June 2016

One topic that comes up regularly for the Landlord Advice Team in the wake of the new section 21 notice is gas safety certificates.
One of the legal requirements on landlords is to have a valid gas safety certificate and to have provided that to the tenants. Failure to do so can lead to fines and, for tenancies that started on or after October 1st 2015, landlords are prevented from serving the new section 21 form without it.

An RLA recommendation – to reduce Capital Gains Tax (CGT) paid by landlords when selling their rented home to sitting tenants – is being proposed as an amendment to the Finance Bill

The people have spoken and Brexit is now a reality. But what does this mean for the PRS landlord? Here RLA policy and communications manger John Stewart looks at the potential impact of leaving the European Union on the residential landlord.
The UK has voted to leave the European Union. Where does that leave landlords and the private rented sector? In many ways, exactly where we were before the vote – surrounded by a huge cloud of uncertainty.
The leaders of the Leave campaign have been short on detail when it comes to what a post-Brexit UK would look like, beyond ‘taking back control’ and making Britain great again’. The Prime Minister will step down in October, adding a Conservative leadership election to mix.

With the UK having voted to leave the European Union the issue of how this affects the Private Rented Sector will be on some landlords’ and tenants’ minds, writes RLA Policy Director David Smith.

Selective licensing could be brought in throughout areas of Manchester.
Manchester City Council is currently consulting on plans to pilot a scheme in Crumpsall, Moston, Rusholme and Old Moat in a bid to crackdown on criminal landlords.

Tomorrow the UK will go to the polls to vote on whether to stay or leave the European Union.
According to the most recent opinion polls the Vote Leave and Stronger in Europe campaigns are neck and neck.

The committee stage of the Finance Bill – which will include a debate on the reduction to Capital Gains Tax will take place in the Commons later this month.
All MPs will have the chance to consider and debate Clause 72 of the Bill – which reduced the Capital Gains Tax rate to 20% – on June 27 and 28 – a move which excluded residential property.

One of the most common complaints to the Landlord Advice Team is that the government is drowning landlords and tenants in paperwork – making life ever more difficult.
It’s not surprising then, that with so many stacks of paper to keep track of, some landlords simply forget or just misplace something vital. Like a tenancy agreement.

The Supreme Court has ruled today that the right to a private and family life does not prevent, in legitimate cases, landlords and mortgage lenders from reclaiming possession of a rented home.

RLA policy director David Smith told last week’s Tenant Tax Summit that high level political campaigning in the fight against MIR cuts is showing results.