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Tribunal slams councils for 'cash cow' licencing schemes that aren't needed

Tribunal slams councils for 'cash cow' licencing schemes that aren't needed

News

A First Tier Property Tribunal has slammed Nottingham Council for covering large swathes of the city with licensing schemes rather than targeting rogue landlords, a 'temptation' it says is faced by other local authorities. Justice for Tenants brought a case on behalf of a tenant

Shrinking buy-to-let could see a buy-to-let mortgage drought

Shrinking buy-to-let could see a buy-to-let mortgage drought

News

As landlords continue to exit the buy-to-let market, to the detriment of their tenants, could this rout also lead to buy-to-let mortgage lenders following their lead? This is a question posed by Chloe Cheung writing for the FT this last weekend. Its a serious question, a deve

Letting agents back HMO council tax re-banding reform proposals

Letting agents back HMO council tax re-banding reform proposals

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Letting agents have backed the Governments decision to reform the way HMO properties are banded for council tax. Propertymark, which represents the estate agency sector, says in its submission to a consultation by the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities that p

LATEST: Greens say 'immediate' rent freeze is only answer to housing crisis

LATEST: Greens say 'immediate' rent freeze is only answer to housing crisis

News

Landlords wanting to back the eco movement may want to pause for thought after the Green Party today vowed to bring in an immediate rent freeze and no-fault eviction ban to tackle the housing crisis. During an election campaign visit to Suffolk, party co-leaders Carla Denyer and

Landlord jailed after ignoring court order to improve rat-infested property

Landlord jailed after ignoring court order to improve rat-infested property

News

A rogue landlord has been jailed for 10 months after he failed to comply with conditions set by a court concerning his rat-infested property. Martin Ambler admitted four counts of breaching a criminal behaviour order in May 2022 but sentencing was deferred so that he could instr

Have you been hit by the 'cost of landlording' crisis? Here's some help

Have you been hit by the 'cost of landlording' crisis? Here's some help

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There is a lot of talk at the moment about how rents are up by 11% across the UK and although I know its tough on renters, landlord costs have, in many cases, doubled. This includes mortgage premium payments following interest rates rises from 0.5% to 4% in just 12 months, an

Tory think-tank and Shelter push for three-year tenancies for PRS

Tory think-tank and Shelter push for three-year tenancies for PRS

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The government should introduce three-year tenancies to protect tenants from uncertainty and rising rents, according to a liberal conservative think tank report. The Bright Blue group has teamed up with Shelter to publish, <strong id

NEW: Coalition slams Scots Government over rent cap and evictions freeze

NEW: Coalition slams Scots Government over rent cap and evictions freeze

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Landlords have heavily criticised the Scottish governments decision to implement its evictions freeze and rent cap without a proper consultation. The measures, which were widely criticised earlier this year for being rushed through, are now being fought by a coalition of orga

Mortgage provider sets up £50 million fund to help landlords upgrade EPCs

Mortgage provider sets up £50 million fund to help landlords upgrade EPCs

News

A BTL mortgage provider has pledged to invest £50 million in a fund to help landlords enhance their property's energy efficiency.

'Letting agents must help landlords navigate looming renting reforms'

'Letting agents must help landlords navigate looming renting reforms'

News

Evictions expert Paul Shamplina warns landlords and letting agents of increased responsibilities under the Renters Reform Act.

Long‑term Airbnb lets treated like ASTs, rules judge

Long‑term Airbnb lets treated like ASTs, rules judge

News

Airbnb landlord Talha Abbasi faces £102,000 court bill after judge classifies long-term let as assured shorthold tenancy, granting tenant protections.

Labour MP tells TV show that Section 21 evictions wrong in all circumstances

Labour MP tells TV show that Section 21 evictions wrong in all circumstances

News

Labour MP Diane Abbott has told TV viewers that bad landlords are those who use Section 21 to evict their tenants, whatever the reason. Despite there being genuine reasons for using the notice, such as non-paying tenants or anti-social behaviour, the London MP appeared on <a hre

DEPOSITS: Five weeks' rent 'not enough in many rent arrears and damage cases'

DEPOSITS: Five weeks' rent 'not enough in many rent arrears and damage cases'

News

New research reveals that deposits of five weeks rent dont provide landlords with enough protection in more than 10% of cases. Alternative deposit firm Reposit studied 20,000 tenancy agreements dating back to 2016 and found that landlords needed to r

BREAKING: 'London landlord and agent fines on track to hit record high this year'

BREAKING: 'London landlord and agent fines on track to hit record high this year'

News

This year London is on track to see the highest level of fines levied against rogue landlords and letting agents, it has been revealed as more and more councils begin operating licencing schemes. Geospatial compliance platform Kamma says it expects to see a 50% increase in enfor

TAX: New rates rules for holiday rental properties go live

TAX: New rates rules for holiday rental properties go live

News

New rules on holiday lets in England and Wales have taken effect which could force many owners to pay council tax instead of business rates. Self-catering properties in England must now be available for letting commercially for short periods of 140 nights

'Sickened' landlord slams Scots eviction ban after tenants trash home

'Sickened' landlord slams Scots eviction ban after tenants trash home

News

A landlord has warned others to make more regular checks on their rental properties after falling foul of Scotlands ongoing https://www.landlordzone.co.uk/news/vote-rent-rises-in-scotland-to-be-capped-at-3-until-october-msps-agree/" target="_blank" eviction b

UK rents hit record high amid soaring tenant demand

UK rents hit record high amid soaring tenant demand

News

Record high rental demand sends average UK rent to £993 pcm (ex‑London) and £1,184 pcm including London, HomeLet reveals. Sources

LATEST: Ministers consider forcing landlords to rent out empty shops

LATEST: Ministers consider forcing landlords to rent out empty shops

News

Landlords are being asked for their views on plans to forcibly rent out persistently vacant commercial properties to new tenants in a bid to rejuvenate high streets.&nbsp; High Street Rental Auctions - a new power for local authorities in England - is part

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

Bizarre link made between ageing and renting a home

Bizarre link made between ageing and renting a home

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Tenants in the private rented sector age biologically faster than homeowners, according to new research, which believes scrapping Section 21 will help reverse the process.

Deposits scheme removes fee to make renting cheaper

Deposits scheme removes fee to make renting cheaper

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Tenants using Jersey’s tenancy deposit scheme will no longer have to pay a protection fee from next month.

Beware: Self-employed sex workers targeting rentals

Beware: Self-employed sex workers targeting rentals

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Alert: self-employed sex workers using rented homes is rising—learn the risks and how landlords can act.

Banned landlord takes on critics, claiming tenants 'love him'

Banned landlord takes on critics, claiming tenants 'love him'

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A slum landlord who received the longest ever banning order has insisted that his tenants love him.

'Labour must help landlords if they want to solve housing crisis'

'Labour must help landlords if they want to solve housing crisis'

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The NRLA has told the Labour party leadership to follow its own MPs advice and encourage landlords to provide more privately rented properties if it wants to solve the housing crisis.

Tory MP denies harrassing tenant over unpaid rent

Tory MP denies harrassing tenant over unpaid rent

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A Tory MP has been accused of intimidating a tenant he is trying to evict from his farm.

Green Party leader says landlords 'lining their pockets'

Green Party leader says landlords 'lining their pockets'

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The Green party has promised to introduce rent controls and force landlords to make energy efficient improvements.

Tenancy deposit disputes on the rise as cost of living crisis bites

Tenancy deposit disputes on the rise as cost of living crisis bites

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Complaints involving disputed tenancy deposits have been rising after TDS, which operates three deposit schemes in the UK, recorded a 20% increase over the past 12 months.

UPDATED: Tenancy surrender and mitigating losses

UPDATED: Tenancy surrender and mitigating losses

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Commercial and Residential: Can a landlord insist his tenant pays rent until the end of the tenancy term when the tenant abandons the property

UPDATED: Lease agreements for commercial property explained

UPDATED: Lease agreements for commercial property explained

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Commercial Leases: When leasing a commercial property, its important to know where your responsibilities as a landlord

Millions awarded to 'safer renting' scheme for landlords, tenants and letting agents

Millions awarded to 'safer renting' scheme for landlords, tenants and letting agents

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Councils in Suffolk are embarking on an unusually collaborative approach that’s set to improve the county’s PRS homes and is understood to be the first to go ahead with such a scheme.

Famous village votes to ban holiday lets and second homes‍

Famous village votes to ban holiday lets and second homes‍

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Locals in a Norfolk seaside village have voted to ban people from buying second homes in a bid to help locals find affordable properties.

HMRC warns landlords over 'hybrid' tax avoidance scheme

HMRC warns landlords over 'hybrid' tax avoidance scheme

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A tax avoidance scheme being marketed to private landlords ‘will not work’ and could lead those who take them paying more tax in the long run, HMRC has warned.

TOM'S GUIDE: Doing risk assessments

TOM'S GUIDE: Doing risk assessments

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A fire risk assessment is a mandatory requirement for HMOs and some commercial landlords

Landlords to see '6.5% rise in rental income this year'

Landlords to see '6.5% rise in rental income this year'

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Rental prices will continue to increase during the next three months, predicts agent Knight Frank which has revised its growth forecasts for 2023 to 6.5%, with a further 5% expected in 2024.

Landlord chief says Tory rented sector policies a 'failure'

Landlord chief says Tory rented sector policies a 'failure'

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The gloves are off among landlords after NRLA chief Ben Beadle today said figures showing 25 tenants chasing each available rental property are proof Tory policies have been a ‘failure’.

Scottish consultation on renting reforms 'unfair and too narrow'

Scottish consultation on renting reforms 'unfair and too narrow'

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The Scottish government’s PRS reform consultation does not give landlords and agents the ability to get their views across, according to the boss of automated rental payment firm PayProp UK.

EXCLUSIVE: Big city reveals plans to expand selective licencing

EXCLUSIVE: Big city reveals plans to expand selective licencing

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Manchester landlords look set to face more selective licencing after the council revealed it was recruiting a project manager to research new licensing areas.

Rogue landlord handed maximum £30,000 fine

Rogue landlord handed maximum £30,000 fine

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A rogue landlord has been handed the maximum £30,000 fine after 17 people were found living in a four-bedroom house which posed a fire risk to its vulnerable tenants.

Generation Rent: Rishi's EPC U-turn 'cruel and reckless'

Generation Rent: Rishi's EPC U-turn 'cruel and reckless'

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Generation Rent has labelled Rishi Sunak’s EPC upgrade U-turn as “cruel, disproportionate and reckless”, forcing many renters to suffer poor health in cold homes for years to come.

Council makes unusual move to stop licencing small HMOs

Council makes unusual move to stop licencing small HMOs

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Bath has made the unusual decision to ditch its additional licensing scheme because it has done such a good job of improving standards.

PIX: Terrible conditions in homes owned by banned landlord

PIX: Terrible conditions in homes owned by banned landlord

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A slum landlord in Sheffield has been given the longest banning order ever after being prevented from managing or letting properties for ten years.

Unusual scheme launches to help tenants buy homes off landlords

Unusual scheme launches to help tenants buy homes off landlords

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A novel rent-to-buy home purchase scheme has been set up to help renters become homeowners.

UPDATED: The Story of "Landlording" - a brief History

UPDATED: The Story of "Landlording" - a brief History

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The full history of landlords is lost in the mists of time, but much of modern property law - throughout the English speaking world - stems from over 1,000 years of English legal history.

Charity blames landlords for millions of tenants' poor health

Charity blames landlords for millions of tenants' poor health

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Millions of renters living in damp and run-down properties are suffering worsening mental and physical health, new research by homelessness charity Shelter suggests