Landlord advice and guidance

What is HMO insurance? | The Ultimate Guide to HMOs

HMO insurance (house of multiple occupancies) is no different from standard property owners insurance in what cover is provided.

All you need to know about landlord legal expenses cover

Find out what landlord legal expenses insurance is and how it can provide a vital safety net in a host of different scenarios.

What type of landlord insurance do I need?

We look at the many types of landlord insurance available to help property owners get the correct insurance they need.

Landlords Insurance – Top 10 things to look out for

Comparing insurance quotes can be hard work. Steve Cox, Business Account Manager at Alan Boswell Group, provides his top 10 tips to help you find the right landlord insurance for your buy-to-let property.

What Is Commercial Property Insurance?

Commercial Property Insurance is one of the most important things to remember when purchasing your new property.

Landlord insurance: a beginner's guide

If you're just about to start renting out a property, we explore what landlord insurance is and how it can help to protect your investment.

Underinsurance in property - it's a risky business

Underinsurance is a big risk for property owners. Here's how you can make sure your property is insured for the right amount and avoid any nasty surprises in the event of a claim

The impact of tenant referencing on rent guarantee insurance

In order for a tenant to qualify for rent guarantee insurance, they must pass referencing. This consists of three elements: affordability, credit check and identification

Holiday-let insurance: which one is right for you?

For those with a property portfolio or second home, have you thought about what your insurance needs may be?

Is rising damp covered by buildings insurance?

Join us as we take a look at what rising damp is and whether it's covered by your buildings insurance

A-Z of buy-to-let insurance

Struggling to decipher all the insurance jargon that comes with your first buy-to-let property? Our guide will help you make sense of your options

What is landlord home emergency cover?

Landlord home emergency cover is available from just £100-per-year. Join us as we take a look at what it covers, how it works and the main benefits.

Public liability insurance for landlords: what you need to know

Find out more about public liability insurance for landlords and the vital protection it provides

Landlord insurance vs home insurance

What's the difference between landlord insurance and home insurance? We look at why standard home insurance isn't suitable for your buy-to-let property

Do I need landlord insurance if I'm letting to family?

With as many as 730,000 parent landlords in the UK, we take a look at the insurance you need when renting property to family

Do I need landlord insurance for a flat?

Do you need landlord insurance? If you rent out a flat, you will have wondered if you need landlord insurance. We explore your responsibilities and the types of insurance for flats.

5 reasons every landlord needs rent guarantee insurance

Not convinced that rent guarantee insurance is for you? Here are our top five reasons that you shouldn’t be without it.

The importance of rent guarantee insurance

Learn why rent guarantee insurance is a vital consideration for all landlords.

10 tips on comparing landlord insurance

Comparing landlord insurance can be a complicated process, with lots to consider. Here are our top tips on what to look at for when buying cover.

Thinking about diversifying into holiday lets?

One of the most popular, and successful, forms of farm diversification is converting farm buildings into holiday accommodation. If you're thinking of joining over 60% of UK farmers who have done this, make sure you've got the right insurance in place.

Using your pension to invest in commercial property

Investing in commercial property can be beneficial if you’re a business owner, as you’ll have premises for your company plus regular payments into your pension.

The implications of landlords investing overseas

Many British landlords believe they can get higher rental returns on overseas property. Although rents and house prices in the UK have been steadily increasing, landlords’ profits are being eaten into by the tax changes mentioned above.

Holiday Home vs Buy-to-Let

Is it more profitable to buy a holiday home or buy-to-let property? We look at the factors involved.

Right-to-rent checks

Under the right to rent scheme, landlords must check that prospective tenants have the right to live in the UK before renting out property. Failure to do so can result in heavy fines and even a prison sentence.

Guide to evicting a tenant

It can be tough when a tenancy doesn’t work out. Our guide explains how to regain possession legally and fairly, making sure tenants are notified correctly.

What is Section 11 under the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985?

In this guide we’ll explore the implications of section 11 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 for both tenants and landlords. 

Landlord responsibilities – changes to electrical safety regulations 2021/2022

Updates to landlord legislation in England and Scotland mean that rental properties must comply with new electrical safety standards.

Tenant Fees Ban Guidance for 2020/21

landlords are banned from charging certain fees – but what’s prohibited and what are the consequences for breaking the rules? Here’s what landlords and letting agents need to know about the tenant fees ban.

What is a Section 8 notice?

Here, we look at Section 8 notices in more detail and the circumstances in which they can be used. For example, Section 8 notices are typically served when tenants are in arrears.

What is section 24

Here, we explore how Section 24 works, how it affects landlord income and what you can do to off-set the effects. such as Tax relief changes and the impact on income.

EPC Regulations Explained

Properties built, sold or leased since 2008 require an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) and will be affected by Minimum Energy Efficiency Standard (MEES). Do you know how to stay compliant?

The end of “no-fault” evictions and what it means for landlords

The Government’s plans to ban so-called “no-fault” evictions has caused controversy since its announcement in April, with landlords groups claiming it will push up rents and shrink the supply of rental homes.

What is a Section 21 Notice?

Join us as we explore what a Section 21 Notice is and how landlords can use it to regain possession of their buy-to-let property

Guide to live-in landlords

If you rent out a room or part of your home to a tenant or lodger, while also living there yourself, you’re classed as a ‘live-in’ or ‘resident’ landlord. Taking on a lodger, or tenant, can earn you some extra money, but it pays to be aware of the procedures you need to follow, and the rights and responsibilities of both parties.

Top 10 tips for landlords, from UK landlord associations

We spoke to our network of landlord associations and asked them what their top tips for landlords were. Here are the top 10 tips from those in the know.

Top five documents every landlord needs

We asked a panel of top landlord associations what the most important documents are for landlords. Make sure you have the documents you need in place.

Damp and mould in rental property

Damp and mould can cause serious issues. Here, we take a look at the causes of damp and the responsibilities tenants and landlords both have in resolving the problem.

A landlord’s guide to property inspections

The main reason for a house inspection is to assess the current state of your rental property both inside and outside. It’s an opportunity to make sure that everything is working as it should.

Essential guide to the best property inventory list

To help you prepare and implement an effective report, here’s our essential guide on how to create the best property inventory.  

Landlord responsibilities: fixtures and fittings guide

In this guide we look at the specific responsibilities relating to fixtures & fittings and who is responsible, the tenant or the landlord.

Your essential landlord checklist

As a property owner you will have far more work to do than many people realise. We've put together an essential landlord checklist to make sure you've got things covered

Landlord letting agent fees

If you’re a landlord using a letting agent, what responsibilities can you outsource and how much can you expect to pay? Find out in our guide to letting agent fees.

End of tenancy cleaning - a guide for landlords

End of tenancy cleaning causes more disputes between landlords and tenants than any other single issue. We've put together this guide to cover everything both landlords and tenants need to know to make sure the end of tenancy cleaning process is as smooth as possible.

Why you should join a Landlords Association

Keeping up with frequent legislative amendments, as well as large scale regulation reform, can seem like a never-ending task; Find all the benefits of joining a landlord association.

What is ‘wear and tear’ in a rental property?

Whether you're a landlord or a tenant, it's essential that you understand the level of wear and tear you can expect during a tenancy.

Landlords...time to prepare for winter?

With global warming constantly in the news, we take a look at steps you can take to protect your let property - from lagging to landlord insurance.

A guide to understanding landlord harassment

Landlord harassment is essentially anything a landlord does that prevents tenants from living peacefully in their homes. Examples of landlord harassment in the UK vary widely but includes incidents such as changing the locks without tenants’ knowledge.

Guide to reducing and insuring against malicious damage

Malicious damage is damage done on purpose. Fundamentally, it’s a type of vandalism where the person doing the damage wants to cause destruction and harm.

A Guide to Landlords Right of Entry

In our guide navigate through the various legislations ensures both landlords and tenants rights are respected.

Landlord certificate requirements

Landlords must ensure that a range of safety checks are carried out before you rent a property, and different documents are required in Scotland and Northern Ireland. Find the full Landlord certificate list

Your guide to landlord responsibilities

There are about 150 separate laws in place to protect landlords and tenants. Under the sheer weight of regulations and responsibilities placed on landlords, it would be easy for something to be overlooked.

Commercial landlord responsibilities

If you own a commercial property for rent, you’ll know it comes with certain responsibilities. But there's often confusion about who is responsible for what; landlord or tenant?

Landlord fines: the risk of renting an unfit property

Is your property fit for your tenants? We take a look at a landlord's responsibilities for rented properties.

Landlord Tax Guide

Tax can be among a complicated subject for landlords, such income tax, stamp duty, capital gains tax, corporation tax, and landlord tax relief we've teams up with a specialist accounts to help provide some detail on tax for landlords.

How much tax do I need to pay on rental income?

Tax on rental income can be complex to navigate. To ensure you don’t get caught out, here’s what you need to consider when paying tax on your rental income.

Guide to the different types of tenancy agreements

We break down the different tenancy agreements available for property owners within the UK and explain the purpose behind them

Top five tips for finding good tenants

We spoke with our network of letting agents and landlord associations to find out their tips for finding quality tenants for your buy-to-let property. Here are their top five!

A landlords guide to sitting tenants

If you’re a landlord looking to sell, find out what a sitting tenant means for you, including their rights and your options.

Protection against troublesome tenants

From those who can’t pay the rent, to those who cause damage to your property - how can a landlord protect themselves from troublesome tenants?

Do your tenants work from home?

If your tenants work from home, there could be implications for the landlord. Find out what you can do to protect yourself

Do you really know who your tenants are?

Many landlords will have had tenants who have turned out to be less reliable than initially thought. Property Insurance Specialist, Steve Cox, explains how to help avoid the perils of tricky tenants and make sure you don't end up out of pocket.

Why it's important to protect against subletting

Join us as we explore the dangers of tenants subletting your property.