposit at the end of the tenancy.

If a tenant owes more than £5,000 in rental arrears, the landlord has the option to apply to make them bankrupt. In this weeks blog we look at the lead up to this event and what the process looks like.

Almost five years since the first announcement, the Rental Reform bill has not yet come into effect and is still going through the House of Commons. In November 2023, it was scrutinised at the ‘Committee’ stage which involved a group of MPs examining the bill’s clauses.

Landlords are required to make sure all gas appliances, fittings, chimneys and flues are maintained in a safe condition to ensure the safety of a tenant. But this week we look at a case study of then the tenant had their supply cut off and the landlord was fined.