Ask tenants

    Everything you need to know about break clauses, Part 1 A Break clauses is part of a lease that allows either a  landlord or tenant  to end the lease ahead of time. If your contract doesn’t include this clause, then you can’t end the tenancy early unless your  landlord  agrees to it. If you decide just to walk away, you’ll still be liable for the rest of the rent to the end of the contract period. It is essential that you as the tenant must satisfy many conditions for the break clause to take effect. Here are the top things you have to look out for: Form and serving the notice Now the break clause may state the exact manner in which the notice must be served and insist on exact criteria regarding the method of service. Failure to do this will invalidate the whole process. Therefore it is essential that you check the correct names and addresses of the landlord through the Land Registry and Companies House. Also check the service ...

    All about Mould in Rented Property. What to do, if you found Mould in Rented Property? Mould  in Rented Property should never be taken lightly, it’s a  serious problem  because of the potential health risks associated with mould spores. If you have damp and mould you are more likely to have respiratory problems,  respiratory infections, allergies or asthma. Damp and mould can also affect the immune system. Moulds produce allergens (substances that can cause an allergic reaction), irritants and, sometimes, toxic substances. Inhaling or touching mould spores may cause an allergic reaction, such as sneezing, runny nose, red eyes and skin rash. Mould in Rented Property can also cause asthma attacks.F Babies & children,elderly people,those with existing skin problems, such as eczema,those with respiratory problems, such as allergies and asthma,those with a weakened immune system should stay away from  damp and mould. If your ...

    Tenancy deposit protection schemes and deposit refund disputes In this blog we will cover tenancy deposit schemes and deposit refund disputes. Together they should give you good idea on how deposit protection and refund works. We will finish with external links which give in depth information which is not possible to cover in this blog. Tenancy Deposit Schemes and your deposit. Your landlord  must  put your deposit in a government-backed tenancy deposit scheme (TDP) if you rent your home on an assured short hold tenancy that started after 6 April 2007. Once your deposit is received your landlord has to tell you within 30 days: 1)      How your deposit is protected. 2)      How much deposit you have paid. 3)      The name and contact details of the tenancy deposit protection (TDP) scheme and its dispute resolution service 4)      How ...

    A TO Z on how to get most out of your property viewing. Viewing a property for renting is an exciting time – new house, new area, new neighbours, new school for kids and more – there is an instant emotional reaction to any property you view but it’s important to balance emotion with caution. Why should you be cautious? English Housing Survey shows that  35% of 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 property which their landlord has not dealt with. Few minutes...

    Here is why UK tenants should rate rental property There are now almost 9 million private renters, and for the first time since the 1960s there are now more private renters than social housing tenants. The age profile of private tenants is getting older as “Generation Rent” remains unable to get on the property ladder: half of all private tenants are now over 35 and almost a third of them are families with children. Renting is going to be a part of life as a third of all private tenants say that they expect to be renting for the rest of their lives. Here are some concerning pieces of information: 1)      English Housing Survey which shows that 35% of properties in the private rented sector are rated “non-decent” 2)      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, electri...

    London’s Housing crisis in numbers: Rent is up to 75% of Income…Check how bad is your borough. London house rents are pushing out people the city needs most. As fellow Londoners we want to hear what you feel…Is the situation getting ‘Better’ or ‘Worse’? If we happen to reach experts, please do share your views on – a) How we ended up in this situation and how do we get out of it? b)Why do you think we are unable to build enough houses in London? c) Foreigners buying new builds desperately needed by Londoners? d) Are landlords ripping tenants off? Is rent regulation a solution? Check our Facebook post to join the discussion or comment here.

  Why should you follow a house viewing checklist? English Housing Survey shows that 35% of 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 property which their landlord has not dealt with. Few minutes during your viewing is only time you get to find out if the property you may rent will not have problems described above. Our   house viewing checklist   is prepared after analyzing experiences of thousands of property reviews. Following a house viewing checklist increases the probabilit...