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Rent control exemptions could hurt private landlords

Rent control exemptions could hurt private landlords

News

Exempting build-to-rent developers from future rent controls in Scotland could result in a two-tier market and an unworkable system.

Half capital's short let owners flout law to boost income

Half capital's short let owners flout law to boost income

News

The government has been urged to clamp down on central London’s short let sector after new research found at least half were being rented out unlawfully.

Give landlords more time to improve EPC or risk rental shortages, says bank

Give landlords more time to improve EPC or risk rental shortages, says bank

News

A proposed 2030 deadline won’t give landlords time to get their properties to EPC C and could cause them to quit, according to Paragon Bank.

Landlord pays a high price for ignoring HMO rules - £11,000

Landlord pays a high price for ignoring HMO rules - £11,000

News

A landlord who failed to license his unsafe and overcrowded HMO has failed in his bid to have a £11,000 fine dismissed.

GUIDE: What to do as energy costs go through the roof

GUIDE: What to do as energy costs go through the roof

Information

Energy costs are a major concern for landlords and tenants. Save on energy consumption and make your tenants’ homes more comfortable

HMO landlords 'culpable' as council tackles fly-tipping epidemic

HMO landlords 'culpable' as council tackles fly-tipping epidemic

News

A leading London council has revealed plans to clamp down on HMOs and the ‘fly tipping’ and rubbish their residents create, and has pointed the finger at both landlords and letting agents for not doing enough to stop the problem.

Minister says 'more powers to regulate holiday let landlords' may be needed

Minister says 'more powers to regulate holiday let landlords' may be needed

News

Housing minister Matthew Pennycook has hinted that extra powers to stop holiday lets and second homes may be needed - including planning permission.

Big London council launches 'tenants' rights' charter

Big London council launches 'tenants' rights' charter

News

Westminster City Council has launched a tenants’ charter aimed at helping private renters better understand their rights, improve living standards, and access support services.

Landlord fighting licensing 'overeach' urges YOU to get behind new petition

Landlord fighting licensing 'overeach' urges YOU to get behind new petition

News

A Portsmouth landlord has launched an online petition in a bid to stop councils using heavy-handed criteria when designing selective licensing schemes.

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Government releases 'How to Rent'� guide

Government releases 'How to Rent'� guide

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News
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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

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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

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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

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News
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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

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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

What is a Section 20 Notice ?

What is a Section 20 Notice ?

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There are two instances of section 20 notices in property in England:(1) is the notice served in relation to early shorthold tenancies under the Housing Act 1988, and the other,(2) refers to section 20 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985, as amended by the Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Act (CLR

Who Pays for Maintenance and Repairs

Who Pays for Maintenance and Repairs

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Who pays for maintenance and repairs in a residential letting, landlord or tenant?Is it, for example, a tenants responsibility once they occupy my building to look after most of the regular house maintenance items? If the fridge stops working does the tenant or the landlord need to repair it?Y

Inflation (RPI) and Rent

Inflation (RPI) and Rent

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With commercial property, rent reviews are generally to the open market rent, but sometimes the rent would be adjusted to the Retail Price Index (RPI). RPI is generally considered more favourable to landlords than CPI or other methodologies.There is no link between open market rent and inflatio

Commercial Property Insurance - part 1

Commercial Property Insurance - part 1

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Amongst the thorny issues in the relationship between landlord and tenant is the building insurance premium. Unlike residential property where the landlord has a vested interest in making sure the premium is competitive, because more than likely the premium would not be recoverable from the tenan

Letting agent's contract renewal email spurs author to write book

Letting agent's contract renewal email spurs author to write book

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News
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A private tenant has been inspired to pen her first novel by a contract renewal email sent by a letting agent - and has even named it after the letting platform involved.

Irony of ironies: Gove 'evicted' from his Ministerial home!

Irony of ironies: Gove 'evicted' from his Ministerial home!

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News
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Housing Secretary Michael Gove faces eviction from his government-owned mansion on 5th July, the morning after the election.

HMO group wins gong for changing official tax policy

HMO group wins gong for changing official tax policy

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News
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HMO Reform Group won a Lifetime Achievement Award at this year’s annual HMO Awards for its campaigning work to change the law on council tax being imposed on individual HMO rooms.

Next Government 'must fund better enforcement of rogue landlords'

Next Government 'must fund better enforcement of rogue landlords'

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Rogue landlords continue to give the sector a bad name because many councils enforce private rented sector standards weakly or not at all, a new report reveals.

Labour to help thousands of tenants get on the property ladder

Labour to help thousands of tenants get on the property ladder

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News
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Labour has revealed an uncosted plan to help 80,000 young renters get onto the property ladder, assuming his party gains power atthe General Election.

WARNING: 'Bashing landlords will make PRS as bad as social homes'

WARNING: 'Bashing landlords will make PRS as bad as social homes'

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News
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Standards in the PRS will soon fall to those in the social sector if regulation and licensing continues to push smaller landlords out, a leading letting agent and landlord has warned.

Landlords must update their home address or face fines, says judge

Landlords must update their home address or face fines, says judge

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News
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Landlords need to update their home address with their local council’s property licensing department or risk a penalty, an appeal judge has ruled.

Landlords take council to High Court over 'rapacious' licensing fee

Landlords take council to High Court over 'rapacious' licensing fee

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News
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Disgruntled landlords have started legal action against Middlesbrough Council in a bid to squash its upcoming selective licensing scheme.

If you’re thinking of selling, here’s how to get the highest price for your properties this year

If you’re thinking of selling, here’s how to get the highest price for your properties this year

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We’ve all seen the headlines, from mixed-message articles to advice from experts and landlords, but if now REALLY is the best time to sell, how can we ensure we’re getting the highest amount in the fastest time?

Letting agents flag huge worries over landlords leaving market

Letting agents flag huge worries over landlords leaving market

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News
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Letting agents are concerned that increasing numbers of landlords are exiting the market.

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

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

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News
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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

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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'

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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

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News
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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

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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

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News
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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

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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'

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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