The government has extended its Universal Credit direct payment pilot schemes for another six months.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) today announced that it will continue to test the system, which sees housing benefit payments made directly to tenants rather than landlords, until the end of the year. Read more…
Lawyers have warned that the government’s new immigration bill could put landlords at risk of heavy fines.
Property specialists Moore Blatch have said that the challenges faced by employers dealing with similar rules are likely to affect landlords as well. Read more…
The Residential Landlords’ Association (RLA) has challenged Shelter’s approach to campaigning against criminal landlords.
The homeless charity is in the early stages of research into the effects of so-called “rogue landlords” on families and especially children. Read more…
MPs have opposed the government’s new Immigration Bill, which would oblige landlords to confirm that prospective tenants are in the UK legally.
Speaking in a House of Commons debate, shadow home secretary and former housing minister Yvette Cooper said that the scheme was not workable because the government will not have a statutory register of landlords. Read more…
Plans to make landlords check that tenants are legally allowed into the UK cannot work in practice, according to the Residential Landlords Association (RLA).
Under proposals announced in the Queen’s Speech yesterday, the government wants to make private landlords check the immigration status of their tenants and possibly fine those allowing illegal immigrants to live in their properties. Read more…
Rent collected in advance does not constitute a deposit, according to a new ruling in the Court of Appeal, meaning that it does not have to be protected as a deposit in line with the Housing Act.
Johnson vs. Old, a long-running case which has been closely followed by legal professionals, has been resolved at the appeal level. Read more…
The small claims court has got bigger this month as the upper claim limit has risen.
Landlords in dispute with tenants or other parties in England and Wales can now claim up to £10,000, up from the previous limit £5,000 – but in Scotland and Northern Ireland the limit still remains much lower at £3,000. Read more…
