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Tribunal slams councils for 'cash cow' licencing schemes that aren't needed

Tribunal slams councils for 'cash cow' licencing schemes that aren't needed

News

A First Tier Property Tribunal has slammed Nottingham Council for covering large swathes of the city with licensing schemes rather than targeting rogue landlords, a 'temptation' it says is faced by other local authorities. Justice for Tenants brought a case on behalf of a tenant

Shrinking buy-to-let could see a buy-to-let mortgage drought

Shrinking buy-to-let could see a buy-to-let mortgage drought

News

As landlords continue to exit the buy-to-let market, to the detriment of their tenants, could this rout also lead to buy-to-let mortgage lenders following their lead? This is a question posed by Chloe Cheung writing for the FT this last weekend. Its a serious question, a deve

Letting agents back HMO council tax re-banding reform proposals

Letting agents back HMO council tax re-banding reform proposals

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Letting agents have backed the Governments decision to reform the way HMO properties are banded for council tax. Propertymark, which represents the estate agency sector, says in its submission to a consultation by the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities that p

LATEST: Greens say 'immediate' rent freeze is only answer to housing crisis

LATEST: Greens say 'immediate' rent freeze is only answer to housing crisis

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Landlords wanting to back the eco movement may want to pause for thought after the Green Party today vowed to bring in an immediate rent freeze and no-fault eviction ban to tackle the housing crisis. During an election campaign visit to Suffolk, party co-leaders Carla Denyer and

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

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

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Evictions expert calls for national 'rogue tenant' database

Evictions expert calls for national 'rogue tenant' database

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Evictions expert Paul Shamplina has called for a rogue tenant database to be established, pointing out that bad letting agents and landlords face being named and shamed via official schemes, but tenants do not.

Protestors slam 'landlord lobby' outside Gove's London home

Protestors slam 'landlord lobby' outside Gove's London home

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Rental reform campaigners have staged a protest outside Michael Gove’s official residence in central London, calling on the housing secretary to implement his promised Section 21 evictions ban.

Campaigners blame Section 21 evictions for homelessness rise

Campaigners blame Section 21 evictions for homelessness rise

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More than 84,000 households have been put at risk of homelessness due to no-fault evictions since 2019, renting campaigners have claimed.

Landlords: we’ll sell your buy-to-let properties, fast, for the best price

Landlords: we’ll sell your buy-to-let properties, fast, for the best price

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As we enter April it’s been a mixed bag for landlords, with many “nervous" landlords looking to sell amidst a growing apprehension of market conditions and general elections.

Tycoon urges ALL rental homes to be inspected regularly

Tycoon urges ALL rental homes to be inspected regularly

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A leading businessman has entered the political fray with a book in which he lays out his ideas on how to solve the housing crisis including planning and rental market reform.

HMO landlord to pay £26,000 after adding storey to house

HMO landlord to pay £26,000 after adding storey to house

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An HMO landlord who added another storey on his property to squeeze in more tenants has been ordered to pay £26,535 for breaching numerous safety rules.

More landlords turn to 'safer' HMOs as economy remains tough

More landlords turn to 'safer' HMOs as economy remains tough

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HMOs are becoming more popular among landlords as many turn to them as a ‘surer bet’ than other types of rental property in a time of economic uncertainty, it has been claimed.

Housing crisis tops voters' list of key issues to solve

Housing crisis tops voters' list of key issues to solve

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Voters say the ongoing housing crisis tops the list of key priorities that need to be addressed by the current and incoming government, according to renters in a SpareRoom poll.

Property portal: Can tech free up cash to tackle criminal landlords?

Property portal: Can tech free up cash to tackle criminal landlords?

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Property portal could cut red tape and free up funds to tackle rogue landlords by replacing expensive licensing requirements.

Agents report slightly improved picture for tenants

Agents report slightly improved picture for tenants

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The average number of available rental properties at letting agencies jumped to a two-year high last November.

It's time to get ahead of game

It's time to get ahead of game

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With the new year now upon us there’s no better time for landlords to start preparing for the wide-ranging legislation change on the cards for 2025.

TikTok video about looming landlord pets rules goes viral

TikTok video about looming landlord pets rules goes viral

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A TikTok video on upcoming rules around tenants’ ability to keep pets has garnered more than two million views.

Letting agent slams Shelter over 'headline grabbing' eviction claims

Letting agent slams Shelter over 'headline grabbing' eviction claims

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A letting agent has slammed Shelter’s campaign to highlight Section 21 eviction cases as “absurd sensationalism”.

Labour MP declares war on 'too many' HMOs

Labour MP declares war on 'too many' HMOs

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A campaigning MP has helped her constituents get every new HMO application thrown out in the last three years.

Thinktank reveal unusual solution to renting 'crisis'

Thinktank reveal unusual solution to renting 'crisis'

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The landlord exodus is a once-in-a-generation opportunity for councils to buy up properties and restore what was lost under Right to Buy, according to a campaigning think-tank.

Renting reforms to move forward on 14th January

Renting reforms to move forward on 14th January

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The Renters’ Rights Bill is to get its latest airing in just under two weeks' time ahead of moving to the Lords.

Landlords to pay double stamp duty in April

Landlords to pay double stamp duty in April

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Stamp duty bills will almost double from £8,452 to £16,190 in April, an increase likely to spark higher rental costs as landlords attempt to recoup costs.

5 top tips for a successful tenancy with resolution expert Suzy Hershman

5 top tips for a successful tenancy with resolution expert Suzy Hershman

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If there's one thing all landlords want to avoid, it's tenancies that go 'pear shaped'. Here we ask and expert how to avoid this.

Sadiq 'rent controls' Khan knighted in New Year's Honours

Sadiq 'rent controls' Khan knighted in New Year's Honours

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One of the most ardent political supporters of rent controls in England has been made a knight within the 2025 New Year honours list.

Councils use Generation Rent to highlight unaffordable rents

Councils use Generation Rent to highlight unaffordable rents

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Three quarters of Suffolk renters have struggled to find an affordable home in the last six months, while half had a rent increase – an average of £58 – according to new research.

Midlands council slams 'horrendous' local private rented sector

Midlands council slams 'horrendous' local private rented sector

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Peterborough Council’s selective licensing scheme has uncovered some “horrendous” living conditions since its launch last March.

Landlord who ignored licensing for second time given huge fine

Landlord who ignored licensing for second time given huge fine

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A rogue landlord has been fined for a second time this year for failing to license his portfolio of houses.

PM's own rental house will soon fail EPC rules

PM's own rental house will soon fail EPC rules

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Prime Minister Keir Starmer is facing an EPC upgrade bill of up to £28,000 for the property he rents out in North London.

Merry Christmas and a Happy News Year to all our readers

Merry Christmas and a Happy News Year to all our readers

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The past 12 months have been a momentous time for private landlords as tax changes and looming new regulations have been unveiled by politicians of various hues.

'What's the point of good landlords if rogues aren't policed?'

'What's the point of good landlords if rogues aren't policed?'

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Councils are sending the wrong message to law-abiding landlords by failing to investigate those who can’t provide a valid EPC certificate.

Northern landlord fined £38,000 over multiple HMO offences

Northern landlord fined £38,000 over multiple HMO offences

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A landlord in Liverpool has been prosecuted by its city council for 23 offences under national HMO management regulations.

Heat pumps 'don't help upgrade EPCs' warns new report

Heat pumps 'don't help upgrade EPCs' warns new report

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News
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Despite enthusiasm in Whitehall for heat pumps they not the best way to upgrade a rented property EPC rating, a new report has claimed.

Two thirds of private renters struggling to pay rent

Two thirds of private renters struggling to pay rent

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Nearly two-thirds of working private renters - 4,450,000 people - are falling behind with rent payments or struggling to pay their rent.

COMMENT: Year end 2024 heralds both optimism and some pessimism for property investing…

COMMENT: Year end 2024 heralds both optimism and some pessimism for property investing…

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Tom Entwistle recalls the year in property and looks forward to the year ahead

Labour to help landlords trapped by unsafe cladding

Labour to help landlords trapped by unsafe cladding

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Landlords who own flats in blocks with unsafe cladding have been given an assurance that developers must meet repair deadlines next year following the publication of the government’s Remediation Acceleration Plan (RAP).

'Bills-included' tenancies are more profitable, says EPC expert

'Bills-included' tenancies are more profitable, says EPC expert

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Landlords offering a bills-included rental could dramatically increase their profit margins by improving its energy efficiency.

Council boasts about landlord prosecution success

Council boasts about landlord prosecution success

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Sheffield Council has boasted that it’s one of the keenest prosecutors of rogue landlords in the UK.

Savills’ optimistic outlook for property in 2025 

Savills’ optimistic outlook for property in 2025 

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Unveiling its 2025 cross-sector UK forecasts, Savills strikes an optimistic note and predicts highest returns for North West buy-to-let

Licensing expert slams Labour's selective scheme rule change

Licensing expert slams Labour's selective scheme rule change

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An expected expansion in selective licensing schemes next year may fill council coffers but won’t improve housing standards, a leading landlord figure has claimed.