Latest News
We get paid when you get paid
Short answer: if your tenant leaves early, you pay Harvey W James nothing more. £0 during the void. £0 to market, reference and move in the next tenant. No catch-up. Our only …
READ MORE
Holding deposits in England: the one-week cap, refunds, and the first month's rent
Short answer: A holding deposit in England is capped at one week's rent — the annual rent divided by 52 (Tenant Fees Act 2019, Schedule 1, paragraph 3). The landlord or agent …
READ MORE
London average private rent, July 2026: what the ONS August print says (and what it hides)
Short answer: London's average private rent was £2,317 a month in July 2026, up 3.0% on the year and 0.63% on the month. That is the sixth consecutive monthly rise. London is …
READ MORE
Guaranteed rent schemes in London: what they really cost a landlord
Short answer: Three different products are sold as "guaranteed rent" in London. One is a company let where an operator becomes your tenant and sublets at a markup. One is an i…
READ MORE
Tenancy deposits in England explained: the cap, protection, deductions and how you get it back
Short answer: In England a tenancy deposit is capped at five weeks' rent where the annual rent is under £50,000, and six weeks' rent at £50,000 or more. It must be placed in a…
READ MORE
Build-to-Rent vs a Private Landlord in Canary Wharf and Nine Elms
Short answer: A build-to-rent block sells a building: on-site management, amenities and a brand, usually at a premium rent. You sell a specific flat, at a price the market wil…
READ MORE
Section 8 grounds for possession in 2026: the grounds a London landlord will actually use
Short answer: Section 8 of the Housing Act 1988 is now the only route to possession of an assured tenancy. Schedule 2 to that Act sets out 26 mandatory grounds, where the cour…
READ MORE
Making Tax Digital is here: what the April 2026 change means for overseas landlords
Short answer: Since 6 April 2026, landlords with more than £50,000 of gross UK property and self-employment income must keep digital records and send HMRC quarterly updates un…
READ MORE
The two-year clock: the new-build warranty deadline tenanted landlords miss
Short answer: On an NHBC Buildmark home, the developer is liable for defects reported to them within the first two years of the policy. From year three to year ten, cover narr…
READ MORE
EPC C by 2030 is now policy: what January's decision means for London landlords
Short answer: The government confirmed in January 2026 that privately rented homes in England must reach the equivalent of EPC C by 1 October 2030, assessed against new dual-m…
READ MORE
Wembley or Stratford: which is the better London new-build let?
Short answer: It depends on your bedroom count. Brent's borough average (£2,010) is higher than Newham's (£1,928). But at one and two bedrooms — nearly all new-build stock — N…
READ MORE
Cheapest UK rent guarantor service? What they actually cost, compared
Short answer: There is no single cheapest UK rent guarantor service, because providers do not charge on the same basis. As at August 2026, published prices run from about 6% t…
READ MORE
The LSE rent guarantor scheme, explained (2026)
Short answer: Yes — LSE runs a rent guarantor scheme, and it is open as at July 2026. LSE acts as guarantor for rent only. You must be a continuing student, the room must cost…
READ MORE
New-Build Rental Valuation in London: How to Check the Developer's Rent Estimate
Short answer: A developer's rent estimate is built to support a sale, usually before the block completes and before any flat has let. A new-build rental valuation prices the f…
READ MORE
Owning and Letting a London Flat from China: The Whole Journey
Short answer: You can own and let a London flat without ever standing in it. Six things must be in place: a UK bank account, a managing agent instructed before completion, the…
READ MORE