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Renters (Reform) Bill - we take a first look at the radical new legislation

Renters (Reform) Bill - we take a first look at the radical new legislation

News

The Renters (Reform) Bill has finally had its first reading in Parliament, promising a fair deal to renters, faster redress for landlords and giving more details on how 'pets with lets' will work. Heralded as a once-in-a-generation overhaul of housing laws�, the government

Purplebricks sold to rival for �1 after senior team throw in the towel

Purplebricks sold to rival for �1 after senior team throw in the towel

News

Purplebricks, which at one stage was used by thousands of landlords to manage their properties, has announced that its assets and business are to be sold to rival Strike for �1, pending approval by its shareholders. Any funds remaining in the firm some �5.5 million are

Gove to approve looser rules for HMO landlords housing asylum seekers

Gove to approve looser rules for HMO landlords housing asylum seekers

News

Housing Secretary Michael Gove is set to push through new rules on HMO safety for housing asylum seekers with little fanfare on the same day that the Renters Reform Bill is published. The changes outlined in the proposed https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukdsi/2023/9780

BLOG: 'Reform bill will solve the problem of pet damage for landlords'

BLOG: 'Reform bill will solve the problem of pet damage for landlords'

News

The long-awaited Renters (Reform) Bill will finally be introduced in parliament after Prime Minister's Questions today. Setting out plans for 12 key reforms to the private rental sector, the 11th pledge - to give tenants the right in law to request a pet, which should not be unr

Agents who lack licencing law know-how 'putting landlords at risk'

Agents who lack licencing law know-how 'putting landlords at risk'

News

Bungling letting agents with a lack of legal understanding are putting landlords at risk of prosecution, it has been claimed. One landlord expert has advised caution when signing up with a firm in the current climate of increasing legislation and falling profits, particularly fo

Opinion: does Michael Gove know something we don't?

Opinion: does Michael Gove know something we don't?

Opinion

It would seem that successive Tory governments have waged an ongoing and progressively more vicious war on buy-to-let landlords, but this latest layer of legislation goes much further. Yes, this latest iteration, and one thats https://bills.parliament.uk/bills/1768/s

EXTRA red tape, scams and repairs drive more landlords to use agencies

EXTRA red tape, scams and repairs drive more landlords to use agencies

News

Almost two thirds (63%) of private landlords who manage their own properties are tired of sorting out repairs and dealing with red tape and considering using a letting agency or property manager instead.  A Uswitch poll of 2,000 landlords found that the most common reason t

Labour to 'go further than Tories' with harsher Decent Homes Standard

Labour to 'go further than Tories' with harsher Decent Homes Standard

News

Labour has promised to ramp up the pressure on private landlords by introducing a legally binding Decent Homes Standard 2. Its latest draft policy programme a provisional blueprint likely to shape the next general election manifesto includes a proposal to take the

Starmer 'set to U-turn on rent controls' as London Mayor pleads for more powers

Starmer 'set to U-turn on rent controls' as London Mayor pleads for more powers

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Keir Starmer is set to rebuff previous calls by London mayor Sadiq Khan to bring in a rent freeze, it has been reported. Khan has been banging his rent freeze drum for months now as the cost-of-living crisis has hit many tenants personal finances, telling the BBC in Oct

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London landlords to repay tenants £45,000 after Tribunal decisions

London landlords to repay tenants £45,000 after Tribunal decisions

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Three London landlords are to pay over £45,000 in rent back to their tenants following separate Tribunal decisions, highlighting the increasing risks of Rent Repayment Orders as renters become more aware of the huge sums that are often involved.

Council launches licencing despite 'NO' from 73% of landlords

Council launches licencing despite 'NO' from 73% of landlords

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The London Borough of Lambeth is to launch a £923 per property selective licencing scheme in four wards this September after a lengthy consultation period that began in December last year.

EXCLUSIVE: Landlord reveals why his green upgrade cost £150,000

EXCLUSIVE: Landlord reveals why his green upgrade cost £150,000

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A landlord who raised a rental property's EPC from a band F to an A has urged others to make energy efficiency improvements that benefit both their property and their tenants.

Controversial landlord given suspended sentence over harrassment

Controversial landlord given suspended sentence over harrassment

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Controversial landlord Fergus Wilson has been handed a suspended prison sentence after being found in contempt of court for breaching an injunction preventing him from harassing staff and councillors at Ashford Borough Council.

Northern council green lights £653 selective licencing scheme

Northern council green lights £653 selective licencing scheme

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Stockton on Tees councillors have given the green light to a new selective licensing scheme covering three areas of the borough.

Rising rents 'disincentivising tenants to move home'

Rising rents 'disincentivising tenants to move home'

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Tenants are now facing bigger rent rises when they renew their contract than when they move into a new rental home.

Rent caps ARE a possibility in England reveals senior Labour figure

Rent caps ARE a possibility in England reveals senior Labour figure

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Rent caps could be introduced in England by a Labour government, the party’s shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves said over the weekend.

Manchester mayor reveals £600,000 landlord crackdown

Manchester mayor reveals £600,000 landlord crackdown

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Mayor Andy Burnham has announced plans including a new Property Check scheme for tenants whose landlords won’t work with the council voluntarily.

Landlord fined £14,000 over 'dangerous' property

Landlord fined £14,000 over 'dangerous' property

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A landlord who let three of his properties fall into dangerous disrepair has been ordered to pay almost £14,000.

'Rent repayment orders being used beyond their original purpose'

'Rent repayment orders being used beyond their original purpose'

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Some build-to-rent developments are increasingly falling foul of Rent Repayment Order (RRO) legislation, in a move away from its original aim to tackle poor HMOs, it has been claimed.

Thinktank battles landlords over evictions ban claims

Thinktank battles landlords over evictions ban claims

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The Social Market Foundation has argued that fears about stricter regulations reducing the supply of rental properties are ‘overblown’.

Tenant's jaw dropping makeover listed after pop star's campaign

Tenant's jaw dropping makeover listed after pop star's campaign

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A rented house which was transformed into a highly ornate classical ‘villa’ by its former tenant has been granted a Grade II listing.

Greens launch manifesto promising 'immediate rent freeze'

Greens launch manifesto promising 'immediate rent freeze'

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The Green Party is unlikely to win many votes from landlords after launching its manifesto ahead of a General Election later this year and the May 2nd local elections.

Landlords to repay former tenants £15,000 despite £11,000 rent arrears

Landlords to repay former tenants £15,000 despite £11,000 rent arrears

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A mother and son landlord duo are to repay their former tenants £15,000 in a case highlighting how the rent repayment order system can be very one-sided.

Warning: Are landlords being encouraged to sell too early?

Warning: Are landlords being encouraged to sell too early?

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By now you’ve probably heard of Landlord Sales Agency, and our articles that suggest the market is in favour of landlords selling.

Official 'local rents' tool launched for landlords

Official 'local rents' tool launched for landlords

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The Government has launched a service that enables landlords to see the rents being charged by other landlords in their area.

Number of 'home alone' renters drops by 8%, new data reveals

Number of 'home alone' renters drops by 8%, new data reveals

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The number of people renting homes by themselves has reduced significantly over the past three years as the cost-of-living crisis has hit many renters’ pockets, new research reveals.

Leaseholder-owning landlords urged to fill in form or face big bills

Leaseholder-owning landlords urged to fill in form or face big bills

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Landlords who own leasehold apartments in tower blocks are being urged to complete an official questionnaire or face being excluded from the protections afforded by the Building Safety Act (BSA).

NE of England landlord community goes national

NE of England landlord community goes national

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A community of landlords launched in the North of England six years ago has revealed that it is now going national after being given a new name.

All rise! Court eviction fees paid by landlords to increase by 10%

All rise! Court eviction fees paid by landlords to increase by 10%

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Landlords taking tenants to court to repossess properties face a significant hike in the fees they are charged by the courts to process their cases, it has been revealed.

BREAKING: New report questions role of property licencing

BREAKING: New report questions role of property licencing

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A rental property compliance service has pitched into the debate over whether the nation’s landlord licencing schemes are fair or, given the looming Renters (Reform) Bill proposals, needed.

Mortgage rates 'on their way down' claim experts

Mortgage rates 'on their way down' claim experts

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There is a growing consensus that mortgage interest rates will soon be heading south as house sales show signs of gaining momentum.

Landlord accused of barring gay renters from viewings

Landlord accused of barring gay renters from viewings

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A would-be student tenant has accused a landlord of making homophobic rules before agreeing to a house viewing.

Newspaper claims rebel Tory MPs 'funded by landlords'

Newspaper claims rebel Tory MPs 'funded by landlords'

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Rebel Tory MPs who lobbied for amendments to the Renters (Reform) Bill have received £450,000 in donations and earnings linked to landlords since the last general election, according to an investigation by the i newspaper.

Midlands landlords warned over licencing fees cliff-face

Midlands landlords warned over licencing fees cliff-face

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Landlords in a big Midlands city have been warned that they must apply for a licence for their properties by April 9th or face an additional £200 hike in the £1,090 cost of each three-year licence.

COMMENT: New book argues 'the end of landlords' would solve the housing crisis

COMMENT: New book argues 'the end of landlords' would solve the housing crisis

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Here Tom Entwistle digests some of this argument and makes a few comments of his own - join in the argument

LATEST: Housing minister changes mind on renting reforms - in landlords' favour

LATEST: Housing minister changes mind on renting reforms - in landlords' favour

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The Government has been moved to reassure Tory MPs that its Renters (Reform) Bill will not damage the private rented sector following the leaking of a letter by housing minister Jacob Young.

Prince William signs up landlords across UK to tackle homelessness

Prince William signs up landlords across UK to tackle homelessness

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The Prince of Wales is working with private landlords to help prevent and reduce homelessness in the UK, it has been revealed.

Bill to make evictions harder and limit rent rises 'wrong' say landlords

Bill to make evictions harder and limit rent rises 'wrong' say landlords

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The Scottish coalition Government has finally revealed its plans for the private rented sector including permanent rent controls, new rights to keep pets, decorate rented homes and stronger protection against eviction.

Landlord tells tenants: 'no old people, no overnight visitors, no drinking'

Landlord tells tenants: 'no old people, no overnight visitors, no drinking'

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A man has been dubbed “the world’s strictest landlord” for telling would-be tenants that they can’t have anyone staying the night have a drink.

HMO firm to pay £30,000 after blocking fire exit with.... shipping container

HMO firm to pay £30,000 after blocking fire exit with.... shipping container

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A housing management company has been fined £30,000 after an escape route at its HMO was found to be padlocked shut and blocked by a large shipping container.

MPs launch probe into why home buying and selling is so stressful

MPs launch probe into why home buying and selling is so stressful

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The government has launched a cross-party inquiry into how the experience of buying and selling homes could be improved in England.

Birmingham landlords trial 'UK first' tech to help them comply with licencing

Birmingham landlords trial 'UK first' tech to help them comply with licencing

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A group of landlords in Birmingham are spearheading an innovative trial of new technology designed to help them comply with local licencing and other regulatory requirements.

Peers label Gove's leasehold reforms 'unambitious' and 'disappointing'

Peers label Gove's leasehold reforms 'unambitious' and 'disappointing'

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Peers debating the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Bill were almost unanimous in their belief that it doesn’t go far enough to protect leaseholders.