If you are in rent arrears, there is a government-backed grant that could help clear your debt and prevent eviction. It is called a Discretionary Housing Payment , often referred to as a DHP . Many people do not realise this support exists — and as a result, they struggle unnecessarily. What Is a Discretionary Housing Payment? A Discretionary Housing Payment is extra financial support provided by your local council. You may be eligible if you receive: Housing Benefit, or The

If you are planning to evict a tenant using Section 21 , there is one document that can stop you in your tracks. If you do not have it in place, your eviction will fail , no matter how strong your case feels. That document is the Gas Safety Certificate . You Cannot Serve Section 21 Without Gas Safety Certificates Where a property has gas, the law is strict. Before you serve a Section 21 notice , you must have: A valid gas safety certificate that was in force before the tenant

If you are buying a property with an existing tenant , there are critical legal checks you must carry out before you complete the purchase. If you miss these, you may later find it extremely difficult or even impossible to evict the tenant and regain possession . This is not theory. This is settled law. 1. You Must Be Given the Existing Tenancy Agreement When you buy a property with a tenant in place, you must receive a copy of the Assured Shorthold Tenancy (AST) . The AST is

If you are in rent arrears, there may be government grants available through your local council  that can help clear your debt and prevent the situation from getting worse. These are not loans . In most cases, you do not have to pay the money back . Many people never apply simply because they don’t know this help exists. Two Types of Grants You Should Know About There are two main types of council funding available when you are struggling with rent arrears. 1. Discretionary

Landlords are being warned that Section 21 is about to be abolished , and anyone considering eviction needs to understand two critical dates  that will determine whether they can still rely on the no-fault route. Under the Renters’ Rights Act , Section 21 will be removed from the private rented sector, bringing an end to no-fault evictions. However, the legislation includes a short transition window that landlords must navigate carefully. The Two Dates That Matter The entire

A local council has paid £5,000  to a private landlord to resolve rent arrears, cover property damage, and bring an eviction process to an end after court proceedings had already begun. The intervention cleared outstanding debt, funded repairs, and secured guaranteed rent payments going forward. How the Case Unfolded The tenant had fallen behind on rent, building up £2,200 in arrears , and had caused damage to the property, including the carpet. At the same time, the landlord

A landlord in Coventry has been ordered to pay £3,991.66  after unlawfully evicting tenants — a clear reminder that forcing a tenant out without following the legal process can cost thousands of pounds . The landlord changed the locks while the tenants were away, preventing them from returning to their home without a valid possession order from the court. What Happened The landlord admitted he had received rent from the tenants less than a week before changing the locks. Desp

A Local Government Ombudsman ruling has confirmed something landlords need to know: when a tenant presents as homeless, councils must act — and if they don’t, they can be found at fault and forced to pay compensation . In case 21-006-060 , the council failed to provide interim accommodation after a person presented as homeless. The Ombudsman found the council delayed unlawfully , causing avoidable harm. The council was ordered to apologise, pay compensation, and review its pr

Landlords in parts of England are now facing eviction delays of up to 11 months  as court backlogs continue to worsen, leaving many stuck in long possession processes while rent arrears grow and costs mount. New figures reveal that in some regions, landlords are waiting nearly a year  from issuing a claim to getting a resolution in court — even where the case is straightforward. For landlords relying solely on the courts, this can mean 11 months of uncertainty , unpaid rent,

A council has successfully banned a landlord from letting property for 10 years  after a tribunal found he repeatedly failed to meet basic housing standards and showed a “devil-may-care” attitude towards tenant safety. The banning order prevents the landlord from renting out property, managing rental homes, or carrying out letting agency work anywhere in England for the duration of the ban. What Happened The case was brought by the local council and heard by the First-tier Pr

A council has been found at fault by the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman  for failing to properly investigate and act on a homelessness application, leaving a tenant at risk of being made homeless without the support she was legally due. This decision highlights that councils must help families who are threatened with homelessness , and when they fail to do so, they must be held to account. Families Are Due a Homelessness Duty Under Part 7 of the Housing Act 1996  

A council landlord has agreed to pay £115,000  in compensation to a tenant after unlawfully evicting him and re-letting his home, in one of the most expensive unlawful eviction cases in recent years. The case involved Harrow Council , which admitted liability after serving an invalid notice and removing a tenant who still held a lawful tenancy. What Happened The tenant returned to his property in December 2023  to discover that his home had already been re-let to another occu

The UK government has launched a consultation on how Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs)  should be calculated under a new system called the Home Energy Model (HEM) . This consultation sets out proposals for updating the way EPCs are produced so they give better, more accurate information about how energy-efficient homes really are. The consultation opened on 21 January 2026  and is open for responses until 18 March 2026 . Anyone can respond, but it is expected to be of pa

A local council has paid £8,000  to a private landlord to stop an eviction after rent arrears built up and court action was already underway. The payment cleared outstanding arrears and provided additional grant funding, resulting in the eviction being cancelled and a family remaining in their home. How the Case Unfolded The tenant was a single mother of two  who had fallen behind on rent after struggling to keep up with monthly payments. Over time, the arrears accumulated to

Landlords and letting agents could be fined up to £40,000  for failing to complete eviction paperwork correctly under new rules being introduced through the Renters’ Rights Act . Not only could you face a significant financial penalty, but you may also be blocked from evicting your tenant altogether  until the process is done correctly. This is not a technical change. It is a fundamental shift in how evictions work. What Has Changed? Under the Renters’ Rights Act, Section 21

A landlord was able to regain possession of his property within two months  after starting the eviction process, following coordinated action between the landlord, the tenant, and the local council. The tenant had lived at the property for a number of years. When the landlord reviewed the rent, it became clear that an increase was needed. However, there were concerns about whether the tenant could realistically afford the higher rent. Rather than allowing the situation to dri

A landlord has been ordered to pay £53,000  after unlawfully evicting a tenant and then deliberately damaging the property, in a case that highlights the serious financial consequences of bypassing the legal eviction process. The tenant had lived at the property for more than 20 years , having moved in during 1999 . Despite this, the landlord carried out an illegal eviction without obtaining a court order. What Happened The court heard that the landlord prevented the tenant f

Landlords could face fines of up to £7,000  if they fail to provide tenants with a mandatory written information document under the Renters’ Rights Act , which is due to come into force on 1 May 2026 . The requirement is set out in a draft statutory instrument  published by the government. As it stands, the document confirms what information landlords will be required to give tenants and when it must be served. It is important to note that this document is currently in draft

A council has paid £17,000  to a private landlord to clear a tenant’s rent arrears just one day before bailiffs were due to evict her from her home . The last minute payment prevented the eviction of a mother with two young children , who had been facing homelessness after falling behind on rent. Bailiffs were scheduled to attend the property on Wednesday morning  following a possession order granted by the county court. However, on Tuesday , the council contacted the landlor

The Government have just set aside £1bn in grants for Letting Agents. I'm going to tell you all about them and how you can apply. Grants...