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Opinion: dealing with the thorny issue of damp and mould

Opinion: dealing with the thorny issue of damp and mould

Opinion

Damp and mould has always been a very difficult issue to deal with for landlords, but the recent case of Awaab Ishak and the rapid and direct involvement of Government has really brought matters to a head. The death of a Rochdale social housing tenants son, Awaab Ishak, has l

NEW: Shelter says landlords 'still rejecting tenants based on race'

NEW: Shelter says landlords 'still rejecting tenants based on race'

News

The boss of housing charity Shelter has repeated the organisations previous assertion that tenants seeking properties in the private rented sector (PRS) too often face racism from both landlords and letting agents. Polly Neates comments have been published by the BBC withi

MOULD: Minister vows to speed up 'Awaab's Law' as thousands sign petition

MOULD: Minister vows to speed up 'Awaab's Law' as thousands sign petition

News

The government has vowed to expedite a proposed law forcing landlords to respond quickly to complaints about damp and mould. Housing minister Felicity Buchan (pictured) told MPs that proposals were being worked through, after it announced plans last week t

Birmingham proceeds with HMO licensing expansion despite opposition

Birmingham proceeds with HMO licensing expansion despite opposition

News

Birmingham council has concluded its consultation into an additional licensing scheme across the city that would include 9,500 properties in all 69 wards. Following a full cabinet meeting report on the scheme's consultation which included several landlords sessions organised by

Heartless' landlord fined �175,000 over dilapidated and unlicensed HMO

Heartless' landlord fined �175,000 over dilapidated and unlicensed HMO

News

A rogue landlord who let out an unlicensed HMO with no working kitchen, unusable toilets, blocked drains and rats, has been fined a whopping �175,000. Adam Ali had turned the former Anchor Hotel in Cobham Road, Westcliff-on-Sea (pictured), into an HMO whe

Former Tory housing ministers call for radical shake-up of policy

Former Tory housing ministers call for radical shake-up of policy

News

Four former housing ministers have backed a Tory thinktank policy paper that urges a radical rethink of government housebuilding policies. The Centre for Policy Studies report, The Case for Housebuilding , explains how the UKs massive shortfall in homes

Big Issue founder: Ministers must help landlords to prevent evictions

Big Issue founder: Ministers must help landlords to prevent evictions

News

Big Issue founder John Bird has called on the government to help landlords prevent rent rises. The magazines editor-in-chief - a crossbench peer in the House of Lords - says it needs to stop households who cannot pay their rent from being evicted, warning of a surge in homele

Scotland replaces rent freeze with rent cap

Scotland replaces rent freeze with rent cap

News

Scottish government replaces controversial rent freeze with 3–6% cap from April, after landlord backlash.

NEW: Serial NW rogue landlord banned from PRS for three years

NEW: Serial NW rogue landlord banned from PRS for three years

News

A serial rogue landlord has become the first in the North West region to be served with a banning order after he failed to improve poor housing conditions in his unlicensed properties. Wirral Council had previously prosecuted Frank Morrow from New Brighton

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Landlords welcome report critical of Welsh regulator

Landlords welcome report critical of Welsh regulator

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A critical report on the performance of Welsh landlord and agent regulator Rent Smart Wales has been welcomed after it highlighted both uneven enforcement levels and its ‘abrasive’ communication style.

Why are landlords failing to invest in buy-to-let?

Why are landlords failing to invest in buy-to-let?

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Why aren’t buy-to-let landlords growing their portfolios when rent demand is through the roof, and while build-to-rent investors are so optimistic?

Campaigners and student landlords cross swords over rent reforms

Campaigners and student landlords cross swords over rent reforms

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Tenants' campaigning group Generation Rent has slammed the NRLA for pushing the government to include one and two-person student shares in the new possession ground under the Renters’ Rights Bill.

Raising EPC upgrade cost cap for landlords 'inappropriate'

Raising EPC upgrade cost cap for landlords 'inappropriate'

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Estate agents have urged the government to reduce its proposed £15,000 cost cap for landlords to make EPC upgrades to £5,000.

Industry boss slams Labour's EPC reform plans

Industry boss slams Labour's EPC reform plans

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A retrofit firm boss has warned that ill thought-out EPC reforms risk misclassifying millions of homes, misdirecting public funds and delaying action on cold, inefficient homes.

Big Midlands town gives green light to selective licensing

Big Midlands town gives green light to selective licensing

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Mansfield is the latest major district council to give the green light to selective licensing within its borders following a consultation last year.

Build more homes? Britain can't afford it, Rachel tells Angela

Build more homes? Britain can't afford it, Rachel tells Angela

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Labouir's promise to build more homes including those for renters is in jeapordy as Rayner and the Chancellor battle it out over money.

'More private landlords will quit and we'll replace them' - says big corporate

'More private landlords will quit and we'll replace them' - says big corporate

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The UK’s biggest private corporate landlord has predicted that rental housing shortages will worsen in the coming years – while it takes the place of smaller landlords.

Westminster green-lights huge selective licensing scheme for landlords

Westminster green-lights huge selective licensing scheme for landlords

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Westminster City Council has given the go-ahead to a huge new selective licensing scheme covering 15 of the London borough’s 18 wards.

Rise in number of landlords allowing tenants to redecorate

Rise in number of landlords allowing tenants to redecorate

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Surprising new research has revealed that three quarters of landlords would allow a tenant to redecorate their home, and half of landlords would pay for the costs of completing the work.

Housing law expert to host 'deep dive' into Labour's reforms

Housing law expert to host 'deep dive' into Labour's reforms

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Landlords are being invited to join a deep dive into the Renters’ Rights Bill during a two-day online conference featuring big hitters from the property sector.

Thousands of HMO landlords to face tougher rules in East of England

Thousands of HMO landlords to face tougher rules in East of England

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Norwich Council is overhauling its HMO policy by bringing in higher standards and tougher enforcement action.

Stretched councils 'unable to police landlords' mouldy homes'

Stretched councils 'unable to police landlords' mouldy homes'

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Local authorities are not enforcing private landlords’ legal duty to maintain safe housing, a BBC investigation has found.

High-profile landlord warns Energy Secretary over EPC upgrade plan

High-profile landlord warns Energy Secretary over EPC upgrade plan

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Nottingham benefits landlord Mick Roberts has warned that the government’s push to get rental properties up to an EPC C by 2030 could backfire.

Labour struggling with house building – quantity as well as quality

Labour struggling with house building – quantity as well as quality

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Angela Rayner’s promise to build 1.5 million new homes this Parliament is looking increasingly optimistic

BTL via Ltd company now most popular route

BTL via Ltd company now most popular route

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Seven out of 10 landlords planning to buy a new rental property during the next 12 months will use a limited company structure, it has been claimed.

Landlord to repay tenants £21,000 after failing to license HMO

Landlord to repay tenants £21,000 after failing to license HMO

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Four tenants have won £21,076 from their landlord who failed to explain why she hadn’t licensed her damp and cold HMO.

Rocketing leasehold charges trapping landlords with unsaleable flats

Rocketing leasehold charges trapping landlords with unsaleable flats

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Many landlords are struggling to sell leasehold flats because management charges have reached astronomical levels with many now forking out £2,000 or more a year.

Housing minister reveals plans to digitise property buying and selling

Housing minister reveals plans to digitise property buying and selling

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Landlords buying or selling homes will soon enjoy a smoother and quicker property transaction process after the Government announced that it is to digitise the system.

Salvation Army joins growing calls for Labour to unfreeze LHA

Salvation Army joins growing calls for Labour to unfreeze LHA

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The Salvation Army has joined calls for the UK government to help prevent homelessness in Scotland by scrapping the planned freeze on Local Housing Allowance (LHA).

Labour to force landlords to achieve EPC band C minimum

Labour to force landlords to achieve EPC band C minimum

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The government has confirmed its plan to force all private landlords to get their rental properties up to an EPC C – from the current EPC E – by 2030.

Renters’ Rights could scupper students’ uni plans

Renters’ Rights could scupper students’ uni plans

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Students from the UK and overseas could miss out on a university education unless the Government makes urgent changes to its Renters’ Rights Bill.

Tenants rescued by inspection officers after ignoring CO alarm

Tenants rescued by inspection officers after ignoring CO alarm

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A Birmingham Council officer has saved the lives of a family of renters during a selective licensing compliance visit.

Rental reforms stir controversy in House of Lords

Rental reforms stir controversy in House of Lords

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Despite warnings about potential unintended consequences of the Renters’ Rights Bill, the Bill is speeding through Parliament

Minister reveals end to rent controls in Scotland

Minister reveals end to rent controls in Scotland

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The Scottish government will scrap its temporary rent control legislation on 31st March, in a move which promises to boost landlords’ confidence.

Big company makes shock claim about 'small landlords'

Big company makes shock claim about 'small landlords'

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Build-to-rent developer Grainger has seen impressive growth thanks to a supportive government and the battering of smaller private landlords.

Landlords rush to sell amid high property demand

Landlords rush to sell amid high property demand

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From dwindling profits to tenant pressure groups and legislative interventions – landlords all over the UK have had enough.

LATEST: Bank of England lowers base interest rate to 4.5%

LATEST: Bank of England lowers base interest rate to 4.5%

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The Bank of England has cut interest rates by 0.25 percentage points to 4.5%, raising hopes of better mortgage deals for landlords.

Leading landords warn renting reforms will 'harm students'

Leading landords warn renting reforms will 'harm students'

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Reforms to the private rented sector will make it harder for swathes of students to access university, a coalition of student housing providers and property portals has warned.

'Super slum' landlord fined £14,000 over illegal HMO

'Super slum' landlord fined £14,000 over illegal HMO

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A landlord whose tenants were forced to use a drafty bathroom in the garden has been told to pay out more than £14,000.

Director trio banned after misleading investors over return of £4.13m

Director trio banned after misleading investors over return of £4.13m

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Three company directors have each been banned for seven years from running companies after 42 investors were misled about the return of £4.13m they had ploughed into a student accommodation development in Derby.

Major report reveals strain on landlords, tenants, agents

Major report reveals strain on landlords, tenants, agents

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Three quarters of landlords believe the private rented sector has got worse recently and half are planning to quit, the new report has also found.

Courts 'not ready for rental reforms' Lords and lawyers tell Labour

Courts 'not ready for rental reforms' Lords and lawyers tell Labour

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Lawyers and Tory peers have expressed fears that the Renters’ Rights Bill will be ineffective without further investment in the courts.

Lords warn govt: Renters’ bill may reduce housing supply

Lords warn govt: Renters’ bill may reduce housing supply

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Baroness Scott and a handful of other Lords defended landlords during yesterday's debate in parliament, warning Labour that the Renters Rights Bill will reduce supply.