August 2015

RLA trainer, and Housing Benefits expert Bill Irvine has an update on his Alternative Payments post from last week. Bill explains some issues he is having with DWP and Universal Credit arrangements and best advice on how to challenge some of the road blocks facing private landlords. Find out more…

A petition to ‘Reverse the planned tax relief restriction on individual landlords’ has reached the required 10,000 signatures to require a Government response. The petition follows the Summer Budget announcements which will see many buy to let landlords affected by reduced Mortgage Interest Relief (MIR) to the basic rate of 20%. If you haven’t signed the petition please consider doing so now…

Private sector landlords can now lodge Alternative Payment Arrangements (APA) applications via email as opposed to sending physical copies to the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) offices in Wolverhampton. RLA trainer and Universal Credit (UC) expert Bill Irvine has been told by DWP specifically about the change, as previously only social landlords could email about payments. Due to security concerns, there are two different forms available, it is very important you use the right one…

From October 2015 ALL privately rented properties will be required to have smoke alarms fitted and rooms with solid fuel heating will need Carbon Monoxide (CO) detectors. To get ready for this the RLA has created an information page about how landlords can apply for, and attain free alarms and detectors from local fire & rescue services…

The Government has published plans to establish a ‘blacklist’ of landlords and agents who are found guilty of ‘relevant housing offences’, extend the scope of rent repayment orders beyond the failure to obtain a licence, and new measures to tackle abandonment…

The RLA has launched a brand new campaign page full of tools to enable Landlords to lobby against the proposed tax changes announced by George Osbourne in this year’s summer budget. These measures included reducing the Mortgage Interest Relief for buy to let landlords to the basic rate (20%) and replacement for the wear and tear allowance for fully furnished properties with a scheme for tax relief only for actual replacement furnishing…

Students in rented housing are being let down by a small number of bad landlords and a failure by local authorities to properly enforce regulations, say the Residential Landlords Association (RLA)…

Would you spend few minutes seeing a property that will be your home for a long time? Try not to remember the things you ought to have searched for after you have left. 1. Is there soggy? The principle giveaway signs are a rotten scent, flaky mortar and watermarked walls or roofs. Another sign may […]

Home improvement tips can make your home more beautiful, more attractive and also can reduce your cost. You may practically use it to get good results. Here are 10 key points that may help turning your place into a better, sweet home. 01. Spend few moments with a professional Call a realtor or designer […]

Measures announced today to crack down on illegal immigrants obtaining housing could lead to lawful tenants being denied a home say landlords.