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WARNING: Judge tells landlord ignorance is no defence against fine

WARNING: Judge tells landlord ignorance is no defence against fine

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A landlord has lost his appeal against a fine for renting out unlicensed properties after arguing that the sellers solicitor had failed to tell him about a selective licensing scheme. City Estate Holdings bought two houses in Westbourne Avenue, Gateshead, at auction in April

NEW: Tenant arrears drop to lowest level in five years as voids reduce too

NEW: Tenant arrears drop to lowest level in five years as voids reduce too

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The number of landlords whose tenants are in rent arrears has fallen to its lowest level since 2017, according to new research from Paragon Bank. Its poll of more than 750 landlords found that less than one third (32%) of landlords have had at least one tenant in arrears during

Dangers of rent-to-rent highlighted by landlord's �11k rent repayment order

Dangers of rent-to-rent highlighted by landlord's �11k rent repayment order

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A rent-to-rent landlord operating a flat in central London has been ordered to pay rent back to his tenants totalling just over �11,000 via a rent repayment order or RRO. The case highlights the challenges faced by rent-to-rent agreements, as the case involved a freeholder, lea

Tenants face 'bleak future' unless landlords are helped with rising mortgage costs

Tenants face 'bleak future' unless landlords are helped with rising mortgage costs

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Ballooning mortgage costs will make an already tight rental market even harder for tenants seeking affordable homes to let, landlords have warned. Their representative body the NRLA has published research that shows nearly two-thirds of landlords, based on

LATEST: Official 'property portal' being tested by landlords prior to launch

LATEST: Official 'property portal' being tested by landlords prior to launch

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Private landlords and agents have started helping the government to test its impending property portal. <figure id="" class="w-richtext-figure-type- " data-rt-type="" data-rt-align=""><div><img src="https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/63bef2f3c329eff8e3a4af45/64cb995528252df1fde666e6_dehenna

Beware fake payslips when referencing tenants, landlords told

Beware fake payslips when referencing tenants, landlords told

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Half of all fraudulent tenancy applications involve fake or doctored pay slips, according to rent-tech platform Goodlord, which has warned landlords to be on their guard. Its anaylsis of more than 300,000 tenancy applications last year found that while only one in

LATEST: Trading Standards issues new guidance for landlords on ground rents

LATEST: Trading Standards issues new guidance for landlords on ground rents

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Trading Standards has released new guidance to help landlords and leaseholders get to grips with the Leasehold Reform (Ground Rent) Act. The law https://www.landlordzone.co.uk/news/advice-are-you-ready-for-the-leasehold-reform-act-going-live-on-30th-june/" target="_

Landlord wins landmark knotweed compensation case in Court of Appeal

Landlord wins landmark knotweed compensation case in Court of Appeal

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A landlord in Wales has set a cat among the legal pigeons after winning a landlord Japanese knotweed compensation case in the Court of Appeal. Its three judges have agreed that Marc Davies, 38, must be paid just shy of �5,000 by his local authority Bridgend council which, it wa

Divorcing landlords sell �15m portfolio after long legal battle

Divorcing landlords sell �15m portfolio after long legal battle

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A property estate worth �15m has been sold off as part of a complex court case involving a pair of divorcing professional landlords. The portfolio of 25 buildings was spread across four London boroughs and included both residential and commercial properties. The portfolio inclu

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Only 2.5% of rented homes in England are affordable for those on housing benefit, Crisis reveals

Only 2.5% of rented homes in England are affordable for those on housing benefit, Crisis reveals

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Only 2.5% of private rented properties listed in England were affordable for people on housing benefit between April and October last year according to Crisis, down from 12% in 2021 to 22.

Billionaire landlord ordered to repay tenants £263,555 for operating two buildings as unlicensed HMOs

Billionaire landlord ordered to repay tenants £263,555 for operating two buildings as unlicensed HMOs

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A billionaire landlord has been ordered to repay tenants £263,555 for operating two East London buildings as unlicensed HMOs.

House price growth remains steady, but is expected to soften as stamp duty rates change today

House price growth remains steady, but is expected to soften as stamp duty rates change today

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House price growth remained steady last month, but is expected to soften in the coming months as the stamp duty holiday comes to an end.

More than a third of landlords to offload properties, Landbay survey suggests

More than a third of landlords to offload properties, Landbay survey suggests

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More than a third of landlords plan to offload some of their rental properties in the next 12 months, according to a new survey.

Scottish lawmakers urged not to repeat the mistake of restricting rents

Scottish lawmakers urged not to repeat the mistake of restricting rents

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Letting agents have urged Scottish lawmakers not to repeat the mistake of restricting rents that has ultimately increased costs for tenants.

Almost £13M a week raised in property tax for Scottish Government

Almost £13M a week raised in property tax for Scottish Government

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Almost £13million a week was raised in property taxes for the Scottish Government, new analysis has revealed.

Student rents could surge due to Renters’ Rights Bill, landlords warn

Student rents could surge due to Renters’ Rights Bill, landlords warn

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Student rents could surge following the introduction of the Renters’ Rights Bill, say landlords, who have warned that it also discriminates against foreign students.

Landlords could face CGT hike if economy dips, IFS warns

Landlords could face CGT hike if economy dips, IFS warns

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Landlords could face a hike in Capital Gains Tax (CGT) if the economy dips before the Autumn Budget, the Institute of Fiscal Studies (IFS) has warned.

The Making Tax Digital net is closing on landlords

The Making Tax Digital net is closing on landlords

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Plans to Revolutionise the UK's Tax System will take a step forward from April 2028 when MTD will be expanded to include those earning more than £20,000 per year

HMRC is clawing back overpaid and fraudulent Covid support payments

HMRC is clawing back overpaid and fraudulent Covid support payments

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The self-employed who took advantage of the multi-billion pound self-employed income support scheme (SEIS), claiming grants they were not entitled to, when they were either not trading at all, or their profits did not fall within the specified limits, are now being asked to pay the money ba

EXCLUSIVE: What will happen after Section 21 evictions go? We ask the experts

EXCLUSIVE: What will happen after Section 21 evictions go? We ask the experts

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For several years now the government has promised to reform how landlords evict tenants including the abolition of possessions enabled under Section 21 of the 1988 Housing Act. This kind of eviction was a key plank of Margaret Thatchers attempts to persuade more landlords int

Comment: fears over the future of private rental market in the regions mount

Comment: fears over the future of private rental market in the regions mount

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While in England the housing minister Eddie Hughes has just https://www.landlordzone.co.uk/news/breaking-minister-confirms-government-will-not-consider-rent-controls-in-england/" target="_blank" ruled out rent controls , in Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Irish R

Legal case '� can there be a reasonable excuse for not licensing an HMO?

Legal case '� can there be a reasonable excuse for not licensing an HMO?

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Weve all heard the expression, ignorance of the law is no excuse� and this applies without question in all areas of the law. But in some rare instances it seems the courts and tribunals are open to accepting a defence of what is termed reasonable excuse even when the regulatio

Landlord says protecting tenants during portfolio sale will cost him �500,000

Landlord says protecting tenants during portfolio sale will cost him �500,000

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Nottingham benefits landlord Mick Roberts (main picture) has made another bid to sell 40 of his properties by offering to cut the sale price by a tenth if a landlord buyer keeps his existing tenants on. The regular LandlordZONE contributor has previously suggested https

LATEST: Guidance issued for landlords with tenants hoping to take in Ukrainian refugees

LATEST: Guidance issued for landlords with tenants hoping to take in Ukrainian refugees

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Landlords have been warned to check a propertys potential status if their tenant wants to offer Ukrainian refugees a spare room. Updated guidance on the rules around the Homes for Ukraine scheme outlines that where a private tenant is paying rent for their accommodation, the

BREAKING: Wales delays introduction of controversial Renting Homes Act

BREAKING: Wales delays introduction of controversial Renting Homes Act

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The Welsh government has announced a five-and-a-half-month delay to the introduction of its controversial Renting Homes Act which had been due to go live on 15th July this year. Now postponed until 1st December, housing minister Julie James says

Latest changes to Part L of the Building Regulations

Latest changes to Part L of the Building Regulations

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Landlords are required to conform to the safety and environmental rules set-out in these regulations so its important you understand the law regarding the building regulations. The rules are in place to ensure that buildings meet a certain standard of safety to protect residents and memb

Welsh government clamps down on holiday let landlords with tougher council tax rules

Welsh government clamps down on holiday let landlords with tougher council tax rules

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Landlords in Wales who rent out self-catering accommodation will no longer be able to dodge council tax under new and tighter rules announced by the Welsh government. In its bid to crack down on the impact many holiday lets and second homes are having on communities and the Wels

REVEALED: Shocking but true data behind landlord rent arrears and evictions

REVEALED: Shocking but true data behind landlord rent arrears and evictions

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A staggering 71% of all landlords reported having at least one tenant in arrears due to the pandemic, according to the latest English Private Landlord Survey . Nearly a third (29%) were lucky not to have any, but landlords with one property most commonly ha

Amended rules for landlords on fitting carbon monoxide alarms

Amended rules for landlords on fitting carbon monoxide alarms

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Landlords in England have since October 2015 been required to install carbon monoxide alarms in their residential rented accommodation where a solid fuel solid fuel heating appliance was fitted. This would include all open fireplaces that were available to be used, that is where

Office market weathering the storm better than expected

Office market weathering the storm better than expected

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With rental growth in prime London offices set to outpace the rest of the country, the doom mongers predicting permanent working from home (WFH) and office flight have so far, it seems, been on the wrong tack. Quarter 1, 2022 has seen rent returns rise as UK commercial property

BREAKING: Grant scheme for air and ground source heat pumps opens for landlords

BREAKING: Grant scheme for air and ground source heat pumps opens for landlords

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The government has today officially opened its Boiler Upgrade Scheme for applications including those from private landlords. Operated by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy , it offers applicants it offers gra

LATEST: Notorious property investment fraudster FINALLY jailed over �600,000 scam

LATEST: Notorious property investment fraudster FINALLY jailed over �600,000 scam

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One of the UKs most notorious property investment fraudsters has been jailed for six years after a court heard how he swindled investors out of �592,000. 42-year-old father of three John Keats-Ormandy persuaded eight people to invest in his scheme by claiming he had a portfo

Brighton takes a big step towards rent controls with Secretary of State request

Brighton takes a big step towards rent controls with Secretary of State request

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Brighton and Hoves Green Party is pushing for rent controls in the city where its now the most expensive place to rent outside the capital. The https://www.brightonhovegreens.org/" target="_blank" Green-controlled council, with Lab

LATEST: Report slams Irish rent controls for 'backfiring' on Government

LATEST: Report slams Irish rent controls for 'backfiring' on Government

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A report on Irelands 50+ rent control pressure zones has revealed that the policy has led to higher rents and landlords quitting the market. Commissioned by the https://www.ipav.ie/" Institute of Professional Auctioneers and Valuers

EXCLUSIVE: Expert questions official claims that eviction courts backlog 'improving'

EXCLUSIVE: Expert questions official claims that eviction courts backlog 'improving'

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Claims by a Ministry of Justice (MoJ) minister that possession case delays are being addressed have been questioned by leading evictions specialist Landlord Action. In response to a question from Conservative MP Theresa Villiers, MoJ Parliamentary Under Secretary of State James

EXCLUSIVE: How agents and landlords are 'taking risks' when sharing referencing info

EXCLUSIVE: How agents and landlords are 'taking risks' when sharing referencing info

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An investigation by LandlordZONE into data privacy within the private rental sector has revealed how many letting agents and landlords are sharing information about tenants' referencing information in contravention of GDPR regulations. In particular, many

'Selling properties with tenants in situ is best way to reduce Section 21 evictions'

'Selling properties with tenants in situ is best way to reduce Section 21 evictions'

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Instead of abolishing Section 21 the government should encourage landlords to keep their tenants when they sell rather than via 'vacant possession', a leading landlording expert has claimed during a podcast with TV star Phil Spencer. Property Tribes Vanessa Warwick (main pic)

Is commercial property a good hedge against inflation?

Is commercial property a good hedge against inflation?

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Commercial real estate has the advantage of providing landlords with a high income return, generally a higher yield than residential property, thats providing your tenants remain, rents can be increased regularly to keep pace with inflation, and where finances are involved, interest rate

What is the future of commercial real estate law?

What is the future of commercial real estate law?

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SearchFlow one of the biggest conveyancing search providers in England and Wales has over 2,500 legal clients and conducts more than 1 million searches every year. On the 17th of May SearchFlows web seminar will brings together leading lawyers and practitione

REVEALED: How the new 'property portal' for landlords and tenants will work

REVEALED: How the new 'property portal' for landlords and tenants will work

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First details of the private rental portal revealed in yesterdays Queens Speech have emerged. LandlordZONE understands that the portal will be similar to but more comprehensive than the ones already in operation in Wales and Scotland, using the

SHOCK drop in number of HMOs blamed on growth of council licensing schemes

SHOCK drop in number of HMOs blamed on growth of council licensing schemes

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HMO numbers in England have dropped by 3% during the past 12 months many landlords offloaded their buy-to-let stock instead of negotiating more legislative hurdles. Market analysis by Octane Capital reveals that while there were 511,278 HMOs in 2019/2020, this fell to 497,884 in

EXCLUSIVE: Controversial landlord Fergus Wilson to appeal �125,000 fine over 'harassment'

EXCLUSIVE: Controversial landlord Fergus Wilson to appeal �125,000 fine over 'harassment'

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Multi-millionaire landlord Fergus Wilson has vowed to appeal against a High Court ruling ordering him to pay �125,000 to Ashford Council for harassing staff. A defiant Wilson tells LandlordZONE that he continues to dispute claims and believes the authorit

Don't fall foul of the disclosure laws when selling or letting a property

Don't fall foul of the disclosure laws when selling or letting a property

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Traditionally, contracts for buying and selling property always relied on the old English common law principle of caveat emptor, or let the 'buyer beware'. In other words, the seller did not need to reveal material facts (defects) about the property for sale so long as the buyer, with