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Beware using WhatsApp to discuss rental contracts, warns lawyer

Beware using WhatsApp to discuss rental contracts, warns lawyer

News

A property lawyer has warned that landlords might fail to realise their tenant has given notice after a court ruled that a WhatsApp exchange was sufficient to create a contract.

CLAIM: Fees ban has saved tenants £1bn and 'didn't push up rents'

CLAIM: Fees ban has saved tenants £1bn and 'didn't push up rents'

News

Private renters in England have saved nearly £1 billion in letting agent fees since the 2019 Tenant Fees Act, research by Generation Rent has found.

Student HMO landlords face tenancies-in-advance 'crunch' this November

Student HMO landlords face tenancies-in-advance 'crunch' this November

News

One of the UK’s leading student lettings agencies has pointed out a huge ‘crunch point’ for HMO landlords when the Renters’ Rights Bill goes live later this year.

Landlords to raise rents when reform restrictions go live

Landlords to raise rents when reform restrictions go live

News

New poll shows landlords are planning to raise rents in response to new restrictions within the looming Renters' Rights Bil.

BLOG: 'Tenants and landlords will see harder times when section 21 is abolished'

BLOG: 'Tenants and landlords will see harder times when section 21 is abolished'

News

Property lawyer Ian Narbeth takes a detailed but scathing look at Labour's looming Renters' Rights Bill and predicts there is trouble ahead.

London politician calls for action against rogue landlords

London politician calls for action against rogue landlords

News

Comments have been made after residents at a property that was illegally converted into 11 bedsit flats remain worried about its condition.

Landlord trio sell portfolio for £22m citing 'complex renting environment'

Landlord trio sell portfolio for £22m citing 'complex renting environment'

News

Three landlord brothers have had a whopping £22 million pay day after selling their property portfolio to an investment trust.

EXPERT: Renting reforms will make 'horrendous housing crisis' worse

EXPERT: Renting reforms will make 'horrendous housing crisis' worse

News

A leading property expert says the UK is heading for a “horrendous housing crisis” that could worsen with the advent of the Renters’ Rights Bill.

Social housing in crisis as tenants’ complaints go through the roof

Social housing in crisis as tenants’ complaints go through the roof

News

New report from the Housing Ombudsman shows complaints about substandard living conditions in social housing in England are five times higher than they were five years ago

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

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

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The Tenant Fees Act has been in place for nearly four years but is it shocking how many property professionals, also known as letting agents, are either not aware of its existence, or believe they can charge a fee as long as they call it something else. I have looked at the 34 m

Planning permission for short-lets proposed in popular areas

Planning permission for short-lets proposed in popular areas

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The Government has revealed plans to force those seeking to convert homes in short-let properties within Englands holiday hotspots to seek planning permission first. Such powers, which will see a new 'use class' and a 'permitted development right' introduced into planning law

OPINION: Yet another property training company bites the dust!

OPINION: Yet another property training company bites the dust!

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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'

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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

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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

COMMENT: Landlords have 'nothing to fear from looming Decent Homes Standard'

COMMENT: Landlords have 'nothing to fear from looming Decent Homes Standard'

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Nearly two thirds of landlords support the Governments plans to introduce a set of minimum standards for the private rented sector, it has been claimed. BTL lender Paragon Bank says its polling among some 500 landlords reveals 62% either strongly or generally supported the De

Claiming EPCs will cost £1000s to upgrade from D to C 'inaccurate' says expert

Claiming EPCs will cost £1000s to upgrade from D to C 'inaccurate' says expert

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There have been many articles in the media stating that it will cost £5,000 to £6,000 to improve a residential landlords EPC from D to C. James Tanner, whose family operates a London-based PRS portfolio,&nbsp;and&nbsp;who also runs a https://www.jtannerproperties.c

NEW: 36% of tenants would accept a rent increase from a good landlord

NEW: 36% of tenants would accept a rent increase from a good landlord

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New research within the private rented sector has unearthed surprising attitudes to rent increases among tenants. Uswitch asked 2,000 renters whether they would accept an increase when renewing their rental contract and found that on average 36% would accept an increase while 50

BREAKING: £17.9 billion landlord bill for EPC upgrades revealed

BREAKING: £17.9 billion landlord bill for EPC upgrades revealed

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Private landlords face a combined bill of �17.9 billion to upgrade their properties to a minimum EPC band C by 2025, with landlords in the capital facing the largest bill at �3.2 billion. Knight Franks figures highlight the looming crunch within the private rented sector pr

Expert sounds alarm over rent arrears court decision

Expert sounds alarm over rent arrears court decision

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An expert has warned that a court's decision to allow tenants to challenge landlord-requested rental arrears deductions from their UC payments will see more landlords shun tenants in receipt of benefits.

Big East of England town rushes in anti-HMO rules

Big East of England town rushes in anti-HMO rules

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Fenland Council has introduced an immediate Article 4 Direction before its consultation in a bid to clamp down on burgeoning HMOs in Wisbech.

Northern council heralds landlord fines of £1.38 million... so far!

Northern council heralds landlord fines of £1.38 million... so far!

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Landlords in County Durham have had to fork out fines totalling £1.38 million in the three years since selective licensing was introduced.

Dozens of new amendments proposed for Renters' Right Bill

Dozens of new amendments proposed for Renters' Right Bill

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Peers have tabled amendments to the Renters’ Rights Bill which, if approved, would shape the legislation into a version of the previous Renters’ Reform Bill.

'Chancellor must boost rental homes supply or risk economy'

'Chancellor must boost rental homes supply or risk economy'

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Chancellor Rachel Reeves has been warned that unless more rental properties are built her recent promise to ‘attract the best talent to the UK’ and boost economic growth will fall flat.

Build-to-rent giant celebrates as landlords exit student sector

Build-to-rent giant celebrates as landlords exit student sector

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Private HMO landlords leaving the sector have created a shortage of student housing, according to Unite Students, which boasts that it can help fill the gap with purpose-built student accommodation.

Labour rejects new calls for rent controls

Labour rejects new calls for rent controls

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The government has repeated its rejection of “heavy handed” rent controls despite pressure from peers in the House of Lords.

Northern city to clamp down on 'too many' HMOs

Northern city to clamp down on 'too many' HMOs

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Preston Council has proposed new powers to reject HMO applications amid fears that the city is already being over-run by shared homes.

Landlords offered significantly discounted carpets in Scotland

Landlords offered significantly discounted carpets in Scotland

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Landlords in Scotland who are members of the country’s landlord association are to get discounted carpets when refitting their rented properties,

Landlords and agents slam Scotland's 'anti PRS' budget

Landlords and agents slam Scotland's 'anti PRS' budget

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Landlords and letting agents have slammed the extra BTL tax rise in the Scottish budget which they believe could backfire on the government.

Property lawyer reveals novel solution to 'glacial' evictions

Property lawyer reveals novel solution to 'glacial' evictions

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Moving landlord and tenant disputes from overburdened county courts to tribunals would help clear the backlog and make evictions faster, according to a senior housing lawyer.

EPC REFORMS: 'Don't pick on landlords', big lenders warn Labour

EPC REFORMS: 'Don't pick on landlords', big lenders warn Labour

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UK Finance has urged the government not to single out the private rented sector when updating its EPC framework.

New laws increase demands on landlords, agents

New laws increase demands on landlords, agents

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The extra risks associated with letting following the passing of the Renters' Rights Bill later this year will mean extra vigilance if landlords are to avoid trouble

Manchester warns landlords to 'get licensed' as scheme expands

Manchester warns landlords to 'get licensed' as scheme expands

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Manchester has extended selective licensing to another 1,863 rental properties across the city.

Housing minister vows to help tenants 'know their rights'

Housing minister vows to help tenants 'know their rights'

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Tenants in Scotland are being targeted by a new campaign that aims to make them aware of their rental rights.

Landlord MP to step down after mouldy homes revealed

Landlord MP to step down after mouldy homes revealed

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Jas Athwal, the Labour MP who was shamed for renting out mouldy and unlicensed flats, has stood down as a councillor for Redbridge Council.

DWP 'carefully considering' what to do about High Court rent arrears judgement

DWP 'carefully considering' what to do about High Court rent arrears judgement

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DWP is expected to look at reforms that will make it harder for landlords to have money deducted from a tenant's UC benefits to repay arrears.

'Saddened' landlord to sell half her portfolio as reforms loom

'Saddened' landlord to sell half her portfolio as reforms loom

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A landlord has revealed how increasing risk and a “lack of joy” has prompted her to start offloading half her portfolio ahead of the Renters’ Rights Bill.

'Careless' portfolio landlord to pay back tenants £10,000

'Careless' portfolio landlord to pay back tenants £10,000

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A “lackadaisical” landlord who rented out an unlicensed and cockroach-infested HMO has been told to pay £10,834 back to three tenants.

Council to ban repeat rogue landlord from renting homes

Council to ban repeat rogue landlord from renting homes

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Peterborough Council is considering banning a rogue landlord who was handed a fine for housing a family in an uninhabitable property for a second time.

'Terrified' landlady tells parliament about her rent reform fears

'Terrified' landlady tells parliament about her rent reform fears

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A “terrified” landlord has urged the government to reconsider large parts of the Renters’ Rights Bill

Wales now has 1,107 fewer landlords, official data reveals

Wales now has 1,107 fewer landlords, official data reveals

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The Welsh private rental sector has lost a worrying 1,107 landlords in the last five years, coinciding with tougher rules around evictions and new tenancy agreements.

Huge landlord gathering revealed in London next month

Huge landlord gathering revealed in London next month

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One of the largest gatherings of landlords under one roof is due to take place on 19th March in London.

Kent landlord to pay £30k fine over unlicenced house

Kent landlord to pay £30k fine over unlicenced house

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After pursuing a £30,000 fine against one landord, his local council has vowed to go for other non-complilant BTL operators.

ADVICE: What to consider before expanding your portfolio

ADVICE: What to consider before expanding your portfolio

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Our experts help landlords looking to expand to plan ahead on several fronts including legislation, financing, tax, insurance and the fast-changing rental market.