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First look: Renters’ Rights Bill promises sweeping changes

First look: Renters’ Rights Bill promises sweeping changes

News

First look at the Renters (Reform) Bill: groundbreaking tenant protections, streamlined landlord redress & flexible ‘pets-in-lets’ rules.

Purplebricks sold to rival for �1 after senior team throw in the towel

Purplebricks sold to rival for �1 after senior team throw in the towel

News

Purplebricks, which at one stage was used by thousands of landlords to manage their properties, has announced that its assets and business are to be sold to rival Strike for �1, pending approval by its shareholders. Any funds remaining in the firm some �5.5 million are

Gove's plan to ease HMO rules for asylum accommodation

Gove's plan to ease HMO rules for asylum accommodation

News

Michael Gove approves relaxed HMO rules for asylum seeker housing, exempting safety standards and licensing; critics warn of potential exploitation.

BLOG: 'Reform bill will solve the problem of pet damage for landlords'

BLOG: 'Reform bill will solve the problem of pet damage for landlords'

News

The long-awaited Renters (Reform) Bill will finally be introduced in parliament after Prime Minister's Questions today. Setting out plans for 12 key reforms to the private rental sector, the 11th pledge - to give tenants the right in law to request a pet, which should not be unr

Agents who lack licencing law know-how 'putting landlords at risk'

Agents who lack licencing law know-how 'putting landlords at risk'

News

Bungling letting agents with a lack of legal understanding are putting landlords at risk of prosecution, it has been claimed. One landlord expert has advised caution when signing up with a firm in the current climate of increasing legislation and falling profits, particularly fo

Opinion: does Michael Gove know something we don't?

Opinion: does Michael Gove know something we don't?

Opinion

It would seem that successive Tory governments have waged an ongoing and progressively more vicious war on buy-to-let landlords, but this latest layer of legislation goes much further. Yes, this latest iteration, and one thats https://bills.parliament.uk/bills/1768/s

EXTRA red tape, scams and repairs drive more landlords to use agencies

EXTRA red tape, scams and repairs drive more landlords to use agencies

News

Almost two thirds (63%) of private landlords who manage their own properties are tired of sorting out repairs and dealing with red tape and considering using a letting agency or property manager instead.  A Uswitch poll of 2,000 landlords found that the most common reason t

Labour targets landlords with new housing reforms

Labour targets landlords with new housing reforms

News

Labour pledges stricter Decent Homes Standard 2 for private landlords, raising property quality and accountability ahead of next general election.

Starmer 'set to U-turn on rent controls' as London Mayor pleads for more powers

Starmer 'set to U-turn on rent controls' as London Mayor pleads for more powers

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Keir Starmer is set to rebuff previous calls by London mayor Sadiq Khan to bring in a rent freeze, it has been reported. Khan has been banging his rent freeze drum for months now as the cost-of-living crisis has hit many tenants personal finances, telling the BBC in Oct

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Irish government rows back on failed rent controls

Irish government rows back on failed rent controls

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The Irish government has rowed back on its rent control rules in a bid to bring down rents and boost supply.

Landlord to pay £20,000 after converting house illegally

Landlord to pay £20,000 after converting house illegally

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A Dagenham landlord has been fined more than £20,000 after repeatedly ignoring a planning enforcement notice.

Weaker tenant demand cools off rental market, says Zoopla

Weaker tenant demand cools off rental market, says Zoopla

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Weaker demand and growing affordability pressures have pushed rental growth to a four-year low.

'Fixed term contracts will soon be illegal - are you ready?'

'Fixed term contracts will soon be illegal - are you ready?'

Opinion
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Landlords are facing one of the private rented sector biggest changes in years when it ends fixed-term tenancy agreements.

Rogue estate agents pay heavy price for ignoring redress scheme

Rogue estate agents pay heavy price for ignoring redress scheme

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Nearly 50 estate agencies were expelled from the Property Redress scheme during a six month period last year, the organisation has revealed

Law Commission rules out major change to security of tenure rules for commercial leases

Law Commission rules out major change to security of tenure rules for commercial leases

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The Law Commission has published an interim report on its initial conclusions about security of tenure for business leases

Why can't all licensing schemes cost just £230 - this NW one does

Why can't all licensing schemes cost just £230 - this NW one does

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Landlords in Wirral might not welcome yet another selective licensing scheme, but a reduced £fee will make it one of the cheapest in UK.

Landlord banned by Tribunal after 'outrageous' safety failings

Landlord banned by Tribunal after 'outrageous' safety failings

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News
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A landlord in Aberdeen has been banned for failing to repair dangerous electrics in his rental property.

BIG SHIFT: Many young landlords 'don't own their own homes'

BIG SHIFT: Many young landlords 'don't own their own homes'

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Growing numbers of young people in the UK now prefer to invest in rental properties than buy their own home, an estate agency has claimed.

Likely cost of EPC upgrades for rental properties revealed by Government

Likely cost of EPC upgrades for rental properties revealed by Government

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News
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Energy efficiency improvement costs for most private rental homes work out at between �5,000 and �9,999 (46%), while almost a third (30%) could be improved for under �5,000, according to the latest government analysis. At the other end of the scale, 19% of homes would cost be

Higher mortgage rates driving more landlords to request rent guarantors

Higher mortgage rates driving more landlords to request rent guarantors

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Landlords hit by mortgage rate hikes are demanding guarantors from increasing numbers of high earning tenants. Many tenants are seeing a greater proportion of their take-home pay go towards rent so are having to provide the additional security of a guarantor when signing new agr

Influential Labour group says tougher eviction rules needed to tackle poverty

Influential Labour group says tougher eviction rules needed to tackle poverty

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Landlords should be prevented from serving an eviction notice for at least the first year of a tenancy, in the case of repossession for selling or occupying the property, according to a new report from the Fabian Society. The independent left-leaning

Rents soar as agents report rising tenant demand but landlord slump

Rents soar as agents report rising tenant demand but landlord slump

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The Governments housing policies are coming home to roost as tenant demand continues to soar but the number of landlords advertising new properties to rent plummets, it has been revealed. RICS says that during June it found significantly more members (a net balance increase o

NEW: Big London borough brings in tighter HMO conversion rules for landlords

NEW: Big London borough brings in tighter HMO conversion rules for landlords

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Landlords in one of London's biggest boroughs now need planning permission to convert family homes into HMOs for three to six tenants. After a year-long pilot and consultation with residents, the London Borough of Hounslow (main picture) has made its borough-wide A

Mortgage woes spark surge in landlords selling portfolios

Mortgage woes spark surge in landlords selling portfolios

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Landlords with portfolios of 20 properties or more are making up the bulk of enquiries about selling to the Landlord Sales Agency. Despite reports that smaller landlords with one or two properties will be hardest hit by current market conditions, the firm has one landlord client

Housing chief tries to reassure landlords over looming eviction changes

Housing chief tries to reassure landlords over looming eviction changes

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Government officials have reassured private landlords that judges will be able to consider a wider range of behaviours before using their judicial discretion in ASB eviction cases. Giving evidence to the Levelling Up Housing and Communities Committee into

Landlords face losses amid soaring mortgage rates

Landlords face losses amid soaring mortgage rates

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Almost 250,000 BTL landlords face refinancing losses as borrowing rates near 7%, says Daily Telegraph.

Renting reform bill progress unlikely until much later this year, admits minister

Renting reform bill progress unlikely until much later this year, admits minister

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The Governments Renters Reform Bill is unlikely to make progress through parliament until much later this year, housing minister Rachel Maclean has admitted. Maclean was unable to confirm when the bill would get a second reading during a Q&A with MPs from the Levelling Up

Labour WARNED over claim that 'most renters live in homes owned via mortgages'

Labour WARNED over claim that 'most renters live in homes owned via mortgages'

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A team of independent fact checkers and campaigners has debunked Labours claims that most renters live in homes bought with a buy-to-let mortgage. Deputy leader Angela Rayner made the assertion last week, but charity Full Fact says the claim is technically incorrect, as it ho

Horrendous overcrowding at dilapidated HMO leads to £17,000 fine for landlord

Horrendous overcrowding at dilapidated HMO leads to £17,000 fine for landlord

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A letting agency-owning landlord has been fined more than £17,000 for renting out one small room in an HMO to a family of five. Ruhul Shamsuddin and his company Lordsons Estates were found guilty of 23 housing offences relating to a

Bank of England warns landlords face 'impossible position' as rates rise

Bank of England warns landlords face 'impossible position' as rates rise

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The Bank of England has warned that landlords with mortgages are under increasing strain from higher interest payments and other structural factors, all of which are likely to put pressure on their incomes�. The commentary is within the banks latest https:

Landlord mortgage arrears outstrip home owners' as costs squeeze profitability

Landlord mortgage arrears outstrip home owners' as costs squeeze profitability

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Landlords arrears are growing at a faster rate than homeowners, according to new research that suggests fewer investors are being shielded from economic headwinds. https://www.octanecapital.co.uk/" Octane Capital found that buy-to-let arrears of more tha

Kerching! Five tenants pocket �29,000 after landlord fails to licence HMO

Kerching! Five tenants pocket �29,000 after landlord fails to licence HMO

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Five tenants have shared a whopping �29,000 Rent Repayment Order after their landlord failed to licence its HMO. East London-based https://www.facebook.com/weletroomsuk/" We Let Rooms Ltd did not defend itself at a First Tier Property T

Demand for student housing soars as landlords exit sector

Demand for student housing soars as landlords exit sector

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Corporate student housing giant expands as private HMO landlords exit, amid growing demand for purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA).

Beadle slams claim that landlords will 'game new eviction rules'

Beadle slams claim that landlords will 'game new eviction rules'

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Landlord leader Ben Beadle has given Shelter a run for its money during a parliamentary committee evidence session on the Renters (Reform) Bill. Beadle, who is chief executive of the National Residential Landlords Association, wondered out loud during the meeting whether campaig

ANALYSIS: How it's a taxing time for landlords...

ANALYSIS: How it's a taxing time for landlords...

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Changes in tax rules for buy-to-let landlords have definitely made the business of letting property more challenging, particularly with those who have taken on big mortgages to buy their rental properties. The removal of mortgage interest relief (Section 24 of the Finance Act) a

'This is why landlords must approach guaranteed rent schemes with caution'

'This is why landlords must approach guaranteed rent schemes with caution'

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An Essex landlord has learned the hard way that unpicking rent-to-rent or guaranteed rent agreements can be a lot more difficult than many might believe. In a case handled by the Resolution Department Lead Suzy Hershman (main picture) and her team at

Agency boss to pay £8,000 after terrifying tenant tactics

Agency boss to pay £8,000 after terrifying tenant tactics

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London letting agent fined £8,000 for misleading tenants and using intimidation tactics; company dissolved.

Landlords write open letter calling out Government's 'attack on property sector'

Landlords write open letter calling out Government's 'attack on property sector'

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Jerseys private landlords have urged lawmakers to rethink radical plans to shake up the sector which they fear will exacerbate the housing crisis. The Jersey Landlords Association (https://www.jla.je/" JLA ) has

'Give tenants some of your equity gains when you sell' says Big Issue founder

'Give tenants some of your equity gains when you sell' says Big Issue founder

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Landlords should give renters some of their equity gains when they sell up to stop the giant tenant rip-off, according to https://www.bigissue.com/ The Big Issue boss John Bird (main picture). Bird b

Agents say rent cap has 'forced more landlords to quit and pushed up rents'

Agents say rent cap has 'forced more landlords to quit and pushed up rents'

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One hundred percent of letting agencies in Scotland say they have seen more landlords exiting the market since the countrys government brought in and then recently-extended a rent rise cap and evictions ban. Agents canvassed by trade organisation Propertymark also reported an

'Landlords to be exempted from council tax premium on empty homes'

'Landlords to be exempted from council tax premium on empty homes'

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A consultation has opened into proposals not to charge landlords who are preparing a property to let or waiting to find a tenant the empty homes a council tax premium. The government wants to strengthen the existing long-term empty homes premium by applying this to properties th

UK house prices falling, mortgage rates rising but some landlords still buying

UK house prices falling, mortgage rates rising but some landlords still buying

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UK house prices fell by 3.1pc on an annualised basis in the first quarter (Q1) of 2023 and an increase in interest rates have a dampening effect on the market. Inflationary pressures With inflation currently running at 8.7pc (CPI), this is well above the Bank of Engl

Plans to make Airbnb landlords reach same standards as hotels criticised

Plans to make Airbnb landlords reach same standards as hotels criticised

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Statutory licensing scheme plans for visitor accommodation in Wales have got the thumbs down from many holiday home owners, short-lets landlords and residents. The proposals, which will see all holiday homes, https://www.landlordzone.co.uk/tag/airbnb-landlords/" target=