Entries by Joanna Plane

Sim Sekhon: banning pets is short-sighted

Is it reasonable to keep a pet crocodile in an apartment block? I suspect most people would think not but try convincing the licenced owner who’s seen that crocodile emerge from an egg. A tenant has an adorable spaniel, but it barks in distress if it’s left home alone, disturbing the neighbours. What is a […]

LegalforLandlords’ MD, Sim Sekhon, calls for a Rethink on Right to Rent

It’s two years since right to rent checks were implemented in England, and the Government is still planning to extend the scheme to the rest of the UK. This is despite scant evidence to show the checks are having the desired effect. There is, however, mounting evidence that they are resulting in discrimination and causing […]

Bad Tenants, Rogue Landlords – loving the show, hating the reason

Channel 5 is currently filming Series 4 of Bad Tenants, Rogue Landlords. We think it’s a fantastic show, and that’s why we’re taking part. The head of our legal team, Karen Longworth, will be helping the show’s producers with some of our own stories about the dodgier side of property rental (if you’ve got a […]

Competition Time – How lovable is your landlord?

In Britain, we’re not brilliant at celebrating the great things people do every day. Someone who’s doing a fantastic job can find their efforts unnoticed as we rush on to the next thing in our lives. When we remember, it’s too late, the moment’s passed. That’s not good enough – we believe that if someone’s […]

The costs and benefits of buy-to-let HMOs

There’s no doubt that returns on the traditional single tenancy buy-to-let property have fallen. They’re still healthy compared to many other types of savings or investment, but they’re shrinking, which has led many landlords to reflect on their position. While some have left the business, others have taken a more business-like approach. There has been […]

And the award goes to…

It’s that time of the year again when A-Listers glam up and wear their finest red carpet-worthy attire to celebrate many different awards ceremonies around the world. Last Friday was no different for us at LegalforLandlords as we rolled out the red carpet to host our Employee Recognition Awards 2017 to recognise the hard work of every […]

LegalforLandlords’ MD says there’s no need for the January blues

Results of a Rightmove survey into sales agreed and estate agency stock levels are considered a warning of a drought in property supply. Despite some rather gloomy views from commentators in the property sector, I believe there are plenty of reasons to be cheerful. Yes, sales agreed are down 5.5% when compared to the last […]

We are open longer

We’re open longer Our office hours have been extended so that we’re even easier to get in touch with. We’re here earlier in the morning and stopping later each evening, with opening hours up to 7 pm Monday through to Thursday. The new hours are: Monday to Thursday – 8:00 to 19:00 Friday                            – […]

A call for a level playing field

There’s a lot of indignation at present over the HSE’s decision not to prosecute a social landlord over gas safety breaches. The breaches weren’t a minor mistake. The Homes and Communities Agency has highlighted the fact that more than 1,000 of the landlord’s 7,300 properties were exposing tenants to the risk of serious harm. Subsequently, […]

It’s the end of the year, not the end of the road

2017 will hardly go down as a fantastic year for landlords and agents. We’ve had tax changes, more regulations, and an imminent but not yet specified ban on fees. Public opinion and political rhetoric have stayed firmly on the side of the tenant, and landlords and agents have been painted in a poor light in […]

Cheeky tricks or clever tactics?

The property rental sector is still evolving, and so is the online property business.  The days of the high street agent are still a long way from numbered, but there are more agencies working exclusively online and more and more agencies signed up with listings giants like Rightmove and Zoopla. Naturally, those companies have control […]

Thanks for this year, here’s to the next

Every job has its highs and every sector goes through periods of change. But it feels like this year, property rental has been on the receiving end of a bit too much attention. We’d all like a period of calm and quiet. And then maybe some certainty about legislation that’s heading our way and when […]

Has widespread landlord licensing just moved a step closer?

Selective licensing has been in place in several boroughs for some time, but few councils have gone down the route of applying for the Government approval required to extend the schemes across their entire locality. The pioneer of widespread licensing was London’s Newham Council, and it has just had its permission renewed. There were some […]

The Northern Dossier

In property, knowledge is powerful stuff. But where, amongst the thousands of stories, gossip and rumour, is the relevant stuff? And how do you find the time to keep up to date? Well, we’ve distilled the information. We’ve extracted the good stuff from the noise and left you with the pure, filtered essentials. We’ve called […]

Councils and private landlords need to talk

Councils and private landlords could, and should, work together. That’s a bold statement, we know, and one that might seem to be nigh-on impossible given this week’s news story about Havering Borough Council. If you’ve missed it, here’s a summary:  A private landlord let a property on a 12-month tenancy to a woman who was […]