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Guidance for landlords on Electrical Safety

Guidance for landlords on Electrical Safety

The safety of tenants is of paramount importance to landlords in the private rental sector, and rightly so. One of the areas that has been improved immeasurably over the years is electrical safety, and now new guidelines have been published to provide greater awareness and education to landlords.

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Condensation and How To Beat It

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.

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Costs landlords can offset against their tax

Costs landlords can offset against their tax

Landlords are able deduct the costs of running and maintaining their property, ultimately lowering their tax bill.

Common deductible expenses include any repair or maintenance tasks, covering everything from minor repairs to any like-for-like replacement, i.e. the new item must be similar or identical in terms of function, type and quality.

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The EICR Rules for Landlords in England

The EICR Rules for Landlords in England

Conducting an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) is a mandatory step before renting your property in England.
 
The EICR involves a thorough examination of the electrical wiring, sockets, consumer units (also known as fuse boards), and any other fixed electrical fittings within your property. As ever, it’s essential for this work to be done by a sufficiently qualified professional.

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How to increase rent using the notice procedure?

How to increase rent using the notice procedure?

This procedure is stated in Section 13 of the Housing Act 1988 and is only available for periodic assured and assured shorthold tenancies.  It can’t be used for common law tenancies or during a fixed term.

You need to use the proper form of notice which is a prescribed form.  These are freely available online from a reputable website. This Notice must be completed in full (see the notes with the form to help) and then served on a tenant.

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What are Landlords Obligations for Legionnaires Disease?

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.

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Your tenants e-bike batteries could cause serious Fires!

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.

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Charging Tenants For Cleaning At The End Of Their Tenancy

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. 

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Are Flats or Houses the Smarter Investment Choice?

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.

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Pests in Rented Property: Who Takes Charge?

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? 

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The Rising Tide… Rents Still Increasing

The Rising Tide… Rents Still Increasing

The cost of renting a home in the UK has long been a hot topic.  With each passing year, rent prices keep rising, and it looks like 2023 will be no exception as the rental market shows no signs of slowing down.

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Right To Rent Checks Procedure

Right To Rent Checks Procedure

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.

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Landlord’s Guide to Letting Property

Landlord’s Guide to Letting Property

Letting property is an increasingly complicated business.  Here is our brief Landlord Guide with the main legal, financial, and practical issues you need to consider before a tenancy begins.

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Our Top Tips for Landlord Cashflow Management

Our Top Tips for Landlord Cashflow Management

The pandemic has shown us how cash flow positions can change almost in an instant, and for reasons often outside of the control of Landlords themselves. Although it’s important to remember that cash flow isn’t always the same month to month, here are our tips for keeping it positive.

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A Landlords Guide To Smoke Alarms

A Landlords Guide To Smoke Alarms

The LACORS fire safety guide prescribes the appropriate levels of fire protection for private rented property and should be the first port of call for any landlord or agent unsure of what precautions they need to install.

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Should I Let My Tenant Decorate?

Should I Let My Tenant Decorate?

The question of letting a tenant decorate their rental property can be a dilemma for landlords.

On the one hand, you want them to feel at home and personalise the property in the hope they will stay longer and look after the condition. But on the other hand, you don’t want to be stuck trying to re-let a property that has been decorated with questionable taste after they have left.

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Starting your Property Portfolio

Starting your Property Portfolio

What are you looking for?

Buy-to-let property has two strong benefits: the monthly income and the profit you can make when you decide to sell. As you begin your portfolio, it is best to consider which one of these you value more for your personal situation.

Knowing your goals will help you focus your search for the right property.

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Garden Maintenance in Rented Property

Garden Maintenance in Rented Property

So, you have moved in your new property, unloaded your items, and are busy getting settled… But who’s responsibility is it to make sure the garden stays looking nice?

The tenants are responsible for the upkeep of both outdoors as well as indoors unless the tenancy agreement states otherwise.

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Grow Your Property Portfolio

Grow Your Property Portfolio

While there is no set approach to how a landlord should manage a property portfolio, if you want to optimise your growth here are five top tips from Horizon on how you can boost your rental income.

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How Can I Find My Utility Company?

How Can I Find My Utility Company?

There will be times when you will need to find this out, for example, if the tenants have changed the supplier without telling you. This is quite easy to do as every property in the UK has a unique reference number, which can tell you the name of the utility supplier.

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How To Be A Successful Overseas Buyer

How To Be A Successful Overseas Buyer

The UK property investment market is one of the most lucrative asset classes out there. With affordable property prices in many cities, strong capital growth prospects and growing city centre populations boosting rental demand, it is evident that the UK offers some promising investment opportunities.

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Surviving A Tax Investigation

Surviving A Tax Investigation

The easiest way to survive a tax investigation is to avoid one occurring in the first place!

A small percentage of individuals are selected for a random investigation, but most cases are because something has triggered HMRC’s risk assessment system.

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Tenancy Agreements Explained

Tenancy Agreements Explained

People are often surprised by the length of tenancy agreements. Are they even really necessary?!

The answer is YES if you want to be protected for the duration of your tenancy it is completely necessary.

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10 Tax Saving Tips for Landlords

10 Tax Saving Tips for Landlords

Over the years there has been several strategies developed for saving tax which Landlords should follow to make the most out of their investment and ensure as much money is coming to them rather than being out in tax.

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Preparing Your Property For Winter

Preparing Your Property For Winter

Now that the cold months are in full swing, we are very aware of the threats this can cause to your property. From frost which can damage pipes to storms which can cause flooding and other damage. As landlords ourselves we feel it is important to make sure your property is as well protected as possible by ensuring it is in the best order possible to withstand the elements.

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What Landlords Should Know About ‘White Goods’

What Landlords Should Know About ‘White Goods’

White goods in rental properties, not the most exciting read, however, the reality is, it’s a subject all landlords (and tenants) need to consider when renting out their property. Most importantly, what white goods should landlords supply, and what are they required to supply?

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Buying a Buy To Let Property

Buying a Buy To Let Property

Buy to let properties can be a very attractive investment but you need to understand exactly what is involved before you go ahead. Having a good property portfolio allows for a good monthly income as well as the growth your property value could have over time. Here at Horizon, we have put together some useful ideas to help you start your investment portfolio.

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Are You a New Landlord?

Are You a New Landlord?

Investing in buy-to-let is a huge responsibility and as the number of people living in rented accommodation is set to rise further, demand for new landlords has never been higher. Due to ever-changing landlord legislation, it is vital that those entering the industry for the first time are up to speed on the latest regulations. To help new landlords understand what is required, we have put together some top tips to set you on the right track.

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Five-Step Plan to Help Marketing Your Rental Property

Five-Step Plan to Help Marketing Your Rental Property

It’s human nature to place a high value on something to which we have an investment in. But you need to step into the shoes of a potential tenant. They will view several properties so you need to think about how yours will stack up? Be realistic with your rental price, decorate the property nicely and imagine what you would expect if you were moving into a home.

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Horizon Lets Tips for Landlords

Horizon Lets Tips for Landlords

Tip 1 : Get a basic understanding of landlord and tenant law

You can get all sorts of problems if you don’t understand the legal side of letting. You may have difficulties claiming against your tenants if they damage your property, or you may find you have used the wrong paperwork and therefore cant evict your tenants, you could even be prosecuted by the authorities for failing to comply with regulations.

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Pros and Cons of Being a Pet-Friendly Landlord

Pros and Cons of Being a Pet-Friendly Landlord

When letting out a property it falls on the Landlord to decide if they’re are happy with allowing pets or not. This comes with both positives and negatives; sometimes it can be hard to judge what is the best option.

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Five Ways to Minimise Tenant Voids

Five Ways to Minimise Tenant Voids

If a property has sat on the rental market for a while it can be bad news and if not managed correctly, an old property advert will make the property look even less appealing!

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The Horizon Group