Public and third sector information services
GOV.UK provides extensive information on housing and local services, covering being a landlord and renting out a room, council tax, council housing and housing association, household energy, local councils and services, noise, neighbours, pets and pests, owning and renting a property, planning permission and building regulations, recycling, rubbish, streets and roads, repossessions, emergency housing and evictions, safety and the environment in your community.
Leasehold Advisory Service is an independent advice agency, funded partly by Government grant and partly by the private sector, providing free advice to leaseholders, landlords, professional advisers and others on the law affecting residential leasehold property.
Other resources
Landlord-Law is a membership service for residential landlords and tenants from solicitor Tessa Shepperson. She provides “packaged” advice to landlords and also to tenants. For example, there are documents and forms which can be filled in online, an extensive set of FAQ’s (based on real questions sent in to Tessa), a number of interactive “trails” allowing users to find the answer to problems by question and answer, and a Q and A page where readers questions are answered. Part of the site is free but access to documents and more detailed information requires a modest subscription payment. See also her Landlord Law Blog which has news and articles about landlord and tenant law and practice.
Enfranchisement Solicitors is a site from Bonallack and Bishop – Salisbury, Andover, Amesbury, Verwood and Warminster relating to the legal situation for leasehold property. The site includes information on how to extend a lease, how leaseholders can join together to buy the freehold of a block of flats, how to buy the freehold of a leasehold house and how to take on the management of a block of flats.
Landlord Doctors is a company providing advice and assistance in eviction processes. The company is owned by a practising lawyer and each member of their expert panel is fully regulated by the Law Society or the Bar Standards Board. They provide a 3 or 4 step tenant eviction process (tailored to suit the client’s individual circumstances) including, if necessary, litigation. They will provide a free initial case review.
Landlord Disputes is a site from Winston Solicitors. There is extensive information on the site relating to evictions, damages, arrears, deposits and terms. The firm provides legal advice for landlords and letting agents, helping clients to manage their rental portfolio regardless of size.
LandlordZONE is a portal for landlords involved in letting property – novice and experienced alike. It provides free access to information, resources and contacts of value to residential & small commercial landlords, tenants, letting agents and other property professionals. There is a glossary of legal terms with extensive descriptions and information on each.
Residentiallandlord.co.uk is a source of information and advice for residential landlords, helping them to be well informed property investors and up to date with opportunities, responsibilities and latest requirements. There is news, features, links to sources of information from Government and other agencies, and updates on latest buy to let mortgage offers, auction dates and new property developments. There is a forum and an opportunity to “ask Sharon”.
Tenant Evictions is a service to assist the landlord with evictions. There is a great deal of information to assist on the site to assist the landlord in dealing with these issues and indeciding whether external assistance is required.
Landlord Recoveries is a commercial service (but using lawyers as appropriate) providing tenant eviction and litigation specialists for landlords. They can assist in all areas of housing law, including evicting problem tenants, squatters and trespassers. They can also assist landlords with residential tenancies including Assured Shorthold Tenancies, Assured Tenancies, Rent Act Tenancies, Regulated Tenancies and Secure Tenancies. There is information on many of these legal areas on the site.
Tenancy Agreement Service provides information on the obligations and rights of both landlords and tenants in Assured Shorthold Tenancy Agreements (these are the most frequently used tenancy agreement by landlords when letting residential properties). There is extensive information on many aspects of these tenancies, a FAQ section and a glossary of terms used in the property market.
