London police get lessons in protecting tenants' rights

The Met Police has issued new guidance for frontline officers around <a href="https://newsarchive.landlordzone.co.uk/news/illegal-evictions-increasing-dramatically-says-leadin

Official probe into 'zero deposit' schemes to see if they're unfair to landlords

<a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/news/cma-update-on-work-in-housing-sector">The Competition and Markets Authority</a> (CMA) is to dig deeper into zero deposit schemes an

Will serviced office companies survive?

Serviced offices one would surmise, offer the ideal solution in a post-Covid world. Mainstream office investments are struggling in a world where a good proportion of most com

MARKET: Are 'resident clubs' an answer to our rental housing shortage?

Renters looking to live in the capital can sign up for a new alternative renting concept that blurs the lines between traditional hotels,&nbsp;serviced apartments and private

UK Property Market Summary and Predictions for 2023

Read the UK property market recap with expert forecasts for 2023 and 2024, from price trends to investor insights.

Political battles intensify over spread of noisy student HMOs in NI

Northern Ireland officials have refused to get tougher on HMO landlords despite pleas from Belfast councillors that parts of the city are becoming over-run and affected by ant

Landlords are now selling at a record rate despite house price falls

In an almost unanimous decision, landlords are throwing in the towel, opting to take the cash and sell their property portfolios. It seems that the gravy train for buy-to-lets

Rental deposit alternatives catching on as interest rates and rents rise - claim

Growing numbers of tenants are turning to deposit alternative products as inflation, high rents and interest rate rises make it more attractive to hold on to their money to sp

Letting agencies warned over 'illegal and outrageous' deposit deductions

A shocked landlord has revealed on social media that their letting agency illegally deducted its �tenant finding' fee from the tenancy deposits of the renters involved.</p

'Build-to-Rent doesn't cherry pick posh tenants' insists leading figure

The boss of a build-to-rent (BTR) property search website has insisted the sector is not out to only attract more affluent tenants, despite criticism in the past that it does.

Ministry of Justice releases repair guide for private tenants

The Ministry of Justice launches a tool to help tenants address repair issues with landlords, guiding them through legal options and support services.

Tribunals 'not fair and weighted towards tenants' says frustrated landlord

A landlord who's being threatened with a massive rent repayment order has told of his frustration at a court system that is unfairly weighted towards tenants.

Landlords need clarity on changes to EPCs before it's too late, says property firm

A well-known property firm has made the unusual move of criticising the Government for not letting landlords know how they will afford and implement the proposed tightending o

Landlords say they'll 'shut down HMOs' if new rules aren't amended

Scores of HMO landlords in Portsmouth have threatened to sell up or convert their properties to family lets once a new additional scheme launches next month.

Court delays for landlords at their worst for 30 years

Evictions expert Paul Shamplina says UK court delays for landlords are the worst ever he’s seen during his legal career within the private rented sector.

NEW: More landlords selling properties than buying as pressure builds on BTL

The full impact of Tory policies and rising mortgage interest rates have been highlighted by new research commissioned by the National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA)

Landlords looking to re-mortgage 'should fix ASAP before another rate rise'

Specialist buy-to-let broker Mortgages For Business (MFB) has urged landlords approaching re-mortgage to secure a new rate as early as possible following the latest update on

Court delays for landlords evicting tenants 'at their worst for 30 years'

Evictions expert Paul Shamplina says UK court delays for landlords are the worst ever he's seen during his career within the private rented sector.

Landlords face £4,000 loss due to rising mortgage rates

Landlords have effectively lost more than �4,000 in earnings per property during the last year thanks to soaring mortgage rates and rising costs.

Even upmarket landlords face 'stark choices' now says leading property figure

Landlords in the capital's prime rental sector are facing a stark choice between topping up a rent shortfall or selling up.

Landlord shocked after bank paints unauthorised mural all over rented house

Impending oil boiler ban will affect many rental properties

UK's oil boiler ban for off-grid homes delayed to 2035; landlords face retrofit challenges with heat pumps in rural properties.

'HMRC figures show landlord exodus began TWO years ago', says Savills

New data analysis confirms a rise in buy-to-let landlords selling properties during the past two years and the potential for more properties to leave the sector.

POLL: Landlords worried over plans to bring in compulsory ombudsman

Nearly 60% of landlords are either against or not convinced by the Government's plans to bring in mandatory membership of an ombudsman for all landlords in England, it has b

Is it fair when landlords are charged huge arrangement fees for BTL mortgages?

A mortgage expert has advised landlords not to be put off by high arrangement fees on BTL mortgages, but some landlords and brokers have accussed lenders of profiteering.

EXCLUSIVE: New licencing schemes to rise by 31% in 2023 says data firm

The number of selective and HMO additional licensing schemes launched this year has already equalled last year's total as councils come under pressure to tackle private rent

Town declares housing crisis blaming 'skyrocketing' rents partly on landlord exodus

A town council in the SW has declared a �housing crisis' blaming affluent new arrival renters but also 'landlords pulling out of the market' for rapidly-rising rents.

UPDATED: Bed bugs, an increasingly common problem in rentals...

Bedbug Pest Control: There's been an explosion in the incidence of bed bugs that Rentoki

'Ministers must tackle tenants who abandon homes and cost landlords £1,000s'

Property sector bosses have urged the government to give landlords stronger laws to take back possession of their property if it has been abandoned.

NEW: Landlords feeling economic heat, new mortgage arrears data shows

If the Government needs evidence that landlords are struggling in the current economic climate, then the most recent mortgage arrears and repossessions figures should be sober

Are Policy Makers Pushing Landlords Under The Proverbial Bus To Win More Votes?

It's hard not to come to the conclusion after reading the most popular articles, discussions and comments in multiple landlord news portals that landlords are being

Developers’ greed resulted in them “cooking their own goose”

For many years some housing developers in the UK were involved in a leasehold housing scam; they found a very lucrative second income stream, but this was all at the expense o

Serious shortage in student accommodation provides real opportunity for landlords

While there has been a shortage of all types of rental accommodation across the UK for several years now, the student market has been hit particularly hard.There is currently a shortfall of over 200,000 beds, which is expected to grow to around 450,000by 2025. This is thanks to rising student number

Landlords exiting PRS drives 35% rise in Section 21 'no fault' evictions

Shelter has urged the government to make scrapping Section 21 a priority&nbsp;after new Ministry of Justice data showed a 41% rise in the number of households removed from the

Landlords urged to give views on major changes to Scottish EPCs

Landlords are being urged to give their views on an overhaul of EPCs (Energy Performance Certificates) in Scotland including making both residential and commercial landlords a

LATEST: Demand for rental property remains strong as property sales nosedive

The latest RICS housing report has revealed a sharp downturn in property sales but in contrast a rental market bolstered by continuing �strong demand', landlords will be r

FREE webinar: Will it become more difficult to evict tenants next year?

Many landlords will not have clocked the huge changes coming down the line within the Government's Renters (Reform) Bill due to become law next year - but h

Tenants to get £15,000 after landlord found guilty of "cynical disregard" for rules

Two rogue landlord firms which granted a tenancy in �cynical disregard� of licensing rules, then failed to properly repair ongoing faults, have been handed a hefty fine.</

REPORT: London rental stock shrinks by 41% as landlords quit sector

London's rental market is contracting dramatically as landlords exist the market, a new joint report by estate agency Savills and the London School of Economics has highligh

Landlord wins praise for offering 'only locals' affordable property in town

A landlord in the Kent seaside town of Whitstable has won plaudits after deciding to rent her rental property to local people, it has been reported.

NRLA slams Ministers over 'gimmicky' £10,000 fines for Right to Rent breaches

Both landlords and letting agents have slammed the Government's proposal to hugely increase fines for property managers who breach existing Right to Rent check laws.

Tech firm that helps landlords sell rented homes to sitting tenants secures first funding

A free service that helps landlords manage their portfolios more profitably but also sell individual properties to sitting tenants through an innovative funding model has secu

Northern council prepares planning crackdown against HMO conversions

Bolton council has revealed its intention to begin a coordinated campaign to rein-in the creation of more HMOs within its boundary including via planning and parking rules and

COMMENT: Government has got itself in a muddle over the rental market

Bidding wars, tenant CVs, queues outside properties � these phenomena have become common in the rental market across Britain.� So runs the editorial in this week's Su

BREAKING: Fines for Right to Rent breaches to rise from £80 to £5,000 per tenant

The Home Office has revealed plans to hugely increase the level of fines that landlords can face if they are found to have not checked tenants properly to see if they have the

Landlord fined £36,000 by court after fire reveals his property wasn't licenced

A landlord in the North West has been handed a �36,000 fine after a fire at his property revealed it had not been licenced.

Warwick to charge landlords £1,116 as it doubles size of HMO licencing

Warwick is the latest local authority planning to more than double the size of its HMO licencing scheme, starting in January 2024. This follows a public consultation earlier t

Government tax 'windfall' revealed as more landlords sell their properties

Official figures out today revealing a huge increase in capital gains tax paid on residential property sales can be explained by more landlords than usual selling rental homes

'Base rate rise will put landlords and tenants under even more financial strain'

Landlords have warned the Bank of England that its decision to raise the base rate by a quarter of a percent to 5.25% will only put more pressure on to renters and buy-to-let

ANALYSIS: Short term lets under threat...

The rental market in the UK has undergone something of a revolution in recent years, with a significant shift away from permanent or long-term renting towards Airbnb style hol

Unusual legal win by landlord shows appealing council fines can be worth it

Landlords operating good-quality and well managed rented properties and who are of good character should fight unfair council fines for failing to licence properties, an unusu

Landlord company registrations rise as many seek to avoid higher tax bills

Higher taxes and the pandemic have significantly increased the number of landlords starting up limited companies rather than owning and operating properties personally, new re

Market rents hit £1,367 as void periods plunge

Market rents hit historic high of £1,367 PCM as void periods plunge—explore the market shift and what it means for landlords.

Is it fair that councils can fine landlords even though they too break the law?

There is a burning issue within the rented homes market that is grossly unfair on private landlords and that is never discussed by politicians or the trade associations that o

Landlord to pay tenants £12,500 because 'innocence of law is no defence'

Being ignorant of landlord law is no defence, a brutal legal point that has cost a landlord duo in London dearly after they were told by judges to repay their tenants �12,500

Looming EPC changes already skewing the buy-to-let market, claims finance boss

The Governments plans to force landlords to upgrade their properties to a minimum C energy efficiency standard is already affecting how rental properties are being purchased, the boss of a big money firm has claimed. Louisa Sedgwick, Commercial Director at Paragon Bank

City office space under threat as personified by Canary Wharf exodus

The pattern of office working is changing and nowhere is its effect on commercial property being felt more strongly than in Londons Docklands Canary Wharf. A once thriving financial centre The development of the wharf into a thriving financial centre just outsi

BREAKING: Gove green lights expensive new licencing scheme in Nottingham

Michael Gove has given Nottingham city council the green light to proceed with one of the UKs most expensive and controversial selective licensing schemes. Due to start on December 1st, it will require all rented properties within 20 of its wards to be licenc

Government is afraid EPC upgrades will be final straw for landlords, says big bank

A leading lender believes the governments likely decision to row back on EPCs is linked to fears that it will hit an already struggling PRS. Earlier this week, Housing Secretary Michael Gove suggested a delay in bringing in energy efficiency plans for rental properties to

Property firm reports more landlords selling up as 'red tape' burden rises

Home buying company the Open Property Group (OPG) has reported a 56% jump in PRS property purchases during the past year, with landlords blaming red tape for their decision to sell up. It bought nearly �6 million worth of property from homeowners and landlords looking for a fas

Payday! Three tenants to share �20,000 after landlord fails to licence property

Three tenants have won a �20,160 rent repayment order from their landlord who failed to licence his HMO. A First Tier Property Tribunal found that Simon Freed let out the three-bedroom flat in Frognal Court, Camden (main picture), a

Scots Ministers avoid revealing how many landlords are seeking big rent rises

The Scottish Government has decided not to publish details of how many landlords north of the border have applied to raise their rent above the 3% maximum allowed under the countrys Cost of Living (Tenant Protection) (Scotland) Act. This controversial legislation was first in

Landlords warned over increase in unauthorised and illegal sub-letting by tenants

Sub-letting is on the increase within the private rented sector as the cost of living crisis bites, it has been reported. Direct Line says nearly half of all tenants who sublet rooms within their property have not told their landlord or checked they are allowed to within their r

Council's desperate measures to stop landlords evicting tenants revealed

Brent Council is paying a landlord to house the tenant he was trying to evict after failing to come up with any alternative accommodation. The authority paid the legal fees and took over responsibility for paying the rent as long as the landlord continued to let his tenant stay

BTR makes another leap forward with £1.26 billion invested in just three months

T The UKs build-to-rent (BTR) stock now stands at 88,100 completed homes, with a further 53,500 homes under construction and 111,800 in the planning pipeline. Savills research reveals that in the second quarter of the year, the sector saw a record-breaking �1.26

Landlord outcry over 'unfair' major Midlands selective licencing scheme

Landlords in Birmingham have slammed the citys new selective licensing scheme which some claim is unfairly targeting ethnic communities. The scheme, which took effect at the beginning of June, affects all landlords in 25 of the citys wards which have more than 20% of rente

'Stop demonising landlords, it's just not helping the situation'

Be careful what you wish for� is the point I would put to organisations such as Shelter, Generation Rent and other tenant groups.&nbsp; In other words, stop demonising landlords - its not helping the situation especially when we have such a severe rental stock crisis.&

No need to evict! We sell buy-to-lets in 28 days to new landlords who want to keep your 'fireproof'� tenants

Theyve been dubbed fireproof tenants� news this week reached fever pitch for landlords who rallied together in outrage to hear that multiple local councils had advised tenants not to move out of their houses� no matter what, even if the landlord was in financial difficulty

NEW: �30 billion cost for landlords to upgrade properties to EPC minimum

More than half of all homes in the private rented sector need upgrading to achieve an EPC band C by 2028, with landlords facing a total estimated bill of �30 billion at a time when many are struggling to cover their costs. About 2.9 million properties are affected, with costs f

HOT MARKET: Every property put on market receiving 20 viewing requests

Rental properties in the North West are each attracting an average of 30 viewing requests as competition among prospective tenants grows more intense. Data commissioned by the BBC from Rightmove shows an average of 20 requests to view each available property in Britain, up from

Charities and campaigners slam Government over 'weak' renting reforms

In a sign that the Renters (Reform) Bill is annoying many and pleasing few, charities and pro-tenant groups have today joined forces to slam the legislation for being too weak. The https://rentersreformcoalition.co.uk/" target="_blank" Renters Ref

BREAKING: Government rows back on 2035 gas boiler ban within rented properties

The Government has rowed back on its commitment to phase out all gas boilers in rented homes by 2035 following comments by Michael Gove. Talking tohttps://www.thetimes.co.uk/radio/schedule" https://www.thetimes.co.uk/radio/schedule" target="_blank" i

Another big council looks at forcing selective licencing on private landlords

A big South East counciil hopes to introduce a big selective licencing scheme for private landlords which would cover all PRS homes. Medway, which is a unitary authority covering a large swathe of Kent including Rochester and Gillingham, has seen those renting in the private ren

Official report backs binning leasehold but some owners 'still worried'

Ditching leaseholds is 'entirely possible' although some flat owners still arent convinced about moving across to commonhold, a government report has concluded. It explains that while reaching a point at which most existing flats are owned without a third-party landlord or ar

Landlords given five months to join enlarged �800 London licencing scheme

More than 5,400 homes in Islington now need a licence under Islington Councils new selective licensing scheme.&nbsp; Landlords in Finsbury Park, Tollington and Hillrise wards are affected, where properties are blighted with poor conditions, according to council enforcement of

Gove consults landlords on looser rules for commercial to residential conversions

Landlords are being encouraged to share their thoughts on government plans to make it easier to convert larger department stores, space above shops and offices.&nbsp; As part of Housing Secretary Michael Goves announcement on https://www.landlo

UK Property Market Summary and Predictions for 2023

The UK property market has undoubtedly seen a tumultuous period since the end of 2022. Fluctuating statistics, record-breaking demand, falling supply, and concerning economic projections have left many scratching their heads and wondering: https://www.rw-inv

Need a hoover in a hurry? High-tech kiosk lends renters essentials

Residents of East Village's Build-to-Rent blocks can rent household essentials like vacuums and game consoles via TULU's smart kiosks.

Government targets cities and relaxes planning in bid to solve housing crisis

A new https://www.landlordzone.co.uk/news/government-housing-policies-not-working-for-landlords-or-tenants-mps-are-told/" housing plan would allow shops, takeaways and betting shops to be turned into homes while homeowners would have greater freedoms to carry out property

Gove calls for EPC deadline reprieve to give landlords a break

Housing Secretary Michael Gove has suggested a delay in bringing in energy efficiency plans for the private renter sector. Citing financial pressures on landlords, he told The Telegraph that the government should relax the pace of changes to

Landlord with OBE to pay £300,000 fine over 'appalling conditions' at properties

A veteran landlord with an OBE has been handed a whopping �300,000 fine after two decades of managing illegally converted houses. Nirpaul Riat was given one of the largest ever fines in Hounslow for managing 22 properties where vulnerable tenants lived in appalling conditions.<

Under-cooked Renters (Reform) Bill could be just 'much ado about nothing'

One of the drawbacks of being labelled an expert is you are in demand for your expertise. It becomes your product and when stocks are running low, like we have all experienced when trying to find an egg in the supermarket at the end of the week for your Saturday morning cooked breakfast, th

PRS reforms make evicting rogue tenants more difficult

After years of campaigning and lobbying by tenant groups the Government has committed to huge changes for landlords when evicting tenants.

Huge London selective licencing scheme given green light by Gove

Southwark Council has been given the green light for one of the UKs largest selective licencing schemes. It got approval from Housing Secretary Michael Gove following the introduction last year of a borough-wide additional licensing scheme for HMOs and a small, selective lic

Extra stamp duty clobbering Welsh landlords with �92 million extra tax take

Landlords and holiday homeowners continue to be clobbered by a tax grab from the Welsh Revenue Authority. The latest figures show revenue from the higher rate of stamp duty - Land Transaction Tax (LTT) - increased by 50% from �61 million in 2020/21 to �92 million in 2022/23 -

Some landlords and letting agents treating migrants 'heartlessly' say campaigners

Migrant communities face discrimination while navigating the private rental market, according to new research by Generation Rent and Migrant Organise. Their poll of 126 migrant private renters found that 42% had struggled to find a landlord or letting agent to rent to them as a

OPINION: Inflation cut bodes well for property, but we're not out of the woods yet!

The FT reports a surge in property stocks as inflation falls, and bricks and mortar property values could soon follow stocks? The latest Office for National Statistics (ONS) measure of inflation and prices, which includes consumer price inflation, producer price i

Landlord who 'ignored responsibilities' given criminal conviction and �18,000 fine

A landlord who failed to licence her six properties has ended up with a criminal conviction and hefty fines totalling nearly �18,000. London Land Holdings Ltd, London Land Holdings 1 Ltd and sole director of both companies, Susannah Meisner , were charged

Khan calls for short-lets licencing in London as Airbnbs hit 80,000

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has called on the government to bring in a licensing system for short-term lets in a bid to protect the capitals housing supply. More than 80,000 properties are listed on https://www.airbnb.co.uk/london-united-kingdom/stays" target="_blank"

LANDLORD: This is how much my BTL flat cost to upgrade from EPC 'D' to a 'C'

<figure id="" class="w-richtext-figure-type- " data-rt-type="" data-rt-align=""><div><img src="https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/63bef2f3c329eff8e3a4af45/64cb9a643c7c4a123ad31709_image-5.png" alt="" id="" width="auto" height="auto" loading="auto"></div></figure>There has been much in the pres

Top ten tips to protect your property in a heatwave

Whilst were not currently seeing the soaring temperatures seen in Southern Europe right now, it always pays to be prepared when it comes to protecting your property. Our partner,&nbsp;https://www.totallandlordinsurance.co.uk/?utm_source=landlordzone&utm_medium=tli+article&utm_ca

Police forces launch cannabis farms campaign targetting landlords

Police forces across four UK counties urge landlords and agents to report signs of cannabis farms in rented properties as part of Operation Scorpion.

Landlord explains shift from residential to commercial estates

Northern Ireland landlord shifts from residential to commercial property, citing frustration with UK’s heavy tax burden on residential landlords.

Is the rental market still profitable?

Over recent years, governments have tightened lettings legislation and increased the tax burden on landlords. Add on the current cost-of-living crisis, high mortgage rates, and the Renters (Reform) Bill making its way through Parliament, some landlords are understandably beginning to wonder if it’s

Lack of advice stalling landlords' efforts to make properties greener, says RICS

Landlords and industry professionals have been invited to share their thoughts on a new professional standard aimed at helping surveyors provide useful retrofitting advice. The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) has launched a consultation on its draft <strong id=""

'I'm so sorry' helps landlord avoid prosecution after illegal eviction attempt

A contrite landlord has apologised to the tenant he tried to illegally evict after being rapped on the knuckles by Coventry Council. The landlord sent text messages telling his tenant to leave when they told him the rent would be late. He then visited the property and took the t

EXPERT: 'Binning Section 21 won't help as many tenants as campaigners hope'

Section 21 is the biggest headline grabbing element of the Renters Reform Bill but will be the least effective pieces of the legislation. Thats according to letting agent Kristjan Byfield (main picture), co-founder ofhttps://www.baseps.co.uk/"

High Street bank joins in criticism of Government over stalled evictions reform

Shelter has this morning launched a campaign in partnership with the Co-operative Bank to persuade the Government to press ahead with its proposal to abolish Section 21 evictions. The two organisations have launched a PR stunt on Parliament Square today covering it with 172 card

SHOCK: 30% of landlords looking to sell 'some properties' says big broker

New data reveals the extent of the landlord exodus prompted by the current mortgage rate surge with 36% of landlords polled revealing they plan to sell a property over the next 12 months. The proportion intending to sell some properties was at 30%, up from 28% the last tim

Proportion of tenants over 65 years old set to surge in coming decade

Landlords are increasingly likely to be renting to older tenants in the coming decade with the proportion of renters in private rented accommodation over 65 years old doubling to 11.5%, it has been reported. Letting agency Hamptons says its research reveal