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Property licensing system needs big overhaul says leading landlord

Property licensing system needs big overhaul says leading landlord

News

A high-profile landlord has called the property licensing system ‘clunky’ and in need of simplification.

Sceptical landlord joins pioneering green rental homes scheme

Sceptical landlord joins pioneering green rental homes scheme

News

A sceptical landlord has become a ‘guinea pig’ and spent considerable sums on making her Victorian four-bedroom rental property 'Let Zero'.

Northern city launches plan to begin selective licensing

Northern city launches plan to begin selective licensing

News

Preston in Lancashire has become the latest city to launch plans to introduce selective licensing within its borders.

2025 record year for new licensing schemes as latest council launches plans

2025 record year for new licensing schemes as latest council launches plans

News

Latest scheme to launch is one of 26 launched so far - making 2025 a 'record breaking year' for HMO and selective licensing.

Big city mayor fines landlords £1.5 million in two years

Big city mayor fines landlords £1.5 million in two years

News

Greater Manchester has revealed a big increase in rogue landlord fines as part of its tough crackdown on the private rental sector.

New 'rent controls minister' stumbles on first outing

New 'rent controls minister' stumbles on first outing

News

Newly-minted housing minister in Scotland unable to recall key statistics from her department during TV interview.

Landlord to pay £15,000 after second prosecution over same property

Landlord to pay £15,000 after second prosecution over same property

News

A landlord who has ignored efforts by a city council to improve his run-down property has been fined heavily.

National Lottery gives green campaigners £1.25m to 'educate landlords'

National Lottery gives green campaigners £1.25m to 'educate landlords'

News

Students Organising for Sustainability says it will use the money to improve student accommodation across the UK.

Evicting benefits tenants 'to get harder when renting reforms go live'

Evicting benefits tenants 'to get harder when renting reforms go live'

News

The opaque Universal Credit rental payments will cause landlords even more headaches when the Renters' Rights Bill goes live.

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Landlords and Agents Reminded about Burst Pipes

Landlords and Agents Reminded about Burst Pipes

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Freezing Pipes: This time of year, as we head towards colder weather and freezing conditions, buy-to-let properties and indeed all rental properties are vulnerable to potentially expensive winter water damageIn this article digital inventory app developer Imfuna Le

Rent-free period

Rent-free period

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Guide to commercial tenancy rent-free periods and full repairing leases, explaining tenant obligations on lease expiry or termination.

Safety Standards for Blinds and Curtains

Safety Standards for Blinds and Curtains

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Landlords and letting agents should by now be conversant with the 2014 regulations on blinds and curtains and the measures necessary to prevent accidents with children. It is particularly important to ensure that blinds and curtains supplied in rental properties meet these regulations, otherwise,

Repair Reporting Issues and Section 21

Repair Reporting Issues and Section 21

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Changes to the law on Section 21 and in particular how landlords deal with reported repair issues is now of crucial importance if section 21 claims for possession are to be successful. Careful pre-planning is now essential at the time of setting-up Assured Shorthold Tenancies (AST).The Section 21

Assessing Covenant Strength

Assessing Covenant Strength

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Assuming a commercial property is let already, the proposition an income-producing investment, the investor would be buying the building/property, not the tenant's business. Since the purchase price is geared to the passing and reversionary rent, it is normal to assess the tenant's ability to per

Holding or Pre-Contract Deposits

Holding or Pre-Contract Deposits

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I have always found the holding deposit (an initial retainer paid to the landlord or agent to reserve a tenancy) is a very useful device to commit the tenant to your letting. But is it legal to withhold the advance deposit you take from a prospective tenant if they back out?In my experience a pro

Tenancy Deposit Documentation

Tenancy Deposit Documentation

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What do I need to do when I protect my tenant/s deposit? If you take a deposit from your tenant/s you MUST protect the deposit and serve your tenants with the correct documentation within 30 days or face having to pay a fine and the prospect that you cannot use the s21 evict

ITZA revisited

ITZA revisited

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I am revisiting ITZA in the light of an experience I am enduring concerning some tenants that are inexperienced of rent review. Tenant contention is that an ITZA adopted/agreed for a previous review should be used again for a current review.Unless the ITZA is documented in a binding agreement, th

Dispute Resolution Procedure at Rent Review - Calderbank offer

Dispute Resolution Procedure at Rent Review - Calderbank offer

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Basically, what is known as a Calderbank offer is a 'without prejudice;' offer to settle a dispute to avoid the extra costs and associated risks of a full referral.From Calderbank v Calderbank [1976] and originally confined mainly to family property disputes, an offer of settlement made before th

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.

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

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

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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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News
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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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News
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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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News
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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.

It's time to stop blaming private landlords for the rental crisis

It's time to stop blaming private landlords for the rental crisis

Opinion
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Government ministers, housing campaigners, landlords, letting agents and many of the other actors in the drama that is the private rented sector have been arguing hard about who is to blame for the high rents and lack of supply within the market.

Welsh city reveals 10% hike in HMO licencing fee

Welsh city reveals 10% hike in HMO licencing fee

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News
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Newport City Council is expected to back a 10% rise in HMO fees as part of changes to the authority’s additional licensing scheme.

Landlord mortgage rates slip below 4% for first time in 18 months

Landlord mortgage rates slip below 4% for first time in 18 months

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News
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Paragon Bank is showing some love for landlords on Valentine’s Day by offering its lowest rate on two-year fixes for new customers in more than 18 months.

Legal aid for evictions 'about to collapse entirely' says Law Society

Legal aid for evictions 'about to collapse entirely' says Law Society

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Housing legal aid providers are on the brink of collapse, according to the Law Society of England and Wales, which has urged the government to invest in the service before it’s too late.

It's got a ring to it! Landlords asked to support charity initiative

It's got a ring to it! Landlords asked to support charity initiative

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News
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Landlords, letting agents and other players in the property game are being urged to support Paul Shamplina’s latest charity event which is due to take place on the night of Thursday June 27th.

Landlord wins unusual planning appeal over 'floating homes'

Landlord wins unusual planning appeal over 'floating homes'

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Britain’s most unusual holiday rental investment has been uncovered following a planning appeal decision over two floating ‘pods’ at a Marina in Chichester Harbour.

'Small minority of rogue landlords exploit Section 21 eviction rules'

'Small minority of rogue landlords exploit Section 21 eviction rules'

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A high-profile figure has claimed that ‘no-fault’ Section 21 evictions are a significant problem within London’s private rental sector and agrees with Shelter’s approach that they should be banned ‘as soon as possible’.

Comment: Gove’s solutions to Britain’s housing crisis increasingly look too little, too late

Comment: Gove’s solutions to Britain’s housing crisis increasingly look too little, too late

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Tom Entwistle tries to shed light on the severity of the crisis and explores some potential solutions, here he gives his opinions on the plans put forward by Michael Gove, the banning of Section 21, and the crisis within the courts system.

Gove 'playing games with words' says leading evictions expert

Gove 'playing games with words' says leading evictions expert

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Property lawyer David Smith has questioned the accuracy of Michael Gove’s comments about funding the court system and banning Section 21 before the General Election.