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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

UPDATED: Bailiff evictions to be suspended over Xmas and New Year for a month

UPDATED: Bailiff evictions to be suspended over Xmas and New Year for a month

News

Tenants facing eviction in England are to be protected from losing their homes during the Christmas and New Year period, HM Courts and Tribunal has confirmed. Between 13th December and 10th January no evictions should be s

Tax changes for Airbnb landlords 'in the pipeline' to stop gaming of the rates system

Tax changes for Airbnb landlords 'in the pipeline' to stop gaming of the rates system

News

Some holiday lets owners are gaming the system to claim business rate relief, comments made by the Housing Minister Lord Greenhalgh suggest, who has promised action to clamp down on the practice. In a Lords debate on second homes, peers voiced concerns that second homeo

Asylum seeker HMO operator fined �60,000 for running house without licence

Asylum seeker HMO operator fined �60,000 for running house without licence

News

A company that houses asylum seekers has been fined more than �60,000 for HMO offences in Newport. Clearsprings Ready Homes, which has the contract for operating accommodation for asylum seekers in Wales, was found guilty of letting an HMO in Redland Street (pictured), in the B

Bill to make EPC rules mandatory early 'unlikely to become law' after stabbing

Bill to make EPC rules mandatory early 'unlikely to become law' after stabbing

News

The Minimum Energy Performance of Buildings Bill, which aimed to advance the governments energy efficiency commitments, is in doubt following the tragic death of David Amess MP. He was the presentation bills main sponsor in the Commons, launching it at the same time as Lor

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Margaret Thatcher's favourite council reveals start date for landlord licensing

Margaret Thatcher's favourite council reveals start date for landlord licensing

News
News
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One of London’s most high-profile councils has revealed the start date for its new selective and additional licensing schemes as it bids to clamp down on rogue landlords and improve rental properties.

Landlord exodus to limited companies drives up BTL lending

Landlord exodus to limited companies drives up BTL lending

News
News
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Landlords moving into limited companies and HMOs have fuelled a big jump in lending.

MP to stop holiday let owners dodging council tax via Bill

MP to stop holiday let owners dodging council tax via Bill

News
News
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A Cornwall MP has launched a bid to ban short-let and holiday let landlords from switching to business lets.

Scotland moves closer to inflation-linked rent controls in 'hotspots'

Scotland moves closer to inflation-linked rent controls in 'hotspots'

News
News
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Scotland's parliament has finished scrutiny of its Government's plans to restrict how landlords can raise rents, and much more.

Commercial tenants may reclaim millions after landmark ruling

Commercial tenants may reclaim millions after landmark ruling

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News
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Commercial landlords are now on high alert following a recent high court ruling over insurance commissions

Timetable for landlords to upgrade rental homes to minimum EPC band 'unachievable'

Timetable for landlords to upgrade rental homes to minimum EPC band 'unachievable'

News
News
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The UK’s largest landlord association has called out the Government’s plans to make rental properties reach a minimum EPC ‘C’ band by 2028 as ‘unachievable’.

'Immigration and too few landlords real reason for high rents'

'Immigration and too few landlords real reason for high rents'

News
News
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Rising immigration is likely to push rental demand to new heights, a banking boss has warned.

40 landlords join agent's fight-back against 'extortionate' licensing fees

40 landlords join agent's fight-back against 'extortionate' licensing fees

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News
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Landlords have been urged to join a legal action to challenge Leicester Council’s “unreasonably extortionate” selective licensing fees.

Senior letting agent slates 'too few' amendments to Renters' Rights Bill

Senior letting agent slates 'too few' amendments to Renters' Rights Bill

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News
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A leading letting agent has criticsed the progress of the Renters’ Rights Bill which left the House of Lords with few amendments.

Report questions council's 'ringfencing' claim for landlord fees

Report questions council's 'ringfencing' claim for landlord fees

News
News
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A financial report has revealed Nottingham Council’s struggle to keep money raised from selective licensing ring-fenced.

'Court reform delays mean binnng Section 21 must be reconsidered'

'Court reform delays mean binnng Section 21 must be reconsidered'

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News
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The Government has delayed its already-announced reforms of the courts, making it even less likely that the UK’s County Courts will be ready to take on the extra work created by banning Section 21 evictions, it has been claimed.

Rebel MPs on brink of 'pro-landlord' changes to reform bill

Rebel MPs on brink of 'pro-landlord' changes to reform bill

News
News
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The Government has taken on board a list of changes to the Renters (Reform) Bill requested by some 50 rebel Tory MPs, it has been reported

BLOG: When landlords talk to their MPs, politicians listen

BLOG: When landlords talk to their MPs, politicians listen

Opinion
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The anticipation surrounding the Renters (Reform) Bill has remained a constant topic recently, with discussions over the timing of the abolition of Section 21 constantly fluctuating.

Minister admits 'errors' within identity system for overseas tenants

Minister admits 'errors' within identity system for overseas tenants

News
News
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The Government has admitted that the issuing of Biometric Residence Permits (BRPs), which are used by non-UK citizens to prove they have a right to rent properties, has been taking too long.

Landord fined £1.4m and has rental property confiscated

Landord fined £1.4m and has rental property confiscated

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News
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An absentee landlord has been stung with a £1.44 million penalty after he continually broke planning rules in a decade-long stand-off with Ealing Council.

Report urges Labour to spend £11.8bn on affordable rented homes

Report urges Labour to spend £11.8bn on affordable rented homes

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News
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Building 90,000 social homes a year will end the housing emergency and pay for itself within three years due to the wider economic benefits, according to a study by Shelter and the National Housing Federation.

ADVICE: How to deal with tenants who fake tenancy applications

ADVICE: How to deal with tenants who fake tenancy applications

Information
News
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Tom Entwistle passes on some thoughts on dealing with tenant selection and securing a good tenant-letting in the current economic climate

Council chases former landlord for tenant's 20-year tax debt

Council chases former landlord for tenant's 20-year tax debt

News
News
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A former landlord has been ordered to pay a council tax demand dating back nearly 20 years.

Landlord pays heavy price for ignoring Improvement Order

Landlord pays heavy price for ignoring Improvement Order

News
News
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Opinion
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A rogue landlord has been ordered to pay more than £9,000 for ignoring notices to improve his dangerous property.

Major building society stops lending to holiday let investors

Major building society stops lending to holiday let investors

News
News
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Leeds Building Society has stopped lending to investors buying holiday lets in areas of North Norfolk and North Yorkshire in a bid to relieve pressure on local housing.

Lords to put letting agents' service quality under spotlight

Lords to put letting agents' service quality under spotlight

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News
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The quality of service provided by letting agents to landlords is under the spotlight again after an influential group within the Lords revealed it is to probe into the sector.

Rebel Tory MPs seek amendments to renting reform

Rebel Tory MPs seek amendments to renting reform

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News
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It has been confirmed over the weekend that a group of 49 ‘rebel’ Tory MPs are working hard have the Renters (Reform) Bill amended.

MPs given more details on holiday short-lets clampdown

MPs given more details on holiday short-lets clampdown

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News
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MPs have been given more details of the Government’s plans to clamp down on holiday lets in tourism hotspots following Michael Gove’s announcement this week.

Few councils policing minimum EPC rules or issuing fines

Few councils policing minimum EPC rules or issuing fines

News
News
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Opinion
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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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News
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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'

News
News
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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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News
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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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News
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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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News
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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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News
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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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News
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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.