UK Rent Repayment Order and How to Avoid RRO – London Landlords

If there are five people living in the property then the landlord must apply for an HMO licence.

The most common reason for receiving an RRO (especially in London where there is a high demand for rental property by tenants) is having an unlicensed HMO. Landlords who rent their property to three tenants or more in areas such as Tooting, Balham, Brixton are particularly at risk of this – especially if they don’t carry out regular checks.

That’s because in these areas the local authority Housing rules state that a property with three or more individuals renting must adhere to certain HMO guidelines. These include minimum standards with regard to:

• The size of the bedrooms in the property
• Fire safety measures
• Kitchen and toilet/bathing facilities
• Furniture and fittings
• Landlord duties

The reason it is important for the landlord to make regular checks on the property – or appoint an agent to do so – is because one of the tenants may move in a partner without letting on. As a result, the property becomes an unlicensed HMO under the local authority regulations. We can help with property services and legal advice for landlords.

Tooting, Sutton, Carshalton and Wimbledon Property Management Services London

The particular ruling of the RRO describes the offence/s as:

“having control of, or managing, an unlicensed property, under s.95 Housing Act 2004” (ie having an HMO with more than three but less than five people)

And, in the event another tenant has also moved in his or her partner/friend: 

“having control of, or managing, an unlicensed house in multiple occupation (HMO), under s.72 Housing Act 2004”

In both cases it’s not important that the landlord didn’t know about the ‘unintentional’ HMO in his or her case. The Tribunal will look at the facts ie that it happened.

Landlord Rental and Rent Refunds – Court Order and Tribunal

A Tribunal can insist that the landlord return up to a year’s worth of rent to a tenant, if found guilty of the offence. This could be housing benefit or universal credit if the tenant isn’t working and receiving government benefits.

The landlord doesn’t even need to have been convicted for an RRO to be awarded, just that the Tribunal believe an offence has occurred beyond reasonable doubt.

The landlord may also be ordered to pay the legal costs of the applicant (in addition to having pay his or her own costs of instructing a solicitor).

How the application for an RRO is made

Your tenant can apply to the First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber). Although the application can also be made by the local housing authority. The application must be made within 12 months of the tenant residing in your property.

In the case of the local authority they must send the landlord a notice of intended proceedings, stating the reasons they are applying for the RRO and how much they seek to recover. They then offer the landlord an opportunity to explain the situation. Having considered the landlord’s reply, they can apply for the RRO if they feel it’s warranted. This all comes under the statutory guidance on Rent repayment orders (Housing and Planning Act 2016).

What happens during an appeal

Both sides ie applicant and landlord submit their evidence at the First-tier Tribunal. The applicant is then usually an opportunity to respond to the landlord’s comments. A hearing between a judge and two Tribunal members then takes place, and a decision made. Landlords can appeal against the RRO to the Upper Tribunal, provided there is a legal basis for doing so.

Why Appoint Next Step Estates to Let your property

Do you need a reliable letting agency / managing agent for your rental property in Tooting, Sutton, Carshalton and Wimbledon? Then here at Next Step Estates we carry out regular checks on all our tenanted properties with documented inspection reports.

We personally live in the area and have, in fact, been working as an estate agent in SW17 for the past 15 years. That means we know the area inside out. We also take pride in providing all our landlords with a highly personal service. For more information on our SW17 estate agency service call 020 8767 6181 or email us today.

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Featuring fantastic schools, lots of green areas and property that’s good value for money, Sutton isn’t just up-and-coming – it’s already here.

Sutton Landlord Property Services, Renting in Carshalton as a Tenant with Letting Agents Next Step Estates

The area, which houses around 200,000 people, attracts both young professionals and couples who like the buzzing atmosphere. But young families too are keen to move here, thanks to the outstanding reputation of local schools. If you are a Landlord looking for a reputable, trusted letting agency, let’s chat today about our exclusive Property Management services in South West London.

In fact, Sutton has the fifth highest owner occupancy rate in Greater London. More than 40 per cent of working age residents have a degree level qualification or higher, while the number of residents economically active is higher than the London and national average. Of the seven districts which make up this borough, many have a lively, independent community feel.

To find out how we can help you secure a quality rental at a good price then call us on 020 8767 6181. Alternatively write to us via our contact form..

Sutton Letting Agency, Rent a Flat in Carshalton, SW London

• Are you thinking of letting your property? Or are you already a private landlord looking for a new tenant? Next Step Estates offer you a personal service.

• New Landlords and first time private landlords can read our Letting FAQ here

• Tenants – View our current properties to let in South West London

Sutton Rail and Tube to Balham, Clapham, Dorking, Guildford and St Albans

London Victoria is a mere 30 minutes from Sutton Railway Station. Balham is 20 minutes and Clapham Junction 23 minutes. You can also get to Dorking, Guildford and St Albans from here. Sutton Common Railway Station has local connections, such as, Wimbledon, Farringdon and Kentish Town. There’s also talk of extending Tramlink from Colliers Wood to Sutton. Sutton is actually in Zone 5. A TfL annual rail card is £2,628, while monthly it’s £252.30 at the time of publication (November 2022)

Driving in and out of London from Sutton is pretty easy, thanks to easy access to the A232 and A217. Further out you’ll soon get to the M25 & M23, and last but not least if you are looking for a property that’s close to a London airport – Gatwick Airport is a mere 30 minutes away, and Heathrow 60 minutes.

Rental Prices  and Costs in Sutton and Carshalton, SW London

Competitive rental prices for single tenants and families – A one-bedroom flat in Sutton comes in at around £1150 to rent while a two-bedroom house is renting for £1650. A three-bedroom flat is £1800 and a four-bedroom bungalow £2,700 (November 2022)

A one-bedroom flat in Sutton comes in at around £1150 to rent while a two-bedroom house is renting for £1650. A three-bedroom flat is £1800 and a four-bedroom bungalow £2,700.

Education

Sutton’s state secondary schools regularly feature amongst the top in the country. A report by Ofsted in 2021 showed 43 per cent of the borough’s secondary schools received a rating of ‘outstanding’ – significantly higher than the London figure of 36 per cent.

And, with a total of 24 state secondary schools and 50 primaries – including five grammar schools – parents have plenty of schools to choose from in Sutton. The local colleges at Croydon and Merton both also share good educational reputations.

Green spaces and parks – Outdoor activities nearby

Sutton has 16 parks, making it one of London’s top green areas. Certainly, with more than 1,500 acres of open space in total and the largest regional park outside of central London, there’s plenty of opportunities for getting away from city living in Sutton.

Whether you want to go cycling, running, skating or wandering around formal gardens, there’s something to occupy everyone. Play tennis at the 58-hectare Beddington Park, try a round of crazy golf at Grove Park or enjoy a game of bowls at Rose Hill Park. For those keen to get plenty of exercise or wildlife watching at the weekend, they can head for two local Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty at the Surrey Hills and the Kent Downs.

Crime 

Last year the crime rate for Sutton was 62 per 1000 people. That compares favourably with the crime rate for the capital as a whole (87 per 1000 residents) and makes Sutton one of London’s five safest boroughs.

Sutton High Street and Local Shopping

Sutton High Street offers brand names while more shops can be found in the Saint Nicholas Shopping Centre, alongside a food court and multiplex cinema. For independent boutique style shopping Wimbledon Village is just 15 minutes on the train while the bright lights of London Bridge and Victoria’s shops are just 30 minutes away.

Restaurants and cafes local to Sutton and Carshalton

The Grumpy Mole, The Ginger Frog, and the quirky and dog-friendly Shinner & Sudstone are favourite family bars and restaurants. The Winning Post (formerly Red Lion pub) is also popular and lays claim to hosting the Rolling Stones in their heyday.

For Italian head to Casa Nostra, Spaghetti Tree and Zizzi. Seafood lovers will no doubt frequent The Fat Crab where, actually, your hands are the cutlery. For Chinese food there’s Heen’s restaurant.

Entertainment

Sutton Music Festival is an annual event and showcase of young talent. You’ll also find drama and live music in Nonsuch Park, including a local country show and lively 5k weekend parkrun.

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Wimbledon Letting Agency Landlord Property Services South West London

It may be world-famous for its tennis while it’s Common is renowned as the 1980’s home of the Wombles, but Wimbledon has something else going for it too. And that is community spirit. If you are a tenant or a family looking to rent in the Tooting Bec, Blaham, Morden and Wimbledon areas, call our team on 020 8767 6181. Or, get in touch via our Contact Form.

Wimbledon, London and Renting a Family Home

An upmarket area of southwest London beloved of families, there’s always organised local events for children and adults alike, giving it a village feel. Its demographic means it’s a safe area – one where it really is safe to walk around those green leafy residential streets at 3am without fear.

And, in fact, crime is extremely low in Wimbledon. Last year the Office of National Statistics (ONS) recorded the crime rate as 62.4 per 1,000 people. That compared favourably to a national average of 77.6.

It’s not just the green areas, wide streets and assortment of large three to four-bedroom homes that attract families to Wimbledon, there’s also the good school’s aspect. Then there’s the excellent travel connections with the London Underground, the tube stations are very well orientated. Heathrow Airport is a mere 60-minute drive (or the same time via TFL). Trains run direct to Gatwick Airport from Wimbledon Station. Access by car to the A3 is easy, opening up connections to Portsmouth. The A3 merges with the M25 then westwards on the M40 to Oxfordshire or eastwards to Surrey.

Wimbledon sits a mere six miles from the centre of London. Wimbledon Station is on the District line, with Westminster only 35 mins by train, Earls Court and Waterloo and within easy commuting distance too. Being in Zone 3, an annual travel card for Wimbledon is £1,808, or £173.60 a month. The Station connects to both South Western Railway and Thameslink. Wimbledon Chase Station also connects to Thameslink, while you’ll get a link to the Tramlink from the main Wimbledon Station.

Wimbledon Things to Do, Entertainment and Nightlife

The New Wimbledon Theatre shows a variety of plays and concerts throughout the year. This beautiful grade II architectural venue dates back to 1910 and is the eighth largest Edwardian Theatre in London.

Those looking for live music can head for the Prince Albert (rock) and Ye Olde Mitre (indie). The Crooked Billet or King’s Arms are big rugby pubs and regularly host live screenings of the Six Nations.

The All England Lawn Tennis & Croquet Club ensures the area is buzzing all summer long, of course, with the most prestigious tennis championship in the world taking place in its 12,000-seater midst. The Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Museum is another attraction – one which holds Family Fund Days twice monthly. Kids can also enjoy art classes at Wimbledon Art Studios, dance at The Russell School of Ballet and drama at the Polka Children’s Theatre (which started way back in1967).

Wimbledon School and Education Catchment Areas for Families Looking to Rent

It shows how many families live in Wimbledon when you consider there are seven secondary schools here, and 15 primaries. There’s also an international school – Lycée International de Londres Winston Churchill. Impressing education establishments include Wimbledon High School, Kings College School (which this year received an ‘excellent; ISI report) and the independent catholic, Ursuline Preparatory School.

November 2022 Single Tenant and Family Home Rental Prices

You can rent a bright and sunny one-bed maisonette in Wimbledon for £1550 a month and a two-bed flat for £1,700. Three-bed properties are renting for around £3,900 and a house with four-bedrooms for £4,983.

Thinking of moving to Wimbledon? Then ring our letting team here at Next Step Estates. After a decade working here we have built up excellent contacts in the area. Tel 020 8767 6181 or email us using our Contact Form.

Eco Friendly Green Spaces and Parks – Wimbledon Common

Wimbledon is blessed with green spaces – the Common offers wildlife and tranquillity from the business of living in the capital. It’s not unusual to find families enjoying picnics there in the summer and joggers all year round. Then again there’s also plenty of sporting opportunities for residents to get involved in. That’s because Wimbledon Park (just off the courts) is home to an 18-hole golf course, an athletics track, cricket pitches and nine ponds.

For something a little different, grade II-listed Cannizaro Park boasts landscaped gardens, diverse flora and fauna, a water garden, rose garden, various sculptures and lots of quiet corners where busy executives and professionals can chill for some time under a rare tree or two.

Shopping

Wimbledon is split into the larger High Street area and the more upmarket Village area uphill. The latter is pedestrianised and home to around 40 shops – many independent boutique offerings – and a cinema. The High Street sports, amongst UK recognised brand names, the independent century-old, grand Elys department store. Gourmet delicatessen Bayley and Sage is the place to go to stock up on picnic essentials and can be found in the Village, alongside such upmarket offerings as Cath Kidston, Le Creuset and Farrow & Ball.

Restaurants and places to eat

Thai Tho is the place to eat if you want to spot A-list tennis players, particularly the likes of Venus Williams’s who says it’s her favourite in the area.

High Street offerings come in the form of The White Onion, while more a la carte dining can be found at The Light House on Ridgway. Cote serves up French plates while Sticks ‘n’ Sushi is another favourite for Asian-inspired edibles.

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Tooting Bec Letting Agents SW London for Morden, Balham and Wimbledon

The cost of living crisis, escalating utility bills and the possibility of a recession any time soon – it doesn’t bode well for the economy. But how is it affecting the property market?

Unlike other commercial sectors which had a miserable time during the two years of on-off lockdowns as a result of the pandemic, the UK housing market flourished. House prices have risen by as much as £30,000 over the past year, according to the latest figures by the Halifax. And if you think that’s impressive, consider the fact that property has risen in value by as much as 60 per cent over the past decade. That’s astounding.

Tenants Wanted – SW London Landlords Contact us for Property Services

Are you looking to sell a property or a tenant looking to rent in the Tooting Bec, Blaham, Morden and Wimbledon areas? If so, call the team today on 020 8767 6181. Or, drop us an email via our Contact Form. We offer Landlord property management services different to any other letting agency in South West London – the company founder was a tenant with a poor landlord. Next Step Estates are specialists at matching great tenants with great properties, as the connection between the Landlord and the person renting, we always go above and beyond as problem solvers with prompt communication 7 days a week.

Property to Let – Balham and Morden Buy to Let House Prices On The Rise

Property prices are still rising – but at a slower rate – and house prices are still rising on a monthly basis, albeit at a much slower rate than has been typical since 2020. In fact, house prices went up by 0.4 per cent in August compared to a typical monthly rise of 0.5 per cent this year. Annual growth also fell – to 11.5 per cent in August from 11.8 per cent in July.

Still, the cost of the average UK property is £294,260, says the Halifax. And there are no signs of a price fall any time soon, thanks to there being such an undersupply of property compared to demand. Those 300,000 homes Boris Johnston and the Tory party promised they’d build every year back in summer 2019? It’s a target they’ve never reached yet.

Back to September 2022 and some of the reasons the property market was so busy over the past couple of years, no longer exist, of course. It was Rishi Sunak’s stamp duty holiday which propelled the property boom – and which is now a distant memory. At the time of its introduction in July 2020 lockdown had already encouraged many city dwellers to look for coastal or countryside homes, while working from home meant many homeowners were keen to upgrade to a home with an additional bedroom which they could then turn in to an office. Conditions were ripe for a flourishing property market – especially when you consider the historically low mortgage interest rates.

Tooting and SW London mortgage rates expected to rise again

However, mortgage rates are rising – and keep rising. Householder are being forced to tighten their spending. The Bank of England’s monetary policy committee’s base rate is currently 1.75 per cent (the highest in 13 years) but economists expect it jump to 2.25 per cent next time they meet (at some point this month). The further increase will again impact on mortgage payments as homeowners on tracker mortgages and variable interest rate home loans see their monthly payments rocket.

Inflation, which was sitting at 10.1 per cent in June could reach as much as 18 per cent by the start of 2023, according to some economists. An energy cap has been announced for October’s utility bills, but it still sits at £2.500 – doubling most householder’s bills compared to the previous year. And with utility costs also hitting businesses hard, the fear of unemployment sits around the corner.

Tenancy Rental prices increase over past 12 months – Lowest Growth in London

And what of the rental market? Latest Office for National Statistics (ONS) figures from their Private Housing Rental Index show that the average UK rent increased by three per cent between June 2021 and June this year. The figure for England was 2.9 per cent. In London the growth was lowest at 1.7 per cent whereas landlords in East Midlands imposed the highest growth at 4.3 per cent.

Housebuilders and New Builds see a fall in reservations

They may have made impressive profits of £1 billion this year, but Britain’s biggest house builder Barratts is also seeing a downturn in reservations for New Build homes. Quite a substantial downtown in fact, from 0.82 per available to unit to 0.6. That’s even lower than before the pandemic when the figure was 0.7 per unit.

The developers were also having to cope with the first-time buyer scheme Help to Buy being withdrawn by the government – and not so far replaced. There are also more expensive build costs due to higher inflation and continuing supply problems.

Land Register undergo a digital transformation

There’s one bright spot on the horizon for home buyers and sellers though (not to mention surveyors and conveyancers). And that’s the introduction of the government’s three-year digital transformation project for the Land Registry office. The aim being to make buying and selling properties quicker and easier by putting the process online.

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