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Big council looks at selective licencing to clamp down on bad landlords

Big council looks at selective licencing to clamp down on bad landlords

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A major Midlands council is considering a selective licencing when its additional licencing scheme for HMOs finishes in 2025 as it seeks to answer critics who believe this type of property is damaging social cohesion in many areas. The Cabinet committee of West Northamptonshire

Locate rooftop solar panels on commercial buildings

Locate rooftop solar panels on commercial buildings

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Living in an era where the UK has concerns about the security of energy supply, rising energy costs, and the need to meet environmental considerations, looking to innovative energy back-up alternatives makes sense. Since the shock of the war in Ukraine, it has become increasingl

LATEST: Gove moves to reassure landlords ahead of reform bill changes

LATEST: Gove moves to reassure landlords ahead of reform bill changes

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Housing secretary Michael Gove has moved to reassure private landlords that the Government backs them, describing their work as vital to a functioning rented sector. His column for the https://www.nrla.org.uk/" target="_blank" NRLA </a

Landlord fined £44,000 over unsafe HMO during bizarre court proceedings

Landlord fined £44,000 over unsafe HMO during bizarre court proceedings

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Strange proceedings have been reported at Bristol Magistrates Court after a landlord was fined �44,000 over serious fire safety issues at an HMO he operates. Joe Sutera attended the court hearing but refused to identify himself saying he was a man and that Joe Sutera h

HOW is he still operating? 'Intolerable' landlord fined for second time

HOW is he still operating? 'Intolerable' landlord fined for second time

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A rogue landlord has been handed a hefty fine for renting out a dangerous and mouldy property his second in two years. Hazmar Fauz, of The Avenue in Welwyn, admitted several serious defects at the house in London Road, Luton, when he appeared before magistrates and was fined

Call to raise local housing allowance to address rent gap

Call to raise local housing allowance to address rent gap

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Letting agents urge govt to annually increase Local Housing Allowance to at least the 30th percentile, helping benefits tenants afford rising rents.

Low-income tenants are being priced out of renting

Low-income tenants are being priced out of renting

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Rising rents and frozen Local Housing Allowance (LHA) rates mean that more and more tenants on low incomes cant find an affordable place to live. Whats more, for those lucky enough to find a rental that they can afford, invariably they will cost more to run.

LATEST: Huge spike in number of young landlords entering buy-to-let market

LATEST: Huge spike in number of young landlords entering buy-to-let market

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The Renters Reform Bill wont lead to a mass landlord exodus as an army of youngsters are already starting to take older investors place. The https://www.thepropertysourcingcompany.co.uk/" Property Sourcing Companys poll of its 3

NEW: It's time to phase out traditional gas boilers says lobby group

NEW: It's time to phase out traditional gas boilers says lobby group

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The Heat Pump Association (HPA) wants the government to firm up a date for phasing out traditional gas boilers as UK heat pump installations continue to trail the rest of Europe. The governmentshttps://www.gov.uk/government/publications/heat-and-buildings-strategy" i

BENEFITS: 'Absurd' rent payments policy discriminates against private landlords

BENEFITS: 'Absurd' rent payments policy discriminates against private landlords

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Universal Credit expert Bill Irvine says the DWP is using the benefits cap as a reason to halt Alternative Payment Arrangements (APA) which goes against previous advice from the departments boss. In a letter to Irvine, at https://universalcreditadvice.com/our-service

£17,000: Council issues highest ever penalty against non-compliant landlord

£17,000: Council issues highest ever penalty against non-compliant landlord

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A landlord in Mansfield has been ordered to pay a �17,000 penalty after renting out a sub-standard and unlicensed HMO. The landlord, who was investigated by Mansfield District Council officers after a complaint about alleged overcrowding, was found not to

Landlords and university jointly launch unusual student week initiative

Landlords and university jointly launch unusual student week initiative

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Landlords and student groups have teamed up to tidy Leedss streets during student changeover week. The city hosts about 37,000 students, the vast majority of whom will move house each year at the same time, leaving behind large amounts of rubbish, overflowing bins, furniture

'Tenants look after HMOs better when they're fitted with posh furniture'

'Tenants look after HMOs better when they're fitted with posh furniture'

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A twenty-something entrepreneurial pair aim to shake up the HMO sector by building on their upmarket guaranteed rent model. Liverpool-based Cosi Living founders Joe Duggan , 24 and Olivia Maher , 25, (main picture) only rented their fi

Exclusion of landlords from mortgage help scheme 'a mistake' says Labour

Exclusion of landlords from mortgage help scheme 'a mistake' says Labour

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Omitting BTL landlords from the governments mortgage charter will only hurt supply and push up rents as landlords are forced to pass on their costs, says Labour. The new agreementhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B_76Y3b2cjM" https://www.youtube.com

Tenant's �120,000 claim threatens entire deposits protection system

Tenant's �120,000 claim threatens entire deposits protection system

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A tenant who failed to convince a judge that his landlord did not give him statutory tenancy deposit information is taking his case to the High Court. Merryck Lowes application relating to a claim for �120,888 against charitable landlord, the Governors of Suttons Hosp

REPORT: Thinktank says landlords should pay MORE tax to balance inequality

REPORT: Thinktank says landlords should pay MORE tax to balance inequality

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Landlords should pay more tax to balance inequalities within the tax system, according to the Resolution Foundation. The think-tanks new report points out that while the top tax rate for employees stands at 53.4% including employer NICs, only 28% is paid on property gains. </

Landlords '� can you continue to let your buildings?

Landlords '� can you continue to let your buildings?

News

Are you confident your buildings will meet the coming changes to energy performance rules? Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) legislation has been in statute since 2008. Since then there has been a progression of increasingly stringent regulations to cajole property owners to

EXPERT: Landlords buying via personal mortgages facing more 'stress testing'

EXPERT: Landlords buying via personal mortgages facing more 'stress testing'

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Landlords buying properties via personal buy-to-let mortgages are facing greater stress testing of their affordability as economic jitters unsettle lenders, it has been revealed. Financial expert Louisa Sedgwick (main picture) from broker ht

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COMMENT: Labour’s rental reforms, have they been watered down?

COMMENT: Labour’s rental reforms, have they been watered down?

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Labour’s rental reforms, has Labour's Rental Charter have they been watered down in the King's speech?

Enfield HMO landlords face licence fee hike

Enfield HMO landlords face licence fee hike

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Landlords in the London borough face paying an extra £174 for an additional HMO licence if plans get the green light.

Welsh tax grab plans could hammer PRS investment

Welsh tax grab plans could hammer PRS investment

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The Welsh government has been warned it risks reducing the supply of student accommodation if changes to tax reliefs are introduced.

Higher costs curb new student home building

Higher costs curb new student home building

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Fewer than 17,500 purpose-built student beds are expected to be added in the coming academic year, representing only 0.6% growth.

Labour’s Renters' Rights Bill to abolish section 21 in 2025

Labour’s Renters' Rights Bill to abolish section 21 in 2025

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The new Labour government won’t wait to improve the court system before abolishing Section 21, predicts a top property lawyer.

SHOCK: Official survey reveals 19% of tenant deposits not protected

SHOCK: Official survey reveals 19% of tenant deposits not protected

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Nearly 200,000 private renters haven’t had their deposits protected under an authorised scheme, according to new government data.

Banning leasehold flat sales 'will cause problems' warn experts

Banning leasehold flat sales 'will cause problems' warn experts

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Property experts have warned that Labour’s promise to finish the job of ending the “feudal” leasehold system could complicate leaseholders’ situation.

Big lender changes mortgage T&Cs to allow Airbnb lets during void periods

Big lender changes mortgage T&Cs to allow Airbnb lets during void periods

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A major high street lender has changed the terms and conditions of its mortgages to enable landlords to rent their properties out on short-term and holiday let sites such as Airbnb and Booking.com during void periods.

Council plan: Move students from HMOs to PBSA

Council plan: Move students from HMOs to PBSA

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A Midlands council is on an unusual mission to get more students living in purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) instead of traditional HMOs.

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.

Labour's 'peverse' renting reforms will raise rents, warns TV landlord

Labour's 'peverse' renting reforms will raise rents, warns TV landlord

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The Renters’ Rights Bill will discourage landlords from renting out their properties and raise rents, according to Talk TV presenter and private landlord, Cristo Foufas (main image).

Famous landlord offers rental home at £180,000 a MONTH

Famous landlord offers rental home at £180,000 a MONTH

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Renters with only the deepest pockets will be getting the keys to what is understood to be the most expensive ever rental home marketed in the UK.

Every rental property 'chased by 11 tenants on average'

Every rental property 'chased by 11 tenants on average'

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UK letting agents are still receiving nearly double the number of enquiries about each available rental property than they were pre-pandemic.

Corporate landlords to be exempt from Decent Homes Standard

Corporate landlords to be exempt from Decent Homes Standard

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The Government has revealed more details about how the ‘corporate’ student sector, which competes with traditional landlords for tenants, will be regulated in the future.

Landlord fights council over £15,000 HMO fine... and wins

Landlord fights council over £15,000 HMO fine... and wins

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A landlord has successfully fought a licensing fine after an Upper Tribunal judge ruled it couldn’t be proved that a fifth tenant was living permanently in his HMO.

'Landlord bashing won't help solve housing crisis'

'Landlord bashing won't help solve housing crisis'

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A mortgage lending expert has warned that landlord bashing risks pushing out more smaller landlords, creating a vicious circle of fewer available rental properties and higher rents for tenants.

Landlords spending 'too much' on EPC upgrades

Landlords spending 'too much' on EPC upgrades

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Most landlords’ ignorance of the points-based EPC system means they can sometimes spend more money than necessary on energy efficiency improvements.

Tenants can now pay landlords via their credit card

Tenants can now pay landlords via their credit card

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A digital platform that enables tenants to pay their rent via their credit or debit card rather than a BACS payment has officially launched in the UK.

Local authorities’ new powers to auction leases of vacant commercial premises

Local authorities’ new powers to auction leases of vacant commercial premises

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Local authorities' now have new powers to auction off leases of vacant commercial units in Britain’s town centres and high streets

Landlords worried about missing payments discover agent in jail

Landlords worried about missing payments discover agent in jail

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Landlords who complained about a missing letting agent have discovered that he had been jailed for assaulting a sex worker.

Government to spend millions stopping landlord evictions

Government to spend millions stopping landlord evictions

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More money will be spent persuading landlords not to evict tenants as part of a huge cash boost to help prevent homelessness.

Northern council to expand selective licensing

Northern council to expand selective licensing

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More landlords in Wirral could have to pay for a selective licence under plans being drawn up by the local council.

Rents rising by 9.1% a year on average, official figures reveal

Rents rising by 9.1% a year on average, official figures reveal

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Rents charged for new tenancies across the UK continue to rise as landlords seek to offset higher costs and supply continue to be weak, latest Government data shows.

Labour to allow councils to 'take over' empty rental properties

Labour to allow councils to 'take over' empty rental properties

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Councils will be given more power to force landlords to rent out vacant residential properties as part of the government’s English Devolution white paper.

Letting agents warn over Labour's plan to increase licensing

Letting agents warn over Labour's plan to increase licensing

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Letting agents have slammed plans to ease licensing rules that will mean local councils can introduce large selective schemes without government approval.

HMO landlords warned as London council begins 1,000s inspections

HMO landlords warned as London council begins 1,000s inspections

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Ealing Council has ramped up its crackdown on rogue landlords with a rigorous programme of HMO inspections.

Councils given more powers to licence landlord properties

Councils given more powers to licence landlord properties

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Local authorities will no longer have to ask the Secretary of State for permission to introduced selective licensing schemes in England and Northern Ireland, it has been revealed.

Lenders warn of 'challenging' year ahead for landlords

Lenders warn of 'challenging' year ahead for landlords

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Economic headwinds are set to shrink purchases in the buy-to-let market by 7% next year to £9 billion, predicts UK Finance.

Norwich landlords fume over missing rental payments

Norwich landlords fume over missing rental payments

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Landlords in Norwich are chasing thousands of pounds in rent payments from a letting agency which appears to have gone under.

Tenant demo in London calls for rent controls

Tenant demo in London calls for rent controls

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Hundreds of tenants have staged a protest in central London calling for the government to introduce rent controls.

Major national park moves to restrict holiday lets

Major national park moves to restrict holiday lets

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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

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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!

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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

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