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NEW: Competition watchdog to probe 'consumer rights' within rental market

NEW: Competition watchdog to probe 'consumer rights' within rental market

News

The UKs competition watchdog is to launch an investigation into consumer rights for those rent their homes and the activities of landlords and letting agents. This announcement, which has been made by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), reveals that it intends to she

MPs say landlords who don't upgrade homes should pay higher mortgages

MPs say landlords who don't upgrade homes should pay higher mortgages

News

A cross-party group of MPs and peers has suggested that landlords who dont upgrade their properties should be liable for mortgage penalties. The All-Party Group on a Green New Deal believes there should be a 1% mortgage interest rate premium levied on all buy-to-let propertie

Government adds thousands of HMOs to energy bills support scheme

Government adds thousands of HMOs to energy bills support scheme

News

The government has announced support for thousands more households including tenants living in HMOs - to help pay their energy bills. Households without a direct relationship to an electricity supplier are covered by thehttps://www.gov.uk/get-help-energy-bills/getti

Council wins �1m funding for HMO improvements

Council wins �1m funding for HMO improvements

News

As part of the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) levelling up� fund the money is to be used by the council to work proactively and engage with landlords�, in particular with those landlords who rent out houses in multiple occupation (HMOs) and own con

'Why won't Government regulate agents like it does social housing managers?'

'Why won't Government regulate agents like it does social housing managers?'

News

Property expert Kate Faulkner (main pic) says new rules to introduce professional qualifications for social housing managers are a slap in the face for the PRS� after years of lobbying for similar standards. The government has a

Rent cap in Scotland could cut supply and raise rents

Rent cap in Scotland could cut supply and raise rents

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Scottish rent cap removal and Gwynedd's Article 4 Direction spark landlord concerns over housing supply and market stability.

Official �3 million evictions mediation service 'offered too late' to landlords

Official �3 million evictions mediation service 'offered too late' to landlords

News

A paltry nine cases were mediated in the governments pilot Rental Mediation Service - nowhere near the 3,000 cases it expected, it has been revealed. The Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities and the Minister of Justice had hoped that the pilot, which offered te

Half of landlords unaware of boiler upgrade scheme, expert warns parliament

Half of landlords unaware of boiler upgrade scheme, expert warns parliament

News

Landlords and letting agents need more information and financial help if the Boiler Upgrade Scheme is to succeed, according to Propertymark. In its evidence to the Lords Built Environment Committee inquiry into the scheme, the group says 48% of Propertymar

Test Case: enforcing legal protections for leaseholders

Test Case: enforcing legal protections for leaseholders

News

New leaseholder protections in the Building Safety Act 2022 came into force on 28 June 2022, with new financial protections for leaseholders in buildings above 11 metres or five storeys, those with historical safety defects. The new Building Safety Act 2022 was introduced follow

OPINION: It's time Facebook took action to stop rent scams on Marketplace

OPINION: It's time Facebook took action to stop rent scams on Marketplace

Opinion

Facebook is facing mounting calls to more effectively police its Marketplace classified listings platform after numerous investigations by national media outlets. The most recent was last night (23rd February)https://www.itv.com/news/channel/2023-02-23/prolific-scammer-

LAW: Landords who illegally evicted tenants landed with �22,300 rent repayment order

LAW: Landords who illegally evicted tenants landed with �22,300 rent repayment order

News

A landlord pair who assaulted one of their tenants while trying to illegally evict her from their unlicensed HMO have been handed a rent repayment order totalling more than �22,300. Guangyu Chen and Xing Guo argued that their poor English and understanding of the PRS was an exc

EXCLUSIVE: 'End of an era' for Shamplina as he steps back from popular TV show

EXCLUSIVE: 'End of an era' for Shamplina as he steps back from popular TV show

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Evictions expert Paul Shamplina has revealed that hes stepping back from his long-running role in TV series Nightmare Tenants, Slum Landlords. <figure id="" class="w-richtext-figure-type- " data-rt-type="" data-rt-align=""><div><img src="https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/

York landlord group says 'collaboration not conflict way forward on HMO licencing'

York landlord group says 'collaboration not conflict way forward on HMO licencing'

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Yorks Residential Landlords Association (York RLA) wants to clarify why it decided not to proceed with further legal action over the city councils proposals to bring in an Additional Licencing scheme for HMOs. Both local media and LandlordZONE recently reported that it had

NEW: Unions and campaigners call on Michael Gove to 'freeze' rents

NEW: Unions and campaigners call on Michael Gove to 'freeze' rents

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Council leaders, unions and renters groups have urged Housing Secretary Michael Gove to bring in an immediate rent freeze in a bid to prevent widespread homelessness. In an open letter, the 34 groups and individuals including London Renters Union, mayor of London Sadiq Kh

Landlord wins reprieve from huge RRO claiming 'technical issues' at council website

Landlord wins reprieve from huge RRO claiming 'technical issues' at council website

News

A disgruntled landlord has convinced a judge to have his rent repayment order case re-heard after arguing that council systems hindered his ability to apply for an HMO licence during the pandemic. Paul Fashade was told to pay three tenants a total of �11,

'Exploitative' landlords should be taxed harder says Joseph Rowntree Foundation

'Exploitative' landlords should be taxed harder says Joseph Rowntree Foundation

News

The government should raise the stamp duty surcharge on BTL purchases to favour those buying their own home, according to a new report from Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF). The social change group believes the surcharge should at least double to effectively disincentivise specu

NEW: Citizens Advice says Awaab's Law must be extended to PRS

NEW: Citizens Advice says Awaab's Law must be extended to PRS

News

Citizens Advice has urged the government to extend Awaabs law to the PRS to help the estimated 1.6 million children living in damp, mouldy or excessively cold privately rented homes. Awaab Ishtak died aged just two years old after living in a mouldy and

Landlords leaving the sector 'not as bad as claimed' says leading estate agent

Landlords leaving the sector 'not as bad as claimed' says leading estate agent

News

A new survey has downplayed the scale of landlords ready to quit the sector due to heavy-handed government regulations and upcoming legislation. Leaders Romans Groups poll of 271 landlords found that only 7% plan to sell up in the next year while 12% aim to reduce their portf

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Misrepresentation

Misrepresentation

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Misrepresentation - We recently rented out our rural cottage to a couple. As they wanted to use their computers I said it was possible to get high-speed broad-band. I thought this would be possible but it seems it is not at this time. The couple are now claiming that I misled them and that

Mail for Previous Tenants

Mail for Previous Tenants

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I'm receiving mail for previous tenants and some of them are from debt collectors. Will this get my property black listed and cause problems for my current tenants and myself in the future?</h2> It's fairly common to have mail arriving for months and even years after residents have left,

Long Term AST

Long Term AST

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Long Term AST - My prospective tenant has asked for a tenancy term of 6 years. Can I use the usual Assured Shorthold Tenancy agreement for this?</h2> The Assured Shorthold Tenancy is the default tenancy for residential lettings and since October 2010 this applies to rents up to �100,000

How long should accounts be kept

How long should accounts be kept

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Question: How long should accounts be kept to satisfy the authorities, things like accounting files, invoices and tax records, as a property landlord?Answer: You must keep your records for 6 years after the tax year to which they apply, whether or not you complete a tax return.It's a good idea, a

Expiry of Section 21 Notice

Expiry of Section 21 Notice

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Expiry of Section 21 Notice - I have served a Section 21 (s21) Notice on my tenant but don't wish to start proceedings immediately. Can I wait without the notice expiring?Once a Section 21 notice has been served correctly it continues indefinitely, until such time as the tenancy is ended, either

Covenant and Covenant Strength

Covenant and Covenant Strength

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Covenant and Covenant Strength - What is a legal covenant and what is the significance of the terms in relation to rental property and lettings ?</h2>The term covenant can have several meanings and has biblical origins but it is of particulalry significance

10 year lease

10 year lease

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2 years ago I purchased a company with a 10 year lease from my ex boss, on a 10 year lease, the lease was set up by a solicitor. After 2 years the business is struggling and is not viable. I feel that my solicitor ill advised me as there was no break clause mentioned. Where do I stand on t

Uncollected Goods

Uncollected Goods

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Good Left in the Premises or Uncollected GoodsFrequently, tenants leave goods after their tenancy has concluded or when they have abandon the premises during a tenancy. Uncollected goods and possessions left or abandoned in premises by tenants can pose a real problem for landlords.

Standing Order

Standing Order

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<h1 Standing Order</h1>What are Bankers' Standing Orders?</h3><ul <li Standing Orders allow landlords to automate the process of collecting rents</li> <li They safeguard tenants in that the landlord cannot change the payment amount, as is the case with direct debit

Government slammed as affordable rented home building tanks

Government slammed as affordable rented home building tanks

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A consortium of London housing associations has warned the government that new affordable home-building is grinding to a halt.

Covid's long shadow over rental market 'finally fading'

Covid's long shadow over rental market 'finally fading'

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The Covid years’ extreme effect on the capital’s lettings market appears to be significantly easing – although demand remains abnormally high.

No-fault evictions ban 'an attack on basic property rights'

No-fault evictions ban 'an attack on basic property rights'

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A basic tenet of property rights that landlords should be able to reclaim their property after an agreed period from a tenant is being undermined by Michael Gove’s push to end Section 21 evictions, a leading free market thinktank has claimed.

Government to relax rules on heat pumps, Gove reveals

Government to relax rules on heat pumps, Gove reveals

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The government is considering relaxing heat pump rules in England which manufacturers believe could result in a boost in sales.

Letting agent slams Scotlands' 'nightmare' new repairs rules

Letting agent slams Scotlands' 'nightmare' new repairs rules

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New safety regulations due to impact private landlords in Scotland have been labelled a logistical nightmare by one Edinburgh letting agent.

University launches first ever degree for letting agents

University launches first ever degree for letting agents

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Estate agents might have been deemed more untrustworthy than lawyers and traffic wardens in public polls, but the Royal Agricultural University aims to demonstrate the profession’s value by launching the UK’s first university course in residential estate agency.

It's time to stop blaming private landlords for the rental crisis

It's time to stop blaming private landlords for the rental crisis

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Government ministers, housing campaigners, landlords, letting agents and many of the other actors in the drama that is the private rented sector have been arguing hard about who is to blame for the high rents and lack of supply within the market.

Welsh city reveals 10% hike in HMO licencing fee

Welsh city reveals 10% hike in HMO licencing fee

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Newport City Council is expected to back a 10% rise in HMO fees as part of changes to the authority’s additional licensing scheme.

Landlord mortgage rates slip below 4% for first time in 18 months

Landlord mortgage rates slip below 4% for first time in 18 months

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Paragon Bank is showing some love for landlords on Valentine’s Day by offering its lowest rate on two-year fixes for new customers in more than 18 months.

Legal aid for evictions 'about to collapse entirely' says Law Society

Legal aid for evictions 'about to collapse entirely' says Law Society

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Housing legal aid providers are on the brink of collapse, according to the Law Society of England and Wales, which has urged the government to invest in the service before it’s too late.

It's got a ring to it! Landlords asked to support charity initiative

It's got a ring to it! Landlords asked to support charity initiative

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Landlords, letting agents and other players in the property game are being urged to support Paul Shamplina’s latest charity event which is due to take place on the night of Thursday June 27th.

Landlord wins unusual planning appeal over 'floating homes'

Landlord wins unusual planning appeal over 'floating homes'

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Britain’s most unusual holiday rental investment has been uncovered following a planning appeal decision over two floating ‘pods’ at a Marina in Chichester Harbour.

'Small minority of rogue landlords exploit Section 21 eviction rules'

'Small minority of rogue landlords exploit Section 21 eviction rules'

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A high-profile figure has claimed that ‘no-fault’ Section 21 evictions are a significant problem within London’s private rental sector and agrees with Shelter’s approach that they should be banned ‘as soon as possible’.

Comment: Gove’s solutions to Britain’s housing crisis increasingly look too little, too late

Comment: Gove’s solutions to Britain’s housing crisis increasingly look too little, too late

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Tom Entwistle tries to shed light on the severity of the crisis and explores some potential solutions, here he gives his opinions on the plans put forward by Michael Gove, the banning of Section 21, and the crisis within the courts system.

Gove 'playing games with words' says leading evictions expert

Gove 'playing games with words' says leading evictions expert

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Property lawyer David Smith has questioned the accuracy of Michael Gove’s comments about funding the court system and banning Section 21 before the General Election.

Landlords need own courts, letting agents urge Government

Landlords need own courts, letting agents urge Government

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Letting agents have once again called on the Government to establish a network of dedicated housing courts to process evictions and help speed up the currently arduous, expensive and slow system.

City rejects landlords' worries over 'stifling' licencing scheme

City rejects landlords' worries over 'stifling' licencing scheme

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Landlords and letting agents in Bristol have failed to scupper plans for city-wide additional licensing and selective licensing in the Bishopston and Ashley Down, Cotham and Easton wards.

Leading brands in private rented sector unite under new name

Leading brands in private rented sector unite under new name

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HFIS launches Total Property, unifying brands like mydeposits and Landlord Action to streamline landlord services.

Give tenants more rights in reform bill, urge campaigners

Give tenants more rights in reform bill, urge campaigners

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A coalition of influential housing charities and campaign groups has urged the Government to go even further with its Renters (Reform) Bill and tip the balance even further in favour of tenants living within the private rented sector.

Landlord's outbuilding 'too small for one' found housing family of nine

Landlord's outbuilding 'too small for one' found housing family of nine

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A landlord in Peterborough is to pay a £4,800 fine after ignoring a prohibition order preventing him from renting out a ‘sheds with beds’ property at the rear of his garden.

Mortgage expert's spoof video warning about property gurus goes viral

Mortgage expert's spoof video warning about property gurus goes viral

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Mortgage expert Lee Grandin's viral TikTok spoofs warn against property investment "gurus," promoting informed and cautious investing.

Gove says landlords will face Section 21 ban 'before election'

Gove says landlords will face Section 21 ban 'before election'

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Michael Gove confirms Section 21 'no-fault' evictions will be banned before the general election, with reforms to follow.

When Commercial tenants leave, the Dilapidations process needs careful handling

When Commercial tenants leave, the Dilapidations process needs careful handling

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Dilapidations is a process used in commercial tenancies that needs to be dealt with and dealt with in a professional way, if it is to be effective.

'Cost of landlording' drives 18% rise in BTL repossessions

'Cost of landlording' drives 18% rise in BTL repossessions

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The cost of renting out properties and high interest rates have pushed up the number of buy-to-let (BTL) mortgages in arrears.

A simple guide to approaching rent increases

A simple guide to approaching rent increases

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If you haven't revisited your tenant's rent lately, it might be time to consider doing so.