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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

ANALYSIS: Does buy-to-let still beat the stock market?

ANALYSIS: Does buy-to-let still beat the stock market?

News

If you had �50k to invest right now, where would you put it, buy-to-let property or stocks and shares? Certainly leaving it in a traditional savings account, with interest rates as they are at rock bottom, thats out of the question. And with the threat of rising inflation ea

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Landlords react to renters’ rights bill shockwaves

Landlords react to renters’ rights bill shockwaves

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Landlords packed the National Landlord Investment Show in London, sounding the alarm over the game-changing Renters Rights Bill. With no-fault evictions on the chopping block, experts warn that the bill could cripple landlords with skyrocketing legal costs and a loss of control over their properties

Trickle vents can be one of the best ways to combat damp and mould in rental properties

Trickle vents can be one of the best ways to combat damp and mould in rental properties

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News
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Trickle vents can be one of the best ways to combat damp and mould, according to one architect who explains why houses are getting damper, ahead of Awaab’s Law.

Labour MP reiterates calls for a short-lets registration scheme

Labour MP reiterates calls for a short-lets registration scheme

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News
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A Labour MP has reiterated calls in the House of Commons this week for a short-lets registration scheme.

Tenants prefer speedier repairs over more regulations

Tenants prefer speedier repairs over more regulations

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More communication and speedier repairs would improve the relationship between tenants and landlords rather than more regulation, a new industry survey has revealed.

Rental stock stagnant for nine years, landlord types shift

Rental stock stagnant for nine years, landlord types shift

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News
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UK rental stock stagnant at 5.5M since 2016; small landlords exit, while larger, mortgage-free investors dominate, shifting market dynamics.

Landlords need time to adjust to renters’ rights bill

Landlords need time to adjust to renters’ rights bill

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News
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The National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA) has predicted “confusion and chaos” unless the Government gives landlords sufficient time to adjust to new reforms.

Rent hike restrictions lead to tenant challenges

Rent hike restrictions lead to tenant challenges

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News
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Temporary restrictions on rent increases in the Scottish private rented sector have led to a more than eightfold increase in renters challenging rent hikes.

NI landlords face hefty fines over new electricity laws

NI landlords face hefty fines over new electricity laws

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News
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Landlords in Northern Ireland face large fines if they don’t comply with electrical safety rules introduced this week.

Trickle vents combat damp in rental properties

Trickle vents combat damp in rental properties

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News
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Tom Entwistle reflects on the Spring Statement which he says was not so much an emergency budget, more an update on the state of the economy with a few tweaks.

Labour confirms national registration scheme for short lets

Labour confirms national registration scheme for short lets

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News
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A mandatory short-lets registration scheme and tougher planning laws look set to take effect soon in England.

Seasoned landlord apologises over £19,000 licencing error

Seasoned landlord apologises over £19,000 licencing error

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News
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A landlord firm which tried to argue that its agent was responsible for failing to organise an additional HMO licence has been handed a £19,753 rent repayment order.

Booking.com under fire over 'ghost' and 'scam' properties

Booking.com under fire over 'ghost' and 'scam' properties

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News
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A holiday lets platform used by thousands of landlords to generate income has come under fire over ‘ghost’ properties.

'Labour nightmare for landlords! No rent? Well, you can’t evict or sell now'

'Labour nightmare for landlords! No rent? Well, you can’t evict or sell now'

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Opinion
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There is some uncertainty to what it actually means in practice until the details are written down but could the proposed hardship test mean even if your tenants won’t pay their rent, you will not be able to evict them if that makes them homeless or financially disadvantaged?

Big council takes unusual new role 'policing' all privately rented homes

Big council takes unusual new role 'policing' all privately rented homes

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News
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North Yorkshire Council has adopted a new housing enforcement policy to ensure all private rental properties across the county are up to scratch, the first time this has happened.

Tenant remanded in custody after landlord's death

Tenant remanded in custody after landlord's death

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A tenant accused of murdering her landlord and stabbing his cat to death has been remanded in custody.

NEW: 'Dream home' raffle helps tenants pay their rent

NEW: 'Dream home' raffle helps tenants pay their rent

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News
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A property raffle has just handed out another £500,000 to a lucky winner to buy their dream house.

Council slammed for breaking property licencing scheme rules

Council slammed for breaking property licencing scheme rules

News
News
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Hackney Council has been called out for continuing to process additional and selective landlord licence applications five months after both schemes ended.

Will the commercial property market revive soon?

Will the commercial property market revive soon?

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News
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The UK commercial real estate sector has faced significant challenges recently due to changing trends, will recent signs of a turnaround continue?

Rogue landlord and agent first to be banned from PRS in Essex

Rogue landlord and agent first to be banned from PRS in Essex

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News
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A rogue landlord and also letting agent who let out grotty and overcrowded properties has been handed the first banning order in Essex.

Number of tenants looking for properties to rent drops 39%

Number of tenants looking for properties to rent drops 39%

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News
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Rental growth has slowed to its lowest level for nearly three years while demand has dropped by 39% during the past 12 months.

Northern city named best BTL hotspot with 13.1% gross yield

Northern city named best BTL hotspot with 13.1% gross yield

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News
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As house prices have risen sharply in recent decades, many had thought that the sub-£100,000 house that returned double-digit gross returns had gone for good.

Scottish rent rises top charts after controls end

Scottish rent rises top charts after controls end

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News
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The Scottish government’s failure to plan for the end of temporary rent controls has led to rents rising faster than in most other parts of the UK.

Generation Rent boss urges landlords to absorb costs

Generation Rent boss urges landlords to absorb costs

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News
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Landlords can bear the brunt of longer notice periods due to charging high rents, according to Generation Rent.

Manx council moves to restrict holiday let growth

Manx council moves to restrict holiday let growth

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News
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An Isle of Man village has become the latest authority to clamp down on the growth in short-term lets.

NEW: Councillors vote through selective licensing and higher fees

NEW: Councillors vote through selective licensing and higher fees

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Burnley councillors have recommended that its three selective licensing schemes covering some 2,000 homes be extended for another five years following a three-month-long consultation. The schemes in Burnley Wood and Healey Wood, along with the Leyland Road area of the town, were

NEW: Royal family make £1.4m a year from holiday lets

NEW: Royal family make £1.4m a year from holiday lets

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News
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The Royal Family could be raking in £118,775 each month from their holiday let portfolio, adding up to a lucrative annual rental income of more than £1.4 million.

3,000 landlords are under 21 years old, reveals finance data

3,000 landlords are under 21 years old, reveals finance data

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News
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Gen Z are rushing to invest in buy-to-let property, with more than 3,000 buy-to-let landlords in the UK now under the age of 21.

Landlord given police caution after assaulting tenant over 'arrears'

Landlord given police caution after assaulting tenant over 'arrears'

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News
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A landlord who reportedly attacked a tenant after he complained about serious disrepairs has been handed a police caution.

Rent controls reduce supply and housing quality, says new report

Rent controls reduce supply and housing quality, says new report

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News
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A new report that evaluates the dozens of rent control schemes implemented over the past 60 years across the world has concluded that overall they are harmful to rental homes supply.

COMMENT: Did you know that tenants can claim compensation over disrepair?

COMMENT: Did you know that tenants can claim compensation over disrepair?

Information
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Tenants can claim compensation from their landlord for repairs that are not done in a reasonable time; repairs that are of bad quality and do not fix things

EXPERT: 'Now is the time to convert from commercial to residential'

EXPERT: 'Now is the time to convert from commercial to residential'

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News
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There’s never been a better time for landlords to convert a commercial building to residential use, according to a leading architect.

'Dont be afraid of the future' Zoopla boss tells landlords

'Dont be afraid of the future' Zoopla boss tells landlords

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News
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Zoopla boss Richard Donnell has urged landlords and investors to steer clear of misinformation about the PRS and focus on the positives.

Landlord's rental properties seized in UK regulation 'first'

Landlord's rental properties seized in UK regulation 'first'

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News
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A rogue landlord who persistently failed to license several rented properties has had them seized by Merton Council in one of the first actions of its kind in the country.

Sadiq Khan goes quiet on rent controls after Labour 'slap down'

Sadiq Khan goes quiet on rent controls after Labour 'slap down'

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London Mayor Sadiq Khan has been slapped down by Labour’s national leadership after asking to be given rent control powers, it has been reported.