Letting News

Housing Benefit changes challenge

Submitted by isabel dove on Thu, 07/21/2011 - 21:56

The Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) have challenged the proposed changes to the award of housing benefits as they believe that this will result in an increase in homelessness and would have an adverse effect on larger families. Read the BBC News report for more information

Squatters Rights?

Submitted by admin on Sun, 06/05/2011 - 21:18

Home owners will be able to get helpful tips online on how to protect their homes from burglars - some of which may be useful in protecting property from squatters. They are also advised to tell their neighbours if their property is likely to be empty for a long time so suspicious activity can be reported.

Landlords fined

Submitted by admin on Sun, 06/05/2011 - 21:18

An Oxford landlord has been prosecuted for three offences under the Management of Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO) (England) Regulations 2006 and one under the Housing Act 2004 for renting out a sub-standard property and failing to comply with licence conditions. The landlord was fined a total of £2,200 and was also ordered to pay Oxford City Council costs of £400. The garden to the property was littered with household and other hazardous rubbish and there were elements of disrepair in the fabric of the dwelling, including missing ceiling lights.

Smoking in shared houses

Submitted by admin on Sun, 06/05/2011 - 21:17

What does this mean for the living areas in shared houses? If the tenants all have individual tenancy agreements for their own rooms, then the shared parts of the house fall within the regulations and they cant smoke. However for a joint tenancy, it will depend on the terms of the tenancy agreement. Tenants in bedsits with their own tenancy agreement or houses and flats rented under the one tenancy agreement where the landlord permits smoking, this is not illegal.

Smoking in rented properties

Submitted by admin on Sun, 06/05/2011 - 21:15