Tom

It is not possible for an infant (minor) (a person under 18 years of age) to hold an estate in land [s.1(6) Law of Property Act 1925]. By virtue of paragraph 1(1) of Schedule 1 to the Trusts of Land and Appointment of Trustees Act 1996 any purported grant of a legal estate to a…

Letting is as much an art as a science and there is no scientific answer to ‘How long will it take to let my property?’ One thing is certain and that is an empty property is earning you £0 and costing you to maintain (Council Tax etc.). If your property is sitting lonely and unloved…

The short answer is yes possibly… The term HMO is used in many different context by many different institutions and legislation: • The Housing Act 2004 • Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS) • Local Council HMO Licensing departments (Three types of licensing exist) i. Mandatory Licensing ii. Selective Licensing iii. Additional Licensing •…

As the landlord you own (freehold or superior lease) the roof space in the property but before making any decision on restricting access to the roof space consider the following: • Is the roof space a usable space such as a living space in a converted attic or a storage space in a boarded loft?…

Not specifically aimed at landlords, the third amendment to BS 7671:2011 (IET Wiring Regulations Seventeenth Edition), was published in January 2015 and includes a new regulation requiring consumer units and similar switchgear assemblies in domestic premises to have a non-combustible enclosure. The wording of regulation 421.1.201 is as follows: Within domestic (household) premises, consumer units…

Where internal window blinds are installed in premises where children 0 to 42 months are (ever) likely to have access or be present, ensure they comply with the EN 13120 standard. The standard includes: • Limitations on cord and chain lengths • Safety devices for preventing any cords or chains from creating a hazardous loop…

Property fraud can happen in many ways. For example, fraudsters may attempt to acquire ownership of a property by using forged documents, or by impersonating the registered owner. The fraudsters may then raise money by mortgaging the property without the owner’s knowledge before disappearing without making repayments, leaving the owner to deal with the consequences.…

The landlord has no statutory obligation to repair outbuildings such as garages and sheds unless they are an integral part of the dwelling house. The key piece of legislation that covers landlord repairing obligations is Section 11 of The Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 which covers the dwelling house (the structure and installations). If the…

What is a schematic diagram? A schematic diagram is a simplified but accurate illustration of the layout of the water system, including parts temporarily out of use. While providing only an indication of the scale, it is an important tool as it allows any person who is not familiar with the system to understand quickly…

Very briefly this is the process…… •Landlord completes claim form for possession •Landlord files claim form with court nearest to the property •Court issues form to tenant •Landlord receives letter from court stating form has been issued. This letter will contain a “tear off slip”. •Tenant will have 14 days to reply with a defence…