News and advice from John Grants
Plain-English guidance on selling, buying, renting and letting in London and Hertfordshire.
Renting · 17 October 2026 · 7 min read
My landlord is selling the house: what are my rights as a tenant?
A landlord's sale does not end your tenancy. To get the home empty, a landlord needs Ground 1A, four months' notice, a date after your first year and a court order if you stay. What you must do, what you need not, and where to get free help.
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Renting · 17 October 2026 · 7 min read
How much notice does a tenant need to give to end a tenancy in England?
A tenant on an assured periodic tenancy in England gives at least two months' written notice, unless the landlord has agreed a shorter period in writing. Here is how to choose the end date, joint tenancies, rent owed, the keys and the 10-day deposit rule.
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Renting · 17 October 2026 · 7 min read
How to challenge a rent increase in England: a tenant’s guide
Since 1 May 2026 a landlord must serve Form 4A to raise a private tenant's rent. To challenge it, apply to the First-tier Tribunal before the start date in the notice. The fee is £47 unless an exemption applies, and the new rent cannot be higher than the notice says.
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Renting · 17 October 2026 · 8 min read
How to report a landlord to Enfield Council: repairs, damp and licensing
Write to your landlord first, then use Enfield Council's online form or email its private rented housing team. Here is what the council can do about repairs, damp, unlicensed homes and Renters' Rights Act breaches, what it cannot do, and where else to complain.
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Landlords · 17 October 2026 · 7 min read
Legionella risk assessment for landlords: what HSE says you must do
HSE says a landlord must assess the risk of legionella for tenants, but the assessment can be simple and the landlord can do it. HSE also says the law does not require a legionella test certificate. The steps, the temperatures, empty homes and what changed in 2026.
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Landlords · 17 October 2026 · 7 min read
Furniture fire safety regulations for landlords: what a furnished let needs
The 1988 furniture fire safety regulations apply to the sofas, beds and mattresses a landlord supplies in a furnished let, new or second-hand. Here is what is covered, what the label must say, who enforces it and what changed on 30 October 2025.
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Renting · 17 October 2026 · 7 min read
What can a landlord deduct from a deposit at the end of a tenancy?
A landlord in England can claim unpaid rent and the reasonable cost of damage, dirt or missing items, but not fair wear and tear. Here is how the three schemes judge claims, the 10-day rules, the free dispute route and the 2026 changes.
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Buying · 17 October 2026 · 7 min read
Enfield council tax bands 2026/27: the charges, who pays and discounts
Enfield Council's 2026/27 council tax runs from £1,511.78 for Band A to £4,535.34 for Band H, including the Greater London Authority share. How bands are set, who pays in a rented home, which discounts exist and what a buyer should check.
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Renting · 17 October 2026 · 7 min read
How to report damp and mould to your landlord: a private tenant’s guide
Report damp and mould to your landlord in writing, with dated photographs, and keep paying rent. If nothing happens you can tell the council or ask a court for repairs. Awaab’s Law deadlines do not yet apply to private lets.
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Landlords · 17 October 2026 · 7 min read
Tenant Fees Act: what landlords and agents can charge in 2026
A landlord or agent in England can ask a tenant only for the payments the Tenant Fees Act 2019 lists. Covers the caps, the holding deposit rules, what changed on 1 May 2026, the penalties and a checklist.
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Landlords · 17 October 2026 · 7 min read
Tenancy deposit protection: what landlords must do within 30 days
A landlord in England must protect a cash deposit in an approved scheme and give the tenant the prescribed information within 30 days. Here is the cap, the penalty of one to three times the deposit, the effect on possession since 1 May 2026, and a dated example.
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Landlords · 17 October 2026 · 7 min read
Right to rent checks for landlords in 2026: what to do and when
Before a tenancy agreement is entered into, a landlord in England must check every adult occupier's right to rent. This guide covers the three routes, eVisas and share codes, record keeping, the £5,000 to £20,000 penalties and the 1 October 2026 changes.
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