More than half of all homes in the private rented sector need upgrading to achieve an EPC band C by 2028, with landlords facing a total estimated bill of �30 billion at a time when many are struggling to cover their costs. About 2.9 million properties are affected, with costs f
Rental properties in the North West are each attracting an average of 30 viewing requests as competition among prospective tenants grows more intense. Data commissioned by the BBC from Rightmove shows an average of 20 requests to view each available property in Britain, up from
In a sign that the Renters (Reform) Bill is annoying many and pleasing few, charities and pro-tenant groups have today joined forces to slam the legislation for being too weak. The https://rentersreformcoalition.co.uk/" target="_blank" Renters Ref
The Government has rowed back on its commitment to phase out all gas boilers in rented homes by 2035 following comments by Michael Gove. Talking tohttps://www.thetimes.co.uk/radio/schedule" https://www.thetimes.co.uk/radio/schedule" target="_blank" i
A big South East counciil hopes to introduce a big selective licencing scheme for private landlords which would cover all PRS homes. Medway, which is a unitary authority covering a large swathe of Kent including Rochester and Gillingham, has seen those renting in the private ren
Ditching leaseholds is 'entirely possible' although some flat owners still arent convinced about moving across to commonhold, a government report has concluded. It explains that while reaching a point at which most existing flats are owned without a third-party landlord or ar
More than 5,400 homes in Islington now need a licence under Islington Councils new selective licensing scheme. Landlords in Finsbury Park, Tollington and Hillrise wards are affected, where properties are blighted with poor conditions, according to council enforcement of
Landlords are being encouraged to share their thoughts on government plans to make it easier to convert larger department stores, space above shops and offices. As part of Housing Secretary Michael Goves announcement on https://www.landlo
The UK property market has undoubtedly seen a tumultuous period since the end of 2022. Fluctuating statistics, record-breaking demand, falling supply, and concerning economic projections have left many scratching their heads and wondering: https://www.rw-inv
Residents of East Village's Build-to-Rent blocks can rent household essentials like vacuums and game consoles via TULU's smart kiosks.
A new https://www.landlordzone.co.uk/news/government-housing-policies-not-working-for-landlords-or-tenants-mps-are-told/" housing plan would allow shops, takeaways and betting shops to be turned into homes while homeowners would have greater freedoms to carry out property
Housing Secretary Michael Gove has suggested a delay in bringing in energy efficiency plans for the private renter sector. Citing financial pressures on landlords, he told The Telegraph that the government should relax the pace of changes to
A veteran landlord with an OBE has been handed a whopping �300,000 fine after two decades of managing illegally converted houses. Nirpaul Riat was given one of the largest ever fines in Hounslow for managing 22 properties where vulnerable tenants lived in appalling conditions.<
One of the drawbacks of being labelled an expert is you are in demand for your expertise. It becomes your product and when stocks are running low, like we have all experienced when trying to find an egg in the supermarket at the end of the week for your Saturday morning cooked breakfast, th
After years of campaigning and lobbying by tenant groups the Government has committed to huge changes for landlords when evicting tenants.
Southwark Council has been given the green light for one of the UKs largest selective licencing schemes. It got approval from Housing Secretary Michael Gove following the introduction last year of a borough-wide additional licensing scheme for HMOs and a small, selective lic
Landlords and holiday homeowners continue to be clobbered by a tax grab from the Welsh Revenue Authority. The latest figures show revenue from the higher rate of stamp duty - Land Transaction Tax (LTT) - increased by 50% from �61 million in 2020/21 to �92 million in 2022/23 -
Migrant communities face discrimination while navigating the private rental market, according to new research by Generation Rent and Migrant Organise. Their poll of 126 migrant private renters found that 42% had struggled to find a landlord or letting agent to rent to them as a
Landlords have been offered a glimmer of hope by the new Prime Minister whos hinted that shes not adverse to considering the repeal of Section 24. https://www.nrla.org.uk/" target="_blank" NRLA boss Ben Beadle n
Landlords have slammed the Governments new plans to force HMO landlords who operate all inclusive rental properties to pass on the �400 rebate being made available via the Energy Bills Support Scheme (EBSS). This announcement is an abrupt U-turn previously Minister
The MP replacing Eddie Hughes at the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) is Lee Rowley. This 42-year-old MP and Leave voter, who was elected to parliament by the constituents of North East Derbyshire in 2017 following his two unsuccessful bids in other co
Landlords should expect more form filling after agents were advised to complete due diligence on all their clients to combat money laundering. Recently approved government guidance designed to help property agents comply with money laundering regulations - covering customer due
According to many companies, heat pumps are our salvation. To homeowners and landlords, they are expensive to buy. Thats okay, right? Not quite. Home boiler installation experts at Boiler Central have recently seen homeowners return to their natural gas boilers due to heat pu
Scotlands shock new rent https://www.landlordzone.co.uk/news/breaking-nichola-sturgeon-to-reveal-national-rent-freeze-in-scotland/" freeze policy announcement has left worried landlords in the dark, according to the countrys largest letting ag
Housing minister Eddie Williams has thrown in the towel and says he is looking forward to having more time to work for his constituents in Walsall North and championing their causes in parliament. The Midlands MP, who has been at the housing department since June 2018
Under plans to get tough on landlords, stricter standards will be brought in to eliminate unsafe and cold rental housing says the Government Landlords could be facing six-month prison sentences if they let older homes that are unsafe and cold for their tenants. Under
Mortgage brokers around the UK have reported a big rise in tenants being given first refusal to buy their rental property as more amateur landlords head for the exit. <figure id="" class="w-richtext-figure-type- " data-rt-type="" data-rt-align=""><div><img src="https://uploads-ssl.webflo
A new devolution deal will give the 10 Greater Manchester councils powers to approve larger selective licensing schemes. The pact, signed by Levelling Up Minister Dehenna Davison (pictured, below), Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham (main pic) and the council leaders, will al
A landlord whose properties are caught up in the cladding scandal faces a bill of up to �50,000 unless the government changes the rules about who it will subsidise. Neera Soni rents out a number of leasehold properties and says she and at least a quarter of those owners at
London Mayor Sadiq Khan has been urged to clamp down on rogue exempt accommodation providers who exploit the housing benefit system and put vulnerable tenants at risk. An investigation by the London Assembly Housing Committee found some rogue providers wer
The Isle of Wight Council has vowed to charge owners of second homes and empty properties more council tax as soon as it gets the go-ahead from the government. Its ruling Alliance Administration had suggested putting a 100% tax premium on second homes and empty properties, howev
A senior figure from the banking world has claimed that institutional investment is the golden ticket to solve the UKs supply and quality problems within the private rented sector (PRS). Cedric Bucher (main image), who heads up Hearthstone Investments </st
Another First Tier Property Tribunal has confirmed that a superior landlord cannot be held responsible for a Rent Repayment Order (RRO), following the landmark Rakusen case. Tenant Riaz Moola had tried to argue that landlord Khalil Mbarek was responsible for the property in t
The Government must stop its ongoing and irresponsible attempts to curry favour with tenants via its looming reform of the private rented sector, a buy-to-let lender has said. Mortgages for Business boss Gavin Richardson (main
A landlord couple have been convicted of a �1 million benefit fraud stretching over 20 years. Emmanuel Bay , 68, and Nancy Bay , 67, of Sudbourne Road, Brixton (pictured), were found guilty of 21 offences between 1999 and 2018 under t
Home Reit, an investment trust landlord, was set-up to house Britains homeless. But the company has found itself running into increasing difficulties, with tenants' complaints and failed rent payments, a negative short-seller's report, a financial squeeze with falling stock prices and al
A boost in court resources as well as measures to fast-track the most serious possession cases related to anti-social behaviour and rent arrears will be vital post-Section 21, says NRLA chief executive Ben Beadle . Without reform, a rise in cases will add t
Councillors in Reading are set to rubber stamp plans to extend restrictions on the number of HMO conversions. An Article 4 direction already covers parts of the town where HMOs are prevalent, in much of Park, Redlands and Katesgrove wards, as well as Jesse Terrace.
Propertymark has called for a set of standards for developers and clear guidance for local councils as a way to effectively convert empty commercial properties into affordable homes - an increasingly popular path for some bigger PRS landlords. Responding to an inquiry from all-p
Converting commercial buildings to residential use would seem an ideal solution to a housing shortage, especially with and a glut of underused commercial buildings, but how easy is it? The planning regulation changes have made it easier to convert commercial buildings to residen
The new How to Rent guide due to come out today (17th March) has been delayed for a week, according to industry sources. The new guide forms part of the prescribed information that landlords in England must issue at the start of any new tenancy or renewa
John Lewiss build-to-rent strategy appears to be stalling amid local opposition to its plans for large developments in West Ealing and Bromley. The retailer has just announced pre-tax losses of �234 million as sales dipped 2% last year, making it even more vital to find new
Landlords, estate agents and surveyors have all given yesterdays Budget an unqualified thumbs down after the Chancellor chose to focus on economic growth but ignore several problem threatening to engulf the housing market. All have said the budget was disappointing and a m
Despite new research showing that one in four people plan to invest in property to generate retirement income, Chancellor Jeremy Hunt's scrapping of the 'lifetime pension fund limit' could dampen demand for BTL property, says Cornerstone Tax. The impact of inflation on savings a
Shelter has slammed the Chancellor for failing to raise Local Housing Allowance (LHA) rates in his spring Budget. The homeless charity says Jeremy Hunt could have put an end to spiralling homelessness, but instead, he has stuck his head in the sand. Yet again we
Sunday Times economics editor David Smith has expressed sympathy for private landlords who he believes feel bruised by increasing regulation in the sector. He says higher mortgage rates might be the straw that breaks the camels back for many, with some alrea
First time buyers remain better off owning than renting an equivalent home, Lloyds Bank says, but the gap is narrowing. Its latest Owning vs Renting Review reveals that owning a first home now costs �971 a month, four percent less than renting at �1,013.
The government failed to offer long-term support for energy efficiency improvements or increase the Local Housing Allowance in a Budget which instead focused on getting the country back to work. Chancellor Jeremy Hunt extended support for energy bills at current levels of �2,50
Youve made the decision to sell, and beat the market drop and increased costs. But where do you turn? Estate Agents can get you a high price, but theyll take far too long. Auctions can sell super-fast, but you might be compromising on price. <figure id="" class="w-richtext-figure-t
In this in-depth private rented sector legislation special, Eddie and Paul are joined by David Smith, head of property litigation at JMW Solicitors. The discussion kicks off with the recent landmark Rakusen v Jepsen rent repayment order case, where David represented the NRLA and which, he e
Generation Rent is calling on the government to extend Awaabs Law to the PRS after its survey found 1,106 private rented homes in England with dangerous levels of damp and mould. A Freedom of Information request by the campaign group found that the 65 councils which reported
Eddie Hooker, Chief Executive of insurance company the HFIS Group, has called for action to combat the murky end of the rent-to-rent market. Talking during an video interview with LandlordZONE , Hooker said action was needed to increase transparency w
