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Is it fair that councils can fine landlords even though they too break the law?

Is it fair that councils can fine landlords even though they too break the law?

Opinion

There is a burning issue within the rented homes market that is grossly unfair on private landlords and that is never discussed by politicians or the trade associations that o

Landlord to pay tenants £12,500 because 'innocence of law is no defence'

Landlord to pay tenants £12,500 because 'innocence of law is no defence'

News

Being ignorant of landlord law is no defence, a brutal legal point that has cost a landlord duo in London dearly after they were told by judges to repay their tenants �12,500

Looming EPC changes already skewing the buy-to-let market, claims finance boss

Looming EPC changes already skewing the buy-to-let market, claims finance boss

News

The Governments plans to force landlords to upgrade their properties to a minimum C energy efficiency standard is already affecting how rental properties are being purchased, the boss of a big money firm has claimed. Louisa Sedgwick, Commercial Director at Paragon Bank

City office space under threat as personified by Canary Wharf exodus

City office space under threat as personified by Canary Wharf exodus

News

The pattern of office working is changing and nowhere is its effect on commercial property being felt more strongly than in Londons Docklands Canary Wharf. A once thriving financial centre The development of the wharf into a thriving financial centre just outsi

BREAKING: Gove green lights expensive new licencing scheme in Nottingham

BREAKING: Gove green lights expensive new licencing scheme in Nottingham

News

Michael Gove has given Nottingham city council the green light to proceed with one of the UKs most expensive and controversial selective licensing schemes. Due to start on December 1st, it will require all rented properties within 20 of its wards to be licenc

Government is afraid EPC upgrades will be final straw for landlords, says big bank

Government is afraid EPC upgrades will be final straw for landlords, says big bank

News

A leading lender believes the governments likely decision to row back on EPCs is linked to fears that it will hit an already struggling PRS. Earlier this week, Housing Secretary Michael Gove suggested a delay in bringing in energy efficiency plans for rental properties to

Property firm reports more landlords selling up as 'red tape' burden rises

Property firm reports more landlords selling up as 'red tape' burden rises

News

Home buying company the Open Property Group (OPG) has reported a 56% jump in PRS property purchases during the past year, with landlords blaming red tape for their decision to sell up. It bought nearly �6 million worth of property from homeowners and landlords looking for a fas

Payday! Three tenants to share �20,000 after landlord fails to licence property

Payday! Three tenants to share �20,000 after landlord fails to licence property

News

Three tenants have won a �20,160 rent repayment order from their landlord who failed to licence his HMO. A First Tier Property Tribunal found that Simon Freed let out the three-bedroom flat in Frognal Court, Camden (main picture), a

Scots Ministers avoid revealing how many landlords are seeking big rent rises

Scots Ministers avoid revealing how many landlords are seeking big rent rises

News

The Scottish Government has decided not to publish details of how many landlords north of the border have applied to raise their rent above the 3% maximum allowed under the countrys Cost of Living (Tenant Protection) (Scotland) Act. This controversial legislation was first in

Landlords warned over increase in unauthorised and illegal sub-letting by tenants

Landlords warned over increase in unauthorised and illegal sub-letting by tenants

News

Sub-letting is on the increase within the private rented sector as the cost of living crisis bites, it has been reported. Direct Line says nearly half of all tenants who sublet rooms within their property have not told their landlord or checked they are allowed to within their r

Council's desperate measures to stop landlords evicting tenants revealed

Council's desperate measures to stop landlords evicting tenants revealed

News

Brent Council is paying a landlord to house the tenant he was trying to evict after failing to come up with any alternative accommodation. The authority paid the legal fees and took over responsibility for paying the rent as long as the landlord continued to let his tenant stay

BTR makes another leap forward with £1.26 billion invested in just three months

BTR makes another leap forward with £1.26 billion invested in just three months

News

T The UKs build-to-rent (BTR) stock now stands at 88,100 completed homes, with a further 53,500 homes under construction and 111,800 in the planning pipeline. Savills research reveals that in the second quarter of the year, the sector saw a record-breaking �1.26

Landlord outcry over 'unfair' major Midlands selective licencing scheme

Landlord outcry over 'unfair' major Midlands selective licencing scheme

News

Landlords in Birmingham have slammed the citys new selective licensing scheme which some claim is unfairly targeting ethnic communities. The scheme, which took effect at the beginning of June, affects all landlords in 25 of the citys wards which have more than 20% of rente

'Stop demonising landlords, it's just not helping the situation'

'Stop demonising landlords, it's just not helping the situation'

News

Be careful what you wish for� is the point I would put to organisations such as Shelter, Generation Rent and other tenant groups.  In other words, stop demonising landlords - its not helping the situation especially when we have such a severe rental stock crisis.&

No need to evict! We sell buy-to-lets in 28 days to new landlords who want to keep your 'fireproof'� tenants

No need to evict! We sell buy-to-lets in 28 days to new landlords who want to keep your 'fireproof'� tenants

Information

Theyve been dubbed fireproof tenants� news this week reached fever pitch for landlords who rallied together in outrage to hear that multiple local councils had advised tenants not to move out of their houses� no matter what, even if the landlord was in financial difficulty

NEW: �30 billion cost for landlords to upgrade properties to EPC minimum

NEW: �30 billion cost for landlords to upgrade properties to EPC minimum

News

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

HOT MARKET: Every property put on market receiving 20 viewing requests

HOT MARKET: Every property put on market receiving 20 viewing requests

News

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

Charities and campaigners slam Government over 'weak' renting reforms

Charities and campaigners slam Government over 'weak' renting reforms

News

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

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Landlords can no longer obstruct broadband upgrades

Landlords can no longer obstruct broadband upgrades

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News
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New laws will make it easier for broadband companies to gain access to thousands of https://www.landlordzone.co.uk/news/latest-mps-gives-tenants-new-rights-to-have-high-speed-broadband-kit-installed-in-blocks/" blocks of flats across England and Wales. The Tel

Helping homeless to move on could be right up landlords' street

Helping homeless to move on could be right up landlords' street

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News
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Landlords are being encouraged to donate the addresses of their vacant properties as part of a unique bid to stem homelessness. Dreamt up by architect Chris Hildrey, https://www.proxyaddress.co.uk/" ProxyAddress allows people to securely borrow a stable, donat

December dip makes small dent in rising house prices

December dip makes small dent in rising house prices

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Average house prices fell by -1.5% in December, while the annual growth rate dropped from +4.6% to +2.0%, according to the Halifax House Price Index. A typical property now costs �281,272 - down from �285,425 in November following six months of rapid growth during the firs

Industry finds holes in energy scheme's bid to cut bills

Industry finds holes in energy scheme's bid to cut bills

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Propertymark has voiced fears that the governments ECO plus scheme risks excluding many landlords with low-rated properties. In its response to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategys consultation into the scheme to help fund home insulation, the indus

Get a move on with PRS reforms, council tells Gove

Get a move on with PRS reforms, council tells Gove

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Cherwell District Council has pressed the government to urgently introduce the long-awaited Renters Reform Bill to help it rebalance the relationship between landlords and tenants. The north Oxfordshire authority has written to Housing Secretary Michael Gove asking him to bring

Business rates revaluation 2023 will hit small retailers hardest

Business rates revaluation 2023 will hit small retailers hardest

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All non-domestic properties usually have their business property Rateable Value (RV) revalued every five years by the Valuation Office Agency. The next revaluation is due to take place on 1 April 2023. What is Rateable Value? The value is determined by the Valuation

Modest drop in rental costs heralds busy start to the year

Modest drop in rental costs heralds busy start to the year

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The average cost of rent fell slightly during December, dropping 1.47% to �1,071, according to the latest Rental Index from https://www.goodlord.co/" Goodlord .<br><br>The South West saw the largest reduction of 2.68% to �1,066 while the only region to see an increase wa

Good relationships will make all the difference in a challenging year

Good relationships will make all the difference in a challenging year

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Landlords should think carefully before attempting to remove good tenants who resist rent increases, advises https://www.landlordaction.co.uk/ Landlord Action founder Paul Shamplina - or risk replacing them with tenants who stop paying rent. If you have a

Ban for letting agent who claimed £100K in Bounce Back loans

Ban for letting agent who claimed £100K in Bounce Back loans

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A letting agency boss has been hit with an 11-year ban after repeatedly abusing the https://www.landlordzone.co.uk/news/landlords-who-took-out-bounce-back-loans-given-six-month-breathing-space/" Bounce Back Loan scheme. Laszlo Szabo, the sole director of Letti

MPs slam unintended consequences of looming PRS reforms

MPs slam unintended consequences of looming PRS reforms

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MPs have slammed the Governments proposed reforms to the private rented sector (PRS) within its looming Renters Reform Bill, calling for Ministers to wake up to its unintended consequences. Their report, published this morning, also makes the point that most tenants are not w

Generation Rent calls for proposed Section 8 eviction 'loophole' to be closed

Generation Rent calls for proposed Section 8 eviction 'loophole' to be closed

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Tenants group Generation Rent has backed the DLUHC select committees call to close a loophole in proposed Section 8 reforms. It says the governments plan to ban Section 21 evictions but still allow landlords to evict tenants when needing to sell or move back into a prop

EPC upgrade rules may lead to landlords leaving, admits 'net zero' minister

EPC upgrade rules may lead to landlords leaving, admits 'net zero' minister

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A government minister has admitted that landlords could quit the market unless upcoming changes to EPC rules are implemented carefully. In a Lords debate to discuss the challenges of achieving net zero, https://www.landlordzone.co.uk/tag/lord-callanan/" target="_blank"

Another city council prepares to clamp-down on smaller HMOs

Another city council prepares to clamp-down on smaller HMOs

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Peterborough plans Article 4 Direction trial to curb smaller HMOs, following Leicester’s expansion of similar controls across more city neighbourhoods

NEW: Petition launched urging residents to 'rise up against HMOs'

NEW: Petition launched urging residents to 'rise up against HMOs'

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A Rugby councillor is trying to drum up opposition to HMOs with an online petition calling for an Article 4 direction in the town. John Slinger (main picture) believes too many family homes are being turned into HMOs by landlords who often dont have the communitys best int

'Latest' housing minister revealed but not yet her responsibilities

'Latest' housing minister revealed but not yet her responsibilities

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Redditch MP Rachel Maclean is the latest housing minister to arrive through the revolving door at the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities. The newcomer replaces previous housing minister Lucy Frazer, https://www.landlordzone.co.uk/news/breaking-housing-

Is it time to ditch the spreadsheet?

Is it time to ditch the spreadsheet?

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Spreadsheets. Theyve been around since 1979 and have served the property industry well since their inception. However, with legislation like Making Tax Digital coming into play in 2026, were seeing Landlords slowly transition from using outdated equipment to more modern an

Build-to-rent growth falters as economic downturn and labour shortages bite

Build-to-rent growth falters as economic downturn and labour shortages bite

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Economic headwinds facing the construction industry put the brakes on the build-to-rent sector last year. Build cost inflation and labour shortages meant that it only grew by 14% in 2022 adding up to 242,548 homes in planning, under construction or completed - compared to a

NEW: Big South East council clamps down on smaller HMOs

NEW: Big South East council clamps down on smaller HMOs

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Arun Council introduces Article 4 direction in Marine, Hotham, River wards, requiring planning permission for small HMOs to maintain housing quality.

Landlords warned of rogue plumber in NW England

Landlords warned of rogue plumber in NW England

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A leading ethical repair firm has shamed a rogue plumber who charged an 85-year-old woman £1,500 to repair a water pipe.

House price falls create opportunities for landlord investors

House price falls create opportunities for landlord investors

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Falling house prices and rising mortgage rates, coupled with a cost of living crisis, which inevitably results in higher incidences of rental arrears, are scaring off potential new investors in buy-to-let. But new investments in the right locations could be an astute move for ne

Generation Rent activist now working for DLUHC as PRS advisor

Generation Rent activist now working for DLUHC as PRS advisor

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A former Generation Rent campaigner is now working as an advisor shaping private rented sector policy at the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities. Caitlin Wilkinson - policy advisor for the private rented sector - was policy and public affairs manager at the camp

BREAKING: Housing minister lasts just FOUR months after Rishi's reshuffle move

BREAKING: Housing minister lasts just FOUR months after Rishi's reshuffle move

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Landlords and the wider rented sector face more uncertainty after it was announced this morning that housing minister Lucy Frazer, who has only been in post since October last year, is to become secretary of state at the new department of Culture, Media and Sport. In private at

'Tories are trying to blame landlords for PRS mess of their own making'

'Tories are trying to blame landlords for PRS mess of their own making'

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The Tories should take the blame for the landlord exodus and crisis-hit private rental sector, according to one leading investment guru. Financial columnist and author Matthew Lynn says that for the last decade, the party has been in an all-out war against buy-to-let landlords,

Repeat rogue 'luxury' landlord firm fined £30,000 for licencing breaches

Repeat rogue 'luxury' landlord firm fined £30,000 for licencing breaches

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A rogue Liverpool landlord has been fined £30,000 for failing to get licences for two student HMOs three years after it was fined 45,000 for similar offences. Trophy Homes, which claims to operate within the 'luxury' student, co-living and general rental sectors, admitted

Landlords ARE quitting rented sector says Bank of England

Landlords ARE quitting rented sector says Bank of England

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Bank of England warns landlord exodus from rental sector as taxes and policies drive investors away, worsening housing supply crisis.

Future of private rented sector will be the '15-minute' home say experts

Future of private rented sector will be the '15-minute' home say experts

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The future of new rented accommodation in the UK will be developments where all facilities including transport, shops and services including schools are all within 15 minutes of a tenants property, it has been claimed. This comment was made during a https://www.savil

NRLA calls on Government to review landlord taxes to stop 'supply crisis'

NRLA calls on Government to review landlord taxes to stop 'supply crisis'

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Landlords are calling on the Government to review how they are taxed after new figures reveal the devastating impact higher levies are having on the private rented sector. The National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA) says new research conducted on its behalf by co

'Discriminatory' HMO licensing scheme rules slammed by landlords

'Discriminatory' HMO licensing scheme rules slammed by landlords

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Two out of three HMO landlords in Portsmouth plan to call it quits this year, largely prompted by the launch of an additional licensing scheme in September. Portsmouth &amp; District Private Landlords Associations survey found that this would mean a loss of 348 rooms which, e

Damp and mould investigation reveals 1000s of homes affected

Damp and mould investigation reveals 1000s of homes affected

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A Government investigation into damp and mould in the social housing sector has disclosed initial findings which show a significant number of homes in the social sector are affected by this problem. On Thursday (2 February) the Regulator of Social Housing (RSH) published a <a hr

Up for a fight? Fundraiser seeks property people to step into the ring

Up for a fight? Fundraiser seeks property people to step into the ring

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The property industrys Rumble with the Agents charity event is to host its eighth evening of boxing and fund-raising in North London on Thursday 22nd June, it has been announced. <figure id="" class="w-richtext-figure-type- " data-rt-type="" dat

MORTGAGE SHOCK: Bank of England hikes base rate by 0.5% to 4%

MORTGAGE SHOCK: Bank of England hikes base rate by 0.5% to 4%

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The Bank of England has raised interest rates for the 10th consecutive time as it battles inflation - a move likely to hit thousands of investors with variable rate mortgages and those forced to renew fixed-rate deals. The base rate has gone up by half a percent to 4%, the highe

Councils' frosty reception for HMOs sees number decline in key regions

Councils' frosty reception for HMOs sees number decline in key regions

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Englands HMO market has shrunk by more than 21,000 properties in the last two years as local councils ramp up planning rules and licensing schemes. Numbers were down by -2.4% to 489,701 last year, having already seen a -1.7% drop in 2021, according to figures from Octane Capi

EXCLUSIVE: Online boss talks candidly about landlords' reluctance to 'go digital'

EXCLUSIVE: Online boss talks candidly about landlords' reluctance to 'go digital'

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The boss of online lettings platform lettingaproperty.com is determined to overcome landlords inertia to switch from using high street agents. Jonathan Daines admits its a challenge as 95% of landlords still use agents, with the ingrained belief that the online process wil

MARKET: Average house price down 3.2% since August 2022

MARKET: Average house price down 3.2% since August 2022

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House prices have fallen for the fifth month in a row, with the average property now worth �258,297, almost �4,000 less than in December, reports Nationwide. January saw a -0.6% monthly dip which left prices 3.2% lower than their August peak, while annual house price growth al