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Tenants in England now pay half their income in rent

Tenants in England now pay half their income in rent

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Rightmove says the average rent in the UK now eats up 50% of the net income of those living within the private rented sector where the monthly rent per property is now £1,526.

Housing quality in rented sector rising - but so's damp

Housing quality in rented sector rising - but so's damp

News

Numbers of non-decent homes and Category 1 hazards in the PRS have fallen in recent years, although problems with damp are on the rise.

Rent controls in Scotland 'favour landlords' says Generation Rent

Rent controls in Scotland 'favour landlords' says Generation Rent

News

The Scottish government’s proposed rent control formula is generous to landlords but would leave tenants vulnerable to unaffordable rent rises, says Generation Rent.

Big council urges public to report rogue HMO landlords

Big council urges public to report rogue HMO landlords

News

Croydon Council is calling on local residents to report concerns about unauthorised HMOs as it ramps up action against errant landlords.

Landlords 'bewildered and frustrated' by Scotland's latest rent controls

Landlords 'bewildered and frustrated' by Scotland's latest rent controls

News

There is still widespread frustration and bewilderment among landlords and agent that rent controls are the only policy intervention to help tackle affordability in Scotland

CLAIM: Investors 'moving out of residential into commercial'

CLAIM: Investors 'moving out of residential into commercial'

News

Investors have started buying up shops and offices in London rather than houses in order to turn a profit.

Midlands landlord to pay £20,000 after ignoring improvement notice

Midlands landlord to pay £20,000 after ignoring improvement notice

News

A landlord in Telford is to pay a huge fine after his local council took him to court over a substandard property he rented out within the town.

Landlords caught up in latest cladding remediation problems

Landlords caught up in latest cladding remediation problems

News

A Lib Dem MP has highlighted what he describes as an unfolding EWS1 form scandal after a fire safety consultant was sanctioned for unprofessional conduct.

How will landlords handle risky tenants when 'rent in advance' is banned?

How will landlords handle risky tenants when 'rent in advance' is banned?

News

One of the seismic changes for landlords and letting agents this year will be when the Renters’ Rights Bill bans taking rent in advance.

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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

Lodgers Limits

Lodgers Limits

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Lodgers Limits - Is there any limit to the number of rooms I can rent out to lodgers, and are there any planning implications ?</h2> There are several parts of legislation in England and Wales that affect this question. Perhaps four main ones apply: Health &amp; Safety (HHSRS), HMO, Over

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

Labour 'not listening to sense' on renting reforms says peer

Labour 'not listening to sense' on renting reforms says peer

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Lord Hacking tells housing minister Government is 'plain wrong' in its insistence on banning fixed-term tenancies.

Decent Homes Standard for private rented sector 'soon' says Labour

Decent Homes Standard for private rented sector 'soon' says Labour

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Government reveals it is about to consult on a new Decent Homes Standard that will apply to private as well as social landlords.

Minister refuses to budge on ending 'tenancies in advance' for students

Minister refuses to budge on ending 'tenancies in advance' for students

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Housing minister says asking students to commit before Christmas to a tenancy the next year is unfair.

Could the Renters’ Rights Bill result in hundreds of tenants forced out?

Could the Renters’ Rights Bill result in hundreds of tenants forced out?

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The bill is designed to afford tenants more protections, but could it lead to them being ‘forced out’ of their homes?

Lettings agency fined £66,500 after council discovers 'dirty' HMO

Lettings agency fined £66,500 after council discovers 'dirty' HMO

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The HMO that AM PM Estates managed in Slough was found to be dirty and in a poor state of repair inside and out, including a

Build to rent to take 30% of rental market, says big lettings agency

Build to rent to take 30% of rental market, says big lettings agency

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More landlords are selling up than buying new properties to rent, a new Savills report highlights.

Government U-turns on RTS electricity meter switch off

Government U-turns on RTS electricity meter switch off

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The Government has, following feedback from various property and other industry bodies, delayed the 'big switch off'.

Four 'profit before people' landlords banned for life

Four 'profit before people' landlords banned for life

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In an unusual move, a Midlands local authority has added the four men to the national rogue landlords database.

Tough tenant referencing to be 'crucial' after renting reforms

Tough tenant referencing to be 'crucial' after renting reforms

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Robust tenant referencing will be increasingly important for landlords when the Section 8 process becomes more protracted.

Labour U-turn on pet insurance a 'betrayal' says campaigner

Labour U-turn on pet insurance a 'betrayal' says campaigner

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Labour's bewildering decision to U-turn on requiring tenants to have pet insurance has been slammed.

HMOs up to 50% more valuable than average house price

HMOs up to 50% more valuable than average house price

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New research reveals how higher yields make licensed HMOs much sought after among investors.

Greater Manchester landlords urged to sign up to Andy Burnham’s Charter

Greater Manchester landlords urged to sign up to Andy Burnham’s Charter

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All landlords in Greater Manchester will be expected to sign up for the Charter scheme which is the first of its kind in the UK

South coast city councillors greenlight 'Airbnb' offensive

South coast city councillors greenlight 'Airbnb' offensive

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Brighton & Hove Council has given the go-ahead for a crackdown on short lets in a bid to reclaim homes.

'Let only' agent wins appeal against licensing fine

'Let only' agent wins appeal against licensing fine

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A letting agent who was fined for letting a room in an unlicensed HMO has won his appeal.

Landlords' relief at new rent in advance rule

Landlords' relief at new rent in advance rule

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Landlords with existing tenancy agreements which have rent payable in advance can continue collecting it until the tenancy ends.

Tenants' dismay at likely rental reform delay

Tenants' dismay at likely rental reform delay

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The Renters’ Rights Bill is being held up and isn’t expected to become law until at least the autumn, according to reports.

EPC rules will force scores of tenants to move out

EPC rules will force scores of tenants to move out

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Nearly a quarter of tenants face being moved out of their homes when landlords start energy efficiency improvements.

Landlords 'betrayed' by government U-turn over pets

Landlords 'betrayed' by government U-turn over pets

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Landlords will need to foot the bill for damage caused by pets under a last-minute amendment to the Renters’ Rights Bill.

UK Landlords urged to prepare for change at National Landlord Investment Show summer spectacular

UK Landlords urged to prepare for change at National Landlord Investment Show summer spectacular

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The National Landlord Investment Show’s free Summer Spectacular on July 9th in London offers UK landlords and property professionals essential expert-

Another surge in shop closures comes due to mounting pressures on retail

Another surge in shop closures comes due to mounting pressures on retail

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Death by a thousand National Insurance contributions - the fate of retailers since the October 2024 budget which imposed higher employment costs

Property licensing system needs big overhaul says leading landlord

Property licensing system needs big overhaul says leading landlord

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A high-profile landlord has called the property licensing system ‘clunky’ and in need of simplification.

Sceptical landlord joins pioneering green rental homes scheme

Sceptical landlord joins pioneering green rental homes scheme

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A sceptical landlord has become a ‘guinea pig’ and spent considerable sums on making her Victorian four-bedroom rental property 'Let Zero'.

Northern city launches plan to begin selective licensing

Northern city launches plan to begin selective licensing

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Preston in Lancashire has become the latest city to launch plans to introduce selective licensing within its borders.

2025 record year for new licensing schemes as latest council launches plans

2025 record year for new licensing schemes as latest council launches plans

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Latest scheme to launch is one of 26 launched so far - making 2025 a 'record breaking year' for HMO and selective licensing.

Big city mayor fines landlords £1.5 million in two years

Big city mayor fines landlords £1.5 million in two years

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Greater Manchester has revealed a big increase in rogue landlord fines as part of its tough crackdown on the private rental sector.