Date

Library

Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

Landlord to pay £37,000 after running overcrowded illegal HMO

Landlord to pay £37,000 after running overcrowded illegal HMO

News

A rogue landlord who squeezed six people into one room of his HMO has been told to pay £37,000 in fines and costs.

CLAIM: Labour's 'new towns' will be all about BTR not private landlords

CLAIM: Labour's 'new towns' will be all about BTR not private landlords

News

The UK’s new towns will favour build-to-rent developers rather than private landlords, according to a think tank which labels them “profit-seeking institutional investors”.

Big London council to bring back selective licensing

Big London council to bring back selective licensing

News

Croydon has announced plans to bring back its selective licensing scheme after a five-year break.

Lettings agency pays high price for ignoring HMO regulations

Lettings agency pays high price for ignoring HMO regulations

News

A student housing firm has been told to pay £13,160 for breaching safety regulations at a Salford HMO.

Landlords in-line for a £20bn energy efficiency bill

Landlords in-line for a £20bn energy efficiency bill

News

Landlords will collectively have to spend more than £20billion making improvements to their rental properties to meet proposed new energy efficiency standards

Developer in hot water after Rightmove offers Premier Inn rooms to rent

Developer in hot water after Rightmove offers Premier Inn rooms to rent

News

Gravesham Council is looking into a possible planning breach after studio flats were advertised for rent at a disused Premier Inn.

OFFICIAL: Landlords now waiting 25 weeks to evict tenants

OFFICIAL: Landlords now waiting 25 weeks to evict tenants

News

Landlords are waiting even longer to repossess their properties - up to 25 weeks in the last quarter of 2024.

Students call for TripAdvisor-style reviews for rented student homes

Students call for TripAdvisor-style reviews for rented student homes

News

Fed-up students in Bristol have launched a campaign to introduce a TripAdvisor style review system for the city’s accommodation.

OFFICIAL: Tenants blame 'lazy landlords' for poor property repairs

OFFICIAL: Tenants blame 'lazy landlords' for poor property repairs

News

Tenants cite lazy landlords as the main reason for repairs and maintenance not being done in their rental homes.

Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

Big council says HMOs 'fundamentally change areas' as it clamps down

Big council says HMOs 'fundamentally change areas' as it clamps down

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Councillors in Reading are set to rubber stamp plans to extend restrictions on the number of HMO conversions. An Article 4 direction already covers parts of the town where HMOs are prevalent, in much of Park, Redlands and Katesgrove wards, as well as Jesse Terrace.

Landlords seeking to convert commercial into residential warned by trade body

Landlords seeking to convert commercial into residential warned by trade body

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Propertymark has called for a set of standards for developers and clear guidance for local councils as a way to effectively convert empty commercial properties into affordable homes - an increasingly popular path for some bigger PRS landlords. Responding to an inquiry from all-p

Is converting commercial buildings to residential use a viable proposition?

Is converting commercial buildings to residential use a viable proposition?

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Converting commercial buildings to residential use would seem an ideal solution to a housing shortage, especially with and a glut of underused commercial buildings, but how easy is it? The planning regulation changes have made it easier to convert commercial buildings to residen

BREAKING: New mandatory 'How to Rent' guide delayed for a week

BREAKING: New mandatory 'How to Rent' guide delayed for a week

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

The new How to Rent guide due to come out today (17th March) has been delayed for a week, according to industry sources. The new guide forms part of the prescribed information that landlords in England must issue at the start of any new tenancy or renewa

John Lewis build-to-rent plans stall as locals oppose huge apartment 'towers'

John Lewis build-to-rent plans stall as locals oppose huge apartment 'towers'

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

John Lewiss build-to-rent strategy appears to be stalling amid local opposition to its plans for large developments in West Ealing and Bromley. The retailer has just announced pre-tax losses of �234 million as sales dipped 2% last year, making it even more vital to find new

'Disappointing' - housing chiefs slam lack of property measures in Budget

'Disappointing' - housing chiefs slam lack of property measures in Budget

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Landlords, estate agents and surveyors have all given yesterdays Budget an unqualified thumbs down after the Chancellor chose to focus on economic growth but ignore several problem threatening to engulf the housing market. All have said the budget was disappointing and a m

BUDGET: Scrapping lifetime pension fund limit 'will reduce BTL investment'

BUDGET: Scrapping lifetime pension fund limit 'will reduce BTL investment'

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Despite new research showing that one in four people plan to invest in property to generate retirement income, Chancellor Jeremy Hunt's scrapping of the 'lifetime pension fund limit' could dampen demand for BTL property, says Cornerstone Tax. The impact of inflation on savings a

'A budget that does nothing to help struggling renters', says Shelter

'A budget that does nothing to help struggling renters', says Shelter

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Shelter has slammed the Chancellor for failing to raise Local Housing Allowance (LHA) rates in his spring Budget. The homeless charity says Jeremy Hunt could have put an end to spiralling homelessness, but instead, he has stuck his head in the sand. Yet again we

Leading economics expert says 'enough is enough' for bruised landlords

Leading economics expert says 'enough is enough' for bruised landlords

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Sunday Times economics editor David Smith has expressed sympathy for private landlords who he believes feel bruised by increasing regulation in the sector. He says higher mortgage rates might be the straw that breaks the camels back for many, with some alrea

AUCTIONEER: 'Tenanted flats hardest to sell as investor confidence wanes'

AUCTIONEER: 'Tenanted flats hardest to sell as investor confidence wanes'

Opinion
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

It's that time of year when many people in the property profession give their opinion as to what to expect for the coming 12 months.

Midlands town issues first banning order - against criminal landlord

Midlands town issues first banning order - against criminal landlord

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Warwick Council has handed out its first banning order, to rogue landlord Grzegorz Surminski who sub-let a dangerous and unlicensed HMO.

Landlord fails in unusual attempt to overturn banning order

Landlord fails in unusual attempt to overturn banning order

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

A landlord has failed in a bid to overturn his banning order on the grounds that his convictions were spent by the time it was imposed by a First Tier Property Tribunal.

City-wide landlord accreditation scheme launched with fees sweetener

City-wide landlord accreditation scheme launched with fees sweetener

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Nottingham council has launched a city-wide ‘good landlord’ accreditation scheme and offered those who join the scheme a 10% reduction on fees for its private sector licencing schemes.

High profile tenant given six months in jail for rental fraud

High profile tenant given six months in jail for rental fraud

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

A director of the Scottish Women’s Premier League (SWPL) who defrauded her elderly landlord out of £30,000 has been jailed for six months.

UPDATE: NW council approves bigger selective licencing scheme

UPDATE: NW council approves bigger selective licencing scheme

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Two selective licencing schemes operated by Wirral Council in and around Birkenhead have been renewed with a further two schemes about to be launched following a consultation.

Southcoast city latest to charge landlords £500 for improvement notices

Southcoast city latest to charge landlords £500 for improvement notices

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Landlords in Brighton and Hove face a £500 charge if they are handed an improvement notice, as part of a council crackdown on failing properties.

How bad is the rental crisis? Latest figures reveal reality not the hype

How bad is the rental crisis? Latest figures reveal reality not the hype

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

One of the key arguments used by housing campaigners to criticise the private rented sector and its landlords has been contradicted by the latest English Housing Survey.

Nightmare tenant sentenced after stealing landlord's furnishings

Nightmare tenant sentenced after stealing landlord's furnishings

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

A tenant who stole almost £2,000 of furnishings from his elderly landlord has been handed a suspended jail sentence

MPs warn renting reforms could make PRS worse, not better

MPs warn renting reforms could make PRS worse, not better

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

A cross-party group of MPs and peers has warned that the government needs to get its Renters Reform Bill right if it is to avoid exacerbating the housing crisis.

The US CoStar Group has completed a takeover of UK property portal OnTheMarket.com

The US CoStar Group has completed a takeover of UK property portal OnTheMarket.com

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

US based CoStar, a force to be reckoned with in property, has completed a takeover of UK property portal, OnTheMarket.com

Lettings firm accused of breaking evictions ban

Lettings firm accused of breaking evictions ban

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Three students have threatened to take their landlord to tribunal for allegedly flouting eviction ban regulations which meant they were forced out of their flat while studying for exams.

Landlord given £485,000 fine over ‘sheds with beds’

Landlord given £485,000 fine over ‘sheds with beds’

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

A rogue landlord who used a fake name to evade the law has been handed a whopping £485,000 in fines after he was found illegally renting out a large shed as five flats.

US bank predicts rebound in UK property prices

US bank predicts rebound in UK property prices

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

US bank predicts turnaround in UK property market - inflation down to 3 per cent in two years

London's most expensive selective licencing scheme revealed

London's most expensive selective licencing scheme revealed

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Landlords in one of London’s biggest boroughs face a new selective schemes following a consultation launched by Lambeth council.

Recent research by Savills points to more landlords being priced out of BTL

Recent research by Savills points to more landlords being priced out of BTL

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

More landlords to be priced out of BTL as rent increases slow from their peak

MP in second bid to stop landlords evicting benefits tenants in arrears

MP in second bid to stop landlords evicting benefits tenants in arrears

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

An SNP MP has made another attempt to prevent PRS landlords from evicting benefit tenants who are in arrears.

Unusual portal and app that pays landlords seeks £5m funding

Unusual portal and app that pays landlords seeks £5m funding

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

A property start-up hoping to the next big thing in the student housing market is looking for a £5 million cash injection to help it launch across four more cities.

Wales changes guidance after 'uncertainy' over occupation contracts

Wales changes guidance after 'uncertainy' over occupation contracts

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Landlords in Wales need to update their occupation contract templates after the Welsh government amended part of the document.

Initiative launched to better regulate property 'deal sourcers'

Initiative launched to better regulate property 'deal sourcers'

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

The world of property deal sourcing is to become better regulated following the launch of a new partnership between the sector’s trade association and the Property Redress Scheme.

HMRC targetting 'under declaring' limited company landlords

HMRC targetting 'under declaring' limited company landlords

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

A property lawyer has warned that HMRC believes buy-to-let landlords may be under-declaring taxes, and that it has them in their sights.

Smaller landlords offloading properties the most - claim

Smaller landlords offloading properties the most - claim

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Twice the number of landlords with one or two properties plan to sell up compared with those who own more than 10 properties, according to a new survey.

Judge slams AI following landlord's inaccurate tax bill appeal

Judge slams AI following landlord's inaccurate tax bill appeal

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

A landlord who tried to challenge a tax fine by unwittingly using fake rulings generated by an artificial intelligence (AI) system like ChatGPT has had her appeal dismissed.

London council sweeps 20,000 rented properties into licencing

London council sweeps 20,000 rented properties into licencing

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Landlords in Lewisham are the latest within the London to face a selective licencing scheme now that permission has been granted by the Secretary of State for the scheme.

Higher mortgage costs driving higher rents say landlords

Higher mortgage costs driving higher rents say landlords

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Three-quarters of buy-to-let landlords (76%) increased rent during the past 12 months, most of whom blamed higher mortgage costs.