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Making tax digital as a landlord: What you need to know

Making tax digital as a landlord: What you need to know

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Making tax digital (MTD) for income tax is part of the governments long-term strategy to digitalise tax and will have implications for how landlords pay tax on their income. For those used to self-assessment, it will represent a change, but providing digital records will give businesses

What are the special rules for VAT on commercial property?

What are the special rules for VAT on commercial property?

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VAT on Commercial Property is a complex topic and anyone wishing to understand these complexities in relation to their own situation should seek specialist advice. This article should give a broad brush general overview but you really should seek advice because errors can be irredeemable an

Landlord banned from letting properties in England for five years

Landlord banned from letting properties in England for five years

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A rogue portfolio landlord has been banned from letting properties for five years after she admitted multiple offences relating to fire safety issues. Naomi Knapp, a landlord with 34 properties in Bristol, was convicted of eight banning order offences and will now be added to th

'Spray foam must be regulated to stop properties becoming un-mortgageable'

'Spray foam must be regulated to stop properties becoming un-mortgageable'

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Urgent regulation of the spray foam industry is needed to prevent making thousands of homes un-mortgagable, warn leading property groups. Sprayed polyurethane expanding foams are often used in lofts, either to stabilise a failing roof covering or to provide extra insulation. But

EXCLUSIVE: Landlords battle city council over HMO council tax re-valuations

EXCLUSIVE: Landlords battle city council over HMO council tax re-valuations

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Portsmouths HMOs are in the firing line again as growing numbers are being referred to the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) to have their council tax bands reassessed. Rather than paying tax on the whole property, each room can be classified as a band A at a cost of �1,200, wit

LEGAL LATEST: Can the eviction of a disabled tenant ever be fair?

LEGAL LATEST: Can the eviction of a disabled tenant ever be fair?

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A severely disabled tenant and his family have barricaded themselves into their home in a bid to prevent a controversial eviction. Quadriplegic Harvey Cowe, 62, and his wife Sheree, 55, have lived at the house in Brittany Road, Hove, for 25 years after Brighton & Hove C

'Selective licencing fees will push up rents as cost of living rises squeeze landlords too'

'Selective licencing fees will push up rents as cost of living rises squeeze landlords too'

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A leading letting agent has criticised the reasoning behind the UKs ever-growing list of selective licensing schemes. Selective licensing covers all rented property in a given area or council borough and landlords are required to pay a five-yearly fee of between �500 and �9

More HMO restrictions in Bristol as battle over fast-expanding sector hots up

More HMO restrictions in Bristol as battle over fast-expanding sector hots up

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Landlords in Bristol will soon be required to gain planning permission to convert properties into HMOs in three key areas, it has been revealed. South Gloucestershire Council is to bring in Article 4 directions in the Bristol neighbourhoods of Stoke Park and Cheswick and parts o

LATEST: London mayor urges private landlords to sell their homes to councils

LATEST: London mayor urges private landlords to sell their homes to councils

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Londons mayor Sadiq Khan has urged private landlords who are planning to exit the private rented market to sell their properties to local councils instead of other landlords. Khan made the comments within a self-congratulatory statement on his website l

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We interview landlord blogger Suzanne Smith for our first podcast

We interview landlord blogger Suzanne Smith for our first podcast

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New LandlordZONE podcast features Suzanne Smith sharing her journey from lawyer to full-time portfolio landlord.

HMOs generating highest yields for landlords at 8.34%

HMOs generating highest yields for landlords at 8.34%

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BTL landlords enjoyed average yields of 6.72% in September, up from 6.69% at the end of the second quarter and 6.48% in the previous year.

REVEALED: Key reasons why landlord/tenant relationships sour

REVEALED: Key reasons why landlord/tenant relationships sour

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New report reveals that it doesn't take much to tip a landlord relationship into something that a tenant sees as negative, particularly when landlords are largely portrayed negatively in mainstream media.

10% of homes lacking carbon monoxide alarms

10% of homes lacking carbon monoxide alarms

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Nearly 10 % of rented homes lack CO alarms—landlords face fines up to £5,000 for non-compliance.

HMO landlord loses fine appeal after blaming agent for rules breach

HMO landlord loses fine appeal after blaming agent for rules breach

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An HMO landlord who blamed a guaranteed rent firm for breaching his licence has failed in his bid to overturn a £7,500 fine.

RICS member agents predict growing rental shortages

RICS member agents predict growing rental shortages

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RICS survey predicts growing shortage of rental properties. Demand is predicted to grow while supply declines.

HMO planning register rejected in East of England

HMO planning register rejected in East of England

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Councillors in Ipswich have rejected plans for a register of all HMO licensing applications in the town.

Renting reforms will pose 'serious risk' to self-managing landlords

Renting reforms will pose 'serious risk' to self-managing landlords

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Landlords face considerable risks from self-managing their properties when the Renters’ Rights Bill goes live, according to a letting agent expert.

Rent controls will backfire, landlords warn Scots ministers

Rent controls will backfire, landlords warn Scots ministers

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Scotland’s landlords and letting agents have warned that the country’s imminent rent controls will backfire.

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

Home Office changes landlords' Right to Rent guidance

Home Office changes landlords' Right to Rent guidance

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Landlords have been reassured that would-be tenants holding EUSS pre-settled status will get an automatic two-year extension before their status expires, unless they have already acquired settled status.

'Renter vote' to play key role in third of constituencies next election

'Renter vote' to play key role in third of constituencies next election

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Private renters now have potentially more political power, with Generation Rent analysis finding that 194 constituencies in England have populations containing 20% or more private renters, up from 114 in 2011.

Short lets giants to share landlords' booking data with Government

Short lets giants to share landlords' booking data with Government

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Airbnb and two other big short-lets platforms have agreed to share their data on guest numbers and nights booked with the Office for National Statistics (ONS) to help shape policy decisions on the sector.

Improving clogged-up eviction courts system to take 'years'

Improving clogged-up eviction courts system to take 'years'

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Two legal experts have told MPs probing the Government’s plans to abolish Section 21 ‘no fault evictions’ that improving the crumbling courts system could take years.

Evicting anti-social tenants 'will not be easier' after Section 21 goes - claim

Evicting anti-social tenants 'will not be easier' after Section 21 goes - claim

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Latest changes to the Renters (Reform) Bill published a few days ago highlight the legal hill that many landlords faced with anti-social tenants will have to climb, it has been claimed.

'Many leaseholder landlords can never allow pets'

'Many leaseholder landlords can never allow pets'

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More tenants living in flats could find themselves unable to have a pet than those in a house under the Renters Reform Bill, warns the founder of a campaigning group.

Second national awards for HMO landlords launches

Second national awards for HMO landlords launches

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The second national awards for HMO landlords has been announced by property management platform COHO chief Helen Turner, who is one of the driving forces behind its creation.

Half of tenants want 'bills included' but only 12% of landlords offer it

Half of tenants want 'bills included' but only 12% of landlords offer it

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Just over half of tenants surveyed about the cost of living want their rent to include all their utility bills, it has been revealed.

Rogue landlords should have properties confiscated, says MP

Rogue landlords should have properties confiscated, says MP

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Rental homes should be confiscated from private landlords who repeatedly break the rules and exploit tenants, according to the head of the Commons housing committee.

Portfolio landlords proving most resilient to harsher economy

Portfolio landlords proving most resilient to harsher economy

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Despite interest rate hikes battering investor confidence, the UK’s portfolio landlords remain focused on expanding their property portfolios, research from Shawbrook finds.

British Gas says landlords need more grants to go green

British Gas says landlords need more grants to go green

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British Gas has urged the government to consider a raft of measures aimed at helping landlords increase energy efficiency, including Green Upgrade Relief which lets them deduct green improvements from their annual income.

HALF of landlords say 'no pets or benefits tenants' despite looming law change

HALF of landlords say 'no pets or benefits tenants' despite looming law change

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At least 44% of landlords won’t let their property to tenants with pets and 15% won’t consider those with children, according to a new Confused.com mortgages poll.

Leaky walls causing the biggest energy loss in UK homes

Leaky walls causing the biggest energy loss in UK homes

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Winter is coming and high energy bills are really focussing attention on to what it takes to properly insulate a home. A well insulated home can make the difference between living in freezing conditions or feeling warm and comfortable this winter.

Landmark rent Rent Repayment Order case to be overturned

Landmark rent Rent Repayment Order case to be overturned

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The Government has revealed that it intends to overturn this year’s landmark Jepsen vs Rakusen rent repayment order decision in the Supreme Court within its Renters (Reform) Bill.

Student landlords win victory as Government amends reform Bill

Student landlords win victory as Government amends reform Bill

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The Government has published some 100 amendments to its Renters (Reform) Bill including ‘missing parts’ left out of the first draft lodged with parliament earlier this year.

TOM'S GUIDE: Using the Small Claims Court

TOM'S GUIDE: Using the Small Claims Court

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Tom Entwistle explains how landlords can proceed when faced with outstanding debts at the end of or even during a tenancy.

Rents racing away including record 6.8% jump in London

Rents racing away including record 6.8% jump in London

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Private rental prices paid by tenants in the UK rose by 6.1% during the 12 months to October 2023, up from 5.7% during the 12 months to September 2023, ONS data shows.

'New landlord portal WON'T remove need for selective licencing'

'New landlord portal WON'T remove need for selective licencing'

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The Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH) has told MPs that the Government's looming national property portal for landlords won’t diminish the need for selective licencing.

EXPERT: Does guaranteed rent pay better than traditional landlording?

EXPERT: Does guaranteed rent pay better than traditional landlording?

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Landlords using a guaranteed rent scheme can earn £3,600 a year more than by conventional letting, according to one guaranteed rent provider.

Notice periods should be same for landlords and tenants, experts tell MPs

Notice periods should be same for landlords and tenants, experts tell MPs

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Granting landlords and tenants the ability to give the same notice periods would prevent the private rented sector “becoming Airbnb by the back door”, NRLA’s chief executive Ben Beadle has told MPs.

Landlords claim victory after council delays licencing schemes

Landlords claim victory after council delays licencing schemes

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Landlords in Luton claim to have once again persuaded the town’s council to delay its highly controversial additional and selective licencing schemes, the fourth time this has happened in as many years.