July 2017

International Friendship Day, promoting friendship and fellowship between all human beings, has origins dating back to the 1920’s but following years of lobbying, is now officially recognised by the UN. In the spirit of this occasion, marked on 30th July 2017, the RLA is offering 50% discount on all new memberships from Friday 28th July […]

The post Happy International Friendship Day – have a treat on us appeared first on RLA Campaigns and News Centre.

Nothing will put potential tenants off like the stench of cigarette smoke, damp, pets (or indeed damp pets), but lingering pongs can be notoriously difficult to get rid of. Here we talk to industry experts and look at how you can banish those stubborn smells for good. The house was lovely, clean and well decorated […]

The post Lingering odours hanging around like a bad smell? appeared first on RLA Campaigns and News Centre.

This week our Landlord Advice Team looks at rent in advance and periodic tenancies in relation to Section 21 notices. The introduction of the prescribed Section 21 notice for England in October 2015 caused a few headaches for landlords when it first came in. Along with remembering all the old rules for service for their old […]

The post Call of the week – Section 21: The technical stuff appeared first on RLA Campaigns and News Centre.

The RLA has updated its tenancy agreements – with the AST documents now available to download from the site. There have been a number of changes for 2017. In light of the decision in Broadley v Leeds City Council, the RLA has decided to move back to using contractual periodic tenancies instead of statutory periodic […]

The post New tenancy agreements now available appeared first on RLA Campaigns and News Centre.

The DWP has said it will address problems faced by landlords who house Universal Credit tenants following a meeting with the RLA. RLA directors David Smith and Chris Town met with Caroline Dinenage MP, the new Minister responsible for housing cost support at the Department for Work and Pensions, to discuss issues including rent arrears […]

The post DWP to look at RLA proposals on Universal Credit appeared first on RLA Campaigns and News Centre.

The RLA is warning that contradictory and outdated fire safety guidance needs updating to better support good landlords. At present, landlords are expected to abide by fire safety guidance which was issued by LACORS, a body that no longer exists, fire safety regulations that date back to 2005 and building regulation guidance issued in 2006. […]

The post Fire safety guidance must change, say landlords appeared first on RLA Campaigns and News Centre.

The RLA has written to the Joseph Rowntree Foundation following the publication of a ‘misleading and distorted’ report into evictions in the PRS. In the letter RLA chairman Alan Ward asked new chief executive Campbell Robb, to explain how the foundation came to the conclusion that the number of evictions was greater in the PRS […]

The post RLA criticises ‘misleading and distorted’ evictions report appeared first on RLA Campaigns and News Centre.

Property expert Kate Faulkner looks at the facts behind the headlines – and what the future holds for the private rented sector Buy to let – dead or alive? This has been a popular headline for several years now, so I thought it would be useful to take an independent look at the actual facts […]

The post Is buy to let dead? appeared first on RLA Campaigns and News Centre.

Free tax protection insurance worth more than £100 a year is being offered to RLA members. The cover will protect landlords against costs associated with HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) tax inspections for the duration of their membership and is available to all new and existing members. The policy has been designed to give landlords peace of mind during […]

The post Free tax protection insurance when you join the RLA appeared first on RLA Campaigns and News Centre.

The Welsh government has launched its formal consultation on plans for a Welsh lettings fee ban. Communities and Children Secretary Carl Sargeant AM launched the process this week, saying he wants to be ‘fully informed’ of the potential impact on landlords and agents before legislation is brought forward. Mr Sargeant said: “I believe the time […]

The post Consultation on letting fees ban for Wales appeared first on RLA Campaigns and News Centre.