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LATEST: Government's annual housing benefit bill rises to �30 billion

LATEST: Government's annual housing benefit bill rises to �30 billion

News

The government is expecting to spend and eye-watering �30 billion on housing benefit for tenants this year, DWP minister Will Quince has told parliament. This figure is �8-10 billion more than the Office for Budget Responsibility https://obr.uk/forecasts-in-depth/tax-

BREAKING: 'Half of tenants would take out pet insurance against damage', says expert

BREAKING: 'Half of tenants would take out pet insurance against damage', says expert

News

Half of all tenants who want to rent a home with their pet would be prepared to take out specialist insurance to cover their landlord against damage, a leading campaigner has revealed. Jennifer Berezai of AdvoCATS has researched an in-depth report into whether there is an appeti

Six month tenancy notice made permanent in Wales

Six month tenancy notice made permanent in Wales

News

Legislation has been passed in Wales that extends the amount of notice landlords must give to their tenants, from the two month s21 period, to six months. The Renting Homes (Amendment) (Wales) Bill means (because notice cannot be served within the initial term) that the minimum

Leading private landlord moves entire portfolio to Ltd company and saves �10 million

Leading private landlord moves entire portfolio to Ltd company and saves �10 million

News

One of Britains biggest private landlords is encouraging others to follow his lead by shifting property from their own name into a company structure. In what is thought to be the countrys largest ever mortgage transaction, Alastair Kerr (pictured) has transferred ownership

Regaining possession of a commercial property

Regaining possession of a commercial property

News

Landlords of commercial premises may consider it necessary to bring the lease to an end or to refuse to renew a lease. This course of action might be for a number of reasons: A tenant for example might not have a statutory right to a lease renewal under the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954, the

MTD vs Self-Assessment Tax Returns - understanding the coming changes

MTD vs Self-Assessment Tax Returns - understanding the coming changes

Information

The big changes are in the submission frequency and digital submission process. Firstly, you will need to complete not one but five tax submissions per year � one every quar

BREAKING: Don't expect an extension to the electrical safety standards deadline, says ministry

BREAKING: Don't expect an extension to the electrical safety standards deadline, says ministry

News

Landlords have been warned not to expect a grace period or extension to the deadline for properties to confirm to the new electrical safety standards. Originally, an https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/electrical-safety-standards-in-the-private-rented-sector-guid

Average house price to rise by 17% over next ten years and to nearly �400,000 by 2050

Average house price to rise by 17% over next ten years and to nearly �400,000 by 2050

News

The average UK house price could surge by 17% in the next decade, based on historical data from the past 40 years, and is set to reach �400,000 by 2050. Property buying firm Good Move has studied house prices in the UK since 1980 to predict what the market might look like in th

Cleaning is still the biggest cause of deposit disputes

Cleaning is still the biggest cause of deposit disputes

News

What is a clean and tidy house to some is and unacceptably dirty mess to others; people have different standards and this will never change. Alternatively, some tenants are just too lazy to leave the place clean and tidy: dirty carpets and furniture, filthy bathrooms and toilets, and kitchen work

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Tenant activists call for 'harsher' renting reform bill

Tenant activists call for 'harsher' renting reform bill

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News
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A lobbying group for renters’ rights is hoping to persuade MPs to make the Government’s renting reform legislation regulated landlords even harder.

COMMENT: Autumn Budget 2024

COMMENT: Autumn Budget 2024

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News
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Investors, business owners, landlords and pension savers were braced for a painful attack on their assets, gains and savings

Scotland to limit rent rises to official inflation rate

Scotland to limit rent rises to official inflation rate

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News
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The Scottish Government has announced a new inflation-linked rent cap in its Housing Bill in a bid to balance supporting tenants with protecting landlords’ property rights.

Leading research institute slams Chancellor over stamp duty hike

Leading research institute slams Chancellor over stamp duty hike

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News
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The Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) has slammed the Stamp Duty rise for landlords, warning that tenants will suffer as a result of the Budget announcement.

Bringing back empty rental homes should be 'biggest priority' says landlord

Bringing back empty rental homes should be 'biggest priority' says landlord

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News
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Landlords should be encouraged to renovate and repurpose their empty properties to help resolve the housing crisis, according to one landlord.

Landlord to return deposit after odd attempt to charge for letters

Landlord to return deposit after odd attempt to charge for letters

News
News
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A landlord has failed in a bizarre attempt to withhold her tenant’s deposit by billing hundreds of pounds for writing letters and taking photographs.

New Local Housing Allowance freeze is 'nonsensical' say landlords

New Local Housing Allowance freeze is 'nonsensical' say landlords

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News
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The government’s decision to freeze housing benefit rates next year, leaving private tenants facing financial hardship, has been labelled “nonsensical”.

Autumn Budget – A Halloween Horror Story

Autumn Budget – A Halloween Horror Story

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News
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After a huge amount of speculation in the press we can finally report what the new Labour Government has decided to do (and not to do) on the tax front

Stamp duty hike will add £7,000 to each purchase for landlords

Stamp duty hike will add £7,000 to each purchase for landlords

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News
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Landlords will face an additional average charge of more than £7,000 from tomorrow when buying a property thanks to an uplift in Stamp Duty charges.

Landlords warm to tougher energy rules - but need more help

Landlords warm to tougher energy rules - but need more help

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News
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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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News
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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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News
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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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News
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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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News
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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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News
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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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News
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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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News
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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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News
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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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News
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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

Information
News
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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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News
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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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News
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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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News
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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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News
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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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News
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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?

Information
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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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News
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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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News
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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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News
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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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News
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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.