Property Law & Regulations Archives | Page 2 of 5 | Blue Crystal Property Management

Damages to rental property

What types of property damage can cost landlords the most to fix? When it comes to managing rental properties, one of the biggest headaches for landlords is dealing with damages. From broken windows to significant structural issues caused by subsidence, property damage can vary greatly in severity and cost. According to the National Residential Landlords […]

Property Tax Relief

How to minimise your property tax in 2023/2024 Property taxes can often be a significant financial burden for landlords in the UK. However, there are various property tax relief options and strategies available to help you reduce your tax liability in 2023/2024. Let’s explore what property tax relief is, what tax relief you can claim, […]

Section 13 Notices

A Section 13 notice is a formal notice served by a landlord to propose an increase in the rent for a property that is subject to an Assured Shorthold Tenancy (AST). It allows the landlord to adjust the rent to reflect changes in market conditions or to cover increased costs related to the property. The […]

Section 8 Notice Requirements

When it comes to managing rental properties, it’s crucial to be well-versed in the legal aspects of tenancy agreements and procedures to evict tenants. Since the abolition of Section 21, landlords seeking possession of a property must now rely on one or more of the statutory grounds for possession set out in Schedule 2 of […]

Water Escape

How to spot signs of escape of water Water escape can wreak havoc, leading to costly damages and inconveniences. Whether it’s a burst pipe, a leaky washing machine, or a faulty central heating system, escape of water damage can be severe. As a tenant or landlord, knowing how to spot the signs of water escape […]

How to maximise your rental income

The goal of owning a rental property is to make money. It is important to to know what to do and what not to do to make your rental business successful. Being a landlord means paying for gas and electrical safety certificates, fitting smoke detectors, maintaining the property to a high standard to perhaps paying bigger tax bills. Part of being a successful landlord is always focusing on maximising your rental potential. This can be a tricky balance to achieve with so many legal obligations to meet.

Asbestos in a rental property

How a tenant or a resident could be affected by having asbestos in their property and how landlords can deal with asbestos safely Asbestos is a mineral fibre that was used in many building materials, including insulation. It was used because of its fireproofing properties, resistance to heat and its sound absorption qualities. It was […]

Fire, health and safety tips for landlords

As fire, health and safety are extremely important, we have put together these safety tips for landlords. Landlords are responsible for the safety of their tenants. They have to ensure that the property they let is safe to live in. This includes not only the physical structure, but also the contents of the property and […]

What are deed of covenants

Freehold properties on managed estates must sell with entering into a deed of covenant that is generally required under the terms of the transfer governing the use of the property and payment of estate or service charges. The consequence of the above to a property management company can mean that they are unable to recover estate management charges from the new owners that would be payable under the terms of the Transfer. Positive and Negative covenants This is similar to residential long leases. Transfer deed that governs freehold properties contain a number of covenants, both positive and negative, that the owner of the property have to abide by. As the names suggest, a positive covenant places an obligation on the owner to do something, such as paying an estate maintenance charge, where as a negative covenant, requires the owner to refrain from undertaking an action such as not to use the property for a specified purpose.

How to reduce tax?

As the regulations and tax are constantly increasing many of the UK property owners are choosing to sell their properties in the recent years. Many landlords are missing out on money as they are not taking advantage of tax reliefs or property strategies to maximise their return. Your accountant can work out your tax strategies and execute a tax plan, making it easy for you. A series of tax and regulation changes mean more buy-to-lets are being sold than bought. Getting rid of a rental property may cause a lot of tax issues, with many complicated rules that can cost you profits. When a landlord sells he/she gets charged capital gains tax on any money they have made on their property, but there are legal ways to reduce your tax.

What are landlords’ rights?

Landlords, or their managing or letting agents, have certain rights as well as responsibilities when it comes to their tenants, just as tenants have obligations to their landlords. What are the legal rights of landlords? As a landlord you have the right to increase rents, but only if you abide by certain rules, including not […]

What is client money protection for landlords

All letting agents in England are required to belong to a client money protection scheme when they hold client monies. This scheme provides insurance to landlords and tenants in the event the agent steals money from their clients. Below guide provides a primer for agents on what they need to do to comply with these regulations, what are the potential penalties for not complying, and which schemes are available.

What are cleaning disputes at the end of a tenancy

The expected level of cleanliness of a rental property at the end of tenancy is generally open to interpretation. This is possibly why so many disputes adjudicated by the tenancy deposit scheme are about cleanliness levels. When it comes to cleaning your rented home, your landlord or letting agent should only expect you to clean the property to its standard when you moved in while accounting for general wear and tear. Whether you hire a professional cleaner to do the job or decide to do it yourself, it's essential to ensure to have an inventory report to compare before and after a tenancy from a cleaning point of view.

What is a property redress scheme?

A Redress Scheme is a system which allows consumers/customers/clients to escalate a complaint they have against the member of a particular scheme. All property professionals, estate agents and property agents that carry out lettings, estate management and property management have a legal responsibility to join an authorised Property Redress Scheme and make the details available […]

Fair wear and tear guide for landlords

Wear and tear must always be differentiated from wilful or negligent damage caused by the tenant to decide what level of costs can be proposed at the end of a tenancy. Fair wear and tear is reasonable use of the premises by the tenant and the ordinary operation of natural forces. Below guide will give an understanding of the term fair wear and tear from a landlords perspective. What is normal wear and tear in a rental property A tenants responsibility is to take proper care of the place he/she is renting. A tenant must do the little jobs at the place which a reasonable tenant would do. In addition, he must not damage the property wilfully or negligently; and he must ensure his family and guests do not damage the property and if they do, the tenant must repair it. If the property falls into disrepair through fair wear and tear or lapse of time, or for any reason not caused by him, the tenant is not liable to repair it.

What is landlord liability insurance

Every landlord has a legal responsibility to supply a safe home and many accidents can be prevented by carrying out regular maintenance and repairs. Though despite taking all the precautions, accidents can still happen. This is where liability insurance comes into force. What is landlord liability insurance Liability insurance is an insurance cover that protects you from potential compensation claims related with your rental property; i.e if someone injures themselves or other property is damaged as a result of your property. It is a type of public liability insurance that is there to pay the compensation and any resulting legal fees to a third party such as a tenant, visitor or a tradesperson. If your tenant hurt themselves tripping on a damaged floorboard or a loose tile were to fall off the roof and hit a passing pedestrian, you may be liable to pay compensation if a claim was made against you. Under the circumstances; your landlord liability insurance would step in to pay any related compensation, expenses and legal fees, up to the limit of your policy. Insurers and their solicitors will also defend policyholders against claims where a third party has alleged that they are at fault, though they actually were not negligent. In this scenario they will defend you and, if you found not negligent for injuries caused, insurers will provide cover for the defense costs required to defend the claim on behalf of the landlords.