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Landlord slapped with �40,700 fine after 'honest mistake' over HMO licence

Landlord slapped with �40,700 fine after 'honest mistake' over HMO licence

News

A lettings agency boss and landlord has been slapped with a �40,700 Rent Repayment Officer despite claiming that his failure to licence an HMO was an honest mistake. A First Tier Property Tribunal handed five former tenants the maximum award for the period from September 2019 t

Scottish government unveils controversial rent reform plans

Scottish government unveils controversial rent reform plans

News

Scotland’s Housing Bill proposes rent controls, winter eviction bans, pet rights & tougher eviction penalties in private sector overhaul.

Bristol significantly expands HMO and selective licensing schemes

Bristol significantly expands HMO and selective licensing schemes

News

Bristol has approved plans to extend landlord licensing in Brislington West, Bedminster and Horfield wards in a bid to raise PRS standards. The scheme includes additional licensing - HMOs with three or more unrelated people sharing facilities and selective licensing - privat

Durham’s new licensing scheme for 29,000 homes: What you need

Durham’s new licensing scheme for 29,000 homes: What you need

News

Durham County Council's selective licensing scheme covers 29,000 homes, requiring landlords to apply by 31 July for a £350–£500 licence fee.

Test Case: Council advising tenants to stay put after valid s21 notice served

Test Case: Council advising tenants to stay put after valid s21 notice served

News

This is a Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman case involving an unnamed landlord (LandlordX or MrX) and Brentwood Borough Council. The case revolves around a common situation where the landlord required possession of the property after serving a valid section 21 notice un

'Let’s not forget property remains the best performing investment'

'Let’s not forget property remains the best performing investment'

Opinion

I've been in the property investment business for almost 30 years and during this period opportunities have come and gone but I've yet to discover an asset class that perf

OPINION: The EPC ratings system is 'not fit for purpose'

OPINION: The EPC ratings system is 'not fit for purpose'

Opinion

Ever since I started to market one of my commercial buildings around 10 years ago now, I began to doubt the efficacy of the EPC rating system. The guy that came along to do the inspection told me himself he had just completed a 6 week course, or whatever it was, to train to be a

BREAKING: Government toughens up smoke and C0 alarm regulations

BREAKING: Government toughens up smoke and C0 alarm regulations

News

Social and private landlords are to face tougher new rules which make it mandatory to fit smoke alarms in all rented accommodation regardless of tenure, and widen the conditions under which they must be fitted. Revisions to the smoke and carbon monoxide detector regulations also

ANALYSIS: Does buy-to-let still beat the stock market?

ANALYSIS: Does buy-to-let still beat the stock market?

News

If you had �50k to invest right now, where would you put it, buy-to-let property or stocks and shares? Certainly leaving it in a traditional savings account, with interest rates as they are at rock bottom, thats out of the question. And with the threat of rising inflation ea

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Rent controls will help to protect landlords’ property rights, insists Scottish Government

Rent controls will help to protect landlords’ property rights, insists Scottish Government

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News
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The Scottish Government has insisted that rent controls will help protect landlords’ property rights and support investment while protecting tenants facing cost-of-living pressures and rising energy prices.

Almost half of landlords prefer to buy a doer-upper property

Almost half of landlords prefer to buy a doer-upper property

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News
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Almost half of landlords prefer to buy a doer-upper property, new research has revealed.

Landlords urged to check properties regularly for cannabis farms following two deaths

Landlords urged to check properties regularly for cannabis farms following two deaths

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News
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Landlords in Northumbria have been urged to check their properties regularly for cannabis farms following two deaths as the result of a dangerous drug lab.

Average house price drops £1,575 in March, reveals Halifax data

Average house price drops £1,575 in March, reveals Halifax data

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News
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The average house price of a home in Britain fell 0.5%in March -a drop of £1,575 - putting the average property price at £296,699.

Tax changes stem flow of foreign BTL investors

Tax changes stem flow of foreign BTL investors

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News
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Tax changes have stemmed the flow of overseas house hunters seeking a buy-to-let property or second home in the last five years.

LEGAL landmark case: serving notices on your tenants – get it right first time

LEGAL landmark case: serving notices on your tenants – get it right first time

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Denial of receipt of notices is a recurring theme on the landlord-tenant landscape. This landmark case clarifies matters.

Landlords react to renters’ rights bill shockwaves

Landlords react to renters’ rights bill shockwaves

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News
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Landlords packed the National Landlord Investment Show in London, sounding the alarm over the game-changing Renters Rights Bill. With no-fault evictions on the chopping block, experts warn that the bill could cripple landlords with skyrocketing legal costs and a loss of control over their properties

Trickle vents can be one of the best ways to combat damp and mould in rental properties

Trickle vents can be one of the best ways to combat damp and mould in rental properties

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News
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Trickle vents can be one of the best ways to combat damp and mould, according to one architect who explains why houses are getting damper, ahead of Awaab’s Law.

Labour MP reiterates calls for a short-lets registration scheme

Labour MP reiterates calls for a short-lets registration scheme

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News
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A Labour MP has reiterated calls in the House of Commons this week for a short-lets registration scheme.

New laws increase demands on landlords, agents

New laws increase demands on landlords, agents

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News
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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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News
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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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News
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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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News
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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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News
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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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News
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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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News
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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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News
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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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News
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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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News
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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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News
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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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News
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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.

Landlords urged to document inspections after failed evictions

Landlords urged to document inspections after failed evictions

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News
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Landlords have been urged to make sure they document inspections after a tenant managed to avoid eviction by blaming the lack of a recorded carbon monoxide detector.

Should landlords worry about EPC deadline? No, says leading expert

Should landlords worry about EPC deadline? No, says leading expert

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News
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Rising EPC scores suggest that achieving a C rating by 2030 shouldn’t be such a cause for concern, according to landlord energy efficiency platform epIMS.

Exiting tenants' average rent debt jumps by 46%

Exiting tenants' average rent debt jumps by 46%

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News
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Rent arrears jumped by 44% to an average of £2,597 during the final three months of 2024, latest year-on-year figures reveal, while on a quarterly basis they increase by 26%.

Sell with tenants? We handle certs, compliance and evictions

Sell with tenants? We handle certs, compliance and evictions

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Landlords know the score – it’s tough out there and hordes of Landlords are rushing to sell before Section 21 is abolished.

More landlords selling properties than buying, warns NRLA

More landlords selling properties than buying, warns NRLA

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News
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New data reveals that 20% of landlords across England and Wales have sold property during the last 12 months, almost three times more than the 7% who had bought new homes to rent.

'Rent arrears set to rise when Labour PRS reforms go live'

'Rent arrears set to rise when Labour PRS reforms go live'

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News
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One of the UK’s largest tenant referencing firms has warned that the restrictions to be placed on landlords by the looming Renters’ Rights Bill will push up rent arrears.

EPC changes, what’s coming and what do you need to do?

EPC changes, what’s coming and what do you need to do?

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News
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The new Labour Government has been busy changing the rules on EPCs for rentals and there’s ongoing consultation exercises to decide what changes are needed

Repeat offender landlord fined £5,000 over illegal HMO

Repeat offender landlord fined £5,000 over illegal HMO

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News
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A landlord has been fined almost £5,000 after being found guilty for a second time of operating an illegal HMO.

Big NE town brings in HMO planning restrictions

Big NE town brings in HMO planning restrictions

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News
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Middlesborough Council has brought in new planning restrictions to clamp down on the “wrong sort of HMOs”.

Big city to expand licensing five-fold despite landlord concerns

Big city to expand licensing five-fold despite landlord concerns

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News
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Gateshead is to push ahead with new property licensing schemes despite local landlords and letting agents opposing them including 93% saying the fees are ‘too high’.

Is development more attractive than landlording?

Is development more attractive than landlording?

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News
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Rental property yields are shrinking as the costs created by more regulations and legislation eat into landlord profits – so is it time more BTL landlords became SME developers?

Tenant group says 'landlords can't be trusted' to regulate themselves

Tenant group says 'landlords can't be trusted' to regulate themselves

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News
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Scotland’s tenants’ union has warned that removing rent rise reprotections will lead to an uptick in de facto evictions and homelessness.