The impact of council tax re-banding in HMOs has started to bite as tenants around the UK are being handed huge bills. Portsmouth seems to be a particular hot spot, where one Twitter user posted: Im literally in shock. My house is being re-banded that its six individual
NRLA’s Ben Beadle warns new energy rebate laws may unfairly target landlords, risking conflict with tenants amid cost-of-living crisis.
Labours leader Keir Starmer has hinted that buy-to-let landlords and second home owners may be prevented from buying properties meant for first-time buyers. His comments came during todays address to the Labour conference in Blackpool, during which h
A report in The Guardian newspaper says that the Surge in no-fault evictions prompts calls to renew UK-wide ban,� on section 21 evictions that is, as was the case during the Covid pandemic. Tenants were protected from being removed during lockdown - how
Business rates revaluations are scheduled at certain times, but if these occur during period of high inflation the new fix could put businesses and commercial landlords at risk. Though business tenants are liable to pay business rates, landlords should be concerned because they
Labour's Lisa Nandy criticises landlords, pledges reforms to shift balance towards social housing and empower renters.
A Uttoxeter-based landlord, Gunes Ata, aged 47, has been successfully prosecuted by Sheffield City Council for repeatedly failing to provide his leaseholder tenants with the detailed information they are entitled to when presented with their service charges. Mr Ata, who owns She
Kwasi Kwarteng failed to deliver the hoped-for repeal of Section 24 in his mini-Budget but confirmed a permanent cut in stamp duty. The chancellor raised the threshold before stamp duty is paid to �250,000 and for first-time buyers, to �425,000 - cuts universally panned by mor
Fire doors and fire door safety are key elements in the Government's drive to improve fire safety post-Grenfell.
Landlords have been offered a glimmer of hope by the new Prime Minister whos hinted that shes not adverse to considering the repeal of Section 24. https://www.nrla.org.uk/" target="_blank" NRLA boss Ben Beadle n
Landlords have slammed the Governments new plans to force HMO landlords who operate all inclusive rental properties to pass on the �400 rebate being made available via the Energy Bills Support Scheme (EBSS). This announcement is an abrupt U-turn previously Minister
The MP replacing Eddie Hughes at the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) is Lee Rowley. This 42-year-old MP and Leave voter, who was elected to parliament by the constituents of North East Derbyshire in 2017 following his two unsuccessful bids in other co
Landlords should expect more form filling after agents were advised to complete due diligence on all their clients to combat money laundering. Recently approved government guidance designed to help property agents comply with money laundering regulations - covering customer due
According to many companies, heat pumps are our salvation. To homeowners and landlords, they are expensive to buy. Thats okay, right? Not quite. Home boiler installation experts at Boiler Central have recently seen homeowners return to their natural gas boilers due to heat pu
Scotlands shock new rent https://www.landlordzone.co.uk/news/breaking-nichola-sturgeon-to-reveal-national-rent-freeze-in-scotland/" freeze policy announcement has left worried landlords in the dark, according to the countrys largest letting ag
Housing minister Eddie Williams has thrown in the towel and says he is looking forward to having more time to work for his constituents in Walsall North and championing their causes in parliament. The Midlands MP, who has been at the housing department since June 2018
Under plans to get tough on landlords, stricter standards will be brought in to eliminate unsafe and cold rental housing says the Government Landlords could be facing six-month prison sentences if they let older homes that are unsafe and cold for their tenants. Under
Mortgage brokers around the UK have reported a big rise in tenants being given first refusal to buy their rental property as more amateur landlords head for the exit. <figure id="" class="w-richtext-figure-type- " data-rt-type="" data-rt-align=""><div><img src="https://uploads-ssl.webflo
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
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,
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
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
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
Nottingham councillors have voted through a contentious additional HMO licensing scheme. The current scheme, covering central areas of the city, will soon come to an end and the council plans to introduce a new citywide scheme in January 2024. It says this would pre
Peers have slammed the governments Boiler Upgrade Scheme for attracting a disappointingly low� take-up of grants. Launched in https://www.landlordzone.co.uk/news/latest-official-boiler-upgrade-scheme-launches-today-but-is-it-enough/" target="_blank" <stron
A BBC investigation has uncovered a new property rental scam that uses Facebook Marketplace and then fake accommodation booking sites to lure in unsuspecting tenants. Called an advance rent payment scam, a technique that has been around for many years, this version of it is more
The Government has now committed to delivering Awaabs Law in a new amendment to the Social Housing Regulation Bill. But does the Government intend to place the same onus on private landlords, and is this law totally fair? I cant help feeling perplexed as
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.
Buy-to-let intermediary Mortgages for Business is rebranding as Mortgage Finance Brokers (MFB) to reflect its more inclusive approach.
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.
Tory MPs have tabled a raft of amendments to the Renters Reform Bill to ensure it works for the whole private rented sector.
Property surveyors across the UK have reported a slowdown in tenant demand along with continued levels of diminishing stock.
Four tenants have lost their £309,000 claim for harassment but won a £21,160 rent repayment order for living in an unlicensed flat.
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.
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.
UK rents increased by 6.2% in the year to December 2023 - the joint highest annual percentage change since 2016.
Experts and campaigners giving evidence to the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Bill committee have endorsed a commonhold system.
Tenants across the UK are being asked to comply with an extensive fraud checklist to confirm their eligibility for Universal Credit.
Propertymark has welcomed the Welsh government’s commitment that private landlords shouldn’t have to refer tenants at risk of homelessness.
Up to one million new rental homes will be needed to accommodate growing demand by 2031, particularly from young families, across England and Wales.
Almost 2,000 letting agent branches shut up shop last year which meant 2023 ended with 659 fewer branches on the high street.
Nearly a fifth of landlords believe the government should prioritise better access to finance so they can carry out retrofitting plans.
A record 50,004 limited BTL companies were set up last year, driven by landlords looking to shelter themselves from higher interest rates.
Michael Gove says that under Awaab’s Law, social housing landlords must deal with condensation issues without delay.
Get ready for an intriguing year ahead in 2024, particularly if you're a hands-on landlord, as several forthcoming announcements are poised to reshape the landscape of property management.
The importance of keeping commercial lease clauses up-to-date with changes in new legislation, in particular there's one clause that should be inserted into every commercial lease to take account of the new energy efficiency rules. Under the Landlord
A landlord who was unable to conduct an electrical safety check due to his hoarding tenant has had a £3,500 fine quashed.
The government has confirmed that commercial landlords won’t have to meet a proposed 2025 deadline to raise their properties to an EPC band C.
CreditLadder has teamed up with Digital ID Connect so app users can report rental payments into credit reference agencies.
Monthly rental costs fell by 0.9% across the UK during December and by 2.2% in Greater London - one of the biggest drops seen in 2023.
The government has rejected calls for private landlords to be given similar deadlines to the social housing sector for dealing with damp and mould.
