Across the UK nations theres been a rolling programme of rental reform, one new tenancy regime after another, but has any of this really worked for the benefit of tenants or landlords? We dont yet know the final form the Renters (Reform) Bill will take, theres a long wa
A law firm has warned that the looming property portal will be a gold mine for tax investigators who are likely to focus on accidental landlords rather than rogue operators. The new landlord database proposed by the Renters (Reform) Bill could expose those landlords who may - p
A new Home Energy Efficiency Tool promises to help landlords and homeowners make their homes more energy efficient and reduce bills. The Nationwide Building Society initiative aims to provide information about their current energy use and will then outline the cost, energy or ca
Landlords face even longer waits than normal to evict tenants in London after two big landlords were told that bailiff operations are to be suspended for the foreseeable future. This unusual situation has been blamed by officials on now confirmed health and safety reaso
Rent reforms wont work until the real problem of affordable housing waiting lists is addressed, according to leading property expert Kate Faulkner. Although MPs are focusing on the PRS, the housing crisis is nothing to do with the private sector, believes Faulkner, who sugges
Traditional landlords in the Midlands face growing competition as the region looks set to witness a big expansion in the build-to-rent sector. Birmingham led the way nationally in 2021, according to JLL, which reports that of the pipeline of 50,000 BTR homes outside London, 11,3
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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. A poll by buy-to-let broker Mortgages for Business found that 60% will raise re
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
The government has repudiated claims by one of its own MPs and a leading expert that the PRS is under pressure from reforms and rising levels of immigration. Home Office data shows that net immigration hit a record high of 606,000 last year. Based on the average household size o
A leading lawyer warns that by abolishing section 21 the government will be helping nuisance tenants at the expense of the weak and vulnerable. Under the Renters (Reform) Bill, landlords will be able to evict for behaviours capable of causing a nuisance or annoyance as opp
Removing Section 21 might not provide the hoped-for feelings of security and encourage tenants to complain when rental homes are in short supply, warns a housing charity. The TDS charitable foundations poll of 2,000 private renters found that a lack of affordable accommodatio
A landlord in East London is to pay two of her former tenants just over �12,000 after a rent repayment order (RRO) tribunal judge said she had at times bullied the pair and verged on threatening behaviour. Judge Shepherd awarded
A challenger utilities provider has claimed that HMO landlords can solve their tenants mounting bill payment challenges by using tech. Glide, which has a fast-spreading network of its own broadband cables around the UK but also offers bundled utility deals to homeowners and t
Leeds has the highest number of student properties in the UK, according to new research. Website money.co.uk analysed the biggest university towns and cities, giving Leeds, which has five universities and one of the biggest student populations, the top spot with 16,225, followed
Leaseholders can now check their eligibility for a share of the �4.5 billion Building Safety Fund, which has reopened to take new applications.� � Those living in buildings over 18m with cladding issues can apply for a share of the fund. However, the DLUHC tel
Barnet Council is reintroducing borough-wide HMO licensing in a bid to improve property standards despite less than impressive figures in its previous additional licensing scheme. According to one of the respondents in the consultation report, only 32% of licensable properties h
A recent RICS survey finds that interest rate hikes and cost of living pressures are beginning to weigh on sentiment. Credit conditions have deteriorated to such an extent that 43% of respondents to the RICS survey felt we're in early downturn.� Investor sentiment is steady, but the ma
HMRC has confirmed that landlords must file a capital gains tax (CGT) property return - even if the disposal has already been reported on a self-assessment (SA) return. The government introduced the requirement to report disposals of UK residential property and pay the subsequen
A leading poverty organisation has called for a radical overhaul of the private rented sector including a government-backed right to buy scheme for private renters. The Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF), which was founded by a Quaker philanthropist and sweets manufacturer i
Kettel Homes has launched the UKs first open market rent-to-own programme for first-time buyers who cant access traditional home financing. Under the scheme, Kettel buys existing freehold single-family homes between �125,000 and �400,000 outside London, charging first-ti
Letting agents have revealed continuing strong demand for rental properties but no let-up in weakening supply.
Inconsistencies in the existing EPC calculation mean that property owners can currently pay out thousands of pounds for work that, when they come to sell, they find actually lowered their EPC rating.
Most renters expecting a rent increase this year believe their landlords should make energy efficiency improvements to help offset the rise.
Coventry councillors are set to approve a 12-week consultation into plans to renew the city-wide additional licensing scheme.
The number of Houses of Multiple Occupation (HMOs) in England is continuing to nosedive, official statistics seen by LandlordZONE reveal.
Build-to-rent (BTR) continues its seemingly unstoppable march across UK cities, with the British Property Federation reporting that 58,000 homes had detailed planning permission in Q4 2023, the highest number on record.
Landlords rush to sell before March deadline—rising taxes and market shifts driving exits.
A landlord has evicted all his tenants from an HMO after a man forced his way into the property with a chainsaw after hearing that his stepdaughter had been bullied by fellow residents.
A landlord who allowed cannabis farms to operate in 17 of his 72 properties as part of a multi-million-pound drugs operation has been jailed for 11 years.
A 30-year-old entrepreneur specialising in buy-to-let investment and lettings has been named one of the UK’s top young business people.
Private tenants in the South West will save hundreds on their energy bills following a council’s push to identify those with failed Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs).
A crisis in the making? Will commercial property owners come through the looming debt repayment crisis unscathed?
Leaseholders won’t see all the hoped-for benefits from the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Bill unless significant changes are made, according to a leading expert.
A rogue landlord who failed to repair serious safety hazards in his property has been ordered to pay more than £3,000.
The Government must use ‘carrot’ as well as ‘stick’ policies as it attempts to improve the energy efficiency of the private rented sector, a leading mortgage broker as claimed.
How often do a property’s electrical tests have to be completed? What’s the minimum EPC level for a property to legally rented out? What’s the difference between a large and small HMO?
A landlord who claimed unsuccessfully that he had been deceived by his tenants has been handed a £9,745 rent repayment order.
All private landlords in parts of Scarborough will have to get a selective licence from 1st June under council plans to tackle poor quality accommodation and anti-social behaviour.
Landlords in Northern Ireland are being reminded to renew their registration or face a heavy fine.
Former Lib Dems leader Tim Farron has slammed Airbnb and other holiday lets platforms for creating a ‘clearance’ of long-term rental homes from his Lakeland constituency.
Jersey’s private landlords have urged the island’s new Housing Minister to find the right balance when he revives stalled protections for landlords and tenants.
A Labour landslide could be a better outcome for buy-to-let landlords than if the party wins the next election by a small majority, according to a leading property guru.
The base interest rate used by many lenders to determine mortgage costs for landlords is to be held at 5.25% for the fourth time in a row, the Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee has decided today.
Southwark Council has reassured landlords that they won’t be lose out on an early bird discount after they reported problems accessing its updated online licensing system.
A leading agent has urged the government not to rely solely on private landlords’ resilience if it wants to stop more from quitting the sector.
