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.

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.

Number of planning permissions for HMOs declines across UK

Number of planning permissions for HMOs declines across UK

News

Report from digital planning portal suggests public fight-back against HMOs and higher taxes for landlords are beginning to bite.

US activist urges British tenants to withhold rents and resist 'despotic landlords'

US activist urges British tenants to withhold rents and resist 'despotic landlords'

News

Radical renting campaigners have written a new book that aims to inspire the end of UK landlords’ “despotic control” over tenants.

Famous seaside town plans enlarged £784 landlord licensing scheme

Famous seaside town plans enlarged £784 landlord licensing scheme

News

The Norfolk seaside town of Great Yarmouth has revealed plans to introduce a five-year selective licensing scheme for rented properties in three key wards.

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

Should I set up a company to pay less tax?

Should I set up a company to pay less tax?

Information
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

According to research from the NLA, 4 in 10 landlords are either seriously considering forming a limited company or looking into the option in the coming months.Can you - and more importantly should you - set up a company to pay less tax? Heres my complete guide on becoming incorporated.<stron

What heating system for Rental Property?

What heating system for Rental Property?

Information
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

What heating system should you use in your rental property? Is there a heating system that could solve landlords condensation claims problems?Its one of the most important questions to ask when letting a property for the first time. Whatever system you choose carries implications for the ef

Warnings about Gumtree advertised letting scams

Warnings about Gumtree advertised letting scams

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

The Residential Landlords Association (RLA) and the National Landlords Association (NLA) have called on the classified online listings service Gumtree to issue clear guidance over possible scams involving bogus letting scams.The warning has been issued to Gumtree by the NLA and the RLA after f

Dispute Resolution Procedure at Rent Review

Dispute Resolution Procedure at Rent Review

Information
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

At rent review, the phrase 'going to arbitration' is often bandied about during negotiations as a means for one party to get its own way. Whether or not the parties can agree the rent without involving the dispute resolution procedure, it is common for a represented or experienced party to inv

Government releases 'How to Rent'� guide

Government releases 'How to Rent'� guide

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

From the 1st of October 2015 it became a statutory requirement that landlords issue all new tenants after that date with the latest edition of a Government publication The How to Rent Guide�, along with a current Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) and a current Gas Safety

Doing Right to Rent - Immigration Checks

Doing Right to Rent - Immigration Checks

Information
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

From 1st February 2016 all new tenants in England must be given Right-to-Rent (Immigration) Checks to determine their "right-to-rent" or "right-to-reside" in the country, BEFORE they can be given a tenancy. Landlords or letting agents must do the checks - letting agents where the

Tax Deductible Letting Expenses

Tax Deductible Letting Expenses

Information
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

This is a Guide to Tax Deductible Letting Expenses for Landlords under the new tax rules following the Summer Budget 2015. These may be subject to change and you are advised to consult a tax specialist before making any decisions.From April 2016 landlords will no longer be able to automatically d

Landlord uses hidden cameras to spy on tenants

Landlord uses hidden cameras to spy on tenants

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

An Edinburgh landlord set-up hidden cameras in the bedroom and bathroom of his flat, to film people in bed and in the shower.The cameras were discovered by a young couple, friends of the landlord who allowed them to use the accommodation. The couple found a box on the living room table with a cam

Comparable Evidence

Comparable Evidence

Information
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Amongst the ways to agree or ascertain the (open) market rent at rent review or on renewal of a lease, (per s.34-s35 Landlord and Tenant Act 1954), is the use of comparable evidence.At rent review, the market rent for the premises is not what rent the actual tenant would agree or could afford, bu

London rental market cools down but will rest of UK follow?

London rental market cools down but will rest of UK follow?

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

The capital’s rental market continues to show signs of slowing down, with prices rising by just 1% year-on-year in May while the number of viewing request per property has dropped too.

Controversial landlord calls on Reform to back landlords with tax breaks

Controversial landlord calls on Reform to back landlords with tax breaks

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Fergus Wilson has questioned whether new Reform UK leader Nigel Farage would restore Landlord Tax to the previous headline rate and put Capital Gains Tax down to a flat 10% for all landlords - the level of tax paid if held in a company.

Generation Rent says private rented homes must be 'nationalised'

Generation Rent says private rented homes must be 'nationalised'

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Generation Rent has called for private rented homes to be brought into public or tenant ownership in its list of demands for the next government.

Build-to-rent giants hoover up 1000s of homes in southern England

Build-to-rent giants hoover up 1000s of homes in southern England

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

The rise of ‘built-to-rent’ homes as a major competitor for tenants with private landlords took a leap forward this week after two US firms revealed they had bought 1,750 homes off a UK builder that will now be rented out rather than sold.

Court refuses to alter terms of a commercial lease on renewal

Court refuses to alter terms of a commercial lease on renewal

Information
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

When the terms of a commercial renewal lease cannot be varied in the agreed between the parties, according to the provisions of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954

CLADDING: Leaseholders still facing mortgage problems despite official promise

CLADDING: Leaseholders still facing mortgage problems despite official promise

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Nearly a quarter of mortgages on mid-rise flats required an ESW1 form this year, despite government promises that leaseholders in these blocks affected by the cladding scandal would no longer need one when selling or remortgaging.

Labour to re-start renting reforms abandoned by Tories, predicts NRLA

Labour to re-start renting reforms abandoned by Tories, predicts NRLA

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Labour is likely to reintroduce the Renters (Reform) Bill in a similar form if it wins the election and has already confirmed its view that the court process needs speeding up.

'Landlords part of solution to housing crisis, not the problem'

'Landlords part of solution to housing crisis, not the problem'

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Any new government must continue to encourage private landlords if it is to effectively tackle the housing crisis, according to property lawyer David Smith.

'Outdated and inaccurate' EPCs need reform say experts

'Outdated and inaccurate' EPCs need reform say experts

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Calls are growing for a thorough overhaul of the EPC regime amid claims that the information in many could be inaccurate and misleading.

Tenants continue to stay longer in homes, new research reveals

Tenants continue to stay longer in homes, new research reveals

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Private tenants are still renting their homes for longer than they did a decade ago, according to analysis by Zero Deposit.

Landlord fined £500 after sending housing minister racist emails

Landlord fined £500 after sending housing minister racist emails

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

A landlord who sent offensive emails to MSP Patrick Harvie (main image) about his anti-landlord policies has been convicted of behaving in a threatening or abusive manner.

Landlord to pay £25,000 fine over new windows and messy bins

Landlord to pay £25,000 fine over new windows and messy bins

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

A rogue landlord who ignored multiple planning enforcement notices has been ordered to pay more than £25,000.

Tougher HMO restrictions begin in East of England

Tougher HMO restrictions begin in East of England

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Landlords in Ipswich face restrictions on converting properties into HMOs after the council voted to introduce an Article 4 direction.

Uncertainty surrounds the abolition of furnished holiday let tax relief

Uncertainty surrounds the abolition of furnished holiday let tax relief

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Landlords who operate furnished holiday lets (FHL) have been anxiously awaiting further guidance on the proposals put out in the March Spring Budget

Police swoop during dawn raid on 'slavery' HMO

Police swoop during dawn raid on 'slavery' HMO

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

A dawn police raid on an overcrowded Coventry HMO has prompted an investigation into potential slavery and immigration issues.

More woes for City-backed landlord that houses homeless

More woes for City-backed landlord that houses homeless

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Home REIT - a City-backed investment trust providing affordable homes for homeless people and prison leavers – has taken back 600 properties from a charity landlord.

Leading landlord warns over property portal proposals

Leading landlord warns over property portal proposals

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

One of the key provisions of the Renters (Reform) Bill was the provision of a portal to register all landlords. In effect a licencing system for every landlord in England and Wales and something Labour has said it would like to resurrect if it wins the General Election.

£45 billion! Report champions economic contribution of landlords

£45 billion! Report champions economic contribution of landlords

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

A report published today attempts to counter the ‘anti-landlord’ rhetoric that has gathered pace in the UK recently by revealing that the private rented sector supports some 390,000 jobs and makes a £45 billion contribution to its economy.

Short-lets licencing in Scotland has been 'disastrous' says Tory MSP

Short-lets licencing in Scotland has been 'disastrous' says Tory MSP

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

A Conservative MSP has slammed Scotland’s short lets licensing scheme for its negative impact on thousands of businesses.

FIVE housing ministers to quit, but which one nailed the job?

FIVE housing ministers to quit, but which one nailed the job?

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Five former housing ministers are among the 77 Conservative MPs standing down at the next election, leaving behind a mixed legacy.

Rugby star launches letting agency for landlords

Rugby star launches letting agency for landlords

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Welsh rugby star Gareth Davies is trying his hand at a career in lettings as he considers life after playing for the national team.

COMMENT: What has gone wrong, when a typical buy-to-let landlord makes a loss?

COMMENT: What has gone wrong, when a typical buy-to-let landlord makes a loss?

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Tom Entwistle asks the question, what’s gone wrong with the buy-to-let market, why has government policy been so much against it?

Social tenants pay £847 a month less in rent than private ones

Social tenants pay £847 a month less in rent than private ones

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Social rents are 64% more affordable than private rents, with social tenants in England paying about £828 less each month than private tenants, according to new analysis by Shelter.

John Lewis tells next Government to take lead on build-to-rent

John Lewis tells next Government to take lead on build-to-rent

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

John Lewis has urged future governments to develop a clear national strategy around the need for build-to-rent developments.

Landlord fined for squeezing tenants into illegal HMO

Landlord fined for squeezing tenants into illegal HMO

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

A rogue landlord has been ordered to pay more than £23,000 after he admitted operating an unlicensed and unsafe HMO.