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.

Government releases 'How to Rent'� guide

Government releases 'How to Rent'� guide

News

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

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

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

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

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 ?

Information

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

Information

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

Information

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

Information

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

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

'Ending ASTs gives tenants power  they don't want' reveals research

'Ending ASTs gives tenants power  they don't want' reveals research

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Renters' Rights Bill will also end the 'flexibility' of tenure that landlords and tenants have been enjoying for decades.

UPDATED: Letting agents now face anti money laundering checks

UPDATED: Letting agents now face anti money laundering checks

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

From Wednesday 14 May 2025 letting agents are required to check landlords, tenants and guarantors by making anti money laundering (AML) checks

A read asks - What will be the effect of the Renters' rights bill on my buy to let business? 

A read asks - What will be the effect of the Renters' rights bill on my buy to let business? 

Information
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

The Renters' Rights Bill will become law soon; a reader asks, what will be the result of it on my buy-to-let portfolio?

Landlord being 92 years old 'no excuse' for licensing failure

Landlord being 92 years old 'no excuse' for licensing failure

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

A 92-year-old landlord has been slapped with a £9,360 Rent Repayment Order after two tenants took him to tribunal for renting out an unlicensed HMO.

Landlords slam Labour as 'anti investment' in housing

Landlords slam Labour as 'anti investment' in housing

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Landlords have accused Labour of being ‘anti investment’ in the as a new survey reveals over half are worried about the costs of EPC upgrades, the Renters’ Rights Bill and mooted increases in Capital Gains Tax.

Greens fail in bid to stop above-inflation rent increases

Greens fail in bid to stop above-inflation rent increases

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

The Scottish government has rejected proposals to increase rents by no more than the cost-of-living or increase in wages, at the latest stage of the Housing (Scotland) Bill.

'Clean-up' of property deal sourcing sector begins with new initiative

'Clean-up' of property deal sourcing sector begins with new initiative

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

A new initiative aims to clean up property sourcing’s reputation and help compliant agents get deals signed off by finance firms.

Landlords endure even longer wait to get properties back

Landlords endure even longer wait to get properties back

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

The government has been warned that its failure to acknowledge the true state of the courts risks eroding landlord confidence.

Bungalow shortage hits older renters hard

Bungalow shortage hits older renters hard

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

A fall in the number of bungalows to rent is impacting the growing number of older and disabled tenants.

'Give us your views on our rent control proposals', Scots landlords urged

'Give us your views on our rent control proposals', Scots landlords urged

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

The Scottish government wants landlords’ views on its new Housing Bill, which focuses on rent control and tenants’ rights.

Leading landlord warns sector over Labour's 'radical plans'

Leading landlord warns sector over Labour's 'radical plans'

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

A leading landlord has warned that Labour’s radical plans for the private rental sector are deeply worrying and could easily lead to a wholesale exit from the sector.

Landlady faces jail unless she pays £52,000 Proceeds of Crime Order

Landlady faces jail unless she pays £52,000 Proceeds of Crime Order

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

A landlady in London faces prison unless she pays a Proceeds of Crime Act Confiscation Order totalling £51,983.

BREAKING: Ground Rents to be capped at £250 per year… 

BREAKING: Ground Rents to be capped at £250 per year… 

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Leaseholders who pay ground rents are to have their levy capped at a maximum amount of £250 as Gove is forced to water down his radical proposals

Court allows 134 property investors to start 'class action' following £14m loss

Court allows 134 property investors to start 'class action' following £14m loss

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

An appeal court judge has granted 134 property investors leave to contest a single ‘class action’ claim against a solicitor which is alleged to have provided negligent professional advice on an investment scheme.

TOM's Tips: 20 Steps to successful landlording

TOM's Tips: 20 Steps to successful landlording

Information
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

In this post, Tom Entwistle sets out the principles that he has used over his successful 50-year landlording career.

HMO figure calls out 'unfair' Tube ads slamming landlords

HMO figure calls out 'unfair' Tube ads slamming landlords

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Landlords travelling by London Underground might be shocked to find themselves as the butt of a joke used to sell coffee.

Are you ready for the biggest changes to the rented sector for 30 years?

Are you ready for the biggest changes to the rented sector for 30 years?

Information
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Landlords are to face one of the most significant changes to how they rent out properties in their lifetimes once the Renters (Reform) Bill becomes law.

Controversial renting reforms take next step toward becoming law

Controversial renting reforms take next step toward becoming law

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Landlords hoping that theGovernment’s renting reforms might be kicked into the long grass will be disappointed today after it was revealed that The Renters (Reform) Bill will move to itsnext stage in parliament Wednesday 24th April.

ELECTION: Khan promises to get tough on 'dodgy landlords' and high rents

ELECTION: Khan promises to get tough on 'dodgy landlords' and high rents

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Sadiq Khan has promised he will be on the side of renters rather than “dodgy landlords” and has repeated his desire to introduce rent controls in the capital if he wins a record third term.

Landlord accuses council of 'hypocracy' over property inspections

Landlord accuses council of 'hypocracy' over property inspections

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Benefits landlord Mick Roberts has accused Nottingham Council of hypocrisy after it was revealed the authority hasn’t fully checked its housing stock for eight years, while private landlords must inspect their properties every six months.

Labour and Green MPs call for rent controls in England

Labour and Green MPs call for rent controls in England

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

A group of MPs have lodged an Early Day Motion calling for rent controls in the PRS to stem the threefold increase in rents during the last 34 years.

NE city reveals plans for unusual licencing scheme

NE city reveals plans for unusual licencing scheme

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Newcastle Council has revealed plans for an unusual selective licensing scheme that includes building-specific zones.

Tom's landlord guide to winning deposit disputes

Tom's landlord guide to winning deposit disputes

Information
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

It's frustrating when the landlord-tenant relationship has to end with a dispute over damages in the property, with a need for deep cleaning, or rent owing, but the deposit is there for these reasons.

Rent-to-rent sector 'must be cleaned up', warn agents

Rent-to-rent sector 'must be cleaned up', warn agents

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Rent-to-rent operators will try to avoid the changes set out in the Renters (Reform) Bill by not using ASTs, a leading property industry body has warned.

OFFICIAL: Rent increases hit record high of 9.2% year-on-year

OFFICIAL: Rent increases hit record high of 9.2% year-on-year

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

The rate at which rents have been rising has increased across the UK to record levels, official figures reveal today.

Letting agents call for radical action to solve rental housing crisis

Letting agents call for radical action to solve rental housing crisis

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

A group representing letting agents has slammed the chaotic growth of the private rented sector in recent years, calling for radical changes to solve the rental housing crisis this has created.

Jersey launches island-wide selective licencing scheme

Jersey launches island-wide selective licencing scheme

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

All Jersey’s landlords will need a licence from the beginning of next month after the Island’s government launched a scheme to improve standards in the PRS.

Average rent arrears jump 27% to £1,800 in a year

Average rent arrears jump 27% to £1,800 in a year

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Average rent arrears owed by tenants to landlords have climbed by 27% so far this year, new data reveals.

Minister slams gas boiler suppliers over price rises

Minister slams gas boiler suppliers over price rises

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

The government has urged the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) to review the boiler supply market amid fears that a lack of competition is leading to higher prices.

Evictions expert calls for national 'rogue tenant' database

Evictions expert calls for national 'rogue tenant' database

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Evictions expert Paul Shamplina has called for a rogue tenant database to be established, pointing out that bad letting agents and landlords face being named and shamed via official schemes, but tenants do not.

Protestors slam 'landlord lobby' outside Gove's London home

Protestors slam 'landlord lobby' outside Gove's London home

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Rental reform campaigners have staged a protest outside Michael Gove’s official residence in central London, calling on the housing secretary to implement his promised Section 21 evictions ban.

Campaigners blame Section 21 evictions for homelessness rise

Campaigners blame Section 21 evictions for homelessness rise

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

More than 84,000 households have been put at risk of homelessness due to no-fault evictions since 2019, renting campaigners have claimed.

Landlords: we’ll sell your buy-to-let properties, fast, for the best price

Landlords: we’ll sell your buy-to-let properties, fast, for the best price

Sponsored
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

As we enter April it’s been a mixed bag for landlords, with many “nervous" landlords looking to sell amidst a growing apprehension of market conditions and general elections.

Tycoon urges ALL rental homes to be inspected regularly

Tycoon urges ALL rental homes to be inspected regularly

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

A leading businessman has entered the political fray with a book in which he lays out his ideas on how to solve the housing crisis including planning and rental market reform.