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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

EXCLUSIVE: Costliest and most common landlord insurance claims

EXCLUSIVE: Costliest and most common landlord insurance claims

News

Research carried out by LandlordZONEs insurance partner, Hamilton Fraser Total Landlord Insurance, revealed that the vast majority of landlords, https://hamiltonfraser.co.uk/knowledge/good-landlord-quiz-results/?utm_source=landlordzone&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=lz_november

Opinion: Should landlords dive into heat pumps?

Opinion: Should landlords dive into heat pumps?

Opinion

The move to provide home heating and hot water by this method is part of a Government strategy aimed at making deep cuts to greenhouse gas emissions and decarbonizing the UK's power sector by 2035. Prime Minister Boris Johnson says the scheme was designed to bring low-carbon hea

UPDATED: Bailiff evictions to be suspended over Xmas and New Year for a month

UPDATED: Bailiff evictions to be suspended over Xmas and New Year for a month

News

Tenants facing eviction in England are to be protected from losing their homes during the Christmas and New Year period, HM Courts and Tribunal has confirmed. Between 13th December and 10th January no evictions should be s

Tax changes for Airbnb landlords 'in the pipeline' to stop gaming of the rates system

Tax changes for Airbnb landlords 'in the pipeline' to stop gaming of the rates system

News

Some holiday lets owners are gaming the system to claim business rate relief, comments made by the Housing Minister Lord Greenhalgh suggest, who has promised action to clamp down on the practice. In a Lords debate on second homes, peers voiced concerns that second homeo

Asylum seeker HMO operator fined �60,000 for running house without licence

Asylum seeker HMO operator fined �60,000 for running house without licence

News

A company that houses asylum seekers has been fined more than �60,000 for HMO offences in Newport. Clearsprings Ready Homes, which has the contract for operating accommodation for asylum seekers in Wales, was found guilty of letting an HMO in Redland Street (pictured), in the B

Bill to make EPC rules mandatory early 'unlikely to become law' after stabbing

Bill to make EPC rules mandatory early 'unlikely to become law' after stabbing

News

The Minimum Energy Performance of Buildings Bill, which aimed to advance the governments energy efficiency commitments, is in doubt following the tragic death of David Amess MP. He was the presentation bills main sponsor in the Commons, launching it at the same time as Lor

Should holiday-let owners be paying council tax?

Should holiday-let owners be paying council tax?

News

However, Carol Lewis writing for the Sunday Times newspaper thinks that holiday let owners should be paying council tax. Given that levelling up is the government's buzzword du jour, it is time to level the playing field and bring holiday-home owners in line wi

Landlords left struggling to claw back deposits owed after property firm ceases trading

Landlords left struggling to claw back deposits owed after property firm ceases trading

News

Landlords and letting agents hit by the collapse of Ash Residential Property Management Limited (ARPM) have been left struggling to claw back deposits and fees after it ceased trading last month with debts of almost �1.5m. At least 8,000 properties and their landlords are affec

HMRC warns holiday let owners about their tax obligations

HMRC warns holiday let owners about their tax obligations

News

HMRC warns that owners must accurately declare these earnings on their self assessment tax returns or face criminal charges if in default. A boom in bookings The Covid pandemic has stored up excess demand for stay at home Britains under the foreign holiday restrictio

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Oxford's controversial selective licensing scheme to start on September 1st

Oxford's controversial selective licensing scheme to start on September 1st

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Oxford has received Secretary of State approval for its controversial new selective licensing scheme covering half the city, after it was first announced in August 2020. All private rented homes (49.3% of the citys housing stock) will need a licence from 1st September. Oxford

Ministers to ensure £200 energy bills relief 'distributed fairly' to tenants by landlords

Ministers to ensure £200 energy bills relief 'distributed fairly' to tenants by landlords

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News
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A new government consultation aims to study whether its planned Energy Bills Support Scheme (EBSS) will treat all tenants fairly. The scheme, announced in February as part of a package of support to help domestic energy customers with the costs of rising energy bills, starts in

'BAN rent rises and evictions until cost of living crisis ends', says Generation Rent

'BAN rent rises and evictions until cost of living crisis ends', says Generation Rent

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Rent rises should be banned and Section 21 and Section 8 evictions suspended until the cost of living crisis subsides, says tenants advocacy group Generation Rent . The organisation also wants to see landlords banned from requestin

Council denies keeping landlords in the dark as huge licensing scheme launches

Council denies keeping landlords in the dark as huge licensing scheme launches

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Durham Council waited three weeks after launching its selective licensing scheme to share the news on its website potentially leaving some landlords in the dark. Despite announcing it had won approval back in December for a launch on 1st April, the council

Demand for industrial property outstrips expectations

Demand for industrial property outstrips expectations

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As reported by Bdaily's Members' News, Coventry-based commercial property agent Bromwich Hardy says that the market in key parts of the midlands is now becoming highly competitive and just as active are markets further south. Across the regions agents are finding that demand is running ahea

Is hybrid working the future and what are the implications for property?

Is hybrid working the future and what are the implications for property?

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News
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A wide range of research has been conducted recently about the shift to hybrid working. A https://yougov.co.uk/topics/economy/articles-reports/2020/09/22/most-workers-want-work-home-after-covid-19" target="_blank" YouGov survey and https://www.cipd.co.uk/knowledg

HMO capital values outstrip rest of housing market by 32%, research reveals

HMO capital values outstrip rest of housing market by 32%, research reveals

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The average HMO is now worth �364,508, 32% more than the typical house, according to new research which finds that trickier financing and licensing schemes have not deterred landlords from investing in the sector. On the contrary demand for HMOs among landlords, and the restric

CLADDING: Why are landlords being singled out?

CLADDING: Why are landlords being singled out?

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News
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Landlords face costly cladding repairs excluded from funds. Experts call for policy change to support fair safety funding.

Yet another property scam artist is exposed!

Yet another property scam artist is exposed!

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Sam Eustace, 36, from Sutton in south London has been disqualified as a director for 11 years for operating a Ponzi style property scheme. Kingsman Property Ltd offered property owners a guaranteed rent by taking over their properties and managing them in a https://www.

Landlord to return £800 deposit over jaw-dropping contract clause

Landlord to return £800 deposit over jaw-dropping contract clause

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A landlord who tried to charge a prospective tenant for having overnight guests has been ordered to repay the holding deposit.

Certainty needed on energy efficiency targets

Certainty needed on energy efficiency targets

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James Kent, the NRLA’s Chief Innovation Officer, and founder of digital compliance platform Safe2, explains why landlords need to know where they stand sooner rather than later.

Scandal hit social housing REIT winding down

Scandal hit social housing REIT winding down

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News
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Home REIT, the investment trust marketed as the dream scheme to house the homeless is folding with extensive debts and legal claims. 

Landlord's appeal against huge rent repayment order fails

Landlord's appeal against huge rent repayment order fails

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News
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A landlord has failed in a last-ditch attempt to convince a property tribunal that he shouldn’t have to pay a rent repayment order – and has been stung with a £13,643 bill.

Citizen's Advice slams landlords for 'damp and mouldy homes'

Citizen's Advice slams landlords for 'damp and mouldy homes'

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News
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Almost half of private renters in England are living in cold, damp or mouldy homes, even during the summer, according to a new Citizens Advice poll.

BTL lenders reveal shock reduction in landlord mortgages

BTL lenders reveal shock reduction in landlord mortgages

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The mortgage industry says the number of new buy-to-let mortgages more than halved last year, with higher interest rates blamed for the fall.

City lauds highly unusual approach to 'non-compliant' landlords

City lauds highly unusual approach to 'non-compliant' landlords

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News
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Liverpool Council has teamed up with the emergency services and HMRC to share intelligence and weed out 'non-compliant' landlords.

Mayor launches poster campaign urging tenants to report landlords

Mayor launches poster campaign urging tenants to report landlords

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News
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A new poster campaign on the London Underground is urging travellers to report dodgy landlords.

REVEALED: Real reason why rental supply is dwindling

REVEALED: Real reason why rental supply is dwindling

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The number of buy-to-let properties bought by landlords as a percentage of all homes sales across the nation has sunk to its lowest level since records began.

South Coast councillors approve plan to crack down on HMOs

South Coast councillors approve plan to crack down on HMOs

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News
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The South Coast seaside resort ofEastbourne is to crack down on the town’s growing number of HMOs andcouncillors are soon to make a decision on what to do.

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.

LATEST: King's Speech reveals Labour's new Renters' Rights Bill

LATEST: King's Speech reveals Labour's new Renters' Rights Bill

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This morning’s King’s Speech to a packed House of Lords has revealed Labour’s radical plans for landlords, letting agents and tenants.

Landlords 'getting younger' latest research reveals

Landlords 'getting younger' latest research reveals

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Keen thirty-something investors have helped to lower the average age of private landlords by four years over the last decade.

EXODUS: 18% of homes for sale are former rentals

EXODUS: 18% of homes for sale are former rentals

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The number of former rental properties currently for sale has risen dramatically as more landlords exit the market or downsize.

BREAKING: Inflation under control but property costs still soaring

BREAKING: Inflation under control but property costs still soaring

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Official figures show inflation has held steady at 2% over the past 12 months but the detailed briefing from the Office of National Statistics also reveals that property costs remain at historically high levels.

What can landlords expect from this new Labour government?

What can landlords expect from this new Labour government?

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Tom Entwistle looks at the likely changes ahead of this week’s King’s speech - this should reveal a bit more detail and the general direction of travel by Labour

City council pushes for powers to regulate holiday lets

City council pushes for powers to regulate holiday lets

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Brighton & Hove Council is to ask the government if it can start licensing short-term lets in a bid to combat their impact on local communities.