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Illegal HMO conversion lands landlord with hefty fine

Illegal HMO conversion lands landlord with hefty fine

News

A https://www.landlordzone.co.uk/news/court-fines-unlucky-but-rogue-landlord-12000-over-unlicensed-hmo/" rogue landlord who illegally subdivided his property into seven separate flats has been ordered to pay back more than �110,000 through the Proceeds of Crime Act.<br><

Green mortgage aims to make an impact on BTL investors

Green mortgage aims to make an impact on BTL investors

News

Buy-to-let landlords could add the cost of making properties more https://www.landlordzone.co.uk/news/landlords-rush-to-offload-their-energy-poor-properties/" energy efficient onto their mortgage in an initiative to make more UK homes greener. https:/

Renters’ reform bill promises major housing changes

Renters’ reform bill promises major housing changes

News

In the second in a series of blogs for&nbsp;LandlordZONE&nbsp; on rental reform,&nbsp;Sean Hooker , Head of Redress at the&nbsp;https://www.theprs.co.uk/" <e

Reform Bill: Landlords brace for 'challenging' notice periods

Reform Bill: Landlords brace for 'challenging' notice periods

News

Tenants could effectively move in and give notice the same day under proposals in the https://www.landlordzone.co.uk/news/renters-reform-bill-we-take-a-first-look-at-the-radical-new-legislation/" Renters (Reform) Bill . The draft legislation scraps assured shor

Landlords rushing to sell as mortgage costs soar above tenants' rent

Landlords rushing to sell as mortgage costs soar above tenants' rent

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Private landlords across the UK have found themselves in hot water, and its no surprise that many are rushing to sell their property portfolios. A recent article by the BBC reported that private landlords had expressed critical concerns that their rents wont cover the cost

Reform Bill: 'Justice at stake if eviction changes not backed by extra funding'

Reform Bill: 'Justice at stake if eviction changes not backed by extra funding'

News

Court reforms and extra funding are needed if the governments overhaul of the evictions process is to succeed, warn landlord groups and eviction specialists. It has promised to abolish section 21 no fault evictions&nbsp;as part of the https://www.landlordzone.c

Reform Bill: Landlord database to be enforced with court orders

Reform Bill: Landlord database to be enforced with court orders

News

A new ombudsman known as the landlord redress scheme - and property portal would be compulsory for all private sector landlords.

First look: Renters’ Rights Bill promises sweeping changes

First look: Renters’ Rights Bill promises sweeping changes

News

First look at the Renters (Reform) Bill: groundbreaking tenant protections, streamlined landlord redress & flexible ‘pets-in-lets’ rules.

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's plan to ease HMO rules for asylum accommodation

Gove's plan to ease HMO rules for asylum accommodation

News

Michael Gove approves relaxed HMO rules for asylum seeker housing, exempting safety standards and licensing; critics warn of potential exploitation.

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

Agents lacking landlord licensing know‑how put landlords at risk — vital compliance gaps exposed.

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.&nbsp; A Uswitch poll of 2,000 landlords found that the most common reason t

Labour targets landlords with new housing reforms

Labour targets landlords with new housing reforms

News

Labour pledges stricter Decent Homes Standard 2 for private landlords, raising property quality and accountability ahead of next general election.

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

News

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

'Disaster' renting reform bill to enter parliament tomorrow after PMQs

'Disaster' renting reform bill to enter parliament tomorrow after PMQs

News

The much-delayed Renters Reform Bill is rumoured to be getting its first reading tomorrow after Prime Ministers Questions, although the 'full meat' of the proposals will come later. Rumoured to be renamed the Rented Homes Bill or Renters (Reform) Bill, landlords are waitin

BREAKING: Renters (Reform) Bill to get first airing after PMQs today

BREAKING: Renters (Reform) Bill to get first airing after PMQs today

News

The Government is to finally introduce its long-delayed renting reforms into parliament later today following Prime Ministers Questions (PMQs) in the Commons. The Bill, which is to be called the Renters (Reform) Bill, will get its first reading just aft

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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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News
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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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News
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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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News
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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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News
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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

New rental portal to track landlords and properties

New rental portal to track landlords and properties

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News
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England’s new private rental portal to track landlords, properties, compliance & disputes—enhancing transparency and enforcement.

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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News
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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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News
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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

EXCLUSIVE: 'Cut or scrap stamp duty' say backbench MPs... but not for landlords

EXCLUSIVE: 'Cut or scrap stamp duty' say backbench MPs... but not for landlords

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News
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Tory MPs are urging the government to cut or scrap stamp duty in a bid to save homebuyers thousands although their proposals dont extend to landlords, LandlordZONE can reveal. Kevin Hollinrake, a member of the Treasury select committee and founder of Hunters estate agent,

MORTGAGES: Worried landlord tells BBC how his payments have tripled

MORTGAGES: Worried landlord tells BBC how his payments have tripled

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News
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Paul Bradley, a landlord with a single rental property in North London, has told the BBC how the ongoing mortgage crisis has seen his monthly interest-only loan payments triple over the past 12 months. His case illustrates vividly the significant challenges that the approximatel

Tenant Referencing Failures Surge Amid Cost-of-Living Crisis

Tenant Referencing Failures Surge Amid Cost-of-Living Crisis

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News
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Rising cost of living causes tenant referencing pass rates to drop from 35% to 25%, increasing rental risk for landlords, reports Housing Hand.

Powerless councils could make or break reforms, says Labour MP

Powerless councils could make or break reforms, says Labour MP

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News
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A Labour MP has called on the government to extend notice periods from two to four months to prevent landlords from unjustly evicting tenants. <figure id="" class="w-richtext-figure-type- " data-rt-type="" data-rt-align=""><div><img src="https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/63bef2f3c329eff8e3

Licencing scheme off to weak start after only a third of landlords register

Licencing scheme off to weak start after only a third of landlords register

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News
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Only one-third of Oxfords private rental properties have been registered for its city-wide selective licensing scheme and could soon face steeper fees or a hefty fine. The scheme, which launched last September, has received more than 10,500 licence applications from the 3

Landlord pleads with council to consider HMO tenants as housing shortages bite

Landlord pleads with council to consider HMO tenants as housing shortages bite

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News
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An https://www.landlordzone.co.uk/news/braverman-under-pressure-to-reverse-outrageous-new-hmo-rules-for-asylum-seekers/" HMO landlord says desperate new tenants are moving in hours after the previous tenants leave due to a dearth of available properties. In he

'Despicable fraudster' gets eight-year ban for stealing landlords' deposits and rent

'Despicable fraudster' gets eight-year ban for stealing landlords' deposits and rent

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News
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A letting agent who ripped off dozens of landlord clients has been banned from being a company director for eight years. https://www.landlordzone.co.uk/news/letting-agent-who-stole-80000-from-dozens-of-landlords-admits-fraud/" Frank Smart , 46, the owner of Sma

Landlords encouraged to sell this month as property prices rise by 0.2%

Landlords encouraged to sell this month as property prices rise by 0.2%

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In a market where interest rates are sky high, tax bills are extortionate and mortgage payments are higher than rents, coupled with a backlog of refurb costs and difficult tenant situations, landlords are rushing to cash in and sell their property portfolios. If you were a landl

REFORM: 'We need legislation that works with landlords, not against them'

REFORM: 'We need legislation that works with landlords, not against them'

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News
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With one in five households now renting, the private rented sector is an essential part of the housing market. As the government has reduced its housebuilding strategy for all local authorities from mandatory to advisory, with some councils scrapping targets all together, the ho

Portal launches in UK offering landlords direct online advertising to find tenants

Portal launches in UK offering landlords direct online advertising to find tenants

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News
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A European lettings portal has launched in the UK aimed at globe-trotting students and young professionals. Rotterdam-based https://housinganywhere.com/" HousingAnywhere , which specialises in mid- to long-term rentals, now covers London,

Do HMOs still stack up as an investment?

Do HMOs still stack up as an investment?

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Over the last 15 years, the HMO market has been transformed and there has been a boom. The reason for the boom&nbsp; was, quite simply, that HMOs could generate far better returns than single home lets. &nbsp; But as the market grew, regulations tightened. On top of the extra du

LATEST: Section 21 evictions increasing as landlords quit sector, says Citizens Advice

LATEST: Section 21 evictions increasing as landlords quit sector, says Citizens Advice

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News
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Nearly half of all Section 21 eviction notices have been prompted by landlords selling their properties, Citizens Advice has revealed. It also says that its seen a ramping up of evictions by landlords using Section 21 notices, handling some 2,000 cases last month. <p id=""

Guaranteed rent firm takes down website after LandlordZONE probe

Guaranteed rent firm takes down website after LandlordZONE probe

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News
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A guaranteed rent firm has taken down its website after being exposed for using spurious claims about its connections with reputable bodies. London-based UK Housing Group Ltd, which boasts of being, the largest social housing agency in London and the Midlands featured out-

Historic Article 4 used to limit short‑term holiday lets

Historic Article 4 used to limit short‑term holiday lets

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News
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Gwynedd Council introduces Article 4 Direction to regulate second homes and short-term holiday lets, requiring planning permission for change of use.

Extra costs and red tape hitting landlords hard, mortgage chief warns

Extra costs and red tape hitting landlords hard, mortgage chief warns

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Politicians and lobby groups are likely to continue blaming private landlords for the housing shortage largely created by the hostile regulatory environment imposed by the same politicians who want even more draconian laws, finds a new report. One of the most bizarre aspects of

Council cracks down on illegal HMOs with surprise inspections

Council cracks down on illegal HMOs with surprise inspections

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Two unlicensed HMOs have been discovered during unannounced inspections by a council in the North, which says more 'surprise visits' are on the cards. <figure id="" class="w-richtext-figure-type- " data-rt-type="" data-rt-align=""><div><img src="https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/63bef2f3c3

BREAKING: Landlords tell housing minister face-to-face that sector needs support

BREAKING: Landlords tell housing minister face-to-face that sector needs support

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Landlords in Wales have called for the countrys government to make more effort to encourage private investment in the sector during a face-to-face meeting with housing minister Julie James. The National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA) has asked her government to exem

Less that 20% of PRS homes within LHA rates reveals shocking research

Less that 20% of PRS homes within LHA rates reveals shocking research

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Fewer than one in five private rental properties in England were within the Local Housing Allowance (LHA) rates last year, according to new joint research by the Chartered Institute of Housing and Shelter . The groups say the average

Leading property figure calls for 'tenancy register' in England and Wales

Leading property figure calls for 'tenancy register' in England and Wales

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The government has missed a trick by not introducing a tenancy register instead of an anti-landlord landlord register, one property consultant has claimed. Blackbird Real Estate founder https://www.richard-berridge.co.uk/" target="_blank" Richa

EXCLUSIVE: Conveyancer reports big drop in landlords buying BTL properties

EXCLUSIVE: Conveyancer reports big drop in landlords buying BTL properties

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The number of BTL investors buying properties has plummeted in the last six months while long-term landlords are selling up, according to one large conveyancing firm. Basildon-based https://pcslegal.co.uk/" PCS Legal

Business ratepayers will have to report any changes, and annually, under new bill...

Business ratepayers will have to report any changes, and annually, under new bill...

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The Non-Domestic Rating Bill going through Parliament (House of Lords) will require business ratepayers to report any changes and also report annually to the Valuation Office Agency (VOA). These changes to the operation of business rates will apply to all organisations responsib

BLOG: Why abolishing Section 21 isn't all bad news for landlords

BLOG: Why abolishing Section 21 isn't all bad news for landlords

Opinion
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Yesterday I spoke to a room of 200 anxious landlords.&nbsp;The uncertainly surrounding the Renters (Reform) Bill really has whipped the housing market into a frenzy with landlords serving notices, selling up and exiting the sector in their droves.&nbsp; The mere thought of Sect

TURMOIL: NatWest reveals rate rises for fixed-rate landlord mortgages

TURMOIL: NatWest reveals rate rises for fixed-rate landlord mortgages

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��Lender NatWest has been called out by commentators after it announced significant increases to its landlord mortgages. The bank, which is till 38% Government owned, announced late yesterday that it was increasing the interest rates it charges on a range of home loans, includ

Report reveals unstoppable march of BTR into private rented sector

Report reveals unstoppable march of BTR into private rented sector

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Report finds London has 38,600 Build‑to‑Rent homes plus 34,100 more in pipeline, transforming the capital’s rental market.

Landmark rental deposits case reveals world of 'fake' short-lets

Landmark rental deposits case reveals world of 'fake' short-lets

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Tenant groups in Scotland have called for councils to clamp down on landlords who rent out properties under the guise of holiday lets. <figure id="" class="w-richtext-figure-type- " data-rt-type="" data-rt-align=""><div><img src="https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/63bef2f3c329eff8e3a4af45/6

Investors rush to convert office space as homeworking re-shapes the marketplace

Investors rush to convert office space as homeworking re-shapes the marketplace

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According to the Financial Times (FT), property investors have pumped around �2bn into converting under-used and unwanted London office space as the trend to Working from Home (WfH) continues, and as it looks like becoming an embedded employment practice in many inner city o