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.

Wave of 'unfair' HMO council tax revaluations revealed that can QUADRUPLE bills

Wave of 'unfair' HMO council tax revaluations revealed that can QUADRUPLE bills

News

Councils are seeking to reclassify HMO properties as multiple single dwellings for council tax purposes to raise additional revenue, it has been reported. <figure id="" class="w-richtext-figure-type- " data-rt-type="" data-rt-align=""><div><img src="https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/63bef2

EXCLUSIVE: Lettings firm goes bust leaving trail of 200 unprotected deposits

EXCLUSIVE: Lettings firm goes bust leaving trail of 200 unprotected deposits

News

A long-established letting agent has gone bust, leaving more than 200 deposits unprotected and many landlords without tenancy agreements and gas and EPC certificates. Pendley Estates in Kings Langley, Hertfordshire, was a formerly reputable firm that had been trading since the 1

Are hydrogen boilers the future of heating in the UK?

Are hydrogen boilers the future of heating in the UK?

News

The UK government has committed to meeting internationally agreed carbon neutral targets and as natural gas (used in domestic boilers) is a major contributor to carbon emissions, a low carbon alternative such as hydrogen, used in existing equipment, is a likely replacement in the future.</p

BBC joins in the 'endless grind' of media landlord bashing

BBC joins in the 'endless grind' of media landlord bashing

News

The BBC has joined the ranks of landlord-bashing media by publishing a story that gives a distinctly one-sided view of an eviction, helping bolster Shelter and other organisations' campaigns to ban Section 21 notices. It quotes a tenant as saying she was in panic mode� when

Thousands of landlords affected by sale of struggling digital lettings agency

Thousands of landlords affected by sale of struggling digital lettings agency

News

Thousands of landlords whose properties are managed by a leading online letting platform are to see their property management firm change hands after Howsy revealed it is to be acquired by a major high street lettings agency. Launched in 2016 originally as No Agent

Commercial property energy upgrades could cost over �30bn

Commercial property energy upgrades could cost over �30bn

News

The road to net zero is paved with additional costs for Britain, not least the amount of money it will take to upgrade commercial property, in the industrial alone. Achieving grade B� ratings under the 2030 Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) requirements for the UK

LATEST: Infamous rogue landlord and three associates are banned for five years

LATEST: Infamous rogue landlord and three associates are banned for five years

News

Camden Council has handed out banning orders to four rogue landlords for letting an unlicensed and unsafe home in Kilburn. All part of the same interconnected group of London-based family and business associates - Mohammed Ali Abbas Rasool, 30, of Manor House Drive, Daya Ahmed D

LATEST: Coventry to clamp down on HMOs with new planning powers

LATEST: Coventry to clamp down on HMOs with new planning powers

News

Coventry aims to come down hard on HMO expansion within the city by introducing an Article 4 Direction. Councillors have approved the plans which will now form part of a public consultation this summer. They hope to change the rules which currently allow landlords to

BREAKING: Landlords now covered by cladding fund - but NOT portfolio operators

BREAKING: Landlords now covered by cladding fund - but NOT portfolio operators

News

Landlords who own flats hit by the cladding scandal will be covered by the remediation fund, the government has announced. However, portfolio landlords have been left out, with property experts suggesting that this omission will mean work will be held up and their flats could be

OPINION: The consequences of abolishing Section 21

OPINION: The consequences of abolishing Section 21

Opinion

Drummed up by popular media horror stories, egged on by the homelessness charities, the ban Section 21� band waggon kept on rolling until eventually the politicians saw it would be politically advantageous to jump aboard. What is Section 21 <p id="

OPINION: Why the EPC rating system needs fixing

OPINION: Why the EPC rating system needs fixing

News

The governments controversial policy of phasing out natural gas boilers in favour of heat pumps, in its drive to meet internationally agreed energy efficiency targets, could be stymied because of an out of date EPC algorithm. Regardless of the fact that many older poorly insu

AIRBNB: Westminster to step-up war against 'nuisance' short-term lets landlords

AIRBNB: Westminster to step-up war against 'nuisance' short-term lets landlords

News

Westminster Council has launched a spirited campaign to stop central London being overrun by nuisance short-term lets booked chiefly through Airbnb. It is lobbying the government to follow Paris and Amsterdams lead whose authorities have clamped down on problem properties. </

Landlord insurance premiums driven up by inflation

Landlord insurance premiums driven up by inflation

News

After two decades of low property insurance premium rates, prices are being driven up by inflation. Steve Barnes, Associate Director at https://hamiltonfraser.co.uk/landlord-insurance/?utm_source=landlordzone&utm_medium=article&utm_id=lz+feb22+insurance+rising" target="_blank" id="

Japanese knotweed, danger is downgraded...

Japanese knotweed, danger is downgraded...

News

The large herbaceous perennial with its bamboo-like appearance became infamous in Britain for its threat to buildings. Its rapid growth, its size and most importantly the damage it can do, made it the villain of the horticultural world, and it became feared by property owners and mortgag

National rogue landlord database hits 'new high' of just 61 names

National rogue landlord database hits 'new high' of just 61 names

News

Four years after it was launched, the number on the Rogue Landlord database has only crept up to 61 out of the thousands claimed to be operating within the private rental sector, the latest government figures show. Asked by opposition MP Gill Furniss to provide an update, Housin

Coming changes to 'feudal'� leasehold laws to favour flat owners

Coming changes to 'feudal'� leasehold laws to favour flat owners

News

Flat owners (leaseholders) only own their leasehold property for a fixed period of time and during that period they pay ground rent and service charges to the freeholder (landlord). Theres always a long-lease agreement, a detailed legal tenancy agremeent between the leasehold

LATEST: Luton finally brings in blanket HMO licensing after years of problems

LATEST: Luton finally brings in blanket HMO licensing after years of problems

News

Luton Council has finally got its act together and revealed blanket HMO licensing for the town after a number of false starts over the last few years. HMOs of any size will now need a licence under its additional scheme which launches on 1st April, while all privately rented pro

Legal case: a question of leaseholders' rights to manage the full estate

Legal case: a question of leaseholders' rights to manage the full estate

News

The Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Act 2002 provides a right for leaseholders to acquire the freehold landlords management functions by transfer to a company set up by them the Right To Manage (RTM) company. The thinking behind the right was to empower leaseholders. The

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

Consultation reveals majority of residents oppose wider selective licencing

Consultation reveals majority of residents oppose wider selective licencing

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Plans to bring in a vast new selective licencing scheme within Brent have been given a resounding thumbs down from both landlords and, surprisingly, the London boroughs residents too. <figure id="" class="w-richtext-figure-type- " data-rt-type="" data-rt-align=""><div><img src="https:

AIRBNB: Tory 'free marketeers' attack Gove over short-lets clamp-down

AIRBNB: Tory 'free marketeers' attack Gove over short-lets clamp-down

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Michael Goves plans announced yesterday to require owners of holiday lets in tourist hotspots to get planning permission for their properties has not gone down well in some quarters of the Conservative party. The https://www.landlordzone.co.uk/news/breaking-governmen

Portsmouth HMOs face council tax re-banding surge

Portsmouth HMOs face council tax re-banding surge

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Landlords locked in a battle with Porsmouth council over its approach to shared houses have branded its recent planning decisions an anti-HMO campaign. Trouble has been brewing the city since councillors on its planning committee began overriding the councils own planni

EXPERT: Why are so many agents and landlords ignoring fees law?

EXPERT: Why are so many agents and landlords ignoring fees law?

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Experts highlight widespread non-compliance with the Tenant Fees Act 2019, with many landlords and agents unlawfully charging prohibited fees.

Planning permission for short-lets proposed in popular areas

Planning permission for short-lets proposed in popular areas

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Government to curb Airbnb boom by introducing planning permission for short‑lets in England’s holiday hotspots.

OPINION: Yet another property training company bites the dust!

OPINION: Yet another property training company bites the dust!

Opinion
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

I have lost track of the number of firms offering property investment courses and investment vehicles that have gone bust in my own experience, some offering dodgy training courses or imaginative investment schemes of one sort or another, and right down to those plying outright scams. <p

TV: Shamplina defends landlords who conduct 'extreme tenant vetting'

TV: Shamplina defends landlords who conduct 'extreme tenant vetting'

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

TV star Paul Shamplina has defended landlords who ask tenants to provide additional referencing information such as copies of their CV or LinkedIn profiles. Appearing on TV this morning (watch below), he told presenters Eamon Holmes and Isabel Webster from GB News that in a high

Council warns of 'stiff HMO penalties' as it fines landlord �23,000

Council warns of 'stiff HMO penalties' as it fines landlord �23,000

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

A big council in the South East of England has warned landlords who dont licence their HMO properties that they face stiff fines for non-compliance. <figure id="" class="w-richtext-figure-type- " data-rt-type="" data-rt-align=""><div><img src="https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/63bef2f3c

Decent Homes Standard poses little risk for landlords

Decent Homes Standard poses little risk for landlords

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Paragon Bank survey shows 62% of landlords support Decent Homes Standard; 74% frustrated by lack of action against substandard housing.

NEW: Government promises crack-down on dodgy rent-to-rent operators

NEW: Government promises crack-down on dodgy rent-to-rent operators

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

The government has vowed to crack down on dodgy rent-to-rent landlords who flout housing laws. Housing Minister Baroness Scott of Bybrook (pictured) says it is aware of concerns that some rent-to-rent arrangements have sometimes been used to make it more difficult to identify la

Average rent now 25% higher than before Covid says leading agency

Average rent now 25% higher than before Covid says leading agency

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Rents on newly-let homes have increased by 25% across the UK since the start of Covid, costing the average tenant an extra �2,962 each year. Hamptons reports that rents rose 11% year-on-year, with April marking the second strongest month for rental growth on record.&nbsp; <p

Signs of a turnaround in the UK construction industry...

Signs of a turnaround in the UK construction industry...

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Construction activity is continuing to grow in the UK. Thats according to the April S&amp;P Global / CIPS UK Construction Purchasing Managers Index� (PMI), as reported by PCBToday, a Construction, Planning and Building Control portal. Construction companies in the UK the

Renting reforms will be a damp squib and we 'need a proper reset', say experts

Renting reforms will be a damp squib and we 'need a proper reset', say experts

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Leading property sector figure Kate Faulkner (pictured) has called for a reset of the private rented sector, away from ineffective rules and regulations. <figure id="" class="w-richtext-figure-type- " data-rt-type="" data-rt-align=""><div><img src="https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/63bef2f

NEW: Number of landlords planning to sell up hits RECORD high, new poll finds

NEW: Number of landlords planning to sell up hits RECORD high, new poll finds

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

The number of landlords planning to sell their rented properties has reached its highest level ever, according to new research. BVA-BDRC, commissioned by the NRLA, found that during the first three months of this year a third of 700 private landlords in England and Wales that it

Major portal launches national 'rent passport' initiative for tenants and agents

Major portal launches national 'rent passport' initiative for tenants and agents

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

One of the UKs big property portals has launched an initiative to enable renters to become rent ready as they hunt for homes. OnTheMarket.com, which is a competitor with Rightmove and Zoopla, has now fully integrated Canopys RentPassport service into its platform.</p

Hit or miss: how will the Renters’ Rights Bill land?

Hit or miss: how will the Renters’ Rights Bill land?

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Will the long-awaited Renters Reform Bill land—or fall flat? Explore landlord reactions and what the new measures could mean.

Plea to support landlords with rental reforms as record numbers plan exodus

Plea to support landlords with rental reforms as record numbers plan exodus

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

The https://www.landlordzone.co.uk/news/hold-up-for-renters-reform-bill-blamed-on-procedural-issues/" Renters Reform Bill will increase pressure on landlords and may force even more to quit the market, warns the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (https://w

Interest rate rise set to hit mortgage payments and rental market

Interest rate rise set to hit mortgage payments and rental market

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

The Bank of England has hiked https://www.landlordzone.co.uk/news/revealed-why-higher-interest-rates-are-making-it-trickier-for-btl-investors/" interest rates by 0.25 percentage points, pushing the base rate to 4.5% and raising fears that this could exacerbate rental pric

Gove shelves plans to scrap leaseholds after Number 10 row

Gove shelves plans to scrap leaseholds after Number 10 row

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Housing Secretary Michael Gove has dropped plans to abolish leaseholds in England and Wales after Downing Street officials argued there was not enough time to enact such major reforms. Despite describing it as an outdated feudal system� and pledging to get rid of h

Manchester rolls out next wave of selective licensing schemes

Manchester rolls out next wave of selective licensing schemes

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Five more https://www.landlordzone.co.uk/news/latest-big-city-to-go-live-with-controversial-selective-licensing-plan/" selective licensing schemes have opened in https://www.landlordzone.co.uk/news/new-devolution-deal-gives-manchester-more-rogue-landlord-powers/"

Housing charity blasts misleading rent-to-rent claims

Housing charity blasts misleading rent-to-rent claims

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

https://www.shelter.org.uk/" Shelter has strenuously denied that it is involved in any https://www.landlordzone.co.uk/news/rent-to-rent-craze-adding-to-uks-renting-crisis/" rent-to-rent schemes after it was claimed that the charity was either acting as

Hold-up for Renters' Reform Bill blamed on 'procedural issues'

Hold-up for Renters' Reform Bill blamed on 'procedural issues'

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Government delays Renters Reform Bill due to procedural issues, raising concerns over potential dilution of tenant protections.

The best service for landlords who need to sell their property

The best service for landlords who need to sell their property

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

If you're a landlord who needs to sell their properties and is struggling, keep reading, because we have the best solution for you. No catch, no fuss, we simply know exactly what to do to help you. <figure id="" class="w-richtext-figure-type- " data-rt-type="" data-rt-align=""><div><img

No deposit needed for home-buying renters with good track record

No deposit needed for home-buying renters with good track record

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

https://www.skipton.co.uk/" Skipton has launched a new mortgage specifically for renters who can now buy a house without needing a deposit. Tenants who can evidence affordability and have a strong track record of rental payments can borrow up to 100% of a prop

Landlords rush to offload their energy-poor properties

Landlords rush to offload their energy-poor properties

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Thousands of private landlords have started selling their properties ahead of government changes to Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) regulations. More than 65,000 rental properties went up for sale in the first three months of the year, 36,460 of which had an EPC rating of

Education job needed for tenants to make link between cold and mould

Education job needed for tenants to make link between cold and mould

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Public information campaigns are needed to raise awareness of the consequences of not turning the heating on as often in rented properties, says the NRLA. When quizzing 2,000 tenants in England and Wales about the impact rising utility bills have had on their household budget, t

Paragon Bank reports highest ever tenant demand

Paragon Bank reports highest ever tenant demand

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

A survey of almost 700 landlords, carried out by BVA BDRC for Paragon, reveals that that 67% of landlord respondents had experienced higher than usual tenant demand during the first three months of this year. This, according to Paragon, represents a new all-time high and up from 65% reco

Most UK office landlords have no sustainability strategy

Most UK office landlords have no sustainability strategy

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

According to the findings of recent research commissioned by infinitSpace, in partnership with The Instant Group, the majority of UK office landlords have not made any concrete plans to improve the energy efficiency ratings of their buildings they do not have any form of sustainability

The Property Cast: How can landlords spot a bad letting agent?

The Property Cast: How can landlords spot a bad letting agent?

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

In https://www.totallandlordinsurance.co.uk/knowledge-centre/propertymarks-perspective-on-lettings-the-property-cast-total-landlord-insurance?utm_source=landlordzone&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=propertymark+podcast+may+2023" target="_blank" this episode of T

REVEALED: Why higher interest rates are making it trickier for BTL investors

REVEALED: Why higher interest rates are making it trickier for BTL investors

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Buy-to-let mortgage searches were down 23% in April compared to the previous month, while investors have been putting down larger deposits as high-interest rates bite. Research by https://www.twenty7tec.com/" target="_blank" Twenty7tec shows that average loan-

New report urges Government to stop describing private landlords as 'bad'

New report urges Government to stop describing private landlords as 'bad'

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Government policy should move away from thinking that social housing and home ownership are good while private landlords are bad if it is to solve the rental stock and rent costs crisis. That's the view of a new report from Cambridge University Land Society which says this mi

87 MPs are now landlords including Chancellor, research reveals

87 MPs are now landlords including Chancellor, research reveals

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Nearly one in five Conservative MPs are currently landlords, according to research by campaign group 38 Degrees, a surprising figure given the Government's anti-landlord stance in recent years. The study counted 87 MP landlords more than 13% of the Commons of whom 53 cla

LATEST: Renters' Reform Bill due next week after Coronation, says Gove

LATEST: Renters' Reform Bill due next week after Coronation, says Gove

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Renters Reform Bill due next week, says Gove — draft law arrives four years after discussion, just days after King’s Coronation.

COURT: Landlord jailed for 13 months after failures lead to tenant's death

COURT: Landlord jailed for 13 months after failures lead to tenant's death

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

A rogue landlord whose failure to fit a smoke alarm contributed to his tenants death has been jailed for 13 months. Humraz Pinnu Shahid, 43, of Oakwood Lane, Leeds, spent years denying he owned the basement flat on Berkeley Grove (pictured) where Philip Sheridan