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Gove promises protections for tenants in 2023

Gove promises protections for tenants in 2023

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The long awaited renting reforms first muted in 2019 will be implemented next year, promises Housing Secretary, Michael Gove MP. Admitting that the Government should have moved more quickly� on these reforms to protect tenants following the Grenfell Tower tragedy, Mr Gove

'No protection': outraged landlord reveals battle to evict nightmare tenants

'No protection': outraged landlord reveals battle to evict nightmare tenants

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A landlord battling to evict his nightmare tenants using a Section 8 order is exasperated that county court bailiffs encouraged them to stay put. The Cumbrian-based landlord had been granted a possession order, but his tenants - on bail for alleged drug offences and owing �3,00

BREAKING: Council tax crisis for HMO tenants averted after Commons statement

BREAKING: Council tax crisis for HMO tenants averted after Commons statement

News

The Government has averted a looming crisis in the HMO sector that would have seen many tenants charged individually for council tax, rather than paying a share of the propertys annual bill. As LandlordZONEhttps://www.landlordzone.co.uk/news/exclusive-official-counci

Tenants union reveals 'day of protests' across London to push for rent freeze

Tenants union reveals 'day of protests' across London to push for rent freeze

News

London Renters Union will picket successful estate agents across the capital next week who it blames for pushing up rents to unaffordable levels. Protests are planned in Tower Hamlets, Hackney and Crystal Palace on 3rd December by activists who have taken partic

Welsh short-lets landlords 'very likely' to face mandatory licensing says advisor

Welsh short-lets landlords 'very likely' to face mandatory licensing says advisor

News

The Welsh government has given a strong indication that landlords and property owners operating Airbnb holiday homes within its borders are to face a compulsory licensing scheme similar to the Rent Smart Wales scheme for the traditional private rental sector. This follows a parl

Tenants can be cause of property problems as well as landlords, Government admits

Tenants can be cause of property problems as well as landlords, Government admits

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Landlords long-standing criticisms of health and safety regulation that tenants are often the cause of problems such as mould or water leaks look set to be addressed in new government guidance. Councils inspecting rented properties will be formally instructed to exami

Gove orders councils to improve mould and damp monitoring of PRS properties

Gove orders councils to improve mould and damp monitoring of PRS properties

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Housing Secretary Michael Gove has ordered council bosses to prove they are assessing and improving damp and mould problems in the PRS. Following the death of toddler Awaab Ishak as a direct result of mould in his family home, Gove says theres an urgent need to ensure a decen

Comment: the condensation and mould crisis hits the headlines again

Comment: the condensation and mould crisis hits the headlines again

News

The tragedy of the death of two-year-old Awaab Ishak in a Rochdale social housing flat rests heavily on the minds of landlords across the country: could this happen in one of my own properties they might well ask? The answer is probably, yes it easily could. In a winter with ris

Knotty neighbour problem costs home owner �250,000

Knotty neighbour problem costs home owner �250,000

News

A Japanese knotweed infestation caused homeowner Charron Ishmael to take her neighbour, retired NHS consultant Dr Sheila Clark, to court over a dispute about the plant. Charron Ishmael was selling her property but because of the presence of the invasive plant in her neighbour

Grant Shapps warns landlords to pass on energy support payments to tenants

Grant Shapps warns landlords to pass on energy support payments to tenants

News

HMO landlords have again been warned that they must pass on the Energy Bills Support Scheme (EBSS) rebate to tenants as the first payments are made, this time by business secretary Grant Shapps (pictured). https://www.landlordzone.co.uk/news/latest-official-plans-to-for

London council plans triple whammy of landlord licensing and regulation

London council plans triple whammy of landlord licensing and regulation

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Merton Council, which includes the famous Wimbledon lawn tennis centre, is embarking on a big push to license all rented properties and HMOs in the borough as well as limiting the growth of small HMOs. It wants landlords to take part in its new consultation on plans for <strong

PROBE: Landlords complain about rent-to-rent firm as deals go sour

PROBE: Landlords complain about rent-to-rent firm as deals go sour

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Complaints from landlords and letting agents have been passed to LandlordZONE about a rent-to-rent provider whose founder is lauded online for raking in up to �12,000 a month. <figure id="" class="w-richtext-figure-type- " data-rt-type="" data-rt-align=""><div><img src="https://uploads-

Autumn Statement latest: Chancellor reveals tax rises for landlords

Autumn Statement latest: Chancellor reveals tax rises for landlords

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Landlords face higher bills from next year after Chancellor Jeremy Hunt slashed the annual threshold for Capital Gains Tax from �12,300 to �6,000 next year and �3,000 from April 2024. Although a rise in CGT didnt materialise, he followed the Office of Tax Simplification

LATEST: Government has 'broken the PRS' during its war on landlords

LATEST: Government has 'broken the PRS' during its war on landlords

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Landlords have accused the Government of "breaking the private rented sector" with its relentless regulatory and tax policies. The comments have been made by the NRLA, which says that while demand for rented homes is rising as home ownership becomes less affordable, the number o

NEW: Brighton squeezes HMO sector even harder with new policies and guidance

NEW: Brighton squeezes HMO sector even harder with new policies and guidance

News

Brighton &amp; Hove Council is squeezing its HMO sector even harder by introducing a tough new set of policies designed to reduce their impact on local communities. Its City Plan Part 2 includes new guidance for those applying for planning permission as well as rules covering bu

Welsh landlords &amp; agents have serious misgivings about longer notice periods

Welsh landlords &amp; agents have serious misgivings about longer notice periods

News

The way that private rented sector (PRS) landlords operate their properties in Wales is going through one of the biggest changes in decades as the Welsh Government, under its devolved powers, pass and implement the https://www.legislation.gov.uk/anaw/2016/1/contents" target="_blank

Leicester to widen HMO planning restrictions covering 'thousands' of houses

Leicester to widen HMO planning restrictions covering 'thousands' of houses

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Leicester city council councillors are to vote next week on plans to significantly widen local planning laws to clamp down on the spread of HMOs. The measures are to be brought in following a public consultation that finished in January this year. Leicester has had a

Japanese knotweed is a well known menace but bamboo can be worse...

Japanese knotweed is a well known menace but bamboo can be worse...

News

The mention of Japanses knoweed has the effect of putting the fear of God in property owners, but the bamboo plant, which is lesser known, can be even more devastating. Homeowners have been planting bamboo for years in Britain to create an exotic oriental ornamental feature or a

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COMMENT: My top 10 priorities for landlords in 2023

COMMENT: My top 10 priorities for landlords in 2023

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The rental sector is likely to see some of the biggest changes since the 1980s, so do your homework and keep yourself up-to-date. All the signs are that operating as a residential landlord in 2023 will be just as challenging as it was last year, if not more so here are my to

HONOURS: Leading property sector figure Kate Faulkner awarded OBE

HONOURS: Leading property sector figure Kate Faulkner awarded OBE

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Leading property sector figure Kate Faulkner has been given an OBE in the New Years Honours List. Faulkners honour is for her involvement with landlords, estate agents and consumers including her work leading the property industry Home Buying and Selling Grou

Commercial landlords are 'left in the lurch'� as more business tenants go bust

Commercial landlords are 'left in the lurch'� as more business tenants go bust

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The worst fears of a commercial landlord are realised when the flow on quarterly or monthly rent payments starts to dry up! Read on to find out what to do if you're faced with this. According to the latest available Office of National Statistics (ONS) figures, the number of comp

RISING panic reported among student landlords over plans for open-ended tenancies

RISING panic reported among student landlords over plans for open-ended tenancies

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The NRLA has backed the growing number of student landlords 'panicked' by the Governments plans to bring in periodic or open ended tenancies across the private rental sector. Concern is widespread within the student community, new research reveals, with 84% saying they

Landlord launches petition to bring back mortgage interest tax relief for BTL

Landlord launches petition to bring back mortgage interest tax relief for BTL

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A landlord in the Midlands has launched a parliamentary petition calling on the Government to reverse its Section 24 tax changes for landlords, which since 2017 has gradually removed their ability to claim mortgage interest rate against their tax liability. Announced by George O

Is yours one of them? 64% of PRS properties 'will not reach minimum EPC in time'

Is yours one of them? 64% of PRS properties 'will not reach minimum EPC in time'

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Nearly two-thirds of private rental properties wont reach proposed minimum EPC levels, according to new research. Data compiled for property data platform LandTech shows that 64% of private rental properties would fail to reach an EPC rating of C or abo

BREAKING: HMRC completely rejigs and delays MTD scheme for landlords

BREAKING: HMRC completely rejigs and delays MTD scheme for landlords

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Only landlords with property incomes over £30,000 will now need to comply with HMRC's looming https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/making-tax-digital/overview-of-making-tax-digital" target="_blank" Making Tax Digital (MTD) https://www

Abolishing Section 21 is 'sledge hammer to crack a nut' says property chief

Abolishing Section 21 is 'sledge hammer to crack a nut' says property chief

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One of Londons leading property management figures has said the Governments plans to abolish section 21 evictions is a sledge hammer to crack a nut and not an effective solution to the issue of bad landlords within the private rented sector. The comments come from An

Scots Minister shows 'blatant disregard' for landlords with higher BTL stamp duty

Scots Minister shows 'blatant disregard' for landlords with higher BTL stamp duty

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Landlords in Scotland have been hit with a stamp duty rise as the government strives to raise additional revenue. It announced legislation in the Budget statement to increase the rate of the Additional Dwelling Supplement from 4% to 6% for second home buyers and buy-to-let landl

The importance of the "How to Rent" Guide and Section 21

The importance of the "How to Rent" Guide and Section 21

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How to Rent Guide : very important when setting up a new tenancy, or on renewal, and when serving a section 21 notice.

Agents and student landlords are top of the class in Bath

Agents and student landlords are top of the class in Bath

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University students rate Bath as having the best letting agents in the UK based on the number of reviews and average ratings.

Family operation ran string of unlicensed HMOs

Family operation ran string of unlicensed HMOs

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A rogue landlord has been prosecuted for letting eight unlicensed HMOs which breached health and safety rules that put his tenants at risk.

Kent landlord rumbled fly-tipping tenant's waste

Kent landlord rumbled fly-tipping tenant's waste

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A Kent landlord who dumped a huge pile of his tenant’s belongings in a country lane was rumbled after an investigation traced it back to him.

OPINION: Should landlords let tenants redecorate?

OPINION: Should landlords let tenants redecorate?

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One of the biggest discussion strings on any landlord forum including our own is how far tenants are allowed to modify or refurbish their property, with many users claiming some renters go too far.

Landlord reveals football boss's £28,400 rental scam

Landlord reveals football boss's £28,400 rental scam

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A director of the Scottish Women’s Premier League (SWPL) has been found guilty of defrauding her landlord with an elaborate scam.

Mortgage deal shock from leading BTL broker

Mortgage deal shock from leading BTL broker

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The Mortgage Works (TMW) has shaken up the BTL lending market by making improvements to the affordability assessment applied to portfolio landlords.

ANALYSIS: New Government funded schemes to help tenants with legal issues

ANALYSIS: New Government funded schemes to help tenants with legal issues

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New Government schemes that are offering advice to help tenants with legal issues

Big boiler firm's green claims to face official investigation

Big boiler firm's green claims to face official investigation

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The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is scrutinising green claims from boiler maker Worcester Bosch to see if they mislead landlords.

Renting reform bill to progress next week - claim

Renting reform bill to progress next week - claim

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The Renters Reform Bill is expected to get its second reading on Monday, heralding a huge shake-up of the sector after four years in the planning.

Leading landlord welcomes Rishi's U-turn on 'mental' EPC rules

Leading landlord welcomes Rishi's U-turn on 'mental' EPC rules

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A leading landlord has welcomed the Government’s recent U-turn on EPCs, telling a webinar this week that he was facing a ‘crazy’ bill to upgrade his portfolio of properties to the minimum ‘C’ band.

'Renting reforms are worrying landlords, but it's not a stampede to quit'

'Renting reforms are worrying landlords, but it's not a stampede to quit'

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A quarter of landlords are to sell some of their property portfolio in the coming months but not in the volumes previously claimed, a big letting agency has claimed.

Minister rejects call to give landlords green upgrade tax breaks

Minister rejects call to give landlords green upgrade tax breaks

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Energy Security and Net Zero Secretary Claire Coutinho (main picture) has rejected the idea of tax breaks for landlords to pay for green upgrades.

Council to begin fining rogue landlords £30,000

Council to begin fining rogue landlords £30,000

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Harlow Council in Essex aims to take a harder line with private landlords by introducing civil penalties as an alternative to prosecution.

'I blame rental market stock crisis on mortgage interest relief withdrawal'

'I blame rental market stock crisis on mortgage interest relief withdrawal'

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Landlord leader Ben Beadle has pinned the shortage of private rental sector homes squarely on the Government, saying George Osborne’s decision in 2015 to cut mortgage interest tax relief for landlords has been the key driver of the current stock crisis.

Tenants on benefits given more backing to fight evictions

Tenants on benefits given more backing to fight evictions

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Tenants on benefits will get more help when paying court fees during evictions and claiming Rent Repayment Orders after the government expanded its Help with Fees scheme.

Northern town to clamp down on landlords converting homes to HMOs

Northern town to clamp down on landlords converting homes to HMOs

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Burnley Council has launched plans to clamp down on landlords converting homes into small HMOs.

BLOG: Are the Tories still game for renting reform?

BLOG: Are the Tories still game for renting reform?

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PRS chief Sean Hooker relects on the bumpy ride landlords face in the coming months, and how they can get prepared for the changes.

Landlord mortgage costs leap to nearly 40% of rental income

Landlord mortgage costs leap to nearly 40% of rental income

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The average mortgaged landlord paid 37% of their rent on mortgage interest in August, up from a low of 24% in November 2021, according to Hamptons.

30 campaigning groups write to Rishi urging landlord reforms

30 campaigning groups write to Rishi urging landlord reforms

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Thirty charities and non-profit organisations have written to the Prime Minister urging him to ensure the Renters Reform Bill is passed during this Parliament.

Property 'dating service' for landlords and tenants launches

Property 'dating service' for landlords and tenants launches

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A WhatsApp-style ‘dating service’ designed to marry up landlords and tenants has launched seeking to simplify London’s ‘chaotic’ private rented sector and rival established portals such as Rightmove and Zoopla.

40 per cent of tenants are struggling with rent payments

40 per cent of tenants are struggling with rent payments

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There’s now a significant proportion of adults in the UK struggling to meet their rent or mortgage payments

Buy-to-let profits nosedive for new buyers

Buy-to-let profits nosedive for new buyers

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Landlords who took out a new mortgage between April and June this year made an annual cash loss for the first time since 2007.

Absentee landlord handed fine for ignoring tenants

Absentee landlord handed fine for ignoring tenants

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A landlord who ignored improvement notices on his two unlicensed properties has been handed a £15,000 fine by magistrates.

Can tenancy contracts be signed electronically?

Can tenancy contracts be signed electronically?

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It is very convenient and timely to accept documents relating to tenancies signed electronically and transmitted electronically - are they legal valid?