Renters Reform must balance interests of tenants and landlords
Propertymark has submitted written evidence to the Public Bill Committee on the Renters (Reform) Bill, citing data demonstrating the level of concern amongst our members about measures likely to make the PRS increasingly hostile to property owners and the unintended consequences for people in need of homes.
Service Occupancy Agreement
The main characteristics of a service occupancy are that the occupation of the property is closely linked to the occupier’s employment, they have a personal licence to occupy for so long as they are employed by the employer and that the service occupancy terminates automatically when the employment contract ends.
How to serve a Section 13 notice of rent increase
Section 13 of the Housing Act 1988 allows a landlord to raise the rent on a periodic assured or assured shorthold tenancy by giving the tenant a notice of increase in the prescribed form.
Death of a tenant
Dealing with these situations can be difficult and sensitive, especially if you are aware the tenant’s passing before relatives are informed. We've outlined steps you can take to bring the tenancy to an end.
Death of a landlord
When a landlord passes away, it can have various implications for the tenancy. The specific effects will depend on factors such as the type of tenancy, regional laws, and the actions taken by the landlord's estate or legal representatives.
Can a landlord charge an insurance claim excess back to the tenant?
The ability of a landlord to charge an insurance claim excess back to the tenant can depend on various factors, including the terms of the tenancy agreement, regional laws, and the circumstances surrounding the insurance claim.
Tenant imprisonment
The ability of one tenant to remain in occupation when another tenant is imprisoned can depend on several factors, including the specific terms of the tenancy agreement and the relationship between the tenants.
Company tenancies vs assured shorthold tenancies
Company tenancies and assured shorthold tenancies (ASTs) differ in several key aspects. Find out what the primary differences are using our comparison guide.
How to end an assured shorthold tenancy early
Ending an assured shorthold tenancy (AST) early other than at the expiry of the tenancy period or the service of notice, typically involves a mutual agreement between the tenant and the landlord. However, there are a few options to consider if both parties cannot reach an agreement.
Don't deter temporary accommodation providers
Propertymark has supported the Welsh Government’s proposals to exempt hotels and bed and breakfast accommodation used for local authority homelessness purposes from occupational contracts as part of the Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016.
FAQs: Private Tenancies Act (Northern Ireland) 2022
Sections 1-6 of the Private Tenancies Act (Northern Ireland) 2022 were enacted on 1 April 2023. This FAQ document provides answers to the most common questions that we have received from Propertymark members.
Common Law Tenancy Agreement (Non-Housing Act Tenancy)
Our Non-Housing Act Tenancy Agreement is an exclusive member benefit for ARLA Propertymark members. Use this contract if the rent exceeds £100,000 a year or where it is not the tenant’s main home.
AST Guide
Our AST Guide provides answers to questions posed by Propertymark members since the release of the Propertymark AST. Refer to the guide when using the AST to ensure any amendments you wish to make do not unintentionally render the agreement unlawful.
Renters Reform Bill U-turn on fixed term contracts for students
Propertymark has long campaigned that banning all fixed-term contracts would disproportionately impact groups who depend on cyclical accommodation, such as students, and transient and contract workers.
The end of Assured Shorthold Tenancies
The flagship change proposed under the Renters (Reform) Bill is the end of Assured Shorthold Tenancies (ASTs). These types of tenancy have been in place since the Housing Act 1988 and have allowed landlords to create fixed-term tenancies which can be ended using a Section 21 notice to quit without citing a reason.
Renters (Reform) Bill published
Introduced to the House of Commons on Wednesday 17 May 2023, the Bill sets out the UK Government’s plan to deliver on the Conservative Party’s policies to reform the private rented sector in England.