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

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

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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

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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

'Disaster' renting reform bill to enter parliament tomorrow after PMQs

'Disaster' renting reform bill to enter parliament tomorrow after PMQs

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The much-delayed Renters Reform Bill is rumoured to be getting its first reading tomorrow after Prime Ministers Questions, although the 'full meat' of the proposals will come later. Rumoured to be renamed the Rented Homes Bill or Renters (Reform) Bill, landlords are waitin

BREAKING: Renters (Reform) Bill to get first airing after PMQs today

BREAKING: Renters (Reform) Bill to get first airing after PMQs today

News

The Government is to finally introduce its long-delayed renting reforms into parliament later today following Prime Ministers Questions (PMQs) in the Commons. The Bill, which is to be called the Renters (Reform) Bill, will get its first reading just aft

Third of tenants turning to credit to fund tenancy deposits - claim

Third of tenants turning to credit to fund tenancy deposits - claim

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A tenancy deposit affordacility crisis is looming as new data reveals that nearly a third of renters are borrowing money to pay for them, new research shows. The poll of 1,000 tenants reveals how they are using credit cards, personal loans, overdrafts and family loans to scrape

Tech firm gets public cash to help portfolio landlords improve energy efficiency

Tech firm gets public cash to help portfolio landlords improve energy efficiency

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Proptech company Propflo is working with BTL mortgage lenders to help portfolio landlords make their properties more energy efficient. It has been given a grant by Innovate UK to encourage lenders to explore initiatives such as encouraging retrofitting in their products, creatin

NEW: Government promises crack-down on dodgy rent-to-rent operators

NEW: Government promises crack-down on dodgy rent-to-rent operators

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The government has vowed to crack down on dodgy rent-to-rent landlords who flout housing laws. Housing Minister Baroness Scott of Bybrook (pictured) says it is aware of concerns that some rent-to-rent arrangements have sometimes been used to make it more difficult to identify la

Average rent now 25% higher than before Covid says leading agency

Average rent now 25% higher than before Covid says leading agency

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Rents on newly-let homes have increased by 25% across the UK since the start of Covid, costing the average tenant an extra �2,962 each year. Hamptons reports that rents rose 11% year-on-year, with April marking the second strongest month for rental growth on record.&nbsp; <p

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Demand spikes for freehold houses from first time buyers - Landlords cash in before the crash

Demand spikes for freehold houses from first time buyers - Landlords cash in before the crash

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Landlords are cashing out fast as demand from first-time buyers spikes. Freehold homes are hot—now’s the time to sell.

'Law gives too much protection to rogue tenants', says landlord of trashed property

'Law gives too much protection to rogue tenants', says landlord of trashed property

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A fed-up landlord has slammed the legal system for unfairly favouring poorly-behaved tenants after a brutal eviction.

Big seaside town goes live with more HMO planning restrictions

Big seaside town goes live with more HMO planning restrictions

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Landlords in Eastbourne now need to get planning permission for HMO conversions in parts of the town centre after councillors approved new rules.

Landlord faces £60,000 repair bill after cannabis farms discovery

Landlord faces £60,000 repair bill after cannabis farms discovery

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Controversial landlord Fergus Wilson faces a £60,000 repair bill after three of his rental properties were turned into cannabis factories.

'Heavily vetting tenants before they move in will soon be essential, not optional'

'Heavily vetting tenants before they move in will soon be essential, not optional'

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Landlords who fail to factor in inflation, interest rates, and pressure on household budgets when vetting tenants could end up with rent arrears.

Landlords told to 'get ready' for next April's Making Tax Digital switchover

Landlords told to 'get ready' for next April's Making Tax Digital switchover

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Landlords have been warned by the Government to begin researching available software before tax returns begin to go digital next April.

UK's first 'tourist tax' goes live for Scots holiday lets landlords

UK's first 'tourist tax' goes live for Scots holiday lets landlords

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Edinburgh’s landlords and letting agents have been urged to start preparing for the city’s 5% ‘tourist levy’.

Selective Licensing and Anti-Social Behaviour – are landlords to blame?

Selective Licensing and Anti-Social Behaviour – are landlords to blame?

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Are remote landlords fuelling local problems? Are these purchases simply causing misery for local populations? Is selective licensing up to the job?

BBC reveals 'widespread' black market in unlicensed HMOs

BBC reveals 'widespread' black market in unlicensed HMOs

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A reporter who responded to adverts in shop windows in east London for a ‘bedspace’ in shared rooms found unsanitary and overcrowded unlicensed homes.

Tenant Referencing Failures Surge Amid Cost-of-Living Crisis

Tenant Referencing Failures Surge Amid Cost-of-Living Crisis

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Rising cost of living causes tenant referencing pass rates to drop from 35% to 25%, increasing rental risk for landlords, reports Housing Hand.

Powerless councils could make or break reforms, says Labour MP

Powerless councils could make or break reforms, says Labour MP

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A Labour MP has called on the government to extend notice periods from two to four months to prevent landlords from unjustly evicting tenants. <figure id="" class="w-richtext-figure-type- " data-rt-type="" data-rt-align=""><div><img src="https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/63bef2f3c329eff8e3

Licencing scheme off to weak start after only a third of landlords register

Licencing scheme off to weak start after only a third of landlords register

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Only one-third of Oxfords private rental properties have been registered for its city-wide selective licensing scheme and could soon face steeper fees or a hefty fine. The scheme, which launched last September, has received more than 10,500 licence applications from the 3

Landlord pleads with council to consider HMO tenants as housing shortages bite

Landlord pleads with council to consider HMO tenants as housing shortages bite

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An https://www.landlordzone.co.uk/news/braverman-under-pressure-to-reverse-outrageous-new-hmo-rules-for-asylum-seekers/" HMO landlord says desperate new tenants are moving in hours after the previous tenants leave due to a dearth of available properties. In he

'Despicable fraudster' gets eight-year ban for stealing landlords' deposits and rent

'Despicable fraudster' gets eight-year ban for stealing landlords' deposits and rent

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A letting agent who ripped off dozens of landlord clients has been banned from being a company director for eight years. https://www.landlordzone.co.uk/news/letting-agent-who-stole-80000-from-dozens-of-landlords-admits-fraud/" Frank Smart , 46, the owner of Sma

Landlords encouraged to sell this month as property prices rise by 0.2%

Landlords encouraged to sell this month as property prices rise by 0.2%

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In a market where interest rates are sky high, tax bills are extortionate and mortgage payments are higher than rents, coupled with a backlog of refurb costs and difficult tenant situations, landlords are rushing to cash in and sell their property portfolios. If you were a landl

REFORM: 'We need legislation that works with landlords, not against them'

REFORM: 'We need legislation that works with landlords, not against them'

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With one in five households now renting, the private rented sector is an essential part of the housing market. As the government has reduced its housebuilding strategy for all local authorities from mandatory to advisory, with some councils scrapping targets all together, the ho

Portal launches in UK offering landlords direct online advertising to find tenants

Portal launches in UK offering landlords direct online advertising to find tenants

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A European lettings portal has launched in the UK aimed at globe-trotting students and young professionals. Rotterdam-based https://housinganywhere.com/" HousingAnywhere , which specialises in mid- to long-term rentals, now covers London,

Do HMOs still stack up as an investment?

Do HMOs still stack up as an investment?

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Over the last 15 years, the HMO market has been transformed and there has been a boom. The reason for the boom&nbsp; was, quite simply, that HMOs could generate far better returns than single home lets. &nbsp; But as the market grew, regulations tightened. On top of the extra du

LATEST: Section 21 evictions increasing as landlords quit sector, says Citizens Advice

LATEST: Section 21 evictions increasing as landlords quit sector, says Citizens Advice

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Nearly half of all Section 21 eviction notices have been prompted by landlords selling their properties, Citizens Advice has revealed. It also says that its seen a ramping up of evictions by landlords using Section 21 notices, handling some 2,000 cases last month. <p id=""

Guaranteed rent firm takes down website after LandlordZONE probe

Guaranteed rent firm takes down website after LandlordZONE probe

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A guaranteed rent firm has taken down its website after being exposed for using spurious claims about its connections with reputable bodies. London-based UK Housing Group Ltd, which boasts of being, the largest social housing agency in London and the Midlands featured out-

Historic Article 4 used to limit short‑term holiday lets

Historic Article 4 used to limit short‑term holiday lets

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Gwynedd Council introduces Article 4 Direction to regulate second homes and short-term holiday lets, requiring planning permission for change of use.

Extra costs and red tape hitting landlords hard, mortgage chief warns

Extra costs and red tape hitting landlords hard, mortgage chief warns

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Politicians and lobby groups are likely to continue blaming private landlords for the housing shortage largely created by the hostile regulatory environment imposed by the same politicians who want even more draconian laws, finds a new report. One of the most bizarre aspects of

Council cracks down on illegal HMOs with surprise inspections

Council cracks down on illegal HMOs with surprise inspections

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Two unlicensed HMOs have been discovered during unannounced inspections by a council in the North, which says more 'surprise visits' are on the cards. <figure id="" class="w-richtext-figure-type- " data-rt-type="" data-rt-align=""><div><img src="https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/63bef2f3c3

BREAKING: Landlords tell housing minister face-to-face that sector needs support

BREAKING: Landlords tell housing minister face-to-face that sector needs support

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Landlords in Wales have called for the countrys government to make more effort to encourage private investment in the sector during a face-to-face meeting with housing minister Julie James. The National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA) has asked her government to exem

Less that 20% of PRS homes within LHA rates reveals shocking research

Less that 20% of PRS homes within LHA rates reveals shocking research

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Fewer than one in five private rental properties in England were within the Local Housing Allowance (LHA) rates last year, according to new joint research by the Chartered Institute of Housing and Shelter . The groups say the average

Leading property figure calls for 'tenancy register' in England and Wales

Leading property figure calls for 'tenancy register' in England and Wales

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The government has missed a trick by not introducing a tenancy register instead of an anti-landlord landlord register, one property consultant has claimed. Blackbird Real Estate founder https://www.richard-berridge.co.uk/" target="_blank" Richa

EXCLUSIVE: Conveyancer reports big drop in landlords buying BTL properties

EXCLUSIVE: Conveyancer reports big drop in landlords buying BTL properties

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The number of BTL investors buying properties has plummeted in the last six months while long-term landlords are selling up, according to one large conveyancing firm. Basildon-based https://pcslegal.co.uk/" PCS Legal

Business ratepayers will have to report any changes, and annually, under new bill...

Business ratepayers will have to report any changes, and annually, under new bill...

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The Non-Domestic Rating Bill going through Parliament (House of Lords) will require business ratepayers to report any changes and also report annually to the Valuation Office Agency (VOA). These changes to the operation of business rates will apply to all organisations responsib

BLOG: Why abolishing Section 21 isn't all bad news for landlords

BLOG: Why abolishing Section 21 isn't all bad news for landlords

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Yesterday I spoke to a room of 200 anxious landlords.&nbsp;The uncertainly surrounding the Renters (Reform) Bill really has whipped the housing market into a frenzy with landlords serving notices, selling up and exiting the sector in their droves.&nbsp; The mere thought of Sect

TURMOIL: NatWest reveals rate rises for fixed-rate landlord mortgages

TURMOIL: NatWest reveals rate rises for fixed-rate landlord mortgages

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��Lender NatWest has been called out by commentators after it announced significant increases to its landlord mortgages. The bank, which is till 38% Government owned, announced late yesterday that it was increasing the interest rates it charges on a range of home loans, includ

Report reveals unstoppable march of BTR into private rented sector

Report reveals unstoppable march of BTR into private rented sector

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Report finds London has 38,600 Build‑to‑Rent homes plus 34,100 more in pipeline, transforming the capital’s rental market.

Landmark rental deposits case reveals world of 'fake' short-lets

Landmark rental deposits case reveals world of 'fake' short-lets

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Tenant groups in Scotland have called for councils to clamp down on landlords who rent out properties under the guise of holiday lets. <figure id="" class="w-richtext-figure-type- " data-rt-type="" data-rt-align=""><div><img src="https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/63bef2f3c329eff8e3a4af45/6

Investors rush to convert office space as homeworking re-shapes the marketplace

Investors rush to convert office space as homeworking re-shapes the marketplace

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According to the Financial Times (FT), property investors have pumped around �2bn into converting under-used and unwanted London office space as the trend to Working from Home (WfH) continues, and as it looks like becoming an embedded employment practice in many inner city o

FINES: Repeat offender to pay £49,000 over HMO safety failures

FINES: Repeat offender to pay £49,000 over HMO safety failures

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A management company has been ordered to pay out more than £49,000 for fire safety failures at an HMO. Monsoon Properties Ltd admitted breaches relating to a range of issues at the flat in Londons Tavistock Place, including inadequate fire detection system, obstructions to t