PIMS Newsletter

Evicting tenants - important changes to court process.

The court service has changed the forms used for applying for possession using the Section 21 Notice The key changes are

New process & application form
Proof of deposit scheme is required in the form of Deposit Scheme Reference Number.
The Landlord no longer has the opportunity to include additional information about their claim
The new form encourages tenants to file a Tenant Defence Form
New Section on PIMS Case Law Deposit Fines Sanctions
New Section on PIMS Ending a Tenancy Guide

FREE Tenant Credit Checks from PIMS

Members of PIMS continue to benefit from FREE Tenant Credit Checks
Last month PIMS traced more absconding Tenants and Debtors

Rent arrears soar as tenants get to grips with record rents.

Rents rose by their fastest rate in a year last month, bouncing up 1.2%, whilst tenants' arrears grew by 19.5%.

The findings are in a new buy-to-let report from LSL, which owns national chains Your Move and Reeds Rains.

see Tenant in Rent Arrears see Guide

Yobs to swamp private rented sector

Grant Shapps, the Housing Minister is introducing a new Bill to stamp down on anti-social yobs within Social Housing.

If the council evict them or refuse to house them then the only place where they can be re-housed, unless serving a custodial sentence, has to be into the Private Rented Sector

or see section Vetting LHA Benefits Tenants

Vast compulsory licensing & purchase of private Landlord Properties by local Council

The London Borough of Newham could become the first local authority in the country where every single private landlord and rental property is licensed. They are also considering buying up swathes of private rental property and becoming a landlord itself – has launched a consultation on compulsory borough-wide licensing

Letting to Students can be Golden

Students are always portrayed by the Entertainment Industry as a bit of a “feckless bunch”, who are either being slaughtered off by a mad serial killer or partying all night, however to Landlords they can offer the “Golden Ticket"

Letting Agents - Changes to EPCs are delayed yet again

They could have been implemented as early as next week, but are now set to kick in on April 6, 2012. There have been few concessions in the much-delayed changes, but further guidance will be issued before next spring.