A residential tenancy agreement is a statutory binding written contract between landlord and tenant to occupy the residential premises upon payment of agreed rent. Residential tenancy agreement defines the certain rights and liabilities of the landlord and tenant during the tenancy agreement period. Residential property lease agreement can be: Written or Verbal But it is very wise to use a written residential tenancy agreement to avoid the disputes. Housing legislation provides certain rights and obligations [...]

One question we often get asked by our client’s when they are purchasing a property is what can they do if in future years the service charge for the flat or apartment becomes excessive and greedy freeholders and managing agents are trying to take advantage. Legislation protects residential tenants from excessive service charges. Before entering into contracts to provide services or carry out works relating to residential properties, freeholders or managing agents need to consult [...]

Landlords, most of you will know you must have annual gas safety inspections undertaken on your properties and certificates provided by the inspector. But do you know the consequences should you fail to meet your responsibilities ? We recently read a report where a Landlord who repeatedly failed to carry out annual gas inspections on one of his properties was guilty of breaching the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and Gas Safety (Installation [...]

Ground 1 – when a landlord or his spouse has occupied the dwelling as his only or principle home at some time, and has given notice of his intention to return. Successors in title to the landlord may also use this ground provided they did not purchase the dwelling. (That covers family members); Ground 2 – a mortgagee requiring possession in order to exercise a power of sale. The mortgage must pre-date the tenancy and [...]

Tenancy deposit protection (TDP) schemes guarantee that money paid by tenants (as deposits) is kept safe. Tenancy deposit protection (TDP) schemes ensures that tenants will get their deposits back at the end of the tenancy, if they fulfil the terms of the tenancy agreement and do not damage the property. The schemes: encourage landlords and tenants to draw up clear tenancy agreements provide a free service to resolve disputes Landlords must protect their tenants’ deposits [...]

AST is most popular form of tenancy agreement in letting residential property. The Government has increased the AST rent threshold from 25 K per annum to 100 K per annum with effect from 1 October 2010. The legislation does not provide for any transitional arrangements. It is not ‘retrospective’ as such, but will affect all existing and new tenancies from 1 October. All the existing tenancies or the tenancies created on or after 1 October [...]

Agricultural tenancies (agreed since 1 September 1995) are also recognized as farm business tenancies. It is important to qualify for a farm business tenancy that at least one of the tenanted land must be farmed throughout the life of tenancy and the tenancy must complete one of the two conditions: • It is the statutory duty of the landlord and tenant to serve notices on each other before the start of agricultural tenancy with reference [...]

Section 8 notice of the Housing Act 1988 is used to terminate the assured shorthold tenancy when the tenant violates the terms laid down in the tenancy agreement. There are 17 grounds on the basis of which landlord may seek possession before the fixed term of tenancy has come to an end. Before applying for the order of the court with reference to eviction of the tenant, the landlord must serve the section 8 to [...]

Background Since the Agricultural Tenancies Act 1995, there have been many changes in agricultural processes as well as a growing need for farmers to prioritise environmental as well as farming outputs as well as the introduction of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). Farm diversification has been essential to secure the sustainability of the farm. Since the outbreak of Foot and Mouth and the Policy Commission on the Future of Food and Farming, there has been [...]

‘Copyright LandLordZone.co.uk’ The Private Rented Sector (PRS) and buy-to-let has become an important, if not the most important, sector of the UK housing market; certainly as far as tenants, sellers, letting and estate agents are concerned. The young wait in rented accommodation until they can afford to buy, which suits their mobile lifestyles, the old downsize and some move into a rental retirement, owners rent out their homes when they move away, or when they [...]