Akiva worked in the charity sector and property management before joining the legal team at Landlord Action. He has helped countless landlords get back possession of their property from some of the most difficult tenants.”
Alex Nolan, Senior Training Manager at NRLA, provides expert training on HMO management, tenancy processes, and rental sector legislative updates.
Alphaletz is designed to be a simple, cost-effective solution to these problems. Their mission is to free you from the burden of spreadsheets and paperwork, so you can free up time and keep an eye on your profits.
Partner at Xeinadin. Xeinadin is a leading provider of accountancy services and business advice for small and medium-sized enterprises and individuals across the UK and Ireland.
Established in 1860 to care for abandoned animals, Battersea aims to never turn away a dog or cat in need of help. In 2023, we helped 2,529 dogs and 2,450 cats across our three centres. Our work means we see day-to-day the many animal welfare issues facing dogs, cats and the people who care for them.
A property management duo has been hit with a £100,000 fine for renting out a property with a catalogue of serious problems.
Landlords in Scotland have been urged to get to grips with new damp and mould rules as Awaab’s Law comes into force next week.
The government has pledged to introduce an independent regulator for property agents and caps on fees for leaseholders.
As energy bills rise, landlords and homeowners can save £175 yearly with simple heating checks and minor adjustments before winter.
Councils are to get new powers to take over empty and derelict homes in a bid to tackle the housing crisis.
Landlords: stay compliant with legal obligations like safety checks, licences, deposits, and tenancy docs, plus follow best practice.
Finance experts believe landlords will elicit little sympathy if the Chancellor decides to go ahead with a rumoured tax grab.
A licensing expert has called for a national scheme to simplify councils’ disjointed approach to handing out justice for licensing breaches.
Chartered surveyor Clive Scrivener says properly regulated leasehold remains an efficient and proven structure for complex residential buildings.
North Warwickshire Council wants to restrict HMOs despite its very small percentage of shared housing.
Justice for Tenants has predicted a surge in Rent Repayment Order claims following the Chancellor’s failure to get a licence.
Paul Shamplina has warned that the Renters’ Rights Act could prove catastrophic for landlords trying to evict non-paying tenants.
RICS UK survey identifies a clear shift in mood across the commercial property sector
The Renters’ Rights Act ends Section 21 “no-fault” evictions; landlords must now use Section 8 grounds, with longer notice periods.
Rachel Reeves’ admission of breaching housing law neatly illustrates the challenges landlords face in keeping up with legislation.
Landlords across the country are enjoying better profits and yields than they have for several years, new research shows.
“Landlords rush to sell ahead of Renters' Rights Bill as taxes, rates, and reforms squeeze profits. Time to act is now.”
Landlords learn practical strategies to navigate 2025 property tax changes, from inheritance tax to SDLT and CGT planning.
Landlords have been warned to avoid the spread of phantom rumours about the Renters' Rights Act.
The London lettings agency at the centre of the Rachel Reeves selective licensing scandal has released a statement.
Landlords in Hillingdon will have the chance to comment on a new borough-wide additional HMO licensing scheme.
The Chancellor has been accused of “glaring hypocrisy” by a landlord impacted by the licensing scheme she pushed for in Leeds.
Many claims the Renters' Rights Act is pushing more landlords out but George Osborne's Section 24 changes are the real culprit, says expert.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves has apologised to the Prime Minister for failing to get a selective licence for her London rental property.
The day of the long-awaited abolition of Section 21 “no-fault” evictions has finally arrived
The Law Society has warned that the courts aren’t ready for an expected rise in hearings created by the Renters’ Rights Act.
Most of Westminster’s private landlords will be covered by a huge new selective licensing scheme when it launches next month.
An Edinburgh landlord has been fined for renting out an unlicensed flat in the first prosecution under the country’s short-term lets licensing scheme.
A startup on a mission to revolutionise student rentals aims to sign up one million students within the next year.
The government has squandered a chance to help both animal-loving tenants and landlords, according to pet campaigners.
The Mortgage Works is improving its application process and speeding up lending decisions for landlords.
Landlords and agents face a draconian and new set of investigative powers given to councils by the Act.
The huge reforms that the Act bring in are now law although secondary legislative and regulatory changes will be needed to make it go live fully.
Islington to increase coverage to ten wards and raise the scheme's per-property fee to £850.
The government has promised to publish a timetable on when Awaab’s Law will include private landlords.
Landlords in Northern Ireland will soon have to pay more for an HMO licence as part of a crackdown on the sector.
Landlords and tenants are both feeling the pinch as affordability remains stretched across the PRS.
The prospect of the passing of the Renters Rights Act means for many landlords, the exit lights are flashing
The Renters’ Rights Bill is almost here. Change is certain but timing isn’t. Now’s the moment to prepare, not pause.
Landlords in Bury hoping to convert their property to an HMO could soon have to meet tougher planning restrictions.
A new AI tool aims to help renters secure a rental property by sending alerts to their inbox before other platforms.
A group of six leading freeholders and property industry groups have failed in their High Court bid to reverse last year’s leasehold reform legislatio
The Telegraph appears to be at odds with its readers after a supportive article about rental reforms drew widespread opposition.
London’s 20% affordable fast-track aims to revive stalled sites and boost housing starts, but delivery - not policy - will be the real test.
Local councils are using arm’s-length companies to serve Section 21 eviction notices, impacting landlords ahead of upcoming legal changes.
Most brokers’ landlord clients are set to slim down their portfolios if National Insurance is applied to rental income.
Don’t let the headline mislead, it must be tempered by a realistic appraisal of the markets
Rental reform campaigner labels PRS policies an “unmitigated disaster” as he celebrates the imminent Renters’ Rights Act.
A summary of the Renters’ Rights Bill’s legislative path and the forthcoming changes it brings to the private rented sector.
A letting agency has been set up in the capital for socially minded landlords keen to be part of a more inclusive PRS.
Renters' Rights Bill has been voted through by MPs and will now go to the King for Royal Assent.
The Autumn Budget lands 26 Nov 2025. Tax hikes may target landlords—stay alert to NI on rental profits, CGT changes & MTD rollout.
Nottingham Council has announced new penalties to tackle poor practice – but admits it is late to the party.
Councillors in Rotherham are pushing ahead with selective licensing despite opposition from both landlords and tenants.
Medway Council has announced plans to introduce both selective and additional licensing schemes next summer.
Croydon landlords face having to join a selective licensing scheme in the borough after a five-year break.
Rightmove launches free webinar to help landlords prepare for major legal changes from the Renters' Rights Bill. Join Oct 22 at 7pm.
Landlord sell-offs fuel student housing crisis, increasing homelessness risk as students face sudden displacement and councils struggle to cope.
New Home Office data shows that Right to Rent fines have surged to more than £4.2 million since late 2024.
Landlords renting out homes in parts of Scunthorpe now need a selective licence.
A National Insurance grab could create renewed investment from older landlords and reshape the BTL market.
Renters are most likely to turn to social media to solve issues caused by mould as they are unsure about their legal rights.
Universal Credit changes and LHA freeze leave landlords facing longer arrears, slower recovery, and greater financial risk.
Student rental arrears could climb when the Renters’ Rights Bill is introduced, a letting expert has warned.
More landlords in a key London borough are to face selective licensing if councillors in Enfield get their way following a 12-week consultation due to
The government has dismissed MPs’ calls to conduct a comprehensive review of the “dysfunctional” County Courts.
With experienced landlords leaving in their droves, we now see an influx of accidental landlords
Labour deputy leader hopeful Lucy Powell has praised the government for taking on landlords' "vested interests".
A leading letting agent has expressed disappointment over Labour’s unwillingness to listen to concerns about the Renters’ Rights Bill.
Housing ministry data shows 'landlord selling up' remains a key reason why tenants have to move out and seek help from their council.
Asylum leasing offers landlords guaranteed rent, but risks, strict contracts, and ethical issues mean due diligence is essential.
Green Party's anti-landlord stance sparks sell-off as landlords fear policy impact - exit firms report surge in portfolio sales.
MPs will have their last chance to study the Renters’ Rights Bill when it goes back to the House of Commons next week.
Reeves signals possible tax hikes ahead of Nov Budget, with NI on rental profits still under review amid fiscal tightening.
Generation Rent has taken the credit for keeping ‘pro landlord’ amendments out of the Renters’ Rights Bill.
More landlords in Leeds will need to apply for a licence when the council launches an extended scheme next February.
Commercial landlords are facing a nightmare situation; a race to upgrade their energy efficiency standards, many with an uncertain outcome
Comments made by Paul Johnson to NRLA as Labour tries to position private landlords are 'ripe for extra taxes' ahead of next month's budget.
An energy efficiency expert has warned landlords to “do it right or don’t bother” when it comes to insulating their properties.
The John Lewis Partnership is to start work on building 170 rental homes in Reading.
Landlords, agents and charities have warned that inadequate Local Housing Allowance rates are pushing renters to the cliff edge.
Peer says during Lords debate that Renters' Rights Bill is not proportionate in its approach balancing tenant and landlord needs.
A Scottish firm is hoping to convince landlords in the West Country to let it take the strain in the short-let market.
Councils issuing no-fault evictions via legal workarounds, despite pledges to abolish Section 21.
A landlord who destroyed his tenant’s home following an illegal eviction has been ordered to pay her £53,000 in damages.
A staggering 98% of homes with external wall insulation installed under the ECO scheme need work to correct major issues.
Hounslow says it is on the hunt for rogue and non-compliant landlords and agents within its borders.
Peers are hoping they can convince the government to reconsider key changes to the Renters’ Rights Bill around possession grounds.
Landlords face a tough 2025: tax hikes, digital reporting & the Renters' Rights Bill demand smart planning to protect income & stay compliant.
The PRS should fund local authority regulation, says the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health.
Millennial landlords account for a record 50% of shareholders in new buy-to-let limited companies set up this year.
Cost of premium is always front of mind when landlords take out insurance, but under-insuring can be a very costly mistake
Properties that let the sector down are in the minority, a regulation expert will tell the upcoming NRLA conference.
Renters in London and the South East now need to spend less of their pay on rent, according to Propertymark.
Tenants who are afraid to blow the whistle on bad practice are inadvertently contributing to poor HMOs.
MP's £2k HMO-linked hospitality sparks debate on PRS ethics. Landlords face rising scrutiny, compliance pressure, and policy shifts.
A landlord who illegally kicked out his tenant and took their belongings has been fined.
A court ruling has highlighted the importance of informing tenants when landlords move their deposit between schemes.
Landlords and letting agents are being warned by official bodies to be vigilant against payment diversion fraud within the private rented sector.
Good landlords are leaving the PRS - rising costs, regulation, and tax changes are driving out the best in the sector.
Letting agents report that landlord instructions have fallen to their lowest level since May 2020.
A landlord who was criticised by a judge for his “appalling behaviour” must pay tenants a whopping £25,542.
A Conservative government would abolish stamp duty on primary residences but not for second home purchasers or landlords, leader Kemi Badenoch reveals
A Tory activist says the PRS will shrink if the government presses on with “politically motivated tax raids”.
Wales has cemented its position as the top yielding landlord location in the UK during the third quarter of the year.
Landlords need more certainty around paying for improvements to meet planned new energy efficiency standards, the NRLA warns.
Medway Council has given the go-ahead to new selective and additional licensing schemes which go live next January.
UK surveying faces a demographic crisis as 46% plan to exit in a decade, prompting firms to recruit and train new talent pools.
After 5 months it’s neither an exodus nor business as usual for buy-to-let landlords. We’ve had the proponents and the detractors. Who’s right so far?
Great Yarmouth Council has radically altered its selective licensing scheme conditions after a challenge by landlords.
The Welsh government has been urged to consider phasing out Land Transaction Tax (LTT) and offer landlords low-interest loans for retrofit.
Landlords are being advised to strengthen checks after reports that rental properties are being used as short-term brothels.
Four months in, the Renters’ Rights Act has brought fewer market shocks than expected: rents are steady, investment continues, and issues are minor.
Bradford and Breckland councils are the latest authorities to voice concerns over HMO spread.
Landlords have largely complied with EPC rules, but many appear to have done only enough work to bring properties up to the legal threshold.
Wallasey and Birkenhead in Merseyside were the most competitive rental markets during July and August, reports Rightmove.
Lib Dems propose 150k annual social homes, rent-to-equity schemes, and urgent safety reforms to fix unregulated temporary housing.
What do you need to know about the latest version of the Housing, Health and Safety Rating System?
More than three-quarters of self-managing portfolio landlords regularly delay non-urgent maintenance work, a new survey finds.
Landlords in Orkney have been offered loans of up to £25,000 to renovate their empty properties to help the housing shortage.
Agents group believes the government should step in when councils fail to meet a minimum number of proactive inspections and enforcement actions.
A landlord has lost an appeal against a decision refusing to evict a tenant who owed £8,554 in rent arrears.
Older renters are more stretched than younger renters, with the over-70s spending 46% of their income on rent, according to new data.
A Bristol landlord has been ordered to pay a total of £58,271 after he failed to carry out improvements to his unlicensed HMO.
About 562 properties are being lost from the market every day in the third quarter of 2026, the highest rate since 2016.
Landlords have earned £22 for every £1 invested in the 30 years since the UK’s first buy-to-let mortgage launched.
Only about 10p of every £1 increase in Local Housing Allowance appears to have fed through into higher rents, according to a think-tank.
Do landlords have the whole story when they discuss the merits of their letting agents?
A landlord has been told to pay tenants more than £28,000 after he tried to prevent them providing information about his unlicensed HMO.
A potential tax on holiday lets could cost landlords an average of £5,000, wiping out annual profits, says a lettings firm boss.
Industry leaders have renewed calls for more effective regulation of the UK lettings market.
Claims that landlords are fleeing England’s PRS aren’t supported by the latest evidence, according to new analysis.
The Bank of England has left interest rates unchanged for the sixth consecutive time despite price rises accelerating.
Landlords must brace for the December rollout of mandatory state registration, reshaping the compliance landscape under sweeping Renters' Rights refor
Landlords have been given a new checklist of housing standards to help them identify defects that could lead to fines.
Some tenants are delaying their first month’s rent payment until weeks after they have moved in, warns a letting agent.
Landlords who own some of the most expensive rental properties could be exempt from signing up to the new national PRS database.
Telford and Wrekin Council has put its planned additional licensing scheme on hold after landlords launched a legal challenge.
New data reveals half of tenant maintenance reports arrive out of hours, with essential services seeing heavy spikes.
Some commentators have argued that the takeover of OpenRent by private equity group CVC reflects a step change in the landscape for letting agents in
Landlords wanting to convert homes into small HMOs in North Tyneside could soon need to apply for planning permission.
Durden & Hunt expands its South Essex footprint with the acquisition of established local agency Diggins & Co.
Tribunals are generally giving landlords most of what they asked for in rent increase cases since the Renters’ Rights Act.
Houses are dominating rental demand across England, accounting for almost two-thirds of properties attracting high levels of tenant interest.
UK house prices fell 0.4% annually to £298,468, driven by a standoff between stubborn sellers and cautious buyers.
Higher mortgage rates locking renters in for longer and continued low investment by landlords is set to drive rents up 4-5% by the end of the year.
The director of a letting agency who used his business to run 19 cannabis factories has been jailed for more than eight years.
The government should tread carefully when deciding what data can be shared from the new PRS Landlord Ombudsman, a property expert has warned.
Rising swap rates are driving up buy-to-let mortgage rates by 25-40 bps, leaving thousands of landlords facing major refinancing hurdles.
Repairing with occupied tenants is a nightmare for landlords and tenants; can landlords demand that tenants leave for the duration of repair work?
A landlord has challenged Thurrock Council over selective licensing rules which he says could
Complex and outdated: as fiscal pressures mount, is the UK private rented sector heading for major property tax reform?
Over 1 in 3 pensioner households could be renting by 2044, creating a major demographic shift for landlords and the PRS.
In the Renters’ Rights Act era, live-in landlords must avoid ambiguous DIY contracts to prevent lodger disputes in court.
The Renters’ Rights Act means landlords operating as a company face different rules than landlord owners
Nottingham landlord Mick Roberts has hit out at the “stone age” court system after a possession order blunder.
Tenants’ groups, MPs, and housing activists held a demonstration in Parliament Square calling for rent controls and new council houses.
HMRC’s Valuation Office is to take responsibility for determining challenges to rent increases in England to help free up tribunals.
Landlords in the West Midlands will need to start registering themselves and their properties on the new PRS database from 15 December.
Direct payments should be triggered by life events rather than arrears to prevent unnecessary evictions, suggests a leading landlord.
This year is on course to become the biggest on record for new additional and selective licensing scheme launches.
Millennials and Gen Z will represent 62% of landlords within a decade, according to new research.
What surprises will the budget deliver for landlords, especially for those who are retirees?
Landlord Action founder Paul Shamplina will share practical advice on being a professional landlord at a free event later this month.
Landlords will have to sign up to a mandatory short-lets registration scheme in England from next March.
Green Party deputy leader Mothin Ali has been revealed as a landlord – despite his party voting to abolish private landlords last year.
The Renters' Rights Act turns letting into an evidence game: strict proof, £40k fines, and tight rules favour pros over amateur landlords.
Rising costs and the Renters' Rights Act drive a massive landlord exit, slashing rental supply and leaving tenants to pay the price.
Landlords dodge bidding bans by inflating asking rents to force downward bidding wars - a tactic risking £40k fines if caught.
Comprehensive Documentary information is vital if your £10,000 cap claim is to be successful
The PRS isn’t equipped to be the primary safety net for the most vulnerable, says Portsmouth landlord leader Martin Silman.
With new valuation rates still undecided, leaseholders need to weigh potential future savings against today’s certainty, says Vanessa Griffiths.
Reform UK has promised to look into making homes built on brownfield sites free of stamp duty, CGT and tax on rental income for 10 years.
Surprising new figures show that about £750 million could be sitting in the tenancy deposit system as dormant or otherwise unclaimed.
A new report from Paragon Bank reveals that experienced HMO landlords are continuing to invest in these types of rentals
Shadow Housing Secretary Katie Lam has laid into MHCLG for making life harder for landlords.
A landlord has been told to repay £17,244 after a metal staircase collapsed beneath one tenant in her unlicensed flat.
HMO expert Vann Vogstad says landlords need effective tools to police behaviour in order to raise standards in the HMO sector.
Croydon Council has postponed its additional and selective landlord licensing schemes just before they were due to launch.
Political control does not neatly predict whether a council has an Article 4 Direction or refuses more HMO applications, according to research.
Rising Conservative star Katie Lam has been appointed as the party’s new Housing, Communities and Local Government Secretary.
Landlords’ expenses have risen by more than twice as much as their rental income during the past five years, according to HMRC figures.
Leasing Scheme Wales, which allows landlords to rent out properties via their local authority, is to shut down in March.
Private bailiffs in England and Wales will need to be accredited under new laws announced by the government.
The Renters' Rights Act means extra load on an already creaking service. Will the planned changes alleviate the problems landlords are facing?
The NRLA has called for a deferred annual investment allowance that would encourage landlords to provide long-term stable housing.
Section 21 ends: Paul Shamplina and Paul Sowerbutts reveal the rush, mistakes and challenges landlords now face under the new regime.
Build-to-rent landlord Legal & General could face a whopping multi-million-pound rent repayment order.
HMRC will start signing up landlords who it believes should already be using Making Tax Digital (MTD) for Income Tax from next week.
Renters in the capital have reported that some landlords are encouraging ‘inverse bidding wars’ to get round new rental rules.
Landlord and property developer Rob Stewart is on a mission to prompt a rethink of how to solve the housing crisis.
Landlords blame tax – not regulations - as the biggest barrier to investment, according to the latest poll.
A letting agent has been accused of failing to return the deposits of more than 100 tenants, according to a BBC investigation.
Future-proof your rental with energy upgrades, flexible spaces, parking, outdoor areas and HMO potential to attract tenants.
Rent caps can reduce rental supply, discourage maintenance and leave some families in homes that don’t meet their needs, finds new research.
Landlords and agents are still getting new pet rules wrong, with campaigners warning of unlawful tenancy clauses and costly mistakes.
Tenants’ groups have called on the government to include rent data and details about evictions in the new PRS Database.
A landlord firm that let a historic building fall into disrepair has been told to pay more than £8,000.
Almost half of holiday let owners say profits have risen despite the loss of Furnished Holiday Let tax breaks.
HMO landlords are nearly twice as likely to win planning appeals outside Article 4 areas, according to new research.
A landlord and her letting agency have together been fined more than �45,000 for illegally running an HMO. Barking and Dagenham Councils private sector housing team first discovered that professional landlord Husna Patel had not applied for, or been gr
Property firms using their own inventory services are undermining the sectors integrity, according to the Association of Independent Inventory Clerks. It wants the government to include measures in the Renters Reform Bill to guarantee more transparency
The Government has made several changes to how income and profits are taxed in recent years and some of these will take effect from the new tax year on 6th April, with higher earners and those letting via a limited company most affected. Heres the six changes
More than a quarter of people in some local communities dont have a passport, raising questions about their ability to pass Right to Rent checks. Research by digital identity firm, https://www.idcrypt.global/" target="_blank" ID Crypt Global, reveals that 1
Government's Anti-Social Behaviour Action Plan empowers landlords to evict unruly tenants in two weeks,enhancing eviction grounds and court processes.
How to evaluate real estate investment opportunities with key metrics, risk checks, and ROI strategies for property success.
Generation Rent has appointed charity boss Ben Twomey as its new director, replacing Baroness Alicia Kennedy. Twomey joins the campaigning group from his current role as director of policy and communications at the National Youth Advocacy Service and has p
A guide to EPC rules for landlords, minimum standards, future targets and how to stay compliant.
National video maintenance platform Help me Fix is extending its reach to more self-managing private landlords with the launch of a new service. The software virtually connects tenants to tradespeople who can resolve simple maintenance issues remotely and for more complicated on
Landlords in the South of England are being invited to attend a landlord show being held by one of the regions larger letting agencies. Charters, which is holding even at its large HQ in Southampton tomorrow, says the show will offer buy-to-let landlords advice on how to mana
Housing ministers contradict on Renters Reform Bill timing after mixed signals from Rachel Maclean over publication date.
Barnet Council has announced new housing strategies based partly on its experience of a shrinking private rented sector. The London boroughs new Housing, Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy proposes increasing the supply of affordable housing for rent and
A council and housing association attracted as much criticism as private landlords in a Panorama investigation on the topic, Whats gone wrong with our housing? Last nights BBC1 programme initially talked about greedy landlords cashing in� at the B
Property expert and TV presenter Phil Spencer believes landlords are being disadvantaged by tax rules that have made the profession less attractive to investors. He says landlords are being forced out of the sector, leaving both them and renters in a vicious circle. Speaking at
Hosts Eddie Hooker and Paul Shamplina of the HFIS group are joined by David Smith , Head of Property Litigation at JMW Solicitors , legal advisor to the NRLA and a regular face in national media trusted for advising the private rented sector. <
More than half the privately rented properties in England saw a rent rise in the last year, according to new figures from the Office for National Statistics. It reports that 50.6% of properties in England experienced a price increase in February compared to 36% in February 2022.
A landlord has been fined for dumping piles of construction waste from his rental property on the side of a road. Timber, mattresses, carpets, tiles, and other household waste was removed from the house in Huntingdon as part of renovation works between tenants. Evide
A mature international student has turned to a crowdfunding site to raise �12,000 after his landlord demanded a years rent upfront. Mohamed Elsawwah, who lives in Birmingham with his wife and three children, has been studying international business in the UK for the last eig
The Government is preparing to compromise over its plans to abolish Section 21 'no fault' evictions by beefing up landlords ability to eject unruly tenants including those involved in anti-social behaviour, the Prime Minister has revealed. The initiative is part of the
Smaller portfolio landlords quitting UK rental sector, says Bank of England: mounting costs & regulation driving exits, reducing rental supply.
Letting agents and their landlords who advertise properties as 'no children' face being accused of breaking discrimination rules, it has been claimed following a campaign by Shelter. The organisation says agents who advertise properties as no children are now breaking The
Eviction expert Paul Shamplina warns of a social housing crisis post-Section 21 abolition, citing court delays and landlord uncertainty.
Short-term holiday lets platform Your.Rentals is raising on the crowdfunding site Seedrs as it seeks to expand its reach in the UK, raising some £1.3 million so far. The Copenhagen-based company, which is headed up by founder Andrew Martyn (main picture),
It has been reported this week that housing minister Rachel Maclean (main picture) told a meeting in Westminster that fellow Conservative MPs and the property sector (i.e. the NRLA and other trade associations) are wrong to claim that landlords are leaving the sector. This
Manchester students occupying a university-owned building in a protest over rent costs and living conditions have been ejected by bailiffs. Manchester University says their action was illegal and that it was granted a possession order by the High Court. When the 20 strikers refu