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Right to rent checks go digital for British and Irish tenants

Right to rent checks go digital for British and Irish tenants

News

Landlords and letting agents will soon be able to carry out quicker https://www.landlordzone.co.uk/news/updated-advice-for-landlords-on-right-to-rent-checks-due-in-new-year/" right to rent checks on British and Irish citizens. From 6th April, Identification Do

'Think carefully' before going ahead with EPC upgrades, warns expert

'Think carefully' before going ahead with EPC upgrades, warns expert

News

An energy expert has sought to reassure landlords that they may not need to spend huge sums retrofitting their properties to raise EPC ratings at least not in the short term. <figure id="" class="w-richtext-figure-type- " data-rt-type="" data-rt-align=""><div><img src="https://upload

Environmental concerns have big impact on rental property ownership

Environmental concerns have big impact on rental property ownership

News

Just as residential landlords are contemplating the costs of bringing older properties up to the proposed new standard - very likely EPC band C� required by December 2025 - so too are commercial landlords.<br> See: https://www.landlordzone.co.uk/news/compulsory-epc

Compulsory EPC band 'C' by 2025 causing confusion

Compulsory EPC band 'C' by 2025 causing confusion

News

Compulsory EPC band C by 2025 causing confusion There have been recent confusing reports put out that from 2025, all newly rented properties in England &amp; Wales will be required to have an EPC rating of band C or above. This is somewhat misleading and jum

UK's biggest secret landlord reveals why he's selling up most of his portfolio

UK's biggest secret landlord reveals why he's selling up most of his portfolio

News

LandlordZONE sits down with one of Londons most prolific but little-known landlords who has spent 30 years amassing a huge portfolio in the East End and West End areas of the capital. For reasons of privacy, and a desire to remain behind the scenes, he doesnt want to

Paul Shamplina: 'Possession cases will rise in 2022'

Paul Shamplina: 'Possession cases will rise in 2022'

News

So, we ended 2021 after twenty-one months since the first Covid lockdown with the new variant, Omicron, spreading fast, and with Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland putting in stricter measures and speculation that England may follow with an announcement early in the New Year.

Opinion: How will small-scale private landlords fare in 2022?

Opinion: How will small-scale private landlords fare in 2022?

Opinion

An example of the difficulty of prediction is the conclusion to a detailed study recently published on the private rented sector by the London School of Economics (a study commissioned by the NRLA) Individually and cumulatively, the recent tax changes

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

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OPINION: Has the Prime Minister's landlord bashing gone too far this time?

OPINION: Has the Prime Minister's landlord bashing gone too far this time?

Opinion
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It may have gone unnoticed by many landlords that Boris Johnson made one of the most extraordinary attacks on the sector in living memory last week. And it is fair to say, one of the most unfair. Most landlords have become accustomed to the government's frosty rhetoric over the

EXCLUSIVE: New guidance to make EPCs more accurate after 10-year wait

EXCLUSIVE: New guidance to make EPCs more accurate after 10-year wait

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News
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The government has finally updated the guidance it provides to property assessors on how to calculate EPCs for new homes and, in six months time, for existing homes too. This is the first time the methodologies of calculation have been updated for almost ten years for t

Landlord wins legal battle over �3,300 gas safety paperwork fine

Landlord wins legal battle over �3,300 gas safety paperwork fine

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News
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A professional landlord has scored a partial win against his council fines for charges relating to gas safety inspections. Mahendra Maharaj , who owns 78 properties in Liverpool, had been fined �9,000 by the city council a decision confirmed by a First

Re-launched Right to Buy to take 'money from pockets of buy-to-let landlords'

Re-launched Right to Buy to take 'money from pockets of buy-to-let landlords'

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Boris Johnsons pledge to reform the housing market will see the government launching a dusted-off version of David Camerons right to buy scheme for social housing in order to turn the tables on private landlords, his housing secretary Michael Gove has suggested. During a s

HMRC is clawing back overpaid and fraudulent Covid support payments

HMRC is clawing back overpaid and fraudulent Covid support payments

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News
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The self-employed who took advantage of the multi-billion pound self-employed income support scheme (SEIS), claiming grants they were not entitled to, when they were either not trading at all, or their profits did not fall within the specified limits, are now being asked to pay the money ba

Experts discuss impact of Section 21 eviction ban

Experts discuss impact of Section 21 eviction ban

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Experts discuss the implications of abolishing Section 21 evictions, including potential delays, increased court burdens, and impacts on tenant mobili

Comment: fears over the future of private rental market in the regions mount

Comment: fears over the future of private rental market in the regions mount

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News
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While in England the housing minister Eddie Hughes has just https://www.landlordzone.co.uk/news/breaking-minister-confirms-government-will-not-consider-rent-controls-in-england/" target="_blank" ruled out rent controls , in Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Irish R

Legal case '� can there be a reasonable excuse for not licensing an HMO?

Legal case '� can there be a reasonable excuse for not licensing an HMO?

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News
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Weve all heard the expression, ignorance of the law is no excuse� and this applies without question in all areas of the law. But in some rare instances it seems the courts and tribunals are open to accepting a defence of what is termed reasonable excuse even when the regulatio

Landlord says protecting tenants during portfolio sale will cost him �500,000

Landlord says protecting tenants during portfolio sale will cost him �500,000

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Nottingham benefits landlord Mick Roberts (main picture) has made another bid to sell 40 of his properties by offering to cut the sale price by a tenth if a landlord buyer keeps his existing tenants on. The regular LandlordZONE contributor has previously suggested https

Scots and English Labour disagree publicly over rent controls

Scots and English Labour disagree publicly over rent controls

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Scottish Labour have promised that their new MPs will push for rent controls, despite the national party coming out against them.

INSIGHT: Will lower inflation see mortgage rates drop for landlords?

INSIGHT: Will lower inflation see mortgage rates drop for landlords?

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Landlords will have to wait a few more months for any real mortgage rate relief, despite today’s fall in inflation to 2%, experts tell LandlordZONE

After disastrous rent controls, SNP goes quiet on landlords

After disastrous rent controls, SNP goes quiet on landlords

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News
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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.

'Rookie landlords now more at risk from selective licencing'

'Rookie landlords now more at risk from selective licencing'

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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.

OUT OF TOUCH? Minister claims landlords 'support rent controls'

OUT OF TOUCH? Minister claims landlords 'support rent controls'

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News
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Scotland’s new housing minister Paul McLennan has surprised landlords by controversially claiming that the country’s private rented sector supports rent controls.

Labour casts doubt on Tory's CGT exemption scheme for landlords

Labour casts doubt on Tory's CGT exemption scheme for landlords

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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

New report says EPCs 'riddled with inaccuracies'

New report says EPCs 'riddled with inaccuracies'

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A snapshot investigation by Which? has revealed that property owners are being given Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) riddled with inaccuracie.

Political parties largely misunderstand the business rates issues

Political parties largely misunderstand the business rates issues

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News
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The three main parties manifestos' proposals fail to instil confidence in Colliers business rates expert, John Webber.

17% of deposits 'don't cover rent arrears or damage by tenants'

17% of deposits 'don't cover rent arrears or damage by tenants'

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News
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Cash deposits increasingly don’t cover landlords’ claims for rent arrears or damage, according to a new study.

55% of tenants support rent controls says Generation Rent

55% of tenants support rent controls says Generation Rent

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More than half of private renters (55%) reckon a new government should introduce rent controls.

Welsh nationalists back rent controls in manifesto

Welsh nationalists back rent controls in manifesto

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Plaid Cymru has come out in favour of rent controls in the PRS as part of its housing strategy in the party’s manifesto.

BLOG: Why accurate inventories are more important than ever

BLOG: Why accurate inventories are more important than ever

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News
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The first thing I tell anyone is how important 'evidence' is in both deposit disputes and, now more than ever, monitoring fire safety compliance.

Renting £300 a month cheaper than owning says big lettings firm

Renting £300 a month cheaper than owning says big lettings firm

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News
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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.

GUIDE: Tenancy agreements as a deed instead of a contract

GUIDE: Tenancy agreements as a deed instead of a contract

Information
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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.

Definitive leasehold reform is still far from a done deal

Definitive leasehold reform is still far from a done deal

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Labour might be no more likely to deliver on promises to overhaul the leasehold system than the Conservatives, according to property experts.

Surveyors warn parties to focus on generation rent

Surveyors warn parties to focus on generation rent

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A huge mismatch in the private rented sector has left tenants tackling ever-rising living costs and plummeting affordability levels.

Demand grows for greener properties to lower energy bills

Demand grows for greener properties to lower energy bills

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Most portfolio landlords have been asked to make energy efficient improvements by their tenants in the past year, according to a new poll.

Labour manifesto sets deadline for more energy efficient PRS

Labour manifesto sets deadline for more energy efficient PRS

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Private rented homes will have to meet minimum energy efficiency standards by 2030 if Labour get the keys to Number 10 next month.

Farage will push for urgent repeal of Section 24

Farage will push for urgent repeal of Section 24

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News
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Reform UK wants mortgage interest tax relief brought back as part of ‘critical reforms’ suggested by the party following the general election.

Legal appeal aims to protect landlords' postal rights

Legal appeal aims to protect landlords' postal rights

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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.

COMMENT: Aiming for net zero makes good business sense

COMMENT: Aiming for net zero makes good business sense

Opinion
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Increasing the energy efficiency of a property is undoubtedly of value - regardless of the election outcome.

Logbooks should be made compulsory for landlords, claims expert

Logbooks should be made compulsory for landlords, claims expert

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Landlords could have to start keeping a digital logbook to demonstrate their compliance with energy efficiency measures.

Greens vow to power up plans for warmer rental homes

Greens vow to power up plans for warmer rental homes

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Green MPs will push for rent controls and tenants’ right to demand energy efficiency improvements if they win more seats in the election.

PRS should be cut dramatically, campaigners tell Martin Lewis

PRS should be cut dramatically, campaigners tell Martin Lewis

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News
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Property expert Julie Ford has called out tenant union Acorn for suggesting the private rented sector should be greatly reduced.

Utilita Homes boss urges more retrofit help for landlords

Utilita Homes boss urges more retrofit help for landlords

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Utilita Homes urges parties to include retrofit support for landlords in their election manifestos.