A Tenant's guide to renting

moneysavingmonkey85

what is the best way of finding a private landlord?

moneymouth77

I find landlords through friend's who rent and their landlords... or try somewhere like Gumtree. Normally, you'll have a couple of rubbish landlords before you find one you like and want to stay with. I've been with my current landlord for a bit, in various properties, as he is excellent.

x__Indigo_x

wear and tear would that include smashed or plates obviously no longer ] or chipped plates...surley over a year every person smashes one plate?!!

marieterry

hi could someone please tell me if a young singal mother who is n income surport do they have to pay a deposit to the council if they where offered a house that the coucil gave them?
Also do the coucil rent houses from others to give to someone to rent off them and do they have to pay a deposit?

Thanks

inmypocketnottheirs

Anyone understand this?

WET-HOT-DRIPPING-TEABAG

im a tenant, i rent a house

new_starter

This site has some useful information about renting in general but also information about flat-sharing in particular. Worth a look at if you are thinking about flatsharing

flatsharehelp.co.uk

franklee

If a tenant is paying rent directly to a landlord they think may be non-resident then do read this guide:

IR140 Non-resident landlords, their agents and tenants:
http://landlordstax.co.uk/pdf/lts_ir_140.pdf

It may be the tenant is liable to collect tax, including possibly backdated for the tenancy for the time the landlord was non-resident.

If the tenant is paying rent to an agent in the UK then the tenant can relax as it's the agent's responsibly.

If in doubt get advice from HMRC Centre for Non-Residents (CNR).

Extracts from the guide:

If letting agents or tenants have reason to believe that a landlord has a usual place of abode outside the UK, they should ask the landlord for any information they need to satisfy themselves. Unless they receive information that satisfies them that the landlord does not have a usual place of abode outside the UK, they should start to deduct tax.

You have to pay tax due under the NRL Scheme even if you do not retain enough money out of rent paid to the non-resident landlord. However, you have the right to get back from the landlord any tax you have to pay under the Scheme. So, for example, if you do not retain enough in one quarter to meet your liability, you can take the balance out of the following quarter’s rent (in addition to the tax that you deduct from that quarter’s rent).

Landlords can apply to the Inland Revenue for approval to receive their rent with no tax deducted. Landlords who are Crown Servants apply to their own UK Tax Office (HMIT Public Department 1 or the South Wales Area Office). All other landlords apply to CNR. If the Inland Revenue approve the application, they will write to you telling you not to deduct tax.

You should deduct tax unless you have received a written notice from the Inland Revenue telling you not to. Do not stop deducting tax simply because the landlord tells you to do so. If you want to give your landlord an application form, you can get one from CNR.

If you are unsure you can get help from the Centre for Non-Residents (CNR).

This thread shows the problems this can cause:

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=1769675

tbs624

franklee wrote: »

This thread shows the problems this can cause:
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=1769675

:rolleyes: This thread also shows that a dodgy LL and a T who has issues ( her own phrase) make a lethal combination. The Ts query of HMRC was resolved within just *3 days*, although I suspect the she would have much preferred it to go on longer, such is her apparent appetite for gossip & her propensity for drama.

Ts should of course be encouraged to become aware of the rules around LLs who are non-UK resident but should also keep the matter in perspective.

tbs624 wrote: »

Perhaps not quite as "exceptionaly (sic) simple" as you imply. 6 months or under ( ie up to and including 6 months )and the LL would not be classed as having a usual place of abode that is non UK and if the 6 months+ straddles two tax years then they wouldn't be either.

Here's a direct quote from HMRC for you:

“where letting agents and tenants have no reason to believe that a LL has a usual place of abode outside the UK they are not required to make any special enquiries. In these circumstances they do not have to operate the scheme.”

You could have saved yourself much expended time & energy, having had written confirmation, from both the brother and the LL herself, that her affairs were in order as far as they were concerned

“Usual place of abode outside the UK” does not include stays abroad of 6 months or less, within the relevant period, which are classed as temporary.

All the OP needed to do was calmly write to HMRC :” my LL is currently abroad, here are the details I have about my tenancy, here is what the LL/LLs brother says. Please advise” and then wait for the answer and get on with her life. HMRC then have to look into it, check with the LL, and confirm to T, as indeed they did in this case.

For any T who does want/need to read up on this issue the info can be accessed here http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/cnr/nrl_guide_notes.pdf

franklee

The quotes in my post above are directly from HMRC too. Actually HMRC are being consistent across both documents as the HMRC quotes both hinge on what letting agents and tenants have reason/no reason to believe:

Your HMRC quote:

“where letting agents and tenants have no reason to believe that a LL has a usual place of abode outside the UK they are not required to make any special enquiries. In these circumstances they do not have to operate the scheme.”

My HMRC quote:

"If letting agents or tenants have reason to believe that a landlord has a usual place of abode outside the UK, they should ask the landlord for any information they need to satisfy themselves. Unless they receive information that satisfies them that the landlord does not have a usual place of abode outside the UK, they should start to deduct tax."

Look in accord to me.