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.
Rising rents and lack of supply in the privately rented sector (PRS) are the result of long-term failure in government housing policy and is not landlords’ fault, peers were told during the Renters Reform Bill second reading last night.
The government has provided more detail on how it plans to overhaul the courts, along with the timeline for abolishing Section 21.
James Kent, the NRLA's Chief Innovation Officer and founder of property compliance platform Safe2, looks at new data on the postcode lottery of local authority enforcement.
Commercial Lease: Before 1995, though many commercial tenants did not realise this, assigning the lease meant they agreed to be responsible for payment of the rent and performance of all the other covenants
Competition between tenants continues to intensify as the amount of time rental property listings are up for has dramatically reduced, according to new analysis.
High rents are prompting tenants and landlords to choose alternative deposit schemes, according to one provider.
New powers for councils to auction off leases on properties which have stood empty for more than a year will take effect this summer.
As Peers prepare to debate the Government’s Renters (Reform) Bill today, the NRLA has warned that landlords exiting the sector are the ‘biggest threat’ to renters as supply narrows and rents continue to rise rapidly.
Landlords are being asked for their views on whether the Tenancy of Shops (Scotland) Act should be repealed, replaced, or reformed.
Spelthorne council to the south of Heathrow Airport has changed it mind on HMO 'threat' following complaints.
A landlord in London is the first in the UK to have their properties taken over ‘long-term’ by a council.
The Government has been warned that its refusal to give student landlords an exemption from plans to scrap fixed-term tenancies will see the universit
Report shows reforms will have little impact on sector if tenants are largely unaware of their new rights.
A new partnership enables landlords' tenants to move into their home more easily, it has been announced.
MSP Maggie Chapman wants an immediate introduction of rent caps to prevent 'brutal' rent rises by 'rogue landlords'.
Lodgers Limits - Is there any limit to the number of rooms I can rent out to lodgers, and are there any other implications?
John D Wood says landlords must adapt ahead of changes within the Renters' Rights Bill.
Birmingham's council says that while 40,000 landlords have licensed their properties since July 2023, too many have not.
Enforcement officers in Harlow are scouring the borough for unlicensed HMOs and unsafe properties.
Landlord couple ordered to pay their tenants back the cash after failing to get an HMO licence for a property in
Landlords in Grimsby have failed to convince council bosses to ditch a proposed selective licensing scheme in the town.
The two landlords have been banned from renting property after their legal appeal was rejected.
Why Landlords probably should be concerned about what the Renters’ Rights Bill could bring
Landlords would be exempt from Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ plans for a national property tax but could ultimately pay higher prices for homes.
Tenants at a complex of flats in Nottingham have staged a protest against their no-fault eviction after it was sold to a new owner.
Buy-to-let is bouncing back—landlords are selling fast, often above asking, with tenants in place. Portfolios sold in days, even with damage.
Rent arrears fell by 12% to £1,861 in Q2 2025 marking the first year-on-year decline in a second quarter since 2021.
Rent rises are easing across the UK official data has revealed this morning but experts warn that the private rental market continues to suffer from a
A council in the north of England has been accused of an ‘abuse of power’ after introducing an ‘immediate' article 4 direction for HMOs.
Homes within the private rented sector aren’t the poor relation portrayed by tenant groups when it comes to energy efficiency
More leading figures and organisations have backed a campaigner's attempt to persuade Labour to U-turn on pet insurance.
Barrister and TV personality Rob Rinder has got behind RentGuarantor as the firm’s new brand ambassador.
Coventry Council has handed out £278,782 in landlord fines so far this year, including prosecutions, financial penalties and rent repayment orders.
Slump in buying due to confidence dented by regulatory uncertainty, higher borrowing costs and slower house price growth, says Dwelly.
