Date

Library

Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

BREAKING: Supreme Court rules 'superior landlords' not liable for rent repayment orders

BREAKING: Supreme Court rules 'superior landlords' not liable for rent repayment orders

News

The Supreme Court has ruled that Rent Repayment Orders cannot be made against a superior landlord. The landmark ruling has implications for rent-to-rent arrangements and means tenants cannot go after superior landlords property owners or leaseholders - when seeking redress.

REPORT: Landlords spend £34,000 over lifetime maintaining a property

REPORT: Landlords spend £34,000 over lifetime maintaining a property

News

A landlord will need to carry out repair or maintenance work on a buy-to-let property 72 times during their ownership, costing them more than £34,000, it has been revealed. Research by lettings and estate agent Benham and Reeves found that while pests are

NEW: Competition watchdog to probe 'consumer rights' within rental market

NEW: Competition watchdog to probe 'consumer rights' within rental market

News

The UKs competition watchdog is to launch an investigation into consumer rights for those rent their homes and the activities of landlords and letting agents. This announcement, which has been made by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), reveals that it intends to she

MPs say landlords who don't upgrade homes should pay higher mortgages

MPs say landlords who don't upgrade homes should pay higher mortgages

News

A cross-party group of MPs and peers has suggested that landlords who dont upgrade their properties should be liable for mortgage penalties. The All-Party Group on a Green New Deal believes there should be a 1% mortgage interest rate premium levied on all buy-to-let propertie

Government adds thousands of HMOs to energy bills support scheme

Government adds thousands of HMOs to energy bills support scheme

News

The government has announced support for thousands more households including tenants living in HMOs - to help pay their energy bills. Households without a direct relationship to an electricity supplier are covered by thehttps://www.gov.uk/get-help-energy-bills/getti

Council wins �1m funding for HMO improvements

Council wins �1m funding for HMO improvements

News

As part of the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) levelling up� fund the money is to be used by the council to work proactively and engage with landlords�, in particular with those landlords who rent out houses in multiple occupation (HMOs) and own con

'Why won't Government regulate agents like it does social housing managers?'

'Why won't Government regulate agents like it does social housing managers?'

News

Property expert Kate Faulkner (main pic) says new rules to introduce professional qualifications for social housing managers are a slap in the face for the PRS� after years of lobbying for similar standards. The government has a

Rent cap in Scotland could cut supply and raise rents

Rent cap in Scotland could cut supply and raise rents

News

Scottish rent cap removal and Gwynedd's Article 4 Direction spark landlord concerns over housing supply and market stability.

Official �3 million evictions mediation service 'offered too late' to landlords

Official �3 million evictions mediation service 'offered too late' to landlords

News

A paltry nine cases were mediated in the governments pilot Rental Mediation Service - nowhere near the 3,000 cases it expected, it has been revealed. The Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities and the Minister of Justice had hoped that the pilot, which offered te

Half of landlords unaware of boiler upgrade scheme, expert warns parliament

Half of landlords unaware of boiler upgrade scheme, expert warns parliament

News

Landlords and letting agents need more information and financial help if the Boiler Upgrade Scheme is to succeed, according to Propertymark. In its evidence to the Lords Built Environment Committee inquiry into the scheme, the group says 48% of Propertymar

Test Case: enforcing legal protections for leaseholders

Test Case: enforcing legal protections for leaseholders

News

New leaseholder protections in the Building Safety Act 2022 came into force on 28 June 2022, with new financial protections for leaseholders in buildings above 11 metres or five storeys, those with historical safety defects. The new Building Safety Act 2022 was introduced follow

OPINION: It's time Facebook took action to stop rent scams on Marketplace

OPINION: It's time Facebook took action to stop rent scams on Marketplace

Opinion

Facebook is facing mounting calls to more effectively police its Marketplace classified listings platform after numerous investigations by national media outlets. The most recent was last night (23rd February)https://www.itv.com/news/channel/2023-02-23/prolific-scammer-

LAW: Landords who illegally evicted tenants landed with �22,300 rent repayment order

LAW: Landords who illegally evicted tenants landed with �22,300 rent repayment order

News

A landlord pair who assaulted one of their tenants while trying to illegally evict her from their unlicensed HMO have been handed a rent repayment order totalling more than �22,300. Guangyu Chen and Xing Guo argued that their poor English and understanding of the PRS was an exc

EXCLUSIVE: 'End of an era' for Shamplina as he steps back from popular TV show

EXCLUSIVE: 'End of an era' for Shamplina as he steps back from popular TV show

News

Evictions expert Paul Shamplina has revealed that hes stepping back from his long-running role in TV series Nightmare Tenants, Slum Landlords. <figure id="" class="w-richtext-figure-type- " data-rt-type="" data-rt-align=""><div><img src="https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/

York landlord group says 'collaboration not conflict way forward on HMO licencing'

York landlord group says 'collaboration not conflict way forward on HMO licencing'

News

Yorks Residential Landlords Association (York RLA) wants to clarify why it decided not to proceed with further legal action over the city councils proposals to bring in an Additional Licencing scheme for HMOs. Both local media and LandlordZONE recently reported that it had

NEW: Unions and campaigners call on Michael Gove to 'freeze' rents

NEW: Unions and campaigners call on Michael Gove to 'freeze' rents

News

Council leaders, unions and renters groups have urged Housing Secretary Michael Gove to bring in an immediate rent freeze in a bid to prevent widespread homelessness. In an open letter, the 34 groups and individuals including London Renters Union, mayor of London Sadiq Kh

Landlord wins reprieve from huge RRO claiming 'technical issues' at council website

Landlord wins reprieve from huge RRO claiming 'technical issues' at council website

News

A disgruntled landlord has convinced a judge to have his rent repayment order case re-heard after arguing that council systems hindered his ability to apply for an HMO licence during the pandemic. Paul Fashade was told to pay three tenants a total of �11,

'Exploitative' landlords should be taxed harder says Joseph Rowntree Foundation

'Exploitative' landlords should be taxed harder says Joseph Rowntree Foundation

News

The government should raise the stamp duty surcharge on BTL purchases to favour those buying their own home, according to a new report from Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF). The social change group believes the surcharge should at least double to effectively disincentivise specu

Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

Re-selling Energy

Re-selling Energy

Information
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Re-selling Energy - As a landlord am I able to make a profit by re-selling electricity or gas?</h2>Resale of Gas and ElectricityThe maximum amount that Residential Landlords or resellers� are permitted to charge for gas or electricity is the amount they

Providing a Reference

Providing a Reference

Information
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Providing a Reference - I have been asked to provide a reference for one of my tenants who is moving on. What is my legal position in this and am I putting myself at risk if I say he was a bad tenant?</h2> Referencing (seeking verification of a tenants past performance) is an increasi

Polystyrene Ceiling Tiles

Polystyrene Ceiling Tiles

Information
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Polystyrene Ceiling Tiles - is it legal to have these tiles in the kitchen of a rental property?</h2> There are currently no regulations specifically banning the use of polystyrene ceiling tiles in existing rented property.However, it is unlikely that local authority fire officers and en

Misrepresentation

Misrepresentation

Information
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Misrepresentation - We recently rented out our rural cottage to a couple. As they wanted to use their computers I said it was possible to get high-speed broad-band. I thought this would be possible but it seems it is not at this time. The couple are now claiming that I misled them and that

Mail for Previous Tenants

Mail for Previous Tenants

Information
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

I'm receiving mail for previous tenants and some of them are from debt collectors. Will this get my property black listed and cause problems for my current tenants and myself in the future?</h2> It's fairly common to have mail arriving for months and even years after residents have left,

Long Term AST

Long Term AST

Information
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Long Term AST - My prospective tenant has asked for a tenancy term of 6 years. Can I use the usual Assured Shorthold Tenancy agreement for this?</h2> The Assured Shorthold Tenancy is the default tenancy for residential lettings and since October 2010 this applies to rents up to �100,000

How long should accounts be kept

How long should accounts be kept

Information
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Question: How long should accounts be kept to satisfy the authorities, things like accounting files, invoices and tax records, as a property landlord?Answer: You must keep your records for 6 years after the tax year to which they apply, whether or not you complete a tax return.It's a good idea, a

Expiry of Section 21 Notice

Expiry of Section 21 Notice

Information
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Expiry of Section 21 Notice - I have served a Section 21 (s21) Notice on my tenant but don't wish to start proceedings immediately. Can I wait without the notice expiring?Once a Section 21 notice has been served correctly it continues indefinitely, until such time as the tenancy is ended, either

Covenant and Covenant Strength

Covenant and Covenant Strength

Information
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Covenant and Covenant Strength - What is a legal covenant and what is the significance of the terms in relation to rental property and lettings ?</h2>The term covenant can have several meanings and has biblical origins but it is of particulalry significance

Landlord launches petition over 'unfair and ineffective' EPC upgrade rules

Landlord launches petition over 'unfair and ineffective' EPC upgrade rules

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Landlords have been urged to sign a petition calling for the government to play fair when raising energy efficiency standards in the PRS.

Landlords 'must be given right to ask for pet damage insurance'

Landlords 'must be given right to ask for pet damage insurance'

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Campaign mounted to reverse Labour's strange pet damage insurance omission.

Landlord duo to pay huge fine over dangerous properties in Midlands

Landlord duo to pay huge fine over dangerous properties in Midlands

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

A landlord couple in Nottinghamshire have been given one of this year’s largest fines for operating unsafe rental properties.

UPDATED: consider these things before you increase your tenant’s rent

UPDATED: consider these things before you increase your tenant’s rent

Information
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

With costs increasing, landlords are being forced to contemplate rent increases. If you go down this road you need to be aware and follow the rules.

COMMENT: when a minister acts like a landlord, the house comes tumbling down

COMMENT: when a minister acts like a landlord, the house comes tumbling down

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

What does Rushanara Ali’s tale tell us about the current state of landlording, about buy-to-let ethics, evictions and the Renters’ Rights Bill?

Welsh holiday lets landlords face huge 'retrospective' tax bills

Welsh holiday lets landlords face huge 'retrospective' tax bills

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Owners of holiday lets in North Wales have been handed huge council tax demands after failing to realise the country’s new occupancy targets were retr

Professional landlords 'the future of privated rented sector' claims tech boss

Professional landlords 'the future of privated rented sector' claims tech boss

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Larger, professional landlords are best placed to take the private rented sector says Sam Humphreys.

Million rented homes won't pass upgraded Decent Homes Standard

Million rented homes won't pass upgraded Decent Homes Standard

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

More than one in five private rented homes in England would be illegal to rent once proposed changes to the Decent Homes Standard take effect.

Minister resigns after controversial eviction but says she did 'nothing wrong'

Minister resigns after controversial eviction but says she did 'nothing wrong'

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

After a barrage of criticism over the way she evicted tenants from her property, Rushanar Ali has stepped down.

Minister's controversial eviction 'will not be possible under her own rental reforms'

Minister's controversial eviction 'will not be possible under her own rental reforms'

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

TV star Paul Shamplina has pointed out the difficult position homeless minister Rushanara Ali has put herself into.

Landlord pays VERY heavy price for ignoring licensing scheme

Landlord pays VERY heavy price for ignoring licensing scheme

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Rogue operator Shamsua Huda has been handed a whopping £33,698 fine for ignoring orders to license his HMO.

Landlord money moving 'out of homes and into offices'

Landlord money moving 'out of homes and into offices'

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Some residential landlords quitting the PRS appear to have moved their investments into the commercial sector, particularly offices.

Base interest rate cut by Bank of England monetary committee

Base interest rate cut by Bank of England monetary committee

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Monetary Policy Committee decides time is to take the breaks off the economy.

Welsh Government to go ahead with HMO council tax changes

Welsh Government to go ahead with HMO council tax changes

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Comments following 12-week consultation show, despite some reservations, HMOs will be counted as one property.

Unwanted residents that don’t pay any rent… 

Unwanted residents that don’t pay any rent… 

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Rats and other vermin can cause endless damage to your property, give you legal nightmares and trash your reputation as a responsible landlord

EXCLUSIVE: Fergus Wilson says he's a fair landlord, not 'Britain's worst'

EXCLUSIVE: Fergus Wilson says he's a fair landlord, not 'Britain's worst'

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Landlord Fergus Wilson has rejected his label as the ‘most hated landlord’ in Britain and insists his policy of vetting tenants has always been fair.

EXPERT: Why landlords and agents must now check every tenant's identity

EXPERT: Why landlords and agents must now check every tenant's identity

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Landlords and letting agents now face substantial fines if they don't check prospective tenants' identities before they move in.

Shock survey of letting agents reveals smaller landlords quitting in droves

Shock survey of letting agents reveals smaller landlords quitting in droves

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Letting agents have warned that the Renters’ Rights Bill could gut the private rental sector of one- and two-property landlords.

Landlords advertising HMO rooms 'far in advance of start date'

Landlords advertising HMO rooms 'far in advance of start date'

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

HMO landlords are increasingly advertising rooms to rent way in advance of tenants moving out, new research shows.

Demand spikes for freehold houses from first time buyers - Landlords cash in before the crash

Demand spikes for freehold houses from first time buyers - Landlords cash in before the crash

Sponsored
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Landlords are cashing out fast as demand from first-time buyers spikes. Freehold homes are hot—now’s the time to sell.

'Law gives too much protection to rogue tenants', says landlord of trashed property

'Law gives too much protection to rogue tenants', says landlord of trashed property

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

A fed-up landlord has slammed the legal system for unfairly favouring poorly-behaved tenants after a brutal eviction.

Big seaside town goes live with more HMO planning restrictions

Big seaside town goes live with more HMO planning restrictions

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Landlords in Eastbourne now need to get planning permission for HMO conversions in parts of the town centre after councillors approved new rules.

Landlord faces £60,000 repair bill after cannabis farms discovery

Landlord faces £60,000 repair bill after cannabis farms discovery

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Controversial landlord Fergus Wilson faces a £60,000 repair bill after three of his rental properties were turned into cannabis factories.

'Heavily vetting tenants before they move in will soon be essential, not optional'

'Heavily vetting tenants before they move in will soon be essential, not optional'

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Landlords who fail to factor in inflation, interest rates, and pressure on household budgets when vetting tenants could end up with rent arrears.

Landlords told to 'get ready' for next April's Making Tax Digital switchover

Landlords told to 'get ready' for next April's Making Tax Digital switchover

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Landlords have been warned by the Government to begin researching available software before tax returns begin to go digital next April.