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Opinion: How will small-scale private landlords fare in 2022?

Opinion: How will small-scale private landlords fare in 2022?

Opinion

An example of the difficulty of prediction is the conclusion to a detailed study recently published on the private rented sector by the London School of Economics (a study commissioned by the NRLA) Individually and cumulatively, the recent tax changes

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

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Investment property is a steal - but there's a catch

Investment property is a steal - but there's a catch

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
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Landlords with a burning ambition to take on a major project might consider bidding on this home in the Welsh valleys, priced £0.

EXPERT: Clarity needed over PBSA exemption from reforms

EXPERT: Clarity needed over PBSA exemption from reforms

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
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Information

There is confusion around whether Purpose-Built Student Accommodation will be exempt from changes in the Renters’ Rights Bill.

Borough's HMO landlords trial new appeals portal

Borough's HMO landlords trial new appeals portal

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
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Landlords in Barnet who are refused permission for change of use to an HMO can challenge the decision through a new online portal.

BTL mortgage rates fall despite interest rate hold

BTL mortgage rates fall despite interest rate hold

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
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The Bank of England has resisted the temptation to cut interest rates, which remain at 5%.

REPORT: Scots law fails to significantly improve PRS

REPORT: Scots law fails to significantly improve PRS

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
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Legislation in Scotland has done little to improve affordability in the PRS, according to new research.

Utilita Energy helps landlords winterproof against mould and damp

Utilita Energy helps landlords winterproof against mould and damp

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News
Podcast
Opinion
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Information

Times are hard for tenants and landlords alike and this coming winter is causing a worry for many. Almost a quarter of households are already in energy arrears and 9 out of 10 households are worried about increasing energy bills. With heating being the largest proportion of the average energy bill,

Tenant lifestyle not always to blame for damp, says legal expert

Tenant lifestyle not always to blame for damp, says legal expert

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
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Landlords should not be so quick to lay the blame on tenants for problems and instead use new tools to tackle issues.

Rental prices continue to climb at near-record rate

Rental prices continue to climb at near-record rate

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
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Information

Average UK private rents increased by 8.4% in the 12 months to August, down from 8.6% in the 12 months to July.

Portfolio landlords buying more properties through companies

Portfolio landlords buying more properties through companies

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
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Information

Landlords who use limited company structures are incorporating a much larger proportion of their portfolios to mitigate tax changes.

Major national park moves to restrict holiday lets

Major national park moves to restrict holiday lets

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
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Information

One of the UK’s larger national parks is planning to stop any new homes that are built within it being used as holiday/short lets or second homes.

Legal Matters: Serving notices, don’t fall foul of the law

Legal Matters: Serving notices, don’t fall foul of the law

Information
News
Podcast
Opinion
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A crucial task for landlords and agents is to correctly serve statutory notices and other documents

What should the new rental contracts be called? Have your say!

What should the new rental contracts be called? Have your say!

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
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Information

Property experts are pondering what the government might name new tenancies created by the Renters’ Rights Bill.

Council takes unusual approach to signing off HMOs

Council takes unusual approach to signing off HMOs

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
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Information

A district council has come up with a set of exceptional circumstances to help decide when to give the go-ahead to new HMOs.

Student landlord lands £2.3 million refinancing deal

Student landlord lands £2.3 million refinancing deal

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
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Information

A landlord in Liverpool has secured £2.3 million to refinance eight student HMOs within the city and unusually has gone public about the deal.

Letting agent slams police over 'lack of justice'

Letting agent slams police over 'lack of justice'

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
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Information

A letting agent has criticised police who failed to act when vandals threw a brick through one of his tenant’s windows.

Landlords, Fed Up with the Labour Government? Sell your Portfolio NOW

Landlords, Fed Up with the Labour Government? Sell your Portfolio NOW

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News
Podcast
Opinion
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Information

The never-ending onslaught of landlords, including the abolition of Section 21, tough EPC rules, and changes to stamp duty, have left landlords fed up and thinking of throwing in the towel.

Energy firms called out over HMO tenant utility bill problems

Energy firms called out over HMO tenant utility bill problems

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
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Information

A tenants’ champion has slammed energy companies for failing to help renters with energy bill problems at HMOs.

Landlords fume after letting agency shuts down owing money

Landlords fume after letting agency shuts down owing money

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
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Information

Northwood letting agency in Romford has gone bust, leaving angry landlords out of pocket.

Most labour-voting landlords now regret their decision

Most labour-voting landlords now regret their decision

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News
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Opinion
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Most landlords who voted Labour wouldn’t do it again, a new survey from buy-to-lender Landbay has found.

RICS reports first dip in tenant demand since 2020

RICS reports first dip in tenant demand since 2020

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
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Information

Surveyors are the latest group to report a cooling rental market in the UK, with a slowing in demand among tenants for the first time since 2020.

Big town in south reveals plans for more HMO licencing

Big town in south reveals plans for more HMO licencing

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
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Information

Reading Council has given the go-ahead for an additional licensing scheme in the town – and defended the rising costs set to hit landlords.

Campaigners urge MPs to back more severe renting reforms

Campaigners urge MPs to back more severe renting reforms

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
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Information

Generation Rent has urged renters to get more MPs backing amendments to the Renters’ Rights Bill.

LATEST: Rental market cooling as landlord 'sell off' eases

LATEST: Rental market cooling as landlord 'sell off' eases

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
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Information

Rental growth in the UK has dropped to 3.9%, its lowest level in more than three years and down from 9.1% a year ago.

Demand for accessible homes grows as renting population ages

Demand for accessible homes grows as renting population ages

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
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Information

Demand for accessible homes is growing as the tenant population ages, a leading estate agency has reported, calling on Labour to help landlords finance upgrades.

COMMENT: Tax trap has landlords in a quandary

COMMENT: Tax trap has landlords in a quandary

Opinion
News
Podcast
Opinion
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Information

With substantial capital gains gathered within your properties, selling the whole portfolio will probably leave you exposed to a substantial capital gains tax bill

Welsh Government reveals 'baffling' stamp duty rise for landlords

Welsh Government reveals 'baffling' stamp duty rise for landlords

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
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Information

The Welsh Government has followed its counterparts in England and Scotland and raised the stamp duty that landlords buying rental properties must pay, effective from tomorrow.

Renting reforms will be 'costly ride' for landlords warns expert

Renting reforms will be 'costly ride' for landlords warns expert

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
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Information

Landlords may need to prepare for a turbulent and potentially very costly ride once the Renters’ Rights Bill becomes law, a financial expert has warned.

Judge orders landlord to pay back tenants £44,000

Judge orders landlord to pay back tenants £44,000

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
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Information

A landlord has been ordered to pay six tenants a whopping £44,358 after failing to provide an excuse for operating an unlicensed HMO.

People over 55 years old are 'fastest-growing tenant group'

People over 55 years old are 'fastest-growing tenant group'

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
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Information

Tenants heading for retirement age are the fastest growing group privately renting in England, according to new figures.

Campaigners target landlord's workplace over leaky flat

Campaigners target landlord's workplace over leaky flat

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
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Information

Tenant group Acorn has protested outside a landlord’s shop after he refused to return a former tenant’s deposit in a dispute over a leak.

City council slammed for 'double standards' over HMO licensing

City council slammed for 'double standards' over HMO licensing

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
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Information

Edinburgh Council has responded to accusations of double standards when housing homeless people in 30 unlicensed HMOs by moving tenants out of the properties.

Northern council targets HMOs with new planning rules

Northern council targets HMOs with new planning rules

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
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Information

Hyndburn Council wants to deter landlords from making the most of its cheap properties and ‘multiple deprivation’ by clamping down on HMO conversions.

Landlord Christmas carol reflects on rental sector

Landlord Christmas carol reflects on rental sector

Opinion
News
Podcast
Opinion
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As we approach the festive season of 2024, like many of us, I find myself drawn to Charles Dickens's timeless tale, A Christmas Carol.

NEW: Landlords 'most worried' by tax rises and renting reforms

NEW: Landlords 'most worried' by tax rises and renting reforms

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
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Landlords blame upcoming legislation and tax changes for causing 73% of them to feel less confident than they did last year.