May 15th, 2012
OK, so we only pay one person’s rent at a time but that person gets to live rent free for a whole month. Pretty good eh?
So, who is it this month? It’s Maryline.
Maryline lives in Streatham, SW16, so it’s another London winner (and another female winner!). Maryline’s prize, based on the average rent for a double room according to SpareRoom’s Room Rental Index, is £537.33. Maryline won with one of her loyalty entries (additional free entries we give out to people who regularly enter the competition or encourage their friends to enter).
Maryline says:
“The timing is so perfect that it is hardly believable: I am just ecstatic!!! I currently live in Streatham, and have just returned to work as a teaching assistant in my local school after 9 months of maternity leave, during which credit card debt had started to pile up. My son, my husband and I currently live in a shared house until we are able to afford a bigger place or decide to move to a cheaper location. I have used SpareRoom in the past and I enter the competition every month when I don’t forget about it. I generally share the link on Facebook for friends to join as it is so easy to enter.”
Don’t forget, for your chance to win a month’s rent enter SpareRoom’s Live Rent Free now
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May 14th, 2012
We don’t generally do much promo on the blog for other people’s stuff but, every now and then, we spot something we think will be of use to our users and make an exception. This is one such exception (no financial interest on our part, we just thought it was worth promoting).
School for Landlords is a free email course from Tessa Shepperson, who is an experienced solicitor and specialises in landlord and tenant law. All you need to do is enter your email address and you’ll get a weekly installment direct to your inbox.
Tessa says:
We constantly hear in the news how new and ‘accidental’ landlords make unnecessary, and sometimes costly, mistakes due to lack of knowledge of the laws which apply to rented property. My free course will help landlords understand what is involved and give them the background knowledge that they need.
To sign up for the course visit schoolforlandlords.co.uk
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May 8th, 2012
More than 1 million UK homeowners got a shock last week when 4 mortgage providers (Halifax, the Co-operative Bank, Clydesdale Bank and Yorkshire bank) increased their standard variable rates. NatWest also pushed up the rate on its One Account, affecting a further 100,000 customers.
With many homeowners already living on frozen salaries, and with tightened belts, this further increase in outgoings could be critical.
The general advice in this situation is to speak to your mortgage lender in the hope that they may be able to help. The earlier you let your mortgage lender know if you think you’ll struggle the better.
One practical way to offset increased outgoings is to take in a lodger. Not only will the £4,250 you can charge tax free under the Rent a Room Scheme be a huge help in these circumstances, you may also benefit in other ways. Having someone to water your plants or feed your pets while you’re away, for example. Friendship is often a happy consequence of taking in a lodger, and we’ve even heard about one or two marriages that resulted from it too!
Make sure you speak to your mortgage provider first, but taking in a lodger could give you the breathing space you need as SVRs increase. Visit http://www.spareroom.co.uk/lodger for more information.
Posted in lodgers, news, rent a room scheme, renting, taking in a lodger, tips and advice · No Comments »
May 3rd, 2012
New regulations are coming into force this summer to introduce a Tenancy Deposit Scheme in Scotland. The scheme(s) will be run by independent 3rd parties and will protect tenants’ deposits until they’re due to be repaid.
The regulations are set to come into force on July 2nd 2012. Under the new system landlords in Scotland will be required to:
- Pay tenancy deposits into one of the approved schemes
- Provide their tenant with information about the tenancy and the deposit
One scheme has been approved already and two further alternatives are being considered with the aim of having all 3 in place by July 2nd.
What you need to to depends largely on when the tenancy began (or will begin). Here are the key dates for deposits to be paid into one of the schemes (according to scotland.gov.uk’s tenancy deposit page):
===
1. Deposit received prior to 7 March 2011 and where tenancy renewed on or after 2 October 2012 and before 2 April 2013 (Regulation 47(a))
Within 30 working days of renewal
In any other case (Regulation 47(b))
By 15 May 2013
2. Deposit received on or after 7 March 2011 and before 2 July 2012 (Regulation 48)
By 13 November 2012
3. Deposit received on or after 2 July 2012 and before 2 October 2012 (Regulation 4)
By 13 November 2012
4. Deposit received on or after 2 October 2012 (Regulation 3)
Within 30 working days of the beginning of the tenancy
===
All sounds a bit confusing doesn’t it. The key thing to note is that, once the scheme is up and running and bedded in (after October 2nd by the looks of things), then the rule is 30 working days from the beginning of the tenancy.
For more information (including details of events you can attend to learn more about how this works) visit scotland.gov.uk
Tags: changes to tenancy deposit rules, protecting a tenant's deposit, rental laws soctland, scotland, tenancy deposit rules scotland, tenancy deposit scheme
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May 1st, 2012
Housing minister Grant Schapps has announced a taskforce to put an end to the growing number of ‘beds in sheds’ rented out by unscrupulous landlords. According to the Communities and Local Govenrment website thousands of beds are being rented out in sheds and outbuildings, mostly to immigrant workers (many of whom are in the UK illegally).
Schapps said:
“It is a scandal that these back garden slums exist to exploit people, many of whom are prepared to return voluntarily to their home country but instead find themselves trapped into paying extortionate rents to live in these cramped conditions.
“I want to see a crackdown on these criminal landlords. So today we are launching a national taskforce, made up of the police, local councils, the UK Border Agency and HM Revenue and Customs to close down these ‘beds in sheds’, help those living there to be reunited with their families and ensure their so-called landlords feel the full force of the law.”
Many of these illegal dwellings are visible on Google Earth and most fall way short of the minimum standards for rented accommodation in the UK, with sanitation being one of the main issues.
The first step of the process took place yesterday when Shapps and Immigration Minister Damian Green held the first in a series of cross-Whitehall summits with representatives from the police, the UK Border Agency and local government.
Tags: beds in sheds, Damian Green, DCLG, Grant Schapps, housing minister, news, renting
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April 30th, 2012
As from April 6th there have been some changes to the way the Tenancy Deposit Scheme works. These changes are important for both landlords and tenants.
(These changes aren’t relevant to Scotland – click here for information on Scotland’s new tenancy deposit regulations)
Why have the changes been made?
Since the legislation was introduced in 2007 there have been a few significant cases that have highlighted loopholes in the legislation. The new changes aim to close these loopholes.
What’s changed?
There have been several changes to the legislation. The most significant being:
- Extending the time limit for protecting deposits (and providing the tenant with the prescribed information) from 14 days to 30
- Changing the penalty for non-compliance from 3 times the amount of the deposit to between 1 and 3 times the amount. This allows courts more discretion when deciding penalties
- Clarifying that penalties still apply even if a landlord complies after the deadline
When do the changes take effect?
They already have – the new legislation came into force on April 6th 2012
What about existing tenancies?
In cases where deposits aren’t protected landlords have a 30 day window to comply. If not they become subject to the full range of penalties. The 30 day window means the deadline is May 5th.
Don’t forget, the legislation only applies to Assured Shorthold Tenancies (ASTs). If you have a lodger, for example, the rules don’t apply to you.
What happens if I don’t comply?
If you don’t comply with the legislation:
- Legal proceedings can be instigated and a fine of up to 3 times the amount of the deposit can be handed out
- A section 21 notice can’t be relied on so it may be difficult to evict your tenant(s)
- The tenancy becomes an Assured Tenancy
In a nutshell
- Landlords now have more time to protect deposits and provide tenants with the information required
- Compliance after the deadline doesn’t exempt landlords from being penalised
- The amount of penalty charge is now more flexible to allow courts discretion
- Landlords have a 30 day window to comply if they’re holding existing, unprotected deposits
Tags: assured shorthold tenancies, ast, changes to tenancy deposit rules, locslism act, protecting a tenant's deposit, section 21, tenancy deposit scheme
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April 16th, 2012
This month’s recipient of a whole month’s rent, courtesy of SpareRoom, is Alex Fisher.
Alex lives in lives in Peckham (SE15), where the average rent for a double room plus bills (and therefore her prize) is £546.
Alex says:
“That’s amazing news!! I can’t beleive it! I’ve literally never won anything ever!! And after entering every month for over 2 years I’d almost given up hope! I’m a Quality Assurance Analyst working in Aldgate and living in the mighty Peckham, SE London. I moved to London in 2008 after a year teaching in Japan and moved straight into a shared house. Living in London is so expensive and, with rent going through the roof, sharing is a really excellent way to make it affordable and meet some great friends along the way. I’ve met a boatload of fun and interesting people and sharing definitely helped me settle into London life! The money will come in really handy as, being 28, apparently I’m at ‘that age’ and all my friends have started to get married! So I think I’ll be using the cash to make sure I’ve got some fantastic outfits for the 4 weddings I have lined up this year! Maybe it will stretch to a few glasses of champers too.”
To be in with a chance of getting your rent paid next month head to our competition page. Alex, like 90%, of our winners, won with one of her loyalty entries (extra entries we give away free) so don’t forget to check out the ways you can earn more chances to win while you’re at it.
Good luck!
The SpareRoom team.
Tags: competition, flatshare, liverentfree, spareroom.co.uk
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March 7th, 2012
Natashka is.
Congratulations to Natashka Brown, who lives in East London (E1). She wins £654.33, according to SpareRoom’s Room Rental Index.
Natashka says:
“I’m a West End theatre lighting technician and had been living alone for seven years before I found my present flatshare on SpareRoom last year. It was a good way for me to move into a new area and find out what to do and where to go. Having just ended a six month contract, I’m using the site again to find my dream share apartment, hopefully with a great social element and in a great location. I’ve entered the competition on numerous occasions and never thought I’d win, it has come just at the right time. I’d like to use the money to go to Barcelona and celebrate a friend’s 50th but I’m sure it will come in handy with my room deposit too!! Thank you SpareRoom”
Don’t forget, for your chance to win a month’s rent enter now
Tags: competition, flatshare, liverentfree, news
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January 4th, 2012
As you probably know by now SpareRoom.com launched in New York last year. As part of the launch we’ll be holding our first SpeedRoommating event in NYC on January 11th. SpeedRoommating is the US equivalent of our popular London SpeedFlatmating events – over 10,000 people attended a London event in 2011.
The events are already picking up some media attention. AOL covered the move to NY in December and this week AGBeat.com listed SpeedRoommating as one of ‘60 Genius Brands to watch out for in 2012′. Given that the list includes Apple and Google+ we’re pretty happy about that!
Hopefully the New York events will attract as many people as the London ones – there’s every reason to suspect they could. We’ll be over in New York launching the events next week so will report back when we return. 
Tags: new york, news, speed flatmating, speedroommating
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January 4th, 2012
So you’ve done some research and considered what it is you want from a lodger. Now it’s time to place an ad. You may be thinking ‘But I’m not ready to advertise my room just yet’, and that’s fine. Advertising your room can be incredibly useful though as it can tell you several things you can only guess at otherwise:
- Will anyone want my room? – Advertising can help you work out how many (and what sort of) people are likely to be interested
- Am I charging the right amount? – If your room is too cheap (or too expensive) it’s worth finding this out so you can make adjustments
- Is my ad any good? – You may well find you end up tweaking your ad as you go. The responses you get will give you an idea what you might not be saying that you should
- How to deal with enquiries – Learning how to communicate with prospective lodgers can hep you get the kind of information out of them that’ll tell you whether they’re suitable or not
Of course, we wouldn’t suggest anyone puts up an ad if they’re not planning to rent out a room as that would just waste people’s time. However, advertising sooner rather than later gives you plenty of time to meet several people and find the right fit.
Tags: advice, live in landlords, lodgers, taking in a lodger
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