Date

Library

Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

Landlord slapped with �40,700 fine after 'honest mistake' over HMO licence

Landlord slapped with �40,700 fine after 'honest mistake' over HMO licence

News

A lettings agency boss and landlord has been slapped with a �40,700 Rent Repayment Officer despite claiming that his failure to licence an HMO was an honest mistake. A First Tier Property Tribunal handed five former tenants the maximum award for the period from September 2019 t

Scottish government unveils controversial rent reform plans

Scottish government unveils controversial rent reform plans

News

Scotland’s Housing Bill proposes rent controls, winter eviction bans, pet rights & tougher eviction penalties in private sector overhaul.

Bristol significantly expands HMO and selective licensing schemes

Bristol significantly expands HMO and selective licensing schemes

News

Bristol has approved plans to extend landlord licensing in Brislington West, Bedminster and Horfield wards in a bid to raise PRS standards. The scheme includes additional licensing - HMOs with three or more unrelated people sharing facilities and selective licensing - privat

Durham’s new licensing scheme for 29,000 homes: What you need

Durham’s new licensing scheme for 29,000 homes: What you need

News

Durham County Council's selective licensing scheme covers 29,000 homes, requiring landlords to apply by 31 July for a £350–£500 licence fee.

Test Case: Council advising tenants to stay put after valid s21 notice served

Test Case: Council advising tenants to stay put after valid s21 notice served

News

This is a Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman case involving an unnamed landlord (LandlordX or MrX) and Brentwood Borough Council. The case revolves around a common situation where the landlord required possession of the property after serving a valid section 21 notice un

'Let’s not forget property remains the best performing investment'

'Let’s not forget property remains the best performing investment'

Opinion

I've been in the property investment business for almost 30 years and during this period opportunities have come and gone but I've yet to discover an asset class that perf

OPINION: The EPC ratings system is 'not fit for purpose'

OPINION: The EPC ratings system is 'not fit for purpose'

Opinion

Ever since I started to market one of my commercial buildings around 10 years ago now, I began to doubt the efficacy of the EPC rating system. The guy that came along to do the inspection told me himself he had just completed a 6 week course, or whatever it was, to train to be a

BREAKING: Government toughens up smoke and C0 alarm regulations

BREAKING: Government toughens up smoke and C0 alarm regulations

News

Social and private landlords are to face tougher new rules which make it mandatory to fit smoke alarms in all rented accommodation regardless of tenure, and widen the conditions under which they must be fitted. Revisions to the smoke and carbon monoxide detector regulations also

ANALYSIS: Does buy-to-let still beat the stock market?

ANALYSIS: Does buy-to-let still beat the stock market?

News

If you had �50k to invest right now, where would you put it, buy-to-let property or stocks and shares? Certainly leaving it in a traditional savings account, with interest rates as they are at rock bottom, thats out of the question. And with the threat of rising inflation ea

Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

Council secures criminal conviction for landlord over unlicensed HMO

Council secures criminal conviction for landlord over unlicensed HMO

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

A West Sussex landlord has been prevented from letting out HMOs after he admitted operating an unlicensed property.

Landlords WILL be allowed to raise rents to pay for EPC upgrades

Landlords WILL be allowed to raise rents to pay for EPC upgrades

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Despite Energy Secretary Ed Miliband’s insistence that rents hadn’t increased when standards were raised during previous initiatives, Justice Minister Sarah Sackman has now said there are grounds for “higher market rents”.

Landlord £10,000 out of pocket as DWP rules complicated payments

Landlord £10,000 out of pocket as DWP rules complicated payments

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

A tenant has built up more than £10,000 in rent arrears after the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) refused to accept her landlord’s word that the rent had increased.

Number of planning permissions for HMOs declines across UK

Number of planning permissions for HMOs declines across UK

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Report from digital planning portal suggests public fight-back against HMOs and higher taxes for landlords are beginning to bite.

US activist urges British tenants to withhold rents and resist 'despotic landlords'

US activist urges British tenants to withhold rents and resist 'despotic landlords'

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Radical renting campaigners have written a new book that aims to inspire the end of UK landlords’ “despotic control” over tenants.

Famous seaside town plans enlarged £784 landlord licensing scheme

Famous seaside town plans enlarged £784 landlord licensing scheme

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

The Norfolk seaside town of Great Yarmouth has revealed plans to introduce a five-year selective licensing scheme for rented properties in three key wards.

Landlord jailed after stealing from lettings agency

Landlord jailed after stealing from lettings agency

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

A landlord who worked as an estate agent assistant has been jailed for stealing more than £167,000 from her employer, it has been reported.

Bailiffs urge frustrated landlords to take eviction survey

Bailiffs urge frustrated landlords to take eviction survey

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Landlords have been urged to share their experiences of being hit by County Court delays when evicting tenants.

Big land owners say leasehold reform 'incompatible with their human rights'

Big land owners say leasehold reform 'incompatible with their human rights'

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Leaseholders have failed in their attempt to stop freeholders from challenging the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act.

Landlords face losses amid soaring mortgage rates

Landlords face losses amid soaring mortgage rates

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

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

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

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'

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

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

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

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

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

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

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

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

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

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

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

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'

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

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...

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

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'

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

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

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

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'

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

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

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

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'

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

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'

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

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

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

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

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

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=

Leasehold properties become harder to sell, landlords warned

Leasehold properties become harder to sell, landlords warned

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Leasehold properties are becoming harder to sell due to escalating ground rents and limited lease terms, despite recent reform efforts.

LATEST: Activists attack Renters (Reform) Bill over 'landlord loopholes'

LATEST: Activists attack Renters (Reform) Bill over 'landlord loopholes'

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Loopholes in the Renters Reform Bill around alternative possession grounds leave it open to abuse by unscrupulous landlords, claims a Labour activist and lawyer. A landlord will simply need to demonstrate an intention to use the property to live in or sell before they can

UK landlords with Airbnb properties in EU to pay 20% VAT on rental income

UK landlords with Airbnb properties in EU to pay 20% VAT on rental income

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

British landlords who use rental platforms to let holiday homes in the European Union will soon have to pay VAT on their rental income. Under the EUshttps://taxation-customs.ec.europa.eu/taxation-1/value-added-tax-vat/vat-digital-age_en" target="_blank" <strong

TRENDS: Young 'modern tenants' want green, digital landlords

TRENDS: Young 'modern tenants' want green, digital landlords

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Most tenants want their landlords to be green and digital, a poll of some 2,000 renters has revealed. Despite debates about rental supply and rocketing rents dominating the public debate about the private rented sector, software firm MRIs poll found that two thirds want to in

Talks begin on UK-wide ban on landlords advertising property as 'no children'

Talks begin on UK-wide ban on landlords advertising property as 'no children'

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

The Scottish and UK governments are working together to prevent landlords banning children from properties after a BBC investigation revealed the practice was still rife. Following the launch of thehttps://www.totallandlordinsurance.co.uk/knowledge-centre/renters-refor

'Huge competition is the key problem for families in PRS, not landlords' says Shamplina

'Huge competition is the key problem for families in PRS, not landlords' says Shamplina

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Paul Shamplina says the key reason why tenants with children are struggling to find rented accommodation is the ongoing supply crisis created by Government intervention in the sector, and the huge competition for properties that it is creating. Speaking to BBC Radi

Sell now before rates cause buyers to scatter and prices to plummet

Sell now before rates cause buyers to scatter and prices to plummet

Sponsored
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

The NRLA recently reported that 1 in 3 landlords are going to trim down their portfolios. A whopping 33% of landlords currently selling throughout the UK. Of that 33%, most landlords agreed that they would be willing to take 80% of the value just to get rid of them because mortgage payments