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Landlord jailed after ignoring court order to improve rat-infested property

Landlord jailed after ignoring court order to improve rat-infested property

News

A rogue landlord has been jailed for 10 months after he failed to comply with conditions set by a court concerning his rat-infested property. Martin Ambler admitted four counts of breaching a criminal behaviour order in May 2022 but sentencing was deferred so that he could instr

Have you been hit by the 'cost of landlording' crisis? Here's some help

Have you been hit by the 'cost of landlording' crisis? Here's some help

News

There is a lot of talk at the moment about how rents are up by 11% across the UK and although I know its tough on renters, landlord costs have, in many cases, doubled. This includes mortgage premium payments following interest rates rises from 0.5% to 4% in just 12 months, an

Tory think-tank and Shelter push for three-year tenancies for PRS

Tory think-tank and Shelter push for three-year tenancies for PRS

News

The government should introduce three-year tenancies to protect tenants from uncertainty and rising rents, according to a liberal conservative think tank report. The Bright Blue group has teamed up with Shelter to publish, <strong id

NEW: Coalition slams Scots Government over rent cap and evictions freeze

NEW: Coalition slams Scots Government over rent cap and evictions freeze

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Landlords have heavily criticised the Scottish governments decision to implement its evictions freeze and rent cap without a proper consultation. The measures, which were widely criticised earlier this year for being rushed through, are now being fought by a coalition of orga

Mortgage provider sets up £50 million fund to help landlords upgrade EPCs

Mortgage provider sets up £50 million fund to help landlords upgrade EPCs

News

A BTL mortgage provider has pledged to invest £50 million in a fund to help landlords enhance their property's energy efficiency.

'Letting agents must help landlords navigate looming renting reforms'

'Letting agents must help landlords navigate looming renting reforms'

News

Evictions expert Paul Shamplina warns landlords and letting agents of increased responsibilities under the Renters Reform Act.

Long‑term Airbnb lets treated like ASTs, rules judge

Long‑term Airbnb lets treated like ASTs, rules judge

News

Airbnb landlord Talha Abbasi faces £102,000 court bill after judge classifies long-term let as assured shorthold tenancy, granting tenant protections.

Labour MP tells TV show that Section 21 evictions wrong in all circumstances

Labour MP tells TV show that Section 21 evictions wrong in all circumstances

News

Labour MP Diane Abbott has told TV viewers that bad landlords are those who use Section 21 to evict their tenants, whatever the reason. Despite there being genuine reasons for using the notice, such as non-paying tenants or anti-social behaviour, the London MP appeared on <a hre

DEPOSITS: Five weeks' rent 'not enough in many rent arrears and damage cases'

DEPOSITS: Five weeks' rent 'not enough in many rent arrears and damage cases'

News

New research reveals that deposits of five weeks rent dont provide landlords with enough protection in more than 10% of cases. Alternative deposit firm Reposit studied 20,000 tenancy agreements dating back to 2016 and found that landlords needed to r

BREAKING: 'London landlord and agent fines on track to hit record high this year'

BREAKING: 'London landlord and agent fines on track to hit record high this year'

News

This year London is on track to see the highest level of fines levied against rogue landlords and letting agents, it has been revealed as more and more councils begin operating licencing schemes. Geospatial compliance platform Kamma says it expects to see a 50% increase in enfor

TAX: New rates rules for holiday rental properties go live

TAX: New rates rules for holiday rental properties go live

News

New rules on holiday lets in England and Wales have taken effect which could force many owners to pay council tax instead of business rates. Self-catering properties in England must now be available for letting commercially for short periods of 140 nights

'Sickened' landlord slams Scots eviction ban after tenants trash home

'Sickened' landlord slams Scots eviction ban after tenants trash home

News

A landlord has warned others to make more regular checks on their rental properties after falling foul of Scotlands ongoing https://www.landlordzone.co.uk/news/vote-rent-rises-in-scotland-to-be-capped-at-3-until-october-msps-agree/" target="_blank" eviction b

UK rents hit record high amid soaring tenant demand

UK rents hit record high amid soaring tenant demand

News

Record high rental demand sends average UK rent to £993 pcm (ex‑London) and £1,184 pcm including London, HomeLet reveals. Sources

LATEST: Ministers consider forcing landlords to rent out empty shops

LATEST: Ministers consider forcing landlords to rent out empty shops

News

Landlords are being asked for their views on plans to forcibly rent out persistently vacant commercial properties to new tenants in a bid to rejuvenate high streets.&nbsp; High Street Rental Auctions - a new power for local authorities in England - is part

Landlord faces jail if he abuses tenant - his MOTHER - again!

Landlord faces jail if he abuses tenant - his MOTHER - again!

News

The landlord of a retirement flat faces jail if he contravenes a court order not to visit the property or engage in abusive, insulting and intimidating behaviour likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress�. During a hearing at Sheffield Crown Court, Judge Sadiq told land

Northern Ireland unveils radical affordable PRS scheme for landlords

Northern Ireland unveils radical affordable PRS scheme for landlords

News

Northern Ireland has unveiled a radical new type of private rented housing that aims to provide more high quality, affordable homes in the region. Intermediate rent is not social housing but will offer rents set at a level below the open private rented market, while renters will

Lenders blame LHA freeze as landlords fall into arrears

Lenders blame LHA freeze as landlords fall into arrears

News

UK Finance links LHA freeze to rising landlord mortgage arrears, urging policy review to prevent further financial strain on landlords.

Comment: will landlords really evict anti-social tenants in two weeks?

Comment: will landlords really evict anti-social tenants in two weeks?

News

Renters at risk under plans to let landlords evict tenants with two weeks notice,� says one headline. Yes, it kind of implies that tenants will be summarily evicted, I thought so when I first read it. As the recent press reports would have us believe, but this is not going

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Providing a Reference

Providing a Reference

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Providing a Reference - I have been asked to provide a reference for one of my tenants who is moving on. What is my legal position in this and am I putting myself at risk if I say he was a bad tenant?</h2> Referencing (seeking verification of a tenants past performance) is an increasi

Polystyrene Ceiling Tiles

Polystyrene Ceiling Tiles

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Polystyrene Ceiling Tiles - is it legal to have these tiles in the kitchen of a rental property?</h2> There are currently no regulations specifically banning the use of polystyrene ceiling tiles in existing rented property.However, it is unlikely that local authority fire officers and en

Misrepresentation

Misrepresentation

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Misrepresentation - We recently rented out our rural cottage to a couple. As they wanted to use their computers I said it was possible to get high-speed broad-band. I thought this would be possible but it seems it is not at this time. The couple are now claiming that I misled them and that

Mail for Previous Tenants

Mail for Previous Tenants

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I'm receiving mail for previous tenants and some of them are from debt collectors. Will this get my property black listed and cause problems for my current tenants and myself in the future?</h2> It's fairly common to have mail arriving for months and even years after residents have left,

Long Term AST

Long Term AST

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Long Term AST - My prospective tenant has asked for a tenancy term of 6 years. Can I use the usual Assured Shorthold Tenancy agreement for this?</h2> The Assured Shorthold Tenancy is the default tenancy for residential lettings and since October 2010 this applies to rents up to �100,000

How long should accounts be kept

How long should accounts be kept

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Question: How long should accounts be kept to satisfy the authorities, things like accounting files, invoices and tax records, as a property landlord?Answer: You must keep your records for 6 years after the tax year to which they apply, whether or not you complete a tax return.It's a good idea, a

Expiry of Section 21 Notice

Expiry of Section 21 Notice

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Expiry of Section 21 Notice - I have served a Section 21 (s21) Notice on my tenant but don't wish to start proceedings immediately. Can I wait without the notice expiring?Once a Section 21 notice has been served correctly it continues indefinitely, until such time as the tenancy is ended, either

Covenant and Covenant Strength

Covenant and Covenant Strength

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Covenant and Covenant Strength - What is a legal covenant and what is the significance of the terms in relation to rental property and lettings ?</h2>The term covenant can have several meanings and has biblical origins but it is of particulalry significance

10 year lease

10 year lease

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2 years ago I purchased a company with a 10 year lease from my ex boss, on a 10 year lease, the lease was set up by a solicitor. After 2 years the business is struggling and is not viable. I feel that my solicitor ill advised me as there was no break clause mentioned. Where do I stand on t

GUIDE: What to do as energy costs go through the roof

GUIDE: What to do as energy costs go through the roof

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Energy costs are a major concern for landlords and tenants. Save on energy consumption and make your tenants’ homes more comfortable

HMO landlords 'culpable' as council tackles fly-tipping epidemic

HMO landlords 'culpable' as council tackles fly-tipping epidemic

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A leading London council has revealed plans to clamp down on HMOs and the ‘fly tipping’ and rubbish their residents create, and has pointed the finger at both landlords and letting agents for not doing enough to stop the problem.

Minister says 'more powers to regulate holiday let landlords' may be needed

Minister says 'more powers to regulate holiday let landlords' may be needed

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Housing minister Matthew Pennycook has hinted that extra powers to stop holiday lets and second homes may be needed - including planning permission.

Big London council launches 'tenants' rights' charter

Big London council launches 'tenants' rights' charter

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Westminster City Council has launched a tenants’ charter aimed at helping private renters better understand their rights, improve living standards, and access support services.

Landlord fighting licensing 'overeach' urges YOU to get behind new petition

Landlord fighting licensing 'overeach' urges YOU to get behind new petition

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A Portsmouth landlord has launched an online petition in a bid to stop councils using heavy-handed criteria when designing selective licensing schemes.

Is this councillor offering Britain's most generous landlord deal?

Is this councillor offering Britain's most generous landlord deal?

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Private landlords are being offered attractive letting and leasing deals by the Royal Borough of Greenwich in a bid to tackle its housing crisis.

Landlords to get access to 'expanded boiler upgrade scheme'

Landlords to get access to 'expanded boiler upgrade scheme'

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Landlords could get more choice about what type of energy efficient upgrades they fit in their properties under the government’s Warm Homes Plan.

HMRC warns landlords off CGT avoidance schemes and closes loopholes

HMRC warns landlords off CGT avoidance schemes and closes loopholes

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HMRC has made the unusual step of warning landlords not to use widely-routed tax avoidance schemes which it says are being marketed to buy-to-let investors as a way to save Capital Gains Tax.

Seven out of ten tenants haven’t heard of the Renters’ Rights Bill

Seven out of ten tenants haven’t heard of the Renters’ Rights Bill

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A whopping 69% of renters haven’t heard of the Renters’ Rights Bill and 75% don’t understand how it might impact them, a new survey has revealed.

Bailiffs under pressure: The ripple effects of the Renters’ Rights Bill

Bailiffs under pressure: The ripple effects of the Renters’ Rights Bill

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The Renters' Rights Bill is set to to overhaul the eviction process, with bailiffs increasingly under pressure.

House prices dropped in April as buyers paid thousands more in stamp duty

House prices dropped in April as buyers paid thousands more in stamp duty

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House prices dropped in April as buyers paid thousands more in stamp duty, it has been revealed.

Courts aren't ready for Renters’ Rights Bill, Lords told this week

Courts aren't ready for Renters’ Rights Bill, Lords told this week

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The court system isn’t ready for the Renters’ Rights Bill, it was declared in the House of Lords this week.

Two in five landlords plan to leave the market, survey predicts

Two in five landlords plan to leave the market, survey predicts

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A worrying 39% of landlords will probably exit the market within the next five years, according to the latest poll.

Just 9% of homes sold by landlords in Scotland re-enter PRS market

Just 9% of homes sold by landlords in Scotland re-enter PRS market

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Only 9% of properties sold by landlords in Scotland in a recent 12-month period returned to the private rented sector, a new survey has found.

Only a fifth of landlords ready for new mandatory sanctions checks

Only a fifth of landlords ready for new mandatory sanctions checks

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Only a fifth of landlords and letting agents feel prepared for the new mandatory sanctions checks on all landlords and tenants.

Landlords investing in mixed-use property in bid for higher returns

Landlords investing in mixed-use property in bid for higher returns

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More landlords are investing in mixed-use properties in their quest for more robust returns.

UK rent outside London hits record high of £1,349 monthly

UK rent outside London hits record high of £1,349 monthly

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The average asking rent of a property outside of London has increased to a new record £1,349 a month, new data reveals.

Housing market cools as more properties hit the market

Housing market cools as more properties hit the market

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The number of homes for sale has reached a new height as demand among house hunters “cools”, it has been revealed.

COMMENT: How do you get started investing in property?

COMMENT: How do you get started investing in property?

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How do you get started investing in property? A recent post on our LandlordZONE Forums got me thinking about this question

Buckinghamshire tenants pay highest rents in the country

Buckinghamshire tenants pay highest rents in the country

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Tenants in Buckinghamshire fork out for the highest rents in the country - even more than those living in London’s prime SW7 postcode.

Paragon Bank launches cheapest buy-to-let five-year fix in almost three years

Paragon Bank launches cheapest buy-to-let five-year fix in almost three years

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Paragon Bank has launched its cheapest buy-to-let five-year fix in almost three years, becoming the latest lender to offer landlords more attractive deals.

London Renters Union protest against “slumlords”

London Renters Union protest against “slumlords”

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London Renters Union protested against “slumlords” in the capital at the weekend, calling for housing justice for all.

Older tenants face less financial security in retirement than owners

Older tenants face less financial security in retirement than owners

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Older renters are heading for a bleak retirement with significantly less financial security than their homeowning peers.

Flawed possession grounds will cut student housing supply, NRLA warns

Flawed possession grounds will cut student housing supply, NRLA warns

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A flawed grounds for possession will reduce the supply of student housing, the NRLA has warned.

Landlords hit with £30K bills after cannabis gangs took over homes

Landlords hit with £30K bills after cannabis gangs took over homes

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Landlords were left with bills of up to £30,000 after cannabis gangs took over their properties and left them unliveable.