Another year past and another Christmas roundup for you.
Below are links to many of our past posts to give you something to read while we at Landlord Law take a bit of a break over the Christmas and New Year period.
Here’s what we wrote last year:
January
We started with a Westminster Briefing video on 2 January, one of my regular chats with Sean Hooker of the Property Redress Scheme where we discuss current issues, and I also published my interview with Suzy Hershman of My Deposits.
I also look at why we need Legal Aid, and Ben asked whether clauses in contracts could be harassment of tenants.
Blog clinic posts included a post about tenants rights when they are not told about planned construction work, whether a landlord can claim rent and use the property for himself, and reasons to be careful when buying a tenanted HMO.
See all the January posts here.
February
I report on the Caridon Property Ltd case on gas safety certificates and section 21, and discuss four points on the new Fitness for Human Habitation Act.
Ben takes a look at Property Guardians, how red tape puts money in the pockets of criminal landlords, and has some thoughts on Judge empathy.
Blog clinic posts included posts on who is responsible for repairs to the front door, whether the landlord or the agent keeps the money when rent is paid a year in advance, and tenants rights when agreed refurbishment works are not done before the start of the tenancy.
See all the February posts here.
March
I consider Fitness for Human Habitation and rented properties
Ben discussed how he helped establish Safer Renting and a bit about its work, why modern housing laws aren’t working and also wrote about rent inclusive utility bills and various problems with dodgy landlords.
A post from David Smith on Right to Rent implications and Ben discussed the Right to Rent challenge.
Blog clinic posts included considering whether a landlord had any recourse against his anti-social tenant, and who is responsible under a tenancy if some of the tenants leave.
See all the March posts here.
April
I publish another Westminster Briefing with Sean Hooker and an interview with Eddie Hooker the CEO of Hamilton Fraser.
I start a series of posts on the end of section 21, starting with a long post on its history, with a post from Ben on the concept of the Overton Window. I discuss here why it could be described as ‘evil’.
Ben writes about Harry’s case and the legal procedures which only serve to deny justice to illegally evicted tenants,
Davide Smith writes about the Tenant Fees Act
Blog clinic posts included a post about a fraudulent landlord scam, and whether rent paid in advance could be a deposit which needs protecting.
See all the April posts here.
May
I publish the results of our section 21 survey, Ben gives his take as a private tenant, and I publish posts on rethinking our values , and what to do about possession claims based on rent.
I write about amending the Landlord Law Tenancy Agreements to comply with the new Tenant Fees legislation. Ben looks at problems with the unwinding tenancies legislation.
Blog clinic posts included considering what can be done when tenants use a property as a B&B, and whether a tenant has a right to a proper door to their rented room.
See all the May posts here.
June
I discuss the end of section 21 and possession claims based on ‘bad tenant grounds’, point out a possible Tenant Fees Act problem waiting to happen and wonder if we should have more ‘tiny houses’.
We introduce our free Tenancy Deposits calculator which you can put on your own website.
Ben looks at that big lie which is ‘affordable rent’, discusses appearing on the telly and the 90% they don’t show you
David Smith looks at the different rules for the tenant fee ban in Wales,
Blog clinic posts included whether long term tenants can take fixtures and fittings when they leave, and dealing with losses and liability for damage caused by fire.
See all the June posts here.
July
I ask why people seem to want to drive out private landlords and suggest they think again, and publish the final post in my Ending Section 21 series.
I introduce my new Eco Landlords website.
Ben givens the shocking truth about criminal letting agents today, looks at court hearings and the user’s experience and considers Lord Best’s ROPA report.
Blog clinic posts included a question from a tenant on why their tenancy agreement says rent must be paid in advance, whether tenants can insist on timed appointments for new tenant viewings, whether landlords can keep replacement items purchased by tenants,
See all the July posts here.
August
I suddenly realise that I have been self-employed for 25 years and write about my journey.
I introduce the new version of our Free Guide for Landlords on Insurance and ask whether landlords can be really sure that their large rural rented property is not being used by a criminal gang,
David Smith looks at a new case on licensing of HMOs. Ben discusses dealing with criminal landlords, the lifestyle club scams and how a case on protesting parents is prejudicing illegal eviction injunctions.
Blog clinic posts included a question on whether a tenant can owe rent if they did not sign the tenancy agreement, whether a tenancy is ‘void’ if it is in breach of the landlord’s mortgage, and whether this tenant can stop her landlords husband becoming her landlord.
See all the August posts here.
September
I talk about the governments housing chickens coming home to roost, and ask if landlords are wearing their climate catastrophe spectacles.
Robin Stewart of Anthony Gold solicitors explains about the Tenant Fee ban in Wales.
Ben asks why we don’t discourage crooks by making crooked practice more expensive, and exposes the massive profits made by developers from the sale of our Court buildings.
Blog clinic posts included a question on the correct form to use for a section 21 notice, what happens if a tenant stays on in a shared property after the fixed term ends, a tenant asks if her landlord can let himself into her flat when she is out, and a horrified landlord finds his property is being used as a ‘party home’.
See all the September posts here.
October
I discuss how alternative deposit schemes are not all that they seem, and ask whether pet rents show monstrous greed or a justified precaution. On my EcoLandlords site, I am thrilled to report that a council estate in Norwich has won the Stirling Prize.
Robin Stewart considers who rent repayment orders can be made against and David Smith looks at updated HMO guidance for local authorities.
Blog clinic posts included a post on the options when co-tenants relationships break down, whether letting agents can charge extra when the keys are handed in late, and a post on lodgers and deposits.
See all the October posts here.
November
I ask if criminal landlords are threatening to break knees.
Ben looks at a benign tenant fees act development for tenants
Blog clinic posts included whether letting agents can use their keys to enter to show buyers round while the tenant is in bed, what can be done about a neighbour complaining about tenants unjustly, and whether receipts for tenants keys are a legal requirement.
See all the November posts here.
December
A short month on the blog.
I give a warning to new HMO landlords about planning issues. We also have a survey for landlords on improving the energy efficiency of their properties.
Tamanna Begum of Anthony Gold writes about sham licenses and rogue landlords,
Blog clinic posts included what landlords can do if tenants leave without paying the final rent
See all the December posts here.
And that’s it for 2019!
We are all going to have a well-earned break and we will be back again with you in January 2020. Who knows what the new decade will bring?
I wish you all a very happy Christmas and New Year.
