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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? 

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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

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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

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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

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

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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

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

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

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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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

NEW: Borough where landlords being policed most heavily for breaches

NEW: Borough where landlords being policed most heavily for breaches

News

An suburban area of outer London has been revealed as the areas where landlords are most likely to be fined for rule breaches or face a Rent Repayment Order (RRO) secured by tenants.

Landlord and agent guilty of 'despicable' illegal eviction

Landlord and agent guilty of 'despicable' illegal eviction

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A landlord and his property manager who both evicted a tenant illegally have been found guilty of a ‘despicable act’.

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BREAKING: Bank of England cuts base interest rate by 0.25%

BREAKING: Bank of England cuts base interest rate by 0.25%

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Bank of England cuts base rate to 5%, offering relief to landlords with buy-to-let mortgages nearing the end of fixed-rate deals.

Britain needs more homes, not landlords says campaigning group

Britain needs more homes, not landlords says campaigning group

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Encouraging landlords to rent out more homes will not solve the housing crisis, it has been claimed.

Essex landlord banned for three years after HMO court case

Essex landlord banned for three years after HMO court case

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A rogue landlord who was also a letting agent in Essex has been banned from being a landlord in England for three years.

East Midlands city reveals clampdown on smaller HMOs

East Midlands city reveals clampdown on smaller HMOs

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A big council in the East Midlands has revealed plans to extend and widen its additional licencing scheme for HMOs.

Angela Rayner reveals big changes for Right to Buy

Angela Rayner reveals big changes for Right to Buy

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Labour has moved to make good on its manifesto promise to reform and improve the Right to Buy scheme which, under the Tories, saw the number of publicly-funded affordable rented homes in England shrink dramatically.

Social landlords blasted by Housing Ombudsman report - for maladministration

Social landlords blasted by Housing Ombudsman report - for maladministration

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Councils are failing in more ways than one. When it comes to complaints from their tenants, repairs and maintaining safety standards, councils are not performing

Landlord loses long-running 'battle of the staircase' with council

Landlord loses long-running 'battle of the staircase' with council

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An HMO landlord has lost his appeal against an improvement notice ordering him to update a 'paddle staircase'.

Holiday lets slump in Scotland as regulation bites

Holiday lets slump in Scotland as regulation bites

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The number of short lets in Scotland fell last year as the sector felt the impact of its licensing scheme clampdown.

More tenants using guarantors as competition for homes heats up

More tenants using guarantors as competition for homes heats up

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One in five private renters had to provide a guarantor when moving into their current property - equating to 940,000 households - according to the latest English Housing Survey.

DIY lettings service for landlords launches with big promise

DIY lettings service for landlords launches with big promise

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A new DIY lettings service for landlords should help Hello Neighbour fulfil its ambition of becoming the biggest letting agent in England, according to co-founder Richard Jenkins.

Council closes HMO after surprise visit reveals nightmare property

Council closes HMO after surprise visit reveals nightmare property

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A landlord who rented out his unlicensed, seven-bedroom HMO to 13 tenants has been ordered to pay £3,000.

Rent rises reflect cost tracking, not profiteering

Rent rises reflect cost tracking, not profiteering

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Landlords' rent increases reflect rising mortgage rates and operational costs, not profiteering, amid a challenging property market.

MPs urge Ministers to 'sort out' Local Housing Allowance rises

MPs urge Ministers to 'sort out' Local Housing Allowance rises

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Landlord and tenant groups have welcomed proposals by MPs on the Work and Pensions Select Committee to introduce an annual ‘uprating guarantee’ to the Local Housing Allowance (LHA).

REFORMS: Many landlords have 'no idea what's about to hit them'

REFORMS: Many landlords have 'no idea what's about to hit them'

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Propertymark poll reveals only 18% of landlords understand the Renters (Reform) Bill; 52% find official guidance insufficient.

Landlord warns: "sell now” as Government urged to further reduce PRS

Landlord warns: "sell now” as Government urged to further reduce PRS

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The Guardian suggests that Government may start to veer towards a “surprisingly simple solution to the UK housing crisis” which could see them squeeze landlords further, blaming them for the current housing crisis affecting home-buyers.

Report reveals £45 billion contribution landlords make to economy

Report reveals £45 billion contribution landlords make to economy

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A new report published today claims that 390,000 jobs rely on the private rented sector as critics of the sector, including the Guardian newspaper, have called for it to be shrunk or abolished entirely.

UK's only city-wide licencing scheme 'gets tough' on landlords

UK's only city-wide licencing scheme 'gets tough' on landlords

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Landlords in Oxford who fail to sign up to the city’s licensing scheme are being threatened with fines and enforcement action after a year of relative ‘grace’.

REPORT: Will lower inflation lead to lower BTL mortgage rates?

REPORT: Will lower inflation lead to lower BTL mortgage rates?

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Falling UK inflation could herald some good news for BTL landlords over the coming months, according to mortgage experts.

A reminder for landlords that electrical safety checks are mandatory

A reminder for landlords that electrical safety checks are mandatory

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Until recently landlords only had to concern themselves gas safety checks - but now all residential landlords or their agents must arrange for regular electrical safety checks (every 5 years)

Court approves tough bankcruptcy limits on 'property guru'

Court approves tough bankcruptcy limits on 'property guru'

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Infamous property guru Glenn Armstrong, who misled dozens of investors by promising to make them rich, has been handed tough bankruptcy restrictions lasting 12 years.

Tenant pockets £5,000 from Tribunal after realising HMO was unlicenced

Tenant pockets £5,000 from Tribunal after realising HMO was unlicenced

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A tenant who discovered that his landlord had not licenced the HMO in which he lived is to pocket £5,000 after winning a rent repayment order (RRO) during a Tribunal hearing.

Spring Budget shortfalls: What was missing for landlords?

Spring Budget shortfalls: What was missing for landlords?

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Budget fails buy-to-let landlords – tax reliefs slashed and housing crisis ignored, despite CGT cut and NI tweaks.

Murder conviction bars landlord from running rental properties

Murder conviction bars landlord from running rental properties

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A landlord who was jailed for culpable homicide in 2008 has been refused permission to rent out flats in Glasgow, despite claiming he has taken ‘responsibility for his actions’ and moved on.

Escalating 'housing emergencies' are Government's fault, say Scots letting agents

Escalating 'housing emergencies' are Government's fault, say Scots letting agents

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Letting agents have blamed poor Scottish government policies for the growing number of councils declaring ‘housing emergencies’.

Heat pumps still 'too expensive' warns national spending watchdog

Heat pumps still 'too expensive' warns national spending watchdog

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Heat pump sales continue to be hampered by high costs, lown awareness and a lack of long-term financial support, the government’s spending watchdog has warned.

90% of landlords reject Scottish rent control plans, official poll reveals

90% of landlords reject Scottish rent control plans, official poll reveals

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Vast majority of landlords have flatly rejected future widespread rent control across Scotland, in a new Holyrood survey.

Landlord fined after tenant harrassment revealed in court

Landlord fined after tenant harrassment revealed in court

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A landlord has been ordered to pay £2,500 in fines, compensation and costs after he admitted harassing two of his tenants.

Will landlord MPs stymie the Rental (reform) Bill?

Will landlord MPs stymie the Rental (reform) Bill?

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Momentum appears to be growing to torpedo the controversial legislation as evidence emerges that the Bill is ‘close to collapse’ in Parliament.

Should a good rent payment record count towards a mortgage application

Should a good rent payment record count towards a mortgage application

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It used to be the case that renting was a temporary phase in a young persons life. It gave flexibility until their career settled down to a fixed employer and a fixed location. But todays property prices mitigate against this pattern. Many people are locked into renting fa

Generation Rent calls for big landlord regulation push in Wales

Generation Rent calls for big landlord regulation push in Wales

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Generation Rent has urged the Welsh government to introduce an ombudsman for the PRS along with more grounds for rent repayment orders (RROs) in order to improve tenants’ lives.

80% of landlords say banning Section 21 evictions 'a mistake'

80% of landlords say banning Section 21 evictions 'a mistake'

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The vast majority of landlords and letting agents view the Government’s plans to abolish Section 21 evictions as a mistake, a new report has revealed.

Hunt's Spring Budget hid 'stealth' tax grab on landlords via CGT rules

Hunt's Spring Budget hid 'stealth' tax grab on landlords via CGT rules

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Jeremy Hunt’s recent Spring Budget hid a ‘steal tax’ on landlords seeking to sell properties after April 1st, it has been claimed.

Time ticking away for Bill prompts fresh concerns

Time ticking away for Bill prompts fresh concerns

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Fears are growing that the government is going soft on its commitment to the Renters Reform Bill.

Surge in fines for Right to Rent non-compliance

Surge in fines for Right to Rent non-compliance

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An increasing number of landlords and letting agents are falling foul of Right to Rent rules, with a big rise in fines handed out last year.