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Beware using WhatsApp to discuss rental contracts, warns lawyer

Beware using WhatsApp to discuss rental contracts, warns lawyer

News

A property lawyer has warned that landlords might fail to realise their tenant has given notice after a court ruled that a WhatsApp exchange was sufficient to create a contract.

CLAIM: Fees ban has saved tenants £1bn and 'didn't push up rents'

CLAIM: Fees ban has saved tenants £1bn and 'didn't push up rents'

News

Private renters in England have saved nearly £1 billion in letting agent fees since the 2019 Tenant Fees Act, research by Generation Rent has found.

Student HMO landlords face tenancies-in-advance 'crunch' this November

Student HMO landlords face tenancies-in-advance 'crunch' this November

News

One of the UK’s leading student lettings agencies has pointed out a huge ‘crunch point’ for HMO landlords when the Renters’ Rights Bill goes live later this year.

Landlords to raise rents when reform restrictions go live

Landlords to raise rents when reform restrictions go live

News

New poll shows landlords are planning to raise rents in response to new restrictions within the looming Renters' Rights Bil.

BLOG: 'Tenants and landlords will see harder times when section 21 is abolished'

BLOG: 'Tenants and landlords will see harder times when section 21 is abolished'

News

Property lawyer Ian Narbeth takes a detailed but scathing look at Labour's looming Renters' Rights Bill and predicts there is trouble ahead.

London politician calls for action against rogue landlords

London politician calls for action against rogue landlords

News

Comments have been made after residents at a property that was illegally converted into 11 bedsit flats remain worried about its condition.

Landlord trio sell portfolio for £22m citing 'complex renting environment'

Landlord trio sell portfolio for £22m citing 'complex renting environment'

News

Three landlord brothers have had a whopping £22 million pay day after selling their property portfolio to an investment trust.

EXPERT: Renting reforms will make 'horrendous housing crisis' worse

EXPERT: Renting reforms will make 'horrendous housing crisis' worse

News

A leading property expert says the UK is heading for a “horrendous housing crisis” that could worsen with the advent of the Renters’ Rights Bill.

Social housing in crisis as tenants’ complaints go through the roof

Social housing in crisis as tenants’ complaints go through the roof

News

New report from the Housing Ombudsman shows complaints about substandard living conditions in social housing in England are five times higher than they were five years ago

Midlands council to stop landlords evicting tenants via new scheme

Midlands council to stop landlords evicting tenants via new scheme

News

Wolverhampton Council has launched a mediation service for private landlords and tenants to help prevent evictions.

HMOs 'a real real problem' and need restricting says Reform

HMOs 'a real real problem' and need restricting says Reform

News

HMOs in Southend face a crackdown as the council considers proposals to limit landlords’ future applications.

Latest EPC shake-up to be 'good for flats, bad for houses'

Latest EPC shake-up to be 'good for flats, bad for houses'

News

Upcoming changes to EPCs next month could end up costing landlords more and see properties downgraded if they don’t have energy upgrade documents, it has been claimed.

OPINION: Landlords and agents had a chance to avoid licensing, and blew it

OPINION: Landlords and agents had a chance to avoid licensing, and blew it

News

It is not unusual to hearletting agents and their landlord clients complaining that operating within theprivate rented sector is has become increasingly tangled with red tape.

WARNING: Money lost to 'investment scams' rises to £144 million

WARNING: Money lost to 'investment scams' rises to £144 million

News

The public has been warned to be vigilant following a new report that shows the number of people relieved of their savings by ‘investment scams’ has increased by value for the first time since 2021, reaching £144 million.

'Blue-rinse' seaside resort seeks to restrict number of HMOs

'Blue-rinse' seaside resort seeks to restrict number of HMOs

News

The borough council’s planning committee will vote on whether to introduce an Article 4 direction next week.

Council secures criminal conviction for landlord over unlicensed HMO

Council secures criminal conviction for landlord over unlicensed HMO

News

A West Sussex landlord has been prevented from letting out HMOs after he admitted operating an unlicensed property.

Landlords WILL be allowed to raise rents to pay for EPC upgrades

Landlords WILL be allowed to raise rents to pay for EPC upgrades

News

Despite Energy Secretary Ed Miliband’s insistence that rents hadn’t increased when standards were raised during previous initiatives, Justice Minister Sarah Sackman has now said there are grounds for “higher market rents”.

Landlord £10,000 out of pocket as DWP rules complicated payments

Landlord £10,000 out of pocket as DWP rules complicated payments

News

A tenant has built up more than £10,000 in rent arrears after the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) refused to accept her landlord’s word that the rent had increased.

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Businesses in England face double whammy as business rates are reviewed in 2026

Businesses in England face double whammy as business rates are reviewed in 2026

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
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Information

There will be an “unavoidable double hit” to property taxation next year when the business rates review combines with rising inflation

South of England council latest to clamp down on smaller HMOs

South of England council latest to clamp down on smaller HMOs

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
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Information

Spelthorne council to the south of Heathrow Airport has changed it mind on HMO 'threat' following complaints.

Council becomes first in UK to take over a landlord's homes after licensing failures

Council becomes first in UK to take over a landlord's homes after licensing failures

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
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Information

A landlord in London is the first in the UK to have their properties taken over ‘long-term’ by a council.

Labour's plans to abolish fixed term tenancies 'will destroy student lets'

Labour's plans to abolish fixed term tenancies 'will destroy student lets'

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
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Information

The Government has been warned that its refusal to give student landlords an exemption from plans to scrap fixed-term tenancies will see the universit

SHOCKING 70% of tenants unaware of Renters' Rights Bill

SHOCKING 70% of tenants unaware of Renters' Rights Bill

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
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Information

Report shows reforms will have little impact on sector if tenants are largely unaware of their new rights.

New partnership to reduce the stress of moving home for tenants

New partnership to reduce the stress of moving home for tenants

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
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Information

A new partnership enables landlords' tenants to move into their home more easily, it has been announced.

Plan launched in Scotland to bring in rent caps 'immediately'

Plan launched in Scotland to bring in rent caps 'immediately'

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
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Information

MSP Maggie Chapman wants an immediate introduction of rent caps to prevent 'brutal' rent rises by 'rogue landlords'.

Lodgers Limits - taking in a lodger - is there any limit to the number of rooms? 

Lodgers Limits - taking in a lodger - is there any limit to the number of rooms? 

Information
News
Podcast
Opinion
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Information

Lodgers Limits - Is there any limit to the number of rooms I can rent out to lodgers, and are there any other implications?

Big property firm advises landlords to adopt 'pet clauses' in rental contracts

Big property firm advises landlords to adopt 'pet clauses' in rental contracts

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
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Information

John D Wood says landlords must adapt ahead of changes within the Renters' Rights Bill.

Government promises EPC study is imminent

Government promises EPC study is imminent

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
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Information

The government looks set to launch its overdue consultation into new energy efficiency standards in the PRS during the next few weeks.

Is now the time to sell before Renters’ Rights law?

Is now the time to sell before Renters’ Rights law?

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News
Podcast
Opinion
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Information

The Renters’ Rights Bill returned to Parliament this week and it getting ever closer to becoming law by the summer has sent alarm bells ringing.

Peers scheduled to debate fast-tracked Renters' Rights Bill

Peers scheduled to debate fast-tracked Renters' Rights Bill

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
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Information

The Renters’ Rights Bill has had its first reading in the House of Lords and is due for a full debate on 4th February.

Cash announced for empty shop auction scheme

Cash announced for empty shop auction scheme

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
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Information

Local councils will be offered up to £79,000 to refurbish an empty property under the government’s new High Street Rental Auctions initiative.

North West council extends selective licensing

North West council extends selective licensing

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
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Information

Burnley has given the green light to a bigger selective licensing scheme covering 3,700 private rented properties.

Big corporates hoovering up homes from exiting small landlords

Big corporates hoovering up homes from exiting small landlords

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
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Information

Letting agents have reported that institutional and portfolio landlords are moving in to buy stock from exiting landlords.

How will Rachel Reeves' Budget affect property investors and landlords?

How will Rachel Reeves' Budget affect property investors and landlords?

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
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Information

Budget changes present businesses including landlords and letting agents with some real stiff challenges in 2025

Live-in landlord mocked for seeking 'part-time' tenant

Live-in landlord mocked for seeking 'part-time' tenant

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
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Information

Social media users have ridiculed a landlord for advertising an expensive room - but asking would-be tenants to stay out until after 8.30pm.

Rising rents fall back from record high

Rising rents fall back from record high

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
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Information

Average rent in England increased 9.2% to £1,369 in the 12 months to December - slightly down on the previous record-high annual growth.

Pensioner landlords demanded to take over tenant's room

Pensioner landlords demanded to take over tenant's room

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
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Information

A landlord couple who moved into their tenant’s spare bedroom while she was still living there have been fined.

MPs send amended Renters' Rights Bill to the Lords

MPs send amended Renters' Rights Bill to the Lords

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
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Information

The Bill has moved another step closer to becoming law, with MPs agreeing amendments that include preventing landlords from taking more than one month’s rent.

January's tax deadline approaches, thoughts turn to this annual task

January's tax deadline approaches, thoughts turn to this annual task

Information
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Keeping on top of your accounts month by month makes the annual self-assessment tax return task easier and makes sure you are in control of your business

Top six misconceptions about Ltd company BTL mortgages

Top six misconceptions about Ltd company BTL mortgages

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News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Limited Company buy to let mortgages are increasingly popular, however there are still many myths that need debunking.

Landlords hit with former owners' massive council tax bills

Landlords hit with former owners' massive council tax bills

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
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Information

Landlords in Kent are inheriting huge council tax bills racked up by the previous owners when buying empty properties.

Portfolio landlords boost share of incorporated properties

Portfolio landlords boost share of incorporated properties

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
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Information

The proportion of incorporated property held in portfolios of landlords who use limited companies has more than doubled since Q1 2020.

Renters' Rights Bill could exclude scores of private tenants

Renters' Rights Bill could exclude scores of private tenants

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
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Information

A leading property lawyer warns that removing risk mitigation strategies will make many tenants on lower incomes “unlettable”.

Landlord slapped with £20,000 repayment order for unlicensed HMO

Landlord slapped with £20,000 repayment order for unlicensed HMO

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
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Information

A landlord must repay tenants £20,000 in rent after he failed to convince a tribunal he wasn’t aware of a licensing scheme.

London borough forces all landlords to license properties

London borough forces all landlords to license properties

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
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Information

All private landlords in Barking and Dagenham must get a licence from April following the introduction of its selective scheme.

Divorce rates have their impact on rental demand

Divorce rates have their impact on rental demand

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
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Information

There’s an often-overlooked impact of couples splitting on the demand for housing and particularly for rentals as splits occur every year in the UK

NRLA slams Welsh tenant compensation plan

NRLA slams Welsh tenant compensation plan

News
News
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Opinion
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Information

The Welsh government has agreed to explore the possibility of making landlords give tenants compensation if they are evicted.

New book helps landlords prepare for renters' rights shake-up

New book helps landlords prepare for renters' rights shake-up

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
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Information

A former solicitor and property expert has penned a book on how landlords can avoid litigants and potential crippling fines.

Landlords warned to look out for fake document scam

Landlords warned to look out for fake document scam

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
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Information

Landlords have been reminded to double check tenants’ documents after several London landlords were handed fake payslips.

Leasehold property listings miss out vital facts

Leasehold property listings miss out vital facts

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
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Information

Property portals and estate agents are failing buyers of leasehold properties by not flagging up legally required information.

Landlords face higher bills to join new government schemes

Landlords face higher bills to join new government schemes

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
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Information

Fees for joining the redress scheme and landlord database could be “significantly higher” following amendments to the Renters’ Rights Bill.

Rogue rent-to-rent agency hit with £35,000 penalty

Rogue rent-to-rent agency hit with £35,000 penalty

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
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Information

A Portsmouth rent-to-rent agency which let out overcrowded and unlicensed HMOs has been handed a hefty fine.