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Wave of 'unfair' HMO council tax revaluations revealed that can QUADRUPLE bills

Wave of 'unfair' HMO council tax revaluations revealed that can QUADRUPLE bills

News

Councils are seeking to reclassify HMO properties as multiple single dwellings for council tax purposes to raise additional revenue, it has been reported. <figure id="" class="w-richtext-figure-type- " data-rt-type="" data-rt-align=""><div><img src="https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/63bef2

EXCLUSIVE: Lettings firm goes bust leaving trail of 200 unprotected deposits

EXCLUSIVE: Lettings firm goes bust leaving trail of 200 unprotected deposits

News

A long-established letting agent has gone bust, leaving more than 200 deposits unprotected and many landlords without tenancy agreements and gas and EPC certificates. Pendley Estates in Kings Langley, Hertfordshire, was a formerly reputable firm that had been trading since the 1

Are hydrogen boilers the future of heating in the UK?

Are hydrogen boilers the future of heating in the UK?

News

The UK government has committed to meeting internationally agreed carbon neutral targets and as natural gas (used in domestic boilers) is a major contributor to carbon emissions, a low carbon alternative such as hydrogen, used in existing equipment, is a likely replacement in the future.</p

BBC joins in the 'endless grind' of media landlord bashing

BBC joins in the 'endless grind' of media landlord bashing

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The BBC has joined the ranks of landlord-bashing media by publishing a story that gives a distinctly one-sided view of an eviction, helping bolster Shelter and other organisations' campaigns to ban Section 21 notices. It quotes a tenant as saying she was in panic mode� when

Thousands of landlords affected by sale of struggling digital lettings agency

Thousands of landlords affected by sale of struggling digital lettings agency

News

Thousands of landlords whose properties are managed by a leading online letting platform are to see their property management firm change hands after Howsy revealed it is to be acquired by a major high street lettings agency. Launched in 2016 originally as No Agent

Commercial property energy upgrades could cost over �30bn

Commercial property energy upgrades could cost over �30bn

News

The road to net zero is paved with additional costs for Britain, not least the amount of money it will take to upgrade commercial property, in the industrial alone. Achieving grade B� ratings under the 2030 Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) requirements for the UK

LATEST: Infamous rogue landlord and three associates are banned for five years

LATEST: Infamous rogue landlord and three associates are banned for five years

News

Camden Council has handed out banning orders to four rogue landlords for letting an unlicensed and unsafe home in Kilburn. All part of the same interconnected group of London-based family and business associates - Mohammed Ali Abbas Rasool, 30, of Manor House Drive, Daya Ahmed D

LATEST: Coventry to clamp down on HMOs with new planning powers

LATEST: Coventry to clamp down on HMOs with new planning powers

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Coventry aims to come down hard on HMO expansion within the city by introducing an Article 4 Direction. Councillors have approved the plans which will now form part of a public consultation this summer. They hope to change the rules which currently allow landlords to

BREAKING: Landlords now covered by cladding fund - but NOT portfolio operators

BREAKING: Landlords now covered by cladding fund - but NOT portfolio operators

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Landlords who own flats hit by the cladding scandal will be covered by the remediation fund, the government has announced. However, portfolio landlords have been left out, with property experts suggesting that this omission will mean work will be held up and their flats could be

OPINION: The consequences of abolishing Section 21

OPINION: The consequences of abolishing Section 21

Opinion

Drummed up by popular media horror stories, egged on by the homelessness charities, the ban Section 21� band waggon kept on rolling until eventually the politicians saw it would be politically advantageous to jump aboard. What is Section 21 <p id="

OPINION: Why the EPC rating system needs fixing

OPINION: Why the EPC rating system needs fixing

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The governments controversial policy of phasing out natural gas boilers in favour of heat pumps, in its drive to meet internationally agreed energy efficiency targets, could be stymied because of an out of date EPC algorithm. Regardless of the fact that many older poorly insu

AIRBNB: Westminster to step-up war against 'nuisance' short-term lets landlords

AIRBNB: Westminster to step-up war against 'nuisance' short-term lets landlords

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Westminster Council has launched a spirited campaign to stop central London being overrun by nuisance short-term lets booked chiefly through Airbnb. It is lobbying the government to follow Paris and Amsterdams lead whose authorities have clamped down on problem properties. </

Landlord insurance premiums driven up by inflation

Landlord insurance premiums driven up by inflation

News

After two decades of low property insurance premium rates, prices are being driven up by inflation. Steve Barnes, Associate Director at https://hamiltonfraser.co.uk/landlord-insurance/?utm_source=landlordzone&utm_medium=article&utm_id=lz+feb22+insurance+rising" target="_blank" id="

Japanese knotweed, danger is downgraded...

Japanese knotweed, danger is downgraded...

News

The large herbaceous perennial with its bamboo-like appearance became infamous in Britain for its threat to buildings. Its rapid growth, its size and most importantly the damage it can do, made it the villain of the horticultural world, and it became feared by property owners and mortgag

National rogue landlord database hits 'new high' of just 61 names

National rogue landlord database hits 'new high' of just 61 names

News

Four years after it was launched, the number on the Rogue Landlord database has only crept up to 61 out of the thousands claimed to be operating within the private rental sector, the latest government figures show. Asked by opposition MP Gill Furniss to provide an update, Housin

Coming changes to 'feudal'� leasehold laws to favour flat owners

Coming changes to 'feudal'� leasehold laws to favour flat owners

News

Flat owners (leaseholders) only own their leasehold property for a fixed period of time and during that period they pay ground rent and service charges to the freeholder (landlord). Theres always a long-lease agreement, a detailed legal tenancy agremeent between the leasehold

LATEST: Luton finally brings in blanket HMO licensing after years of problems

LATEST: Luton finally brings in blanket HMO licensing after years of problems

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Luton Council has finally got its act together and revealed blanket HMO licensing for the town after a number of false starts over the last few years. HMOs of any size will now need a licence under its additional scheme which launches on 1st April, while all privately rented pro

Legal case: a question of leaseholders' rights to manage the full estate

Legal case: a question of leaseholders' rights to manage the full estate

News

The Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Act 2002 provides a right for leaseholders to acquire the freehold landlords management functions by transfer to a company set up by them the Right To Manage (RTM) company. The thinking behind the right was to empower leaseholders. The

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Stop trying to win 'cheap brownie points' with renters, lender tells Government

Stop trying to win 'cheap brownie points' with renters, lender tells Government

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The Government must stop its ongoing and irresponsible attempts to curry favour with tenants via its looming reform of the private rented sector, a buy-to-let lender has said. Mortgages for Business boss Gavin Richardson (main

LATEST: London landlord duo convicted of �1 million benefits fraud

LATEST: London landlord duo convicted of �1 million benefits fraud

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A landlord couple have been convicted of a �1 million benefit fraud stretching over 20 years. Emmanuel Bay , 68, and Nancy Bay , 67, of Sudbourne Road, Brixton (pictured), were found guilty of 21 offences between 1999 and 2018 under t

Landlord's troubles just go from one crisis to the next...

Landlord's troubles just go from one crisis to the next...

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Home Reit, an investment trust landlord, was set-up to house Britains homeless. But the company has found itself running into increasing difficulties, with tenants' complaints and failed rent payments, a negative short-seller's report, a financial squeeze with falling stock prices and al

Landlord leader: Minister 'must tackle crumbling eviction courts '

Landlord leader: Minister 'must tackle crumbling eviction courts '

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A boost in court resources as well as measures to fast-track the most serious possession cases related to anti-social behaviour and rent arrears will be vital post-Section 21, says NRLA chief executive Ben Beadle . Without reform, a rise in cases will add t

Big council says HMOs 'fundamentally change areas' as it clamps down

Big council says HMOs 'fundamentally change areas' as it clamps down

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Councillors in Reading are set to rubber stamp plans to extend restrictions on the number of HMO conversions. An Article 4 direction already covers parts of the town where HMOs are prevalent, in much of Park, Redlands and Katesgrove wards, as well as Jesse Terrace.

Landlords seeking to convert commercial into residential warned by trade body

Landlords seeking to convert commercial into residential warned by trade body

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Propertymark has called for a set of standards for developers and clear guidance for local councils as a way to effectively convert empty commercial properties into affordable homes - an increasingly popular path for some bigger PRS landlords. Responding to an inquiry from all-p

Is converting commercial buildings to residential use a viable proposition?

Is converting commercial buildings to residential use a viable proposition?

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Converting commercial buildings to residential use would seem an ideal solution to a housing shortage, especially with and a glut of underused commercial buildings, but how easy is it? The planning regulation changes have made it easier to convert commercial buildings to residen

BREAKING: New mandatory 'How to Rent' guide delayed for a week

BREAKING: New mandatory 'How to Rent' guide delayed for a week

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The new How to Rent guide due to come out today (17th March) has been delayed for a week, according to industry sources. The new guide forms part of the prescribed information that landlords in England must issue at the start of any new tenancy or renewa

John Lewis build-to-rent plans stall as locals oppose huge apartment 'towers'

John Lewis build-to-rent plans stall as locals oppose huge apartment 'towers'

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John Lewiss build-to-rent strategy appears to be stalling amid local opposition to its plans for large developments in West Ealing and Bromley. The retailer has just announced pre-tax losses of �234 million as sales dipped 2% last year, making it even more vital to find new

Lib Dem boss: Distrust of red tape prevented Tories going green

Lib Dem boss: Distrust of red tape prevented Tories going green

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Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey has revealed that the Conservatives dismissed his call for energy efficient regulations in the PRS as “communist”.

HMOs: the evolution of the market and current hotspots

HMOs: the evolution of the market and current hotspots

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HMOs (Houses of Multiple Occupation) first came to prominence in the form of student digs: fairly tatty shared houses, where students could live in groups for a low monthly rent.

INTERVIEW: The landlord leaders hoping to change rental sector for the better

INTERVIEW: The landlord leaders hoping to change rental sector for the better

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A new group - theLandlord Leaders Community has been set up to bring the sector together and provide practical tools for

Rising rents won't stop landlords from feeling the pinch

Rising rents won't stop landlords from feeling the pinch

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Many landlords will find themselves materially worse off by 2026, despite

COMMENT: Will Labour come round to loving landlords?

COMMENT: Will Labour come round to loving landlords?

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With Labour's predilection for bashing landlords (though the current Conservative Government needs no encouragement on that), you would expect a Labour government to double

LATEST: Big council reveals £20m plan to buy rented homes off exiting landlords

LATEST: Big council reveals £20m plan to buy rented homes off exiting landlords

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Newham Council has approved a radical new plan to buy up properties where tenants have been threatened with eviction because their landlord no longer wants to let the property

Watch out for 'secret' compliance fee clauses in agency contracts, landlords told

Watch out for 'secret' compliance fee clauses in agency contracts, landlords told

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A leading housing lawyer has questioned the use of property regulation compliance fees which appear to absolve letting agents of their responsibilities to ensure a landlord's

Government issues damp and mould warning within new landlord guidance

Government issues damp and mould warning within new landlord guidance

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Private landlords are to be held accountable for damp and mould in their homes including unlimited fines for those who flout the rules, new guidance from the Government has ma

Minister says landlords will evict tenants who get 'green grants' to upgrade homes

Minister says landlords will evict tenants who get 'green grants' to upgrade homes

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The government has promised to focus on promoting grants to make PRS homes more energy efficient and ensure that tenants won't be penalised for demanding green improvements.

Mortgage rate rises to see huge surge in limited company landlords - claim

Mortgage rate rises to see huge surge in limited company landlords - claim

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Three-quarters of landlords who plan to buy a new rental property in the next year will use a

Climate change will hugely increase demand for greener short lets, says expert

Climate change will hugely increase demand for greener short lets, says expert

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A leading energy efficiency consultant has called for a transformation in the way landlords operate short-let holiday accommodation, saying this housing sector needs to reduce

Scottish leader reveals rent controls plan

Scottish leader reveals rent controls plan

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The Scottish Government has pledged to introduce long-term rent controls and measures to enhance tenants’ rights and protections.

Disability group says hoarding and other mental health issues 'not reason to evict'

Disability group says hoarding and other mental health issues 'not reason to evict'

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A disability rights group has vowed to push for stronger regulations in the Renters Reform Bill so disabled tenants don't face discrimination from their landlords.

Shelter claims landlords evicting older tenants via Section 21 'for no reason'

Shelter claims landlords evicting older tenants via Section 21 'for no reason'

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Shelter has claimed that the renting reform bill's slow progress through parliament is harming the health of older tenants, saying its research shows nearly a third live in

Research shows big city council doing 'very little' to police bad landlords

Research shows big city council doing 'very little' to police bad landlords

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Councils across Greater Manchester are failing to enforce disrepair in the PRS, putting tenants at the mercy of a potential postcode lottery - and highlighting the huge gap in

'Stop landlord bashing' says renting sector chief as conference season starts

'Stop landlord bashing' says renting sector chief as conference season starts

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Politicians should stop landlord bashing to prevent further damage to the private rented sector, says one property body boss.

WATCH: The five main ways to evict a tenant after reform bill becomes law

WATCH: The five main ways to evict a tenant after reform bill becomes law

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Two experts have spelled out the challenges landlords will face when evicting tenants once the Government's plans to reform the private rented sector become law, most likely

New net zero minister urged to give landlords clarity on EPC changes

New net zero minister urged to give landlords clarity on EPC changes

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New Energy Security and Net Zero Secretary Claire Coutinho (main picture) has been encouraged to focus on driving through new EPC rules as the green debate be

NRLA wants you to run your properties better and avoid 'red tape' fines

NRLA wants you to run your properties better and avoid 'red tape' fines

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The National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA) has launched two new initiatives that will help members manage their properties better and also be compliant with the myr

Landlords are not evil says buy-to-let mortgage lender, Paragon Bank’s chief

Landlords are not evil says buy-to-let mortgage lender, Paragon Bank’s chief

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In a recent interview conducted for The Sunday Times, Nigel Terrington, the chief executive of Paragon Bank for the last 28 years, says he has witnessed the growth an

Private rented sector 'a failure' says tenant union lobbying for radical restructure

Private rented sector 'a failure' says tenant union lobbying for radical restructure

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Tenants' union Acorn has admitted it is out to shake up the structure of property ownership � as well as taking on rogue agents and landlords.

REVEALED: Is it worth upgrading rental properties to meet new EPC rules?

REVEALED: Is it worth upgrading rental properties to meet new EPC rules?

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Landlords updating their properties to meet imminent Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) changes could make more in lifetime energy savings than they pay out for green improv

AGENT: Landlords 'must support local communities and provide for social tenants'

AGENT: Landlords 'must support local communities and provide for social tenants'

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A leading property management firm has called on private landlords to support the social tenant sector following yesterday's report from London Councils tha

Bristol reveals big expansion in landlord property licencing across city

Bristol reveals big expansion in landlord property licencing across city

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All Bristol landlords could soon have to licence small HMOs, while those in the Bishopston and Ashley Down, Cotham, and Easton wards are bracing themselves for a proposed sele

Landlords leave temporary accommodation market as private rents soar

Landlords leave temporary accommodation market as private rents soar

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An unintended consequence of the Government's crackdown on the private rented sector has been revealed as councils across London report more landlords withdrawing from the t