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Lenders pull BTR mortgages as Bank of England threatens more rate rises

Lenders pull BTR mortgages as Bank of England threatens more rate rises

News

Landlords have increasingly fewer BTL mortgages to choose from as lenders withdraw products amid a rise in average fixed rates. Moneyfacts reports that since the beginning of last week, the number available has dropped from 2,748 deals to 2,343 while the average rate on two- and

HMO landlord loses landmark appeal against ban and £22,000 fine

HMO landlord loses landmark appeal against ban and £22,000 fine

News

A rogue landlord has lost a landmark case after she failed to convince an Upper Tribunal to overturn her banning order. <figure id="" class="w-richtext-figure-type- " data-rt-type="" data-rt-align=""><div><img src="https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/63bef2f3c329eff8e3a4af45/64cb99f6e035517f

BREAKING: Scotland extends rent cap and evictions freeze until March 2024

BREAKING: Scotland extends rent cap and evictions freeze until March 2024

News

Landlords in Scotland face further pain after it was announced today that it will for a second time extend the rent cap and evictions freeze first introduced in October last year to help combat rising inflation. The measures within the Cost of Living (Tenant Protec

MYSTERY shoppers reveal holes in BTR's claims to be 'better than PRS'

MYSTERY shoppers reveal holes in BTR's claims to be 'better than PRS'

News

The burgeoning build-to-rent (BTR) sector has been warned not to rest on its laurels as new research reveals slipping customer service standards. Consultancy hereSAYs BTR Mystery Shopping Benchmark Report found that although the developments still prese

PICS: Dawn raid in London reveals 'shocking and horrifying' illegal HMO

PICS: Dawn raid in London reveals 'shocking and horrifying' illegal HMO

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Eleven tenants have been found crammed in a squalid and illegal HMO during a dawn raid on a three-bedroom house in Wembley. <figure id="" class="w-richtext-figure-type- " data-rt-type="" data-rt-align=""><div><img src="https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/63bef2f3c329eff8e3a4af45/64cb9a422825

Councils should be given 'more powers to bring in licencing', claims mayor

Councils should be given 'more powers to bring in licencing', claims mayor

News

A leading independent think tank and a leading London mayor have called for councils across the UK to be given powers to implement selective licencing schemes of any size without sign-off by the Secretary of State. Following legislative changes during the early noughties, the se

How do I make sure my commercial rental property is properly maintained?

How do I make sure my commercial rental property is properly maintained?

News

Regular Inspections: Conduct routine inspections of the property to identify any maintenance issues or potential problems. Check for leaks, cracks, signs of wear and tear, malfunctioning equipment, and safety hazards. Address these issues promptly to prevent further damage. With

POLL: New pets rules will see landlords raise rents to cover extra costs

POLL: New pets rules will see landlords raise rents to cover extra costs

News

Three-quarters of landlords will be forced to raise rents in the face of the new Renters (Reform) Bill , which as drafted will restrict their ability to refuse pets. &nbsp; A poll by buy-to-let broker Mortgages for Business found that 60% will raise&nbsp;re

Pets and property experts warn 'work needed' to make reform bill workable

Pets and property experts warn 'work needed' to make reform bill workable

News

A group of leading figures representing animal charities, pet owners and property managers have warned that much work will be needed in the coming months to make the Renters (Reform) Bill acceptable to landlords and tenants. The group, although welcoming the bill, tells <strong

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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'

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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’.

Landlord fined £6,500 after member of public reports HMO

Landlord fined £6,500 after member of public reports HMO

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A landlord in Norfolk has been fined £6,500 after a significant investigation by local housing officers.

Mental health – are we doing enough in the HMO sector?

Mental health – are we doing enough in the HMO sector?

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One might immediately answer 'no' to this question, but does the HMO property industry possess adequate understanding of this delicate subject to address it effectively?

Lawyer warns landlords NOT to blame tenants for mould

Lawyer warns landlords NOT to blame tenants for mould

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A senior lawyer has told landlords that they cannot blame their tenants if mould appears within privately rented homes.

Letting agent avoids jail after defrauding seven landlords

Letting agent avoids jail after defrauding seven landlords

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A fraudulent letting agent who ripped off landlords by failing to register their deposits has escaped a jail sentence.

Absentee landlord to pay tenants £10k over mouldy, unlicenced property

Absentee landlord to pay tenants £10k over mouldy, unlicenced property

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Three tenants have pocketed £10,060 between them after winning a rent repayment order against their landlord for letting out a mouldy HMO with “lamentable” fire safety.

Tribunal orders big landlord to pay £16m toward cladding costs

Tribunal orders big landlord to pay £16m toward cladding costs

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One of the UK’s largest private landlords has been ordered to pay £16 million towards the cost of fixing cladding-related fire safety problems at a group of five residential towers in London.

Warwick latest town to start borough-wide big HMO licencing

Warwick latest town to start borough-wide big HMO licencing

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An Additional Licencing scheme covering all larger HMOs in Warwick has now gone live following approval of the scheme last year and a consultation.

MPs say private landlords must face same rules as social housing

MPs say private landlords must face same rules as social housing

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Select committee report is arguing for a change in the law to force private landlords to have to fix mould within days

New ombudsman will join forces with partner scheme

New ombudsman will join forces with partner scheme

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The government has revealed more details about how the new Private Rented Sector Ombudsman Service will work in practice.

MPs want landlords to sort out mouldy PRS homes

MPs want landlords to sort out mouldy PRS homes

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A cross-party group of MPs says a crackdown on social landlords to tackle damp and mould should be extended to tenants in the private rented sector.

Mortgage broker's new look marks its evolution

Mortgage broker's new look marks its evolution

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Buy-to-let intermediary Mortgages for Business is rebranding as Mortgage Finance Brokers (MFB) to reflect its more inclusive approach.

England & Wales must build 1 million more homes

England & Wales must build 1 million more homes

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1 million extra homes will be needed in England and Wales to house singles and families – this is a continually growing market for the private rented sector.

NRLA backs MPs' pragmatic plans for Renters Reform Bill

NRLA backs MPs' pragmatic plans for Renters Reform Bill

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Tory MPs have tabled a raft of amendments to the Renters Reform Bill to ensure it works for the whole private rented sector.

Surveyors call for government action to tackle PRS woes

Surveyors call for government action to tackle PRS woes

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Property surveyors across the UK have reported a slowdown in tenant demand along with continued levels of diminishing stock.

Rogue letting agent used 'smokescreen' to conceal ownership

Rogue letting agent used 'smokescreen' to conceal ownership

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Four tenants have lost their £309,000 claim for harassment but won a £21,160 rent repayment order for living in an unlicensed flat.

January sees a new surge of landlords selling their portfolios for higher prices than 2023

January sees a new surge of landlords selling their portfolios for higher prices than 2023

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There’s good news for landlords who have postponed selling their rental properties despite falling profits and new legislation making the private rental sector less appealing to most landlords.

Inflation rate surprise to delay mortgage interest rate drop for landlords

Inflation rate surprise to delay mortgage interest rate drop for landlords

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Landlords could have to wait slightly longer for the pressure on mortgage rates to ease after the annual rate of inflation hit 4% last month.

Record rent rises revealed by latest official PRS data

Record rent rises revealed by latest official PRS data

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UK rents increased by 6.2% in the year to December 2023 - the joint highest annual percentage change since 2016.

MPs told Commonhold is best replacement for leasehold

MPs told Commonhold is best replacement for leasehold

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Experts and campaigners giving evidence to the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Bill committee have endorsed a commonhold system.

Landlord slams 'over the top' DWP demands on tenants

Landlord slams 'over the top' DWP demands on tenants

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Tenants across the UK are being asked to comply with an extensive fraud checklist to confirm their eligibility for Universal Credit.

Landlords in Wales not obliged to flag homelessness risk

Landlords in Wales not obliged to flag homelessness risk

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Propertymark has welcomed the Welsh government’s commitment that private landlords shouldn’t have to refer tenants at risk of homelessness.

Family build-to-rent urged to meet PRS shortfall

Family build-to-rent urged to meet PRS shortfall

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Up to one million new rental homes will be needed to accommodate growing demand by 2031, particularly from young families, across England and Wales.

Fewer tenancies trigger letting agency closures

Fewer tenancies trigger letting agency closures

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Almost 2,000 letting agent branches shut up shop last year which meant 2023 ended with 659 fewer branches on the high street.

Funding concerns continue to stall retrofit plans

Funding concerns continue to stall retrofit plans

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Nearly a fifth of landlords believe the government should prioritise better access to finance so they can carry out retrofitting plans.

More landlords in cost-saving drive to incorporate

More landlords in cost-saving drive to incorporate

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A record 50,004 limited BTL companies were set up last year, driven by landlords looking to shelter themselves from higher interest rates.