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OPINION: Landlords and agents had a chance to avoid licensing, and blew it

OPINION: Landlords and agents had a chance to avoid licensing, and blew it

News

It is not unusual to hearletting agents and their landlord clients complaining that operating within theprivate rented sector is has become increasingly tangled with red tape.

WARNING: Money lost to 'investment scams' rises to £144 million

WARNING: Money lost to 'investment scams' rises to £144 million

News

The public has been warned to be vigilant following a new report that shows the number of people relieved of their savings by ‘investment scams’ has increased by value for the first time since 2021, reaching £144 million.

'Blue-rinse' seaside resort seeks to restrict number of HMOs

'Blue-rinse' seaside resort seeks to restrict number of HMOs

News

The borough council’s planning committee will vote on whether to introduce an Article 4 direction next week.

Council secures criminal conviction for landlord over unlicensed HMO

Council secures criminal conviction for landlord over unlicensed HMO

News

A West Sussex landlord has been prevented from letting out HMOs after he admitted operating an unlicensed property.

Landlords WILL be allowed to raise rents to pay for EPC upgrades

Landlords WILL be allowed to raise rents to pay for EPC upgrades

News

Despite Energy Secretary Ed Miliband’s insistence that rents hadn’t increased when standards were raised during previous initiatives, Justice Minister Sarah Sackman has now said there are grounds for “higher market rents”.

Landlord £10,000 out of pocket as DWP rules complicated payments

Landlord £10,000 out of pocket as DWP rules complicated payments

News

A tenant has built up more than £10,000 in rent arrears after the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) refused to accept her landlord’s word that the rent had increased.

Number of planning permissions for HMOs declines across UK

Number of planning permissions for HMOs declines across UK

News

Report from digital planning portal suggests public fight-back against HMOs and higher taxes for landlords are beginning to bite.

US activist urges British tenants to withhold rents and resist 'despotic landlords'

US activist urges British tenants to withhold rents and resist 'despotic landlords'

News

Radical renting campaigners have written a new book that aims to inspire the end of UK landlords’ “despotic control” over tenants.

Famous seaside town plans enlarged £784 landlord licensing scheme

Famous seaside town plans enlarged £784 landlord licensing scheme

News

The Norfolk seaside town of Great Yarmouth has revealed plans to introduce a five-year selective licensing scheme for rented properties in three key wards.

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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

Warning: New-look Scottish rent controls risk backfiring

Warning: New-look Scottish rent controls risk backfiring

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A new adjudication process for rent controls in Scotland could add further layers of bureaucracy without benefitting landlords or tenants.

Legal case: rent repayment orders - honesty the best policy

Legal case: rent repayment orders - honesty the best policy

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A Rent Repayment Order (RRO) is an order that allows a tenant or local authority to reclaim rent or housing benefit where a landlord rents out an unlicensed property such as a house in multiple occupation (HMO). Rent Repayment Orders are obtained through a residential property t

Landlords forced to take a hit on costs by asking lower rents

Landlords forced to take a hit on costs by asking lower rents

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News
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More landlords are being forced to reduce advertised rents in the cost-of-living crisis.

Council bids to buy more private rented homes

Council bids to buy more private rented homes

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A council plans to buy 65 private rental properties through its housing company in a bid to address the shortage of homes.

Disgruntled landlords threaten licensing scheme boycott

Disgruntled landlords threaten licensing scheme boycott

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Landlords in Middlesbrough have vowed to fight plans to expand selective licensing and a fee hike.

Landlord pays high price for ignoring mouldy bedroom

Landlord pays high price for ignoring mouldy bedroom

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News
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A landlord who failed to remove dangerous mould from a children’s bedroom has been handed a £10,451 fine.

Landlord's flood planning saves tenants from water surge

Landlord's flood planning saves tenants from water surge

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News
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A landlord living in Shropshire’s largest block of flats has vowed to stay put, despite his neighbours moving out during serious flooding.

REVEALED: Socialist Party's extreme plans for housing market

REVEALED: Socialist Party's extreme plans for housing market

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The Socialist Party has called for rent controls, compulsory control of private landlords and the nationalisation of house builders.

MAYOR: "Days of bad landlords being untouchable coming to end"

MAYOR: "Days of bad landlords being untouchable coming to end"

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News
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Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham has warned rogue landlords that they will soon have nowhere to hide.

Is the UK Government shunning its own advice?

Is the UK Government shunning its own advice?

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News
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The Military is shunning heat pumps in favour of cheaper to install cutting-edge electric boilers in homes

Short lets and assisted living 'hottest tickets' for 2024 - claim

Short lets and assisted living 'hottest tickets' for 2024 - claim

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Landlords are being encouraged to consider adding lucrative short lets and assisted living developments to their property portfolios this year.

Data regulator warns landlords and agents over privacy rules

Data regulator warns landlords and agents over privacy rules

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Landlords and letting agents have been warned to be more careful when handling tenants’ personal data under GDPR rules.

Huge Right to Rent fines for landlords to go live on 22nd January

Huge Right to Rent fines for landlords to go live on 22nd January

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Steeper fines for landlords flouting Right to Rent rules in England come into force on 22nd January.

New selective licences will be 'tied to tackling anti-social tenants'

New selective licences will be 'tied to tackling anti-social tenants'

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Middlesborough Council has launched a consultation into plans to extend a selective licensing scheme in parts of its Newport ward.

Private rental sector is 'broken' claims Shelter boss

Private rental sector is 'broken' claims Shelter boss

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The PRS is “broken” according to Shelter, which claims lone parents are bearing the brunt of the housing crisis.

Acorn apologises over two 'incorrect' claims about NRLA

Acorn apologises over two 'incorrect' claims about NRLA

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Lobbying group Acorn has issued a statement apologising for incorrectly accusing the National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA) of ‘campaigning against the abolishment of Section 21 evictions’.

BTL investment firm takes down adverts following investigation

BTL investment firm takes down adverts following investigation

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A BTL investment firm has had its wrist slapped by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) for potentially misleading landlords over its prices.

Derby latest city to clamp down on growth of HMOs

Derby latest city to clamp down on growth of HMOs

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Councillors in Derby hope to get tougher on HMO landlords by introducing an Article 4 direction in the city.

Landlord reveals highly unusual route into BTL investment

Landlord reveals highly unusual route into BTL investment

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News
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A landlord in Somerset has revealed his highly unusual path to becoming a buy-to-let investor.

Are you? 144,000 landlords facing higher mortgage costs in 2024

Are you? 144,000 landlords facing higher mortgage costs in 2024

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News
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More than 144,000 private landlords coming to the end of five-year fixed deals face re-mortgaging at starkly higher rates in 2024.

Landlord pins rising rents on new selective licencing fees

Landlord pins rising rents on new selective licencing fees

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Nottingham benefits landlord Mick Roberts has blamed the city’s licensing schemes for rising rents and homelessness.

Manchester reveals £86,000 landlord fines as it seeks more licencing

Manchester reveals £86,000 landlord fines as it seeks more licencing

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Manchester Council has revealed penalties of more than £86,000 handed to landlords under previous selective licensing schemes to justify expanding it to nine more areas.

Landlord wins key legal case over 'unworkable' prohibition orders

Landlord wins key legal case over 'unworkable' prohibition orders

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A landlord has won an unusual Tribunal victory after their local council tried to prevent a property being rented out because, it alleged, its spiral staircase was too dangerous for workmen over 60 years old to use.

Leading landlord receives MBE in New Year Honours List

Leading landlord receives MBE in New Year Honours List

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A leading landlord has received an OBE within the New Year Honours List along with one other property figure.

Hundreds of landlords duped into illegal tax avoidance schemes

Hundreds of landlords duped into illegal tax avoidance schemes

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As much as £100 million in tax avoidance could have disappeared before taxation expert Dan Neidle of Tax Policy Associates (TPA) “blew the whistle” on the schemes