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FAQ on tenants’ rights in the UK.

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One in five households in the UK rent privately. Three-quarters of these households are living in homes owned by private landlords, many of whom are accidental landlords. Research suggests that most tenants are not aware of laws around  tenants rights . In this blog, we break down the lifecycle of tenancy in a chronological order and answer questions around tenants rights at each stage of tenancy. This blog is posted by Asktenants.co.uk. Asktenants.co.uk is a website where tenants can rate their landlord and rental property anonymously and free of cost. Rating helps future tenants and keeps rogue landlords in check. Tenants right at the start of tenancy: Q1: My landlord may not have protected my deposit, what are my rights as a tenant to deal with this? A1: Your deposit should be protected in a government-backed tenancy deposit scheme (TDP) if you rent your home on an assured shorthold tenancy that started after 6 April 2007. Contact a  tenancy deposit sche
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Consequences and how to check if a section 21 notice is a valid one.

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Section 21 consequences: Section 21 notice is also known as ‘notice to quit’ served by a landlord to a tenant. If the tenant does not leave by the expiry date on the Section 21 notice the landlord will apply to the court for a possession order. The court will have no choice but to grant the possession order. After the court has issued the tenant with the notice to leave, if they have still have not left within the required period, then a landlord can ask county court bailiffs to evict the tenant. You can stop/delay a section 21 eviction if the notice your landlord gives you is invalid. The landlord cannot proceed with the eviction and must serve another one. The new notice will restart the timer, giving the tenant more time. This blog will focus on how to check if  Section 21 notice  received is valid. The blog only covers tenancies started or renewed after 1st October 2015. In order for section 21 notice to be valid, a landlord must: Checking the form and dates.
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Location: London, UK
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Here's What No One Tells You About Tenancy Deposit Scheme Dispute

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Asktenants.co.uk is a website where tenants rate and review their landlord and  rental property . Out of thousands of properties reviewed, more than a third of the tenants said that their tenancy deposit refund process was unfair. Only handful of tenants found time and motivation to raise a  Tenancy Deposit Scheme  Dispute. Majority of tenants who raised a tenancy deposit scheme dispute were successful in reducing or avoiding deductions all together. Most tenants are unaware of how the Tenancy Deposit scheme dispute process works. Many feel it’s not worth to get into a dispute process for relatively small amounts and contentious issues like “End of tenancy cleaning deductions”. This blog will explain what the tenancy deposit scheme dispute process is and how it works in Q&A format. Is it mandatory for Landlord to protect my tenancy deposit scheme ? Yes, Landlord must protect your deposit within 30 days of receiving it. There is choice of government backed schemes to use
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Location: London, UK
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Tenants’ rights mould and damp

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Asktenants.co.uk is a website where tenants rate and review their landlord and rental property . Out of thousands of properties reviewed , 40% of the tenants have unresolved mould or damp in rented property . With this issue so widespread, we have researched on tenants’ rights about  mould and damp. This blog will focus on harmful effects and resolution of  mould issues and tenants’  rights about and damp. What are health effects of mould in the house? Typical Health consequence from exposure to mould in the house are: Itchy eyes, Flu like symptoms, Achy joints, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Tingling lips, Skin irritation and rings, Nose and lung bleeds, Headache, Blurred vision, Vertigo. One of the most dangerous mould issues found in the homes is called ‘black mould’. Its greenish-black gelatinous mould. It is usually slimy because of a wet layer on the top. However if a toxic black mould colony’s water source runs out it can appear dry and powdery. Mould can impa
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Location: London, UK
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The Truth About Landlord Reviews Is About To Be Revealed.

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With homeownership rates declining in the UK, 25% of UK housing will be privately rented in 2021 compared to 10% in 1991. In 2017, UK tenants paid £50 Billion in rent to landlords. With average rents being more than half of average earnings and tenants paying £1Billion in repairs which should have been done by Landlords, tenants should take time to post landlord reviews online sharing their rental experience. According to English housing survey more than a quarter (28pc) of private rented homes failed to meet the Decent Homes Standard in 2015. This sets minimum requirements on the property’s state of repair; its facilities and services; its energy efficiency and heating; and its health and safety standards. mould or condensation problem while a third 34%, are faced with an unresponsive and seemingly uncaring landlord. Landlord reviews on Asktenants.co.uk show more than a third of tenants, 36%, have unresolved The site analysed thousands of   Landlord review s  from across
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Location: London, UK
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Why is viewing so important in rental properties?

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    English Housing Survey shows that 35% of rental properties in the private rented sector are rated “non-decent”: nearly a fifth were judged to contain a hazard posing a serious danger to the health and safety of renters. Shelter’s research showed that over 60% of renters have experienced at least one of the following problems in their home over the past 12 months: damp, mould, leaking roofs or windows, electrical hazards, animal infestations and gas leaks. One in ten private renters claim that their health has been affected by problems with their  rental properties  which their landlord has not dealt with. Why is a checklist necessary to view a rental property? On an average a rental property viewing last around 10 minutes with agents accommodating several visits on the day. Ten minutes is extremely short time to decide on £15,000 rental commitment (assuming a tenant stays in a property for a year @ £1,250 pcm rent). Apart from financial commitment substandard  rental pr
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Location: London, UK
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How to rent a property in London.

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How overheated is the London property market?     On an average 7 tenants chase 1  rental property  in the UK, in London this ratio can be way higher. Years of not enough housebuilding coupled with mass immigration meant that number of people looking to  rent a property  is tenfold higher than properties available. What strategy should you adopt to secure a rental property in London As competition is intense, you need to be meticulous in your search and miss no opportunities to rent a property. We recommend a four pronged strategy: a) Get properties from all channels b) Planning of viewings. c) Highlighting positive personal circumstances. d) Decisiveness and offer. The next section will break this down in more detail. Many tenants today focus on one single website for listings example Zoopla or Rightmove to  rent a property . Today  landlords  are listing properties directly on number channels like open rent and gumtree. These mediums on most occasions do not i
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Location: London, UK
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