The SNP has published its manifesto in the run-up to next month’s general election – but renters and landlords barely get a look in.
A leading law firm has warned that newbie landlords are at risk of ‘significant consequences’ because many are unaware that selective licencing is spreading rapidly across most urban areas of the UK.
Scotland’s new housing minister Paul McLennan has surprised landlords by controversially claiming that the country’s private rented sector supports rent controls.
Labour has cast doubt on the Conservatives’ proposal for a two-year temporary capital gains tax break for landlords who sell to their existing tenants
A snapshot investigation by Which? has revealed that property owners are being given Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) riddled with inaccuracie.
The three main parties manifestos' proposals fail to instil confidence in Colliers business rates expert, John Webber.
Cash deposits increasingly don’t cover landlords’ claims for rent arrears or damage, according to a new study.
More than half of private renters (55%) reckon a new government should introduce rent controls.
Plaid Cymru has come out in favour of rent controls in the PRS as part of its housing strategy in the party’s manifesto.
The first thing I tell anyone is how important 'evidence' is in both deposit disputes and, now more than ever, monitoring fire safety compliance.
Despite politicians and campaign groups claiming that the nation’s rental market is unaffordable, new research out today reveals that renting remains cheaper on average than buying a property with a 5% deposit.
A tenancy agreement is just like any other contract, so as soon as both tenant and landlord have signed the agreement, it becomes a legally binding contract.
Labour might be no more likely to deliver on promises to overhaul the leasehold system than the Conservatives, according to property experts.
A huge mismatch in the private rented sector has left tenants tackling ever-rising living costs and plummeting affordability levels.
Most portfolio landlords have been asked to make energy efficient improvements by their tenants in the past year, according to a new poll.
Private rented homes will have to meet minimum energy efficiency standards by 2030 if Labour get the keys to Number 10 next month.
Reform UK wants mortgage interest tax relief brought back as part of ‘critical reforms’ suggested by the party following the general election.
The NRLA has stepped in to help fight a legal battle over whether it is acceptable for vital rental documents to be served by post.
The Application Form You should always use a comprehensive Tenancy Application Form when taking on a new tenant. You need a completed application for each adult tenant in the property.The Tenancy application form is a very important starting point for any residential or comm
End of an AST: Questions: What happens when an Assured Shorthold Tenancy (AST) comes to an end? Will the tenant have to leave or does she need to sign a new agreement? What if a tenant wants to leave early? How long can a periodic tenancy last?When the fixed term (minimum of
Landlords often buy flats which are either Leasehold or Shared Freehold. What are these tenures and what should landlords look out for in these different forms of ownership?Leasehold is one of three forms of tenure (property/land ownership) almost exclusively peculiar to the United Kingdom, thoug
Landlord's Access to Property: Many landlords will have experienced a tenant denying them access to a property - whether for an inspection, viewings or legal duties. Its easy to understand the view of Its my property, I can enter when I want, but unfortunately th
New Rules for Section 21 :Landlords and Agents need to be aware of the changes affecting Section 21 rules and Notices and other changes for the letting of residential properties in England (and in many cases Wales) introduced during 2015 . This article explains the new rules
Many landlords have long suspected that the DCLG approved national calculation methodologies and software programs were seriously flawed when they produced EPC ratings for buildings following energy assessments.So news that new software is being introduced which is claimed to be more accurate is
Serving Notices: Landlords and agents often get confused as to how they should serve Notices on their tenants.Ordinarily it wouldnt matter what method is used, but if you end up in court with a possession or money claim, or some such court action, then what and how you se
Tenant are Consumers: The UK Consumer Protection law applies to letting agents and landlords alike when they advertise a property to let or create a new tenancy. It also applies to most private landlords when they deal with letting agents, unless they operate as a company.
Obtaining Possession Using Section 21 Notices Updated October 2016This article explains how to gain possession of your residential rental property in the most efficient way possible. You may just want your property back for your own use, or to sell, or you may be having prob
A mandatory short-lets registration scheme and tougher planning laws look set to take effect soon in England.
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.
A holiday lets platform used by thousands of landlords to generate income has come under fire over ‘ghost’ properties.
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?
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.
A tenant accused of murdering her landlord and stabbing his cat to death has been remanded in custody.
A property raffle has just handed out another £500,000 to a lucky winner to buy their dream house.
Hackney Council has been called out for continuing to process additional and selective landlord licence applications five months after both schemes ended.
The UK commercial real estate sector has faced significant challenges recently due to changing trends, will recent signs of a turnaround continue?
A rogue landlord and also letting agent who let out grotty and overcrowded properties has been handed the first banning order in Essex.
Rental growth has slowed to its lowest level for nearly three years while demand has dropped by 39% during the past 12 months.
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.
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.
Landlords can bear the brunt of longer notice periods due to charging high rents, according to Generation Rent.
An Isle of Man village has become the latest authority to clamp down on the growth in short-term lets.
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
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.
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.
A landlord who reportedly attacked a tenant after he complained about serious disrepairs has been handed a police caution.
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.
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
There’s never been a better time for landlords to convert a commercial building to residential use, according to a leading architect.
Zoopla boss Richard Donnell has urged landlords and investors to steer clear of misinformation about the PRS and focus on the positives.
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.
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.
