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Housing Hand guarantor: what it costs, who qualifies and how the co-signer works
Short answer: Housing Hand charges by rent band. As published on 12 September 2026, a student paying £1,701–£1,900 a month pays £176 a month for twelve months or £2,006 upfron…
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Section 16A of the Housing Act 1988: the pet request rule, read from the Act
Short answer: Since 1 May 2026, every assured tenancy in England (social housing aside) carries an implied term under section 16A of the Housing Act 1988: a tenant may keep a …
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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 …
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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 …
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London average private rent, July 2026: what the ONS August print says (and what it hides)
Latest figure (ONS, released 16 September 2026): London's average private rent was £2,332 a month in August 2026, up 3.5% on the year (ONS bulletin). This page reads the earli…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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EPC C by 2030 is now policy: what January's decision means for London landlords
Short answer: The government decided in January 2026 that privately rented homes in England should reach the equivalent of EPC C by 1 October 2030, assessed against new dual-m…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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