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Top tips to keep your home protected in winter
This article highlights the best ways to reduce the risk of future problems and unnecessary expenses with some handy advice for protecting your home in these colder months.
Our Top Tips To Attract (and Keep) Tenants
The buy-to-let sector is highly competitive and, not surprisingly, the landlords who are most successful are the ones who appreciate the importance of making their properties attractive to their desired tenant market.
What are Landlords Obligations for Legionnaires Disease?
Legionnaires’ disease is a potentially fatal form of pneumonia caused by inhaling small droplets of water containing Legionella bacteria. It can be contracted in various settings, including domestic premises.
Landlords have specific obligations to ensure the safety and well-being of their tenants. In this blog, we will explore the responsibilities of landlords concerning Legionnaires’ disease and how it impacts on them providing a safe living environment for their tenants.
Your tenants e-bike batteries could cause serious Fires!
E-bikes and e-scooters have been associated with more than a hundred fires already this year, some of which have been fatal.
The Guardian reported in May 2023 that there had been 102 fires associated with e-bikes and scooters so far, with at least 190 injured and eight people killed.
Charging Tenants For Cleaning At The End Of Their Tenancy
You cannot charge tenants for cleaning in all situations – as this would be a fee and would be in breach of the Tenants Fees legislation.
However, the tenant fees legislation does not prevent you from claiming damages for losses suffered by you due to tenants’ breach of the terms of their tenancy agreement.
Are Flats or Houses the Smarter Investment Choice?
Investing in property has long been regarded as a solid strategy for generating passive income and building long-term wealth.
One of the fundamental decisions an aspiring property investor faces though, is whether to buy an apartment or a house as a rental property.
Pests in Rented Property: Who Takes Charge?
It’s a fact of life that pests and vermin can sometimes invade your living space – whether this be annoying insects, rodents scurrying around, or other unwanted creatures. But who bears the responsibility for tackling these unwelcome guests in a rented property?
The Renters Reform Bill, What do Landlords Need to Know?
It’s been a long time coming, but the biggest legal change in a generation is finally before Parliament. Originally proposed back in 2019, the Renters Reform Bill contains sweeping and landmark reforms, aimed at improving the rental system in England.
What To Do If Your Tenant Wants to Leave Early
If your tenants have an Assured Shorthold Tenancy (AST), they are legally...
What To Do If A Tenant Leaves Behind Belongings
When renting out a property you will need a Tenancy Agreement which is, essentially, a document setting out rules and responsibilities that provides both the landlord and the tenant with security and peace of mind for the duration of the tenancy.
An Agreement will give specific rights to both parties, which can include the rights of the tenant to live in a property and for the landlord to receive a regular payment of rent in exchange.
Different Types Of Tenancy Explained
When renting out a property you will need a Tenancy Agreement which is, essentially, a document setting out rules and responsibilities that provides both the landlord and the tenant with security and peace of mind for the duration of the tenancy.
An Agreement will give specific rights to both parties, which can include the rights of the tenant to live in a property and for the landlord to receive a regular payment of rent in exchange.
Can You Have A Tenant Who Is Under 18 years old?
Under land law, a minor (someone under the age of 18) cannot hold a ‘legal’ interest in land and can only hold an ‘equitable’ interest.
All About Boiler Pressure
Our guide runs through everything you need to know about boiler pressure, plus our recommendations for diagnosing and fixing low or high pressure
How To Save Money On Your Energy Bills
Follow our tips and advice for straightforward ways to save energy, lower your bills and reduce your carbon footprint. It is a topic at the forefront of everyone’s mind right now and we at the Horizon Lets office have already started following these tips in our own homes:
Condensation and How To Beat It
‘Condensation dampness’ is a condition that affects millions of homes in the UK. Whether you are a Landlord or a Tenant this guide should help you control and prevent condensation and mould within your property.
Get Prepared For Making Tax Digital
Some major changes are being made to the way HMRC collects information about income from UK property from 2024 with the implementation of Making Tax Digital. This will have a huge impact on landlords – read our guide to start getting prepared.
What are Smart Meters?
Smart meters provide real time updates to energy suppliers and users in...
Rent Reductions During Covid-19
Are rent reductions an option?
Many tenants are struggling with financial problems during the Covid-19 crisis and therefore, they are asking their landlords for a rent reduction.
Every case is different – some landlords are better placed than others to be generous, and while some tenants have lost most of their income, others will have felt little if any financial impact.
Suspending or reducing the rent will be a matter for negotiation, but when landlords have decided they are going to offer financial help to their tenants there are some traps they should avoid such as:
Breaching the Tenant Fees Act 2019 or permanently reducing the rent
Lawful and Unlawful Discrimination – Tenants & Landlords
The discrimination laws apply when choosing and dealing with tenants moving in properties, so this is something which is important to know about. However, it is only unlawful discrimination which is forbidden. Some types of discrimination are acceptable and are actually advisable in certain circumstances.
This article gives a quick overview of what is and what is not unlawful… make sure you don’t fall into any of these pitfalls!
The Importance Of Building A Good Relationship With Your Tenants
In this post, we are going to discuss the benefits of building a good relationship with your tenant.
It is a well-known fact that Landlords and Agents are not on the list of highly liked people. Most of the time people think that all landlords are simply wanting to rent out rubbish properties at high prices, simply to make profit and line their pockets – hopefully once you have read this you will realise that this is not the correct assumption.
Data Protection – Our Guidance for Landlords
Data protection is something that is becoming more important as the years go on. We all know the dangers of data theft and how someone with your personal details can use this fraudulently.
The Data Protection Legislation is designed to protect data by requiring everyone who holds personal information to look after it properly.
Do I Need Landlord Insurance?
Landlord insurance can be expensive and difficult to understand… So, do...
Repairs: A Guide for Landlord & Tenants
This article is designed to tell Landlords and Tenants about the responsibilities for repairs under shorthold tenancy agreements in residential properties. Shorthold tenancy agreements are for any lease under seven years long and can include periodic tenancies where the tenant has not got a fixed term agreement and occupies the property from month to month or week to week.
