We are contracted with the Legal Aid Agency to provide Housing & Debt services from our office in Wood Green. Housing & Debt cases which are in scope of legal aid, include: -Homelessness or the threat of homelessness. -Possession proceedings -Proceedings for eviction of the individual or others. -Bankruptcy proceedings where the person’s estate includes Read more about LEGAL AID[…]
Almost every tenancy agreement has a clause in it that bans sub-letting. But this doesn’t stop tenants from sub-letting the property. My advice to a Landlord who discovers that their property has been sub-let is to take action to evict anyone found to be sub-letting. Otherwise, if the tenant has sub-let the property to two Read more about Sub-letting can be very bad news for a landlord[…]
At present mandatory HMO licensing are for properties of 3 or more storeys occupied by 5 or more persons comprising different households and where there is some sharing of facilities. The definition of a licensable HMO is changing. From 1 October 2018, mandatory HMO licensing will no longer be limited to certain HMOs that are Read more about The rules for HMO’s are changing[…]
The Deregulation Act 2015 and The Assured Shorthold Tenancy Notices and Prescribed Requirements (England) Regulations 2015 brought big changes to section 21 Housing Act 1988 for tenancies in England. Extra requirements were introduced whereby a section 21 notice could not be served unless EPC, gas safety certificate and How to Rent Guide have been given Read more about Section 21 rules that apply after 1 October 2018[…]
The ‘How to rent’ guide was updated on 26th June 2018, and the latest version is dated 6th July 2018. The Deregulation Act makes it a requirement to give the most up to date Guide to tenants of a new AST for any subsequent s21 Notice to be valid. Since this Guide has now been Read more about ‘How to rent’ Guide updated[…]
Most working age benefits frozen Most working-age benefits are currently subject to an uprating freeze over the four-year period 2016/17 to 2019/20. This means that they will remain the same cash amount as they were in 2015/16. This freeze applies to all equivalent components of Universal Credit. The freeze of most working-age benefits was announced Read more about Most working age benefits frozen[…]
It has been mandatory for large houses in multiple occupation (HMOs) with three or more storeys and five or more occupants who do not form a single household, to be licensed in England and Wales since 6 April 2006. Ministers are to seek approval from parliament to extend mandatory licensing to smaller HMOs and also Read more about Extending mandatory licensing of HMOs in England[…]
New N5B: Claim form for possession of property (accelerated procedure) (assured shorthold tenancy). HM Court and Tribunal Service (HMCTS) have published an updated version of form N5B – the claim form for accelerated possession proceedings after service of a section 21 notice. The new form takes into account all of the post 1 October 2015 Read more about Accelerated Possession Proceedings[…]
There are three levels of appeal when appealing a decision by the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP). They are: 1. Reconsideration 2. Appealing to the First Tier Tribunal 3. Appealing to the Upper tribunal The difference between a claimant winning a First Tier Tribunal appeal on their own and a claimant with a representative Read more about Appealing Employment Support Allowance (ESA) Decisions[…]
Tenancy Deposit Schemes (TDS) became compulsory for all residential ASTs created on or after 6 April 2007 Q1: How can I obtain possession if I have failed to register the deposit? A landlord’s obligation is to place the deposit in an authorized TDS and comply with the “initial requirements” imposed by the authorised TDS within Read more about Tenancy Deposit Disputes [FAQ][…]