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LATEST: New Decent Homes Standard consultation launched

LATEST: New Decent Homes Standard consultation launched

News

Labour has revealed more details of the new minimum standards private landlords will have to meet.

Campaign launched to reverse 'bonkers' pet insurance decision

Campaign launched to reverse 'bonkers' pet insurance decision

News

AdvoCATS has launched initiative after Labour decided inexplicably not to allow landlords to require tenants to take out pet insurance.

Labour 'not listening to sense' on renting reforms says peer

Labour 'not listening to sense' on renting reforms says peer

News

Lord Hacking tells housing minister Government is 'plain wrong' in its insistence on banning fixed-term tenancies.

Decent Homes Standard for private rented sector 'soon' says Labour

Decent Homes Standard for private rented sector 'soon' says Labour

News

Government reveals it is about to consult on a new Decent Homes Standard that will apply to private as well as social landlords.

Minister refuses to budge on ending 'tenancies in advance' for students

Minister refuses to budge on ending 'tenancies in advance' for students

News

Housing minister says asking students to commit before Christmas to a tenancy the next year is unfair.

Could the Renters’ Rights Bill result in hundreds of tenants forced out?

Could the Renters’ Rights Bill result in hundreds of tenants forced out?

News

The bill is designed to afford tenants more protections, but could it lead to them being ‘forced out’ of their homes?

Lettings agency fined £66,500 after council discovers 'dirty' HMO

Lettings agency fined £66,500 after council discovers 'dirty' HMO

News

The HMO that AM PM Estates managed in Slough was found to be dirty and in a poor state of repair inside and out, including a

Build to rent to take 30% of rental market, says big lettings agency

Build to rent to take 30% of rental market, says big lettings agency

News

More landlords are selling up than buying new properties to rent, a new Savills report highlights.

Government U-turns on RTS electricity meter switch off

Government U-turns on RTS electricity meter switch off

News

The Government has, following feedback from various property and other industry bodies, delayed the 'big switch off'.

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Block managers under fire over 'large commissions' paid to them by insurance firms

Block managers under fire over 'large commissions' paid to them by insurance firms

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Companies selling multi-occupancy insurance will have to act in leaseholders best interests under new proposals from the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). It is demanding new rights and protections to improve the transparency of the multi-occupancy leasehold buildings insura

EXCLUSIVE: Jersey landlord leader slams rent controls and 'open' tenancies plan

EXCLUSIVE: Jersey landlord leader slams rent controls and 'open' tenancies plan

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Jersey has launched a consultation into sweeping reforms including rent controls and open-ended tenancies, prompting fears that they could force more private landlords to quit the sector. The islands government aims to increase protections for both tenants and landlords

BREAKING: Government considers harsher penalties for 'sex for rent' landlords

BREAKING: Government considers harsher penalties for 'sex for rent' landlords

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News
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A new law to crack down on predatory landlords who exploit vulnerable people for sex in return for free or discounted rent is being considered, Home Secretary Suella Braverman (main picture) has announced. Her department is seeking the views of victims, the police and charities

Mandatory five-year electrical checks are required

Mandatory five-year electrical checks are required

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News
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There are heavy fines for those landlords who fail to have their rental properties tested by a qualified electrician before letting, and for existing tenancies, or if they fail to comply with any of the important recommendations made in a test report. The landlord will ordinarily have 28 da

Judge says landlords need licence clause in contracts

Judge says landlords need licence clause in contracts

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Tribunal judge warns landlords to include licensing update clauses in agency contracts to avoid fines for non-compliance with licensing requirements.

More landlords moving to limited companies as list tops 60,000

More landlords moving to limited companies as list tops 60,000

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The number of VAT and/or PAYE enterprises operating in the UKs residential and commercial rental sectors climbed 2% in the past year, despite the governments best efforts to deter investment. Analysis of government data by debt advisory firm https://siriusfinance.

Council tries AGAIN to start UK's most controversial licencing scheme

Council tries AGAIN to start UK's most controversial licencing scheme

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Luton Council is making yet another attempt to bring in two new licensing schemes after a string of false starts amid landlord opposition. Its overview and scrutiny board has agreed to recommend a town-wide additional scheme as well as a selective scheme in South ward, which now

Council makes extraordinary request asking landlords to pay for student mess

Council makes extraordinary request asking landlords to pay for student mess

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News
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Durham citys parish council has taken the unusual step of asking student landlords to make a voluntary donation towards the cost of cleaning up street waste and discarded furniture. It will ask for a contribution of �52 towards its precept from student landlords to match the

Will you? Two thirds of landlords to sell up if forced to upgrade EPCs

Will you? Two thirds of landlords to sell up if forced to upgrade EPCs

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News
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Two-thirds of private landlords might sell up if they are forced to make EPC upgrades, new research finds. The Mortgage Advice Bureau says 59% would consider selling their property due to not being able to afford the changes needed to meet the minimum level. With an

Commercial to residential conversions, a new dawn!

Commercial to residential conversions, a new dawn!

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Opportunities for developers and investors in property will open up as new amendments are laid down.

Landlords over 55 turning to Landlord Sales Agency as BTL mortgages grind to a halt

Landlords over 55 turning to Landlord Sales Agency as BTL mortgages grind to a halt

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It’s another week of news suggesting that landlords need to sell. If you’ve not yet considered cutting your loses, this might be the sign it’s time to exit the market, fast.

Minister grilled over conflicting Section 21 evictions ban promises

Minister grilled over conflicting Section 21 evictions ban promises

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News
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Cross-party peers have grilled Housing Minister Baroness Penn over the government’s ambiguous assurance that no-fault evictions would be banned before the general election.

Landlord hit with £45,000 fine over unlicenced HMOs

Landlord hit with £45,000 fine over unlicenced HMOs

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News
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A rogue landlord who ignored requests to raise standards at his two unlicensed properties has been hit with a bill of more than £45,000.

Property investment duo under fire as SFO probes £140m collapse

Property investment duo under fire as SFO probes £140m collapse

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News
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The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) has today raided homes and arrested four people connected to a group of investment companies that left some 1,000 investors out of pocket.

Leading Tory lobbyist warns Gove over Section 21 evictions

Leading Tory lobbyist warns Gove over Section 21 evictions

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A leading Tory lobbyist and political commentator has called on the government to ditch plans for abolishing Section 21 amid fears that it will only worsen the housing crisis.

60% of renters struggling financially and 11% using food banks

60% of renters struggling financially and 11% using food banks

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New research among tenants reveals a bleak picture as the cost-of-living crisis hits home within the private rented sector.

'Airbnb growth is down to Gove's anti-landlord policies' - claim

'Airbnb growth is down to Gove's anti-landlord policies' - claim

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Leading letting agent Marc von Grundherr (pictured) has labelled the government’s crackdown on short lets “ironic”, given its hard line on buy-to-let landlords.

Two thirds of landlords making leap to Ltd companies

Two thirds of landlords making leap to Ltd companies

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A surprising 65% of landlords are considering or have already become a limited company as thousands seek tax benefits to help their business succeed.

Only big money (not private landlords) can solve rental crisis, claims Savills

Only big money (not private landlords) can solve rental crisis, claims Savills

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The private rented sector is forecast to lose half a million homes during the next decade, leaving a large supply gap that can be filled by the build-to-rent sector, it has been claimed.

Is the UK tax regime unfair on private landlords?

Is the UK tax regime unfair on private landlords?

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In this episode of the Propertycast podcast Paul Shamplina, Eddie Hooker and Nigel Lewis discuss the pros and cons of why and how landlords are taxed on their renting income.

NW city ignores landlord concerns over bigger licencing scheme

NW city ignores landlord concerns over bigger licencing scheme

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News
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Concerns among Blackpool landlords over the future of the city's selective licensing have been swept aside after councillors approved the hugely enlarged scheme, which must now go to Michael Gove for the final green light.

Big suburban council to extend £950 licencing scheme

Big suburban council to extend £950 licencing scheme

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News
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Barking and Dagenham Council is the latest borough to launch a bid to renew and expand its licencing schemes.

Activists urge ministers to go further with rent controls

Activists urge ministers to go further with rent controls

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Arguments between politicians, landlords, charities and both tenant and trade unions in Scotland about what to do when the country’s ongoing rent cap scheme ends on 31st March deadline have ramped up in the past few days.

MPs slammed for tabling sensible amendements to reform bill

MPs slammed for tabling sensible amendements to reform bill

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Campaigners have accused leading landlord MPs of trying to ‘gut’ the Renters (Reform) Bill as it goes through parliament.

Official probe into rent-to-rent sector launched

Official probe into rent-to-rent sector launched

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The NRLA is questioning whether rent-to-rent’s days are numbered after the government announced it was investigating the sector in a bid to understand its impact on tenants and landlords.

Massive changes to short-lets sector to go ahead

Massive changes to short-lets sector to go ahead

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The Government has revealed changes to planning regulations that will clamp down on short-lets in tourism hotspots such as the Lake District and seaside towns.

Government to rush through changes to housing laws

Government to rush through changes to housing laws

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Housing secretary Michael Gove has announced restrictions on Airbnb style short-term lettings. He also wants to relax rules on permitted development rights for commercial to residential conversions, and he says he will abolish section 21 in this Parliament.

Legionella risk, one aspect of letting that many landlords never think about...

Legionella risk, one aspect of letting that many landlords never think about...

Information
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Landlords (and their agents) have a serious responsibility to undertake actions to protect tenants, visitors and passers-by, by preventing Legionella bacteria from causing a health hazard.

Government slammed as affordable rented home building tanks

Government slammed as affordable rented home building tanks

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A consortium of London housing associations has warned the government that new affordable home-building is grinding to a halt.

Covid's long shadow over rental market 'finally fading'

Covid's long shadow over rental market 'finally fading'

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The Covid years’ extreme effect on the capital’s lettings market appears to be significantly easing – although demand remains abnormally high.

No-fault evictions ban 'an attack on basic property rights'

No-fault evictions ban 'an attack on basic property rights'

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A basic tenet of property rights that landlords should be able to reclaim their property after an agreed period from a tenant is being undermined by Michael Gove’s push to end Section 21 evictions, a leading free market thinktank has claimed.

Government to relax rules on heat pumps, Gove reveals

Government to relax rules on heat pumps, Gove reveals

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The government is considering relaxing heat pump rules in England which manufacturers believe could result in a boost in sales.

Letting agent slams Scotlands' 'nightmare' new repairs rules

Letting agent slams Scotlands' 'nightmare' new repairs rules

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New safety regulations due to impact private landlords in Scotland have been labelled a logistical nightmare by one Edinburgh letting agent.

University launches first ever degree for letting agents

University launches first ever degree for letting agents

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Estate agents might have been deemed more untrustworthy than lawyers and traffic wardens in public polls, but the Royal Agricultural University aims to demonstrate the profession’s value by launching the UK’s first university course in residential estate agency.