© 2025 News On The Block. All rights reserved.
News on the Block is a trading name of Premier Property Media Ltd.
© 2025 News On The Block. All rights reserved.
News on the Block is a trading name of Premier Property Media Ltd.
BREAKING NEWS
THE LANDLORD SHOW
Thursday 22 March 2007, Olympia Conference Centre, London
The Landlord Show at Olympia is the UK's premier private residential landlord event.
It features the UK's most comprehensive landlord exhibition, providing the private rented sector with unparalleled access to landlord suppliers, advisors, government bodies and associations. The Landlord Show also includes a series of free seminars featuring industry experts speaking on diverse topics. If you're looking for expert advice and great deals from serious landlord service providers, you won't find more anywhere else.
Visit www.eventsforce.net to register for your free place.
IN THE CURRENT ISSUE
ISSUE 31 of NEWS ON THE BLOCK MAGAZINE is with readers now and includes the following features:
• Yet another stealth tax! – The Association of Retirement Housing Managers (ARHM) has lobbied against a measure originally designed to offer protection to lessees, which resulted in interest on service charge funds being taxed. By John Mills of the Association of Retirement Housing; link to article
• The ARMA membership debate continues: How important is it for property management firms to belong to the national professional body, the Association of Residential Managing Agents (ARMA)? In this exclusive feature, News on the Block brings together the contrasting opinions of several managing agents and property professionals, who outline in their own words and from their own experience how they perceive the value of ARMA membership and the role of the organisation. link to article
• Mira Bar-Hillel of the Evening Standard, on forfeiture of the lease. One of the worst aspects of leasehold legislation, and the one that caused the Labour Party to describe the system as feudal in 1996, is the forfeiture of the lease. By Mira Bar-Hillel. link to article
PLUS: Your questions answered . Insurance matters. Porter of the month. Book reviews . Latest LVT cases.
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COMMENT and OPINION
This year will see the implementation of the last major provision of the Housing Act 2004 and arguably one of the most important measures for tenants in the private rented sector.
Tenancy deposit protection, which will safeguard deposits paid by a tenant to a landlord under an Assured Shorthold Tenancy (AST), will be required by law for all new tenancies in England and Wales from 6 April 2007.
David Salusbury, chairman of the NLA, explains: "There are 2.5 million households that rent privately in England and Wales, representing nearly 12% of the total – that's one in eight households".
According to government statistics, 19% of deposits are not returned in full and 11% not returned at all. Almost a fifth of those who had their deposit withheld felt that all, or some of, the deposit had been withheld unjustifiably.
David Salusbury adds: "In many of these cases the tenant has caused damage to the property or failed to clean it, and the landlord has quite legitimately withheld the tenant's money. However, we recognise that there are rogue operators in the sector, and we want to see them rooted out".
Landlords will have the option of selecting a custodial or an insurance-based scheme. The NLA will operate the only tenancy deposit protection scheme that is specifically designed for landlords wishing to hold deposits themselves during a tenancy. The scheme will operate under the name Tenancy Deposit Solutions Limited (TDS) and be administered by Hamilton Fraser Insurance.
Landlords will take the deposit from the tenant, notify the scheme administrator that the deposit should be protected and must give details to the tenant about the scheme used within 14 days. Landlords who fail to join a tenancy deposit protection scheme can be fined up to three months' rent on each tenancy and will be unable to recover their property through the courts.
David Salusbury comments: "We strongly urge landlords to prepare themselves by selecting a suitable scheme in advance of 6 April. Tenants also have a vested interest in familiarising themselves with the new procedures and ensuring that their deposit money is protected when they sign a new tenancy. They must know their rights and insist that the landlord complies".
This is one of the most important changes in the private rented sector for many years. For further information, landlords, tenants and other interested parties should visit: www.mydeposits.co.uk or www.communities.gov.uk.
AND FINALLY...
MOVING HELL
Moving home is so traumatic for many that it affects our health, relationships and even our jobs. 2.2 million British homeowners will never move again because the experience was so stressful, a survey revealed recently.
TOP TEN SIDE EFFECTS OF PROPERTY LADDER STRESS
1. Lost sleep (42 %)
2. Arguments with partner/friends/family (27 %)
3. Smoked more (10 %)
4. Drank more alcohol (10 %)
5. Time off work (6 %)
6. Lost weight (5 %)
7. Gained weight (4 %)
8. Panic attacks (4 %)
9. Had to take anti-depressants (2 %)
10. Had to see doctor (2 %)