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.

Property licensing system needs big overhaul says leading landlord

Property licensing system needs big overhaul says leading landlord

News

A high-profile landlord has called the property licensing system ‘clunky’ and in need of simplification.

Sceptical landlord joins pioneering green rental homes scheme

Sceptical landlord joins pioneering green rental homes scheme

News

A sceptical landlord has become a ‘guinea pig’ and spent considerable sums on making her Victorian four-bedroom rental property 'Let Zero'.

Northern city launches plan to begin selective licensing

Northern city launches plan to begin selective licensing

News

Preston in Lancashire has become the latest city to launch plans to introduce selective licensing within its borders.

2025 record year for new licensing schemes as latest council launches plans

2025 record year for new licensing schemes as latest council launches plans

News

Latest scheme to launch is one of 26 launched so far - making 2025 a 'record breaking year' for HMO and selective licensing.

Big city mayor fines landlords £1.5 million in two years

Big city mayor fines landlords £1.5 million in two years

News

Greater Manchester has revealed a big increase in rogue landlord fines as part of its tough crackdown on the private rental sector.

New 'rent controls minister' stumbles on first outing

New 'rent controls minister' stumbles on first outing

News

Newly-minted housing minister in Scotland unable to recall key statistics from her department during TV interview.

Landlord to pay £15,000 after second prosecution over same property

Landlord to pay £15,000 after second prosecution over same property

News

A landlord who has ignored efforts by a city council to improve his run-down property has been fined heavily.

National Lottery gives green campaigners £1.25m to 'educate landlords'

National Lottery gives green campaigners £1.25m to 'educate landlords'

News

Students Organising for Sustainability says it will use the money to improve student accommodation across the UK.

Evicting benefits tenants 'to get harder when renting reforms go live'

Evicting benefits tenants 'to get harder when renting reforms go live'

News

The opaque Universal Credit rental payments will cause landlords even more headaches when the Renters' Rights Bill goes live.

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

Build-to-rent sector reveals record period of growth

Build-to-rent sector reveals record period of growth

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Build-to-rent (BTR) continues its seemingly unstoppable march across UK cities, with the British Property Federation reporting that 58,000 homes had detailed planning permission in Q4 2023, the highest number on record.

Landlords rush to sell before March deadline

Landlords rush to sell before March deadline

Sponsored
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

For landlords who thought they'd left their problems behind in 2023, think again. 2024 isn't letting up, and the system continues to be unfair for a growing number of them.

Landlord evicts all his HMO tenants after CHAINSAW incident

Landlord evicts all his HMO tenants after CHAINSAW incident

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

A landlord has evicted all his tenants from an HMO after a man forced his way into the property with a chainsaw after hearing that his stepdaughter had been bullied by fellow residents.

Cannabis-growing landlord sentenced to 11 years in prison

Cannabis-growing landlord sentenced to 11 years in prison

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

A landlord who allowed cannabis farms to operate in 17 of his 72 properties as part of a multi-million-pound drugs operation has been jailed for 11 years.

BTL entrepreneur named one of UK's most successful young business people

BTL entrepreneur named one of UK's most successful young business people

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

A 30-year-old entrepreneur specialising in buy-to-let investment and lettings has been named one of the UK’s top young business people.

Council threatens landlords with £5,000 fines over EPCs

Council threatens landlords with £5,000 fines over EPCs

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Private tenants in the South West will save hundreds on their energy bills following a council’s push to identify those with failed Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs).

Understanding the challenges in the commercial property market

Understanding the challenges in the commercial property market

Information
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

A crisis in the making? Will commercial property owners come through the looming debt repayment crisis unscathed?

Leasehold reforms fail to solve most problems, says expert

Leasehold reforms fail to solve most problems, says expert

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Leaseholders won’t see all the hoped-for benefits from the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Bill unless significant changes are made, according to a leading expert.

Rogue landlord fined thousands after refusing to fix broken stairs

Rogue landlord fined thousands after refusing to fix broken stairs

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

A rogue landlord who failed to repair serious safety hazards in his property has been ordered to pay more than £3,000.

Bailiffs accused of confusing vulnerable tenants with 'lookalike' police outfits

Bailiffs accused of confusing vulnerable tenants with 'lookalike' police outfits

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Private bailiffs dressed in stab vests, wearing bodycams and driving white vans covered in fluorescent police-style trim have been accused of confusing vulnerable tenants, a housing charity warns. Safer Renting is worried it is becoming a growing problem after stepping in during

'Why won't Government regulate agents like it does social housing managers?'

'Why won't Government regulate agents like it does social housing managers?'

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Property expert Kate Faulkner (main pic) says new rules to introduce professional qualifications for social housing managers are a slap in the face for the PRS� after years of lobbying for similar standards. The government has a

Rent cap in Scotland could cut supply and raise rents

Rent cap in Scotland could cut supply and raise rents

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Scottish rent cap removal and Gwynedd's Article 4 Direction spark landlord concerns over housing supply and market stability.

Official �3 million evictions mediation service 'offered too late' to landlords

Official �3 million evictions mediation service 'offered too late' to landlords

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

A paltry nine cases were mediated in the governments pilot Rental Mediation Service - nowhere near the 3,000 cases it expected, it has been revealed. The Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities and the Minister of Justice had hoped that the pilot, which offered te

Half of landlords unaware of boiler upgrade scheme, expert warns parliament

Half of landlords unaware of boiler upgrade scheme, expert warns parliament

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Landlords and letting agents need more information and financial help if the Boiler Upgrade Scheme is to succeed, according to Propertymark. In its evidence to the Lords Built Environment Committee inquiry into the scheme, the group says 48% of Propertymar

Test Case: enforcing legal protections for leaseholders

Test Case: enforcing legal protections for leaseholders

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

New leaseholder protections in the Building Safety Act 2022 came into force on 28 June 2022, with new financial protections for leaseholders in buildings above 11 metres or five storeys, those with historical safety defects. The new Building Safety Act 2022 was introduced follow

OPINION: It's time Facebook took action to stop rent scams on Marketplace

OPINION: It's time Facebook took action to stop rent scams on Marketplace

Opinion
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Facebook is facing mounting calls to more effectively police its Marketplace classified listings platform after numerous investigations by national media outlets. The most recent was last night (23rd February)https://www.itv.com/news/channel/2023-02-23/prolific-scammer-

LAW: Landords who illegally evicted tenants landed with �22,300 rent repayment order

LAW: Landords who illegally evicted tenants landed with �22,300 rent repayment order

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

A landlord pair who assaulted one of their tenants while trying to illegally evict her from their unlicensed HMO have been handed a rent repayment order totalling more than �22,300. Guangyu Chen and Xing Guo argued that their poor English and understanding of the PRS was an exc

EXCLUSIVE: 'End of an era' for Shamplina as he steps back from popular TV show

EXCLUSIVE: 'End of an era' for Shamplina as he steps back from popular TV show

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Evictions expert Paul Shamplina has revealed that hes stepping back from his long-running role in TV series Nightmare Tenants, Slum Landlords. <figure id="" class="w-richtext-figure-type- " data-rt-type="" data-rt-align=""><div><img src="https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/

York landlord group says 'collaboration not conflict way forward on HMO licencing'

York landlord group says 'collaboration not conflict way forward on HMO licencing'

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Yorks Residential Landlords Association (York RLA) wants to clarify why it decided not to proceed with further legal action over the city councils proposals to bring in an Additional Licencing scheme for HMOs. Both local media and LandlordZONE recently reported that it had

NEW: Unions and campaigners call on Michael Gove to 'freeze' rents

NEW: Unions and campaigners call on Michael Gove to 'freeze' rents

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Council leaders, unions and renters groups have urged Housing Secretary Michael Gove to bring in an immediate rent freeze in a bid to prevent widespread homelessness. In an open letter, the 34 groups and individuals including London Renters Union, mayor of London Sadiq Kh

Landlord wins reprieve from huge RRO claiming 'technical issues' at council website

Landlord wins reprieve from huge RRO claiming 'technical issues' at council website

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

A disgruntled landlord has convinced a judge to have his rent repayment order case re-heard after arguing that council systems hindered his ability to apply for an HMO licence during the pandemic. Paul Fashade was told to pay three tenants a total of �11,

'Exploitative' landlords should be taxed harder says Joseph Rowntree Foundation

'Exploitative' landlords should be taxed harder says Joseph Rowntree Foundation

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

The government should raise the stamp duty surcharge on BTL purchases to favour those buying their own home, according to a new report from Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF). The social change group believes the surcharge should at least double to effectively disincentivise specu

NEW: Citizens Advice says Awaab's Law must be extended to PRS

NEW: Citizens Advice says Awaab's Law must be extended to PRS

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Citizens Advice has urged the government to extend Awaabs law to the PRS to help the estimated 1.6 million children living in damp, mouldy or excessively cold privately rented homes. Awaab Ishtak died aged just two years old after living in a mouldy and

Landlords leaving the sector 'not as bad as claimed' says leading estate agent

Landlords leaving the sector 'not as bad as claimed' says leading estate agent

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

A new survey has downplayed the scale of landlords ready to quit the sector due to heavy-handed government regulations and upcoming legislation. Leaders Romans Groups poll of 271 landlords found that only 7% plan to sell up in the next year while 12% aim to reduce their portf

Council green lights more HMO licencing despite proof on higher rents

Council green lights more HMO licencing despite proof on higher rents

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Nottingham councillors have voted through a contentious additional HMO licensing scheme. The current scheme, covering central areas of the city, will soon come to an end and the council plans to introduce a new citywide scheme in January 2024. It says this would pre

Boiler Upgrade Scheme has been a flop, Lords climate committee warns

Boiler Upgrade Scheme has been a flop, Lords climate committee warns

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Peers have slammed the governments Boiler Upgrade Scheme for attracting a disappointingly low� take-up of grants. Launched in https://www.landlordzone.co.uk/news/latest-official-boiler-upgrade-scheme-launches-today-but-is-it-enough/" target="_blank" <stron

SCAM alert: Landlord and agent pics being used to lure rental ripoff victims

SCAM alert: Landlord and agent pics being used to lure rental ripoff victims

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

A BBC investigation has uncovered a new property rental scam that uses Facebook Marketplace and then fake accommodation booking sites to lure in unsuspecting tenants. Called an advance rent payment scam, a technique that has been around for many years, this version of it is more

Opinion: Should 'Awaab's law' be applied to private rented sector?

Opinion: Should 'Awaab's law' be applied to private rented sector?

Opinion
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

The Government has now committed to delivering Awaabs Law in a new amendment to the Social Housing Regulation Bill. But does the Government intend to place the same onus on private landlords, and is this law totally fair? I cant help feeling perplexed as

LATEST: Bradford leads the way as rental yields rise across the UK

LATEST: Bradford leads the way as rental yields rise across the UK

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Landlords in Bradford and Leeds are enjoying the UKs best rental yields, with those in Exeter seeing the largest annual growth last year. Yields have increased by as much as 2.5% in the past 12 months, according to Sirius Property Finance, which reports that as rent values ou

Licensing schemes punishing good landlords with red tape

Licensing schemes punishing good landlords with red tape

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Propertymark criticises licensing schemes for punishing compliant landlords with delays, fees and red tape due to under-resourced councils. S

Property giants slam Government's lack of action on EPC upgrades

Property giants slam Government's lack of action on EPC upgrades

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

An influential new report has slammed the Governments lack of progress on its much-heralded desire to see the property sector reach net zero by 2050. Published today jointly by the British Property Federation and property giant JLL, the report is critical of Government

NEW: Consultation launched on how to stop unfair council tax re-banding of HMOs

NEW: Consultation launched on how to stop unfair council tax re-banding of HMOs

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

The Government has launched its https://www.landlordzone.co.uk/news/latest-council-tax-crisis-for-hmo-tenants-averted-after-commons-statement/" target="_blank" promised consultation on its plans to reform the way HMO properties are valued for counci

Estate agency fined �35,000 for failing to licence three properties

Estate agency fined �35,000 for failing to licence three properties

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

It's not just landlords who can be fined heavily - an estate agency now faces paying a �35,000 penalty for failing to licence three properties in the town of Edmonton in London. Enfield Councils licensing and enforcement work officers investigated Green House Estate Agents L

BLOG: Will Section 8 eviction grounds be enough when Section 21 goes?

BLOG: Will Section 8 eviction grounds be enough when Section 21 goes?

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

With the likelihood of Section 21 evictions being abolished all eyes are on the 17 grounds for possession under the existing Section 8 procedure. In the near future these are to be the main tools landlords will use to evict tenants who dont pay the rent. As it cur