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Landlords' household definition confusion results in £11,250 fine

Landlords' household definition confusion results in £11,250 fine

News

A landlord pair have failed to convince a tribunal judge that their tenants’ relationship excused them from getting an HMO licence.

'Build more affordable homes instead of hitting landlords'

'Build more affordable homes instead of hitting landlords'

News

A Scottish parliamentary committee has called for an action plan to tackle the country’s “predictable and preventable” housing emergency, with the property industry also saying rent controls ‘are not the answer’.

Minister reveals plans to include evictions within landlord database

Minister reveals plans to include evictions within landlord database

News

The government has revealed that it is looking into measures that will add landlords’ eviction activity to the looming PRS database.

Landlords in Essex to face big 'fine' for late licence applications

Landlords in Essex to face big 'fine' for late licence applications

News

Landlords could face a £765 bill for delaying their selective licence application when Thurrock Council launches its proposed scheme.

Council reveals heavy landlord fines for low EPCs

Council reveals heavy landlord fines for low EPCs

News

Tewkesbury Council is bucking the national trend by punishing landlords with failing EPCs.

OFFICIAL: Poorest tenants paying 63% of income in rent

OFFICIAL: Poorest tenants paying 63% of income in rent

News

Poorer tenants within the private rented sector (PRS) are spending 63% of their income on rent, a shocking new report from the Government has revealed.

Tenant facing 20% rent rise starts popular petition urging controls

Tenant facing 20% rent rise starts popular petition urging controls

News

A petition calling for rent controls launched by a hard-up mum has garnered some 42,00 signatures and counting.

'Outdated' wear-and-tear rules costing landlords unfairly, says inventory boss

'Outdated' wear-and-tear rules costing landlords unfairly, says inventory boss

News

Outdated 'fair wear and tear' rules are forcing tenants to face unreasonable deductions and landlords to pay higher costs, a proptech firm boss has warned.

Welsh ministers says 'no' to landlords paying back rent after evictions

Welsh ministers says 'no' to landlords paying back rent after evictions

News

The Welsh government has rejected proposals to give tenants compensation if they are handed a no-fault eviction notice.

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Providing a Reference

Providing a Reference

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Providing a Reference - I have been asked to provide a reference for one of my tenants who is moving on. What is my legal position in this and am I putting myself at risk if I say he was a bad tenant?</h2> Referencing (seeking verification of a tenants past performance) is an increasi

Polystyrene Ceiling Tiles

Polystyrene Ceiling Tiles

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Polystyrene Ceiling Tiles - is it legal to have these tiles in the kitchen of a rental property?</h2> There are currently no regulations specifically banning the use of polystyrene ceiling tiles in existing rented property.However, it is unlikely that local authority fire officers and en

Misrepresentation

Misrepresentation

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Misrepresentation - We recently rented out our rural cottage to a couple. As they wanted to use their computers I said it was possible to get high-speed broad-band. I thought this would be possible but it seems it is not at this time. The couple are now claiming that I misled them and that

Mail for Previous Tenants

Mail for Previous Tenants

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I'm receiving mail for previous tenants and some of them are from debt collectors. Will this get my property black listed and cause problems for my current tenants and myself in the future?</h2> It's fairly common to have mail arriving for months and even years after residents have left,

Long Term AST

Long Term AST

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Long Term AST - My prospective tenant has asked for a tenancy term of 6 years. Can I use the usual Assured Shorthold Tenancy agreement for this?</h2> The Assured Shorthold Tenancy is the default tenancy for residential lettings and since October 2010 this applies to rents up to �100,000

Lodgers Limits

Lodgers Limits

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Lodgers Limits - Is there any limit to the number of rooms I can rent out to lodgers, and are there any planning implications ?</h2> There are several parts of legislation in England and Wales that affect this question. Perhaps four main ones apply: Health &amp; Safety (HHSRS), HMO, Over

How long should accounts be kept

How long should accounts be kept

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Question: How long should accounts be kept to satisfy the authorities, things like accounting files, invoices and tax records, as a property landlord?Answer: You must keep your records for 6 years after the tax year to which they apply, whether or not you complete a tax return.It's a good idea, a

Expiry of Section 21 Notice

Expiry of Section 21 Notice

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Expiry of Section 21 Notice - I have served a Section 21 (s21) Notice on my tenant but don't wish to start proceedings immediately. Can I wait without the notice expiring?Once a Section 21 notice has been served correctly it continues indefinitely, until such time as the tenancy is ended, either

Covenant and Covenant Strength

Covenant and Covenant Strength

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Covenant and Covenant Strength - What is a legal covenant and what is the significance of the terms in relation to rental property and lettings ?</h2>The term covenant can have several meanings and has biblical origins but it is of particulalry significance

Few councils policing minimum EPC rules or issuing fines

Few councils policing minimum EPC rules or issuing fines

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Minimum energy efficiency standards (MEES) are not being enforced by overstretched councils who cannot keep any income they make from fines imposed for breaches.

HMRC's digital tax reporting scheme to cost landlords £460

HMRC's digital tax reporting scheme to cost landlords £460

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Landlords will have to fork out an extra £460 to use the new Making Tax Digital for Income Tax Self-Assessment system.

Spray foam industry acknowledges problems with 'cowboy operators'

Spray foam industry acknowledges problems with 'cowboy operators'

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Landlords who have used cowboy spray foam firms to insulate their properties are to be offered help by one of the main trade associations for the sector.

Most tenants and landlords say Tory PRS policies 'wrong'

Most tenants and landlords say Tory PRS policies 'wrong'

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A staggering 94% of renters don’t have confidence in the government’s approach to housing, according to a poll by SpareRoom.

Big city council seeks more powers to curb HMOs

Big city council seeks more powers to curb HMOs

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Salford Council wants new powers to help stem the growth of HMOs in the city.

Rees-Mogg savages Tory party's rental sector policies

Rees-Mogg savages Tory party's rental sector policies

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Jacob Rees-Mogg has turned on Tory colleagues by labelling the Renters (Reform) Bill “desperate tinkering at the edges” which won’t help landlords or tenants.

Landlord faces big fine after ignoring HMO planning decision

Landlord faces big fine after ignoring HMO planning decision

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A landlord who ignored a council’s enforcement notice to stop operating an HMO without planning permission has been told to return it to a ‘traditional family home’ or face a huge fine.

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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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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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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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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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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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.