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Purplebricks sold to rival for �1 after senior team throw in the towel

Purplebricks sold to rival for �1 after senior team throw in the towel

News

Purplebricks, which at one stage was used by thousands of landlords to manage their properties, has announced that its assets and business are to be sold to rival Strike for �1, pending approval by its shareholders. Any funds remaining in the firm some �5.5 million are

Gove's plan to ease HMO rules for asylum accommodation

Gove's plan to ease HMO rules for asylum accommodation

News

Michael Gove approves relaxed HMO rules for asylum seeker housing, exempting safety standards and licensing; critics warn of potential exploitation.

BLOG: 'Reform bill will solve the problem of pet damage for landlords'

BLOG: 'Reform bill will solve the problem of pet damage for landlords'

News

The long-awaited Renters (Reform) Bill will finally be introduced in parliament after Prime Minister's Questions today. Setting out plans for 12 key reforms to the private rental sector, the 11th pledge - to give tenants the right in law to request a pet, which should not be unr

Agents who lack licencing law know-how 'putting landlords at risk'

Agents who lack licencing law know-how 'putting landlords at risk'

News

Bungling letting agents with a lack of legal understanding are putting landlords at risk of prosecution, it has been claimed. One landlord expert has advised caution when signing up with a firm in the current climate of increasing legislation and falling profits, particularly fo

Opinion: does Michael Gove know something we don't?

Opinion: does Michael Gove know something we don't?

Opinion

It would seem that successive Tory governments have waged an ongoing and progressively more vicious war on buy-to-let landlords, but this latest layer of legislation goes much further. Yes, this latest iteration, and one thats https://bills.parliament.uk/bills/1768/s

EXTRA red tape, scams and repairs drive more landlords to use agencies

EXTRA red tape, scams and repairs drive more landlords to use agencies

News

Almost two thirds (63%) of private landlords who manage their own properties are tired of sorting out repairs and dealing with red tape and considering using a letting agency or property manager instead.  A Uswitch poll of 2,000 landlords found that the most common reason t

Labour targets landlords with new housing reforms

Labour targets landlords with new housing reforms

News

Labour pledges stricter Decent Homes Standard 2 for private landlords, raising property quality and accountability ahead of next general election.

Starmer 'set to U-turn on rent controls' as London Mayor pleads for more powers

Starmer 'set to U-turn on rent controls' as London Mayor pleads for more powers

News

Keir Starmer is set to rebuff previous calls by London mayor Sadiq Khan to bring in a rent freeze, it has been reported. Khan has been banging his rent freeze drum for months now as the cost-of-living crisis has hit many tenants personal finances, telling the BBC in Oct

'Disaster' renting reform bill to enter parliament tomorrow after PMQs

'Disaster' renting reform bill to enter parliament tomorrow after PMQs

News

The much-delayed Renters Reform Bill is rumoured to be getting its first reading tomorrow after Prime Ministers Questions, although the 'full meat' of the proposals will come later. Rumoured to be renamed the Rented Homes Bill or Renters (Reform) Bill, landlords are waitin

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EPCs: Landlords seeking five-year BTL loans 'could be turned down'

EPCs: Landlords seeking five-year BTL loans 'could be turned down'

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Landlords currently seeking a five-year fixed rate BTL mortgage on a property with an EPC rating below band C could be turned down before net

Council admits selective licensing will 'push up rents'

Council admits selective licensing will 'push up rents'

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News
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Great Yarmouth council has revealed more details of its proposed selective licensing scheme for landlords.

'Give landlords back tax relief to ease housing crisis', urges Shamplina

'Give landlords back tax relief to ease housing crisis', urges Shamplina

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News
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Landlord Action founder also says landlords have been unfairly cast as villains in recent years.

Landlords urge new Minister to delay tax hike

Landlords urge new Minister to delay tax hike

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Scottish landlords have urged their government to pause Additional Dwelling Supplement (ADS) for landlords to help ease the 'housing crisis'.

Majority of landlords in city against council's HMO licensing plans

Majority of landlords in city against council's HMO licensing plans

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Just 44% of landlords agree with Southampton Council’s plans to introduce additional licensing.

Bolton brings in harsher planning rules after HMO increase 'concerns'

Bolton brings in harsher planning rules after HMO increase 'concerns'

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News
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Bolton Council has agreed tough new rules to control HMO conversions – two years after first coming up with the idea.

LEGAL update: Consumer protection laws – what landlords need to know

LEGAL update: Consumer protection laws – what landlords need to know

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This Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act has important implications for private landlords when letting their properties

Will Renters' Right Bill make councils prosecute ALL bad landlords?

Will Renters' Right Bill make councils prosecute ALL bad landlords?

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News
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Lawyer David Smith looks at several clauses within the Act which appear to mandate local authorities to bring all errant landlords to book.

Landlords warn Government over EPC upgrade proposals

Landlords warn Government over EPC upgrade proposals

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New EPC rules in Scotland will worsen the housing crisis and force people to spend longer in emergency homeless accommodation

Double council tax aims to get owners letting properties

Double council tax aims to get owners letting properties

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Argyll and Bute councillors have approved a plan to charge a double council tax on second homes.

London council bids to continue clampdown on small HMOs

London council bids to continue clampdown on small HMOs

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News
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Haringey Council has urged landlords to share their views on plans for a new additional licensing scheme in the borough.

Rising UK rents forecast to break records

Rising UK rents forecast to break records

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News
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A continued imbalance between supply and demand is set to grow rents by 6% next year, before hitting an affordability ceiling that will limit growth until 2028.

Unlawful extension lands landlord with hefty fine

Unlawful extension lands landlord with hefty fine

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A landlord who illegally rented out a property for years without planning permission has been ordered to pay £93,000.

Landlords warm to tougher energy rules - but need more help

Landlords warm to tougher energy rules - but need more help

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Most private landlords think they should be subject to stricter energy efficiency regulations, according to new research.

Landlords urged to beware the pitfalls of non-dom licensing

Landlords urged to beware the pitfalls of non-dom licensing

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A licensing expert has warned landlords living overseas about the dangers of asking UK-based friends or firms to apply for their selective licence.

Leasehold reforms herald huge shake-up for homeowners

Leasehold reforms herald huge shake-up for homeowners

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The Leasehold and Freehold Reform Bill has taken a step towards becoming legislation after it was introduced to Parliament.

Labour to stop landlords evicting if deposit has not been protected

Labour to stop landlords evicting if deposit has not been protected

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Labour MPs have tabled 26 amendments to the Renters Reform Bill that demand much tougher financial penalties for errant landlords and stricter rules around deposits.

New national lobbying group for landlords revealed

New national lobbying group for landlords revealed

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PRS organisations, forums and landlord groups have joined forces to launch the Housing Coalition, which aims to give the sector a voice and improve private rental housing standards.

Could it happen here? Ireland to give PRS tenants 'right to buy'

Could it happen here? Ireland to give PRS tenants 'right to buy'

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News
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Tenants in Ireland could get first refusal on a property when a landlord puts it up for sale if new legislation gets the go-ahead.

Investors rush to snap up buy-to-let portfolios for cash before the year ends

Investors rush to snap up buy-to-let portfolios for cash before the year ends

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With just one month to go until the year ends, investors are continuing to snap up properties at an accelerated rate. With next year bringing uncertainty, and a potential change in government, the trend for new investors who have entered the market to step in and take whole portfolios...

OFFICIAL: Smaller landlords will NOT need to use digital tax system

OFFICIAL: Smaller landlords will NOT need to use digital tax system

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News
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Landlords earning less than £30,000 will not have to use HMRC’s Making Tax Digital (MTD) software, the government has confirmed.

Britain's biggest landlord warns Government over tenancy law change

Britain's biggest landlord warns Government over tenancy law change

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Two-month notice periods for tenants under periodic tenancies will negatively impact the build-to-rent sector and encourage sub-letting homes as party flats, the boss of big BTR firm Grainger has told MPs.

'Rescue service' launches to help struggling landlords

'Rescue service' launches to help struggling landlords

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A rent to buy scheme for first-time buyers who can’t afford a deposit is extending its offer to struggling landlords.

Chancellor unfreezes Local Housing Allowance for benefits tenants

Chancellor unfreezes Local Housing Allowance for benefits tenants

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The Chancellor has revealed that the Local Housing Allowance (LHA) will be unfrozen and increased to the lower 30% of rents nationwide from April 2024 onwards.

Fewer landlords to complete green upgrades now EPC rules scrapped

Fewer landlords to complete green upgrades now EPC rules scrapped

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News
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Fewer landlords plan to make energy efficiency improvements since the government’s U-turn on raising EPC targets.

Housing benefit direct payments STILL leaving landords 'out of pocket'

Housing benefit direct payments STILL leaving landords 'out of pocket'

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A benefits expert has urged the DWP’s working group to sort out problems with the Alternative Payment Arrangements (APA) process that leaves landlords in the dark and out of pocket.

Are you? Landlords report 'feeling more upbeat' as yields rise

Are you? Landlords report 'feeling more upbeat' as yields rise

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Landlords are feeling much more optimistic than they were a year ago, thanks to a more stable market and economic conditions, according to new research from Paragon Bank.

UPDATED - Ending an Assured Shorthold Tenancy

UPDATED - Ending an Assured Shorthold Tenancy

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How to handle the eviction process The Government is planning to replace the Assured Shorthold Tenancy, and Section 21 evictions will no longer be possible when new legislation under the Renters (Reform) Bill comes in. But this will take some time yet. In the meant

Tenant's complaint leads to £10,000 fine for HMO landlord

Tenant's complaint leads to £10,000 fine for HMO landlord

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A criminal landlord has been hit with an £11,800 fine for operating a dirty, unlicensed HMO - one of a growing number of large, sometimes overcrowded and dangerous, bedsits around the country.

LandlordZONE and Shamplina on TV today to analyse Autumn Statement

LandlordZONE and Shamplina on TV today to analyse Autumn Statement

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Landlords looking for some in-depth analysis of tomorrow’s Autumn Statement and its likely good – and bad – news for landlords should tune into TalkTV at 3.30pm tomorrow, 22nd November.

Ignoring HMO licencing scheme costs landlord £9,600

Ignoring HMO licencing scheme costs landlord £9,600

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The costs of running unlicenced rental properties have been highlighted once more after three tenants won a £9,600 Rent Repayment Order from their HMO landlord.

Tenant bidding wars for rental properties hot up - claim

Tenant bidding wars for rental properties hot up - claim

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One in five tenants has lost out in a property bidding war during the last two years, with those in London, Southampton and Brighton facing the toughest competition.

INTERVIEW: The pioneering private landlord with a social purpose

INTERVIEW: The pioneering private landlord with a social purpose

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Private landlords are often portrayed unfairly by some housing campaigners as greedy, concerned only with raising rents and increasing profits.

Does a Periodic Tenancy mean a new tenancy every month?

Does a Periodic Tenancy mean a new tenancy every month?

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Periodic Tenancy: Under English law, once a fixed period tenancy comes to an end it is automatically replaced with a periodic one, based on the rent payment period (commonly monthly), unless the original tenancy is terminated. With an Assured Shorthold Tenancy (AST) terminat