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.

Government to rush through changes to housing laws

Government to rush through changes to housing laws

News

Housing secretary Michael Gove has announced restrictions on Airbnb style short-term lettings. He also wants to relax rules on permitted development rights for commercial to residential conversions, and he says he will abolish section 21 in this Parliament.

Legionella risk, one aspect of letting that many landlords never think about...

Legionella risk, one aspect of letting that many landlords never think about...

Information

Landlords (and their agents) have a serious responsibility to undertake actions to protect tenants, visitors and passers-by, by preventing Legionella bacteria from causing a health hazard.

Government slammed as affordable rented home building tanks

Government slammed as affordable rented home building tanks

News

A consortium of London housing associations has warned the government that new affordable home-building is grinding to a halt.

Covid's long shadow over rental market 'finally fading'

Covid's long shadow over rental market 'finally fading'

News

The Covid years’ extreme effect on the capital’s lettings market appears to be significantly easing – although demand remains abnormally high.

No-fault evictions ban 'an attack on basic property rights'

No-fault evictions ban 'an attack on basic property rights'

News

A basic tenet of property rights that landlords should be able to reclaim their property after an agreed period from a tenant is being undermined by Michael Gove’s push to end Section 21 evictions, a leading free market thinktank has claimed.

Government to relax rules on heat pumps, Gove reveals

Government to relax rules on heat pumps, Gove reveals

News

The government is considering relaxing heat pump rules in England which manufacturers believe could result in a boost in sales.

Letting agent slams Scotlands' 'nightmare' new repairs rules

Letting agent slams Scotlands' 'nightmare' new repairs rules

News

New safety regulations due to impact private landlords in Scotland have been labelled a logistical nightmare by one Edinburgh letting agent.

University launches first ever degree for letting agents

University launches first ever degree for letting agents

News

Estate agents might have been deemed more untrustworthy than lawyers and traffic wardens in public polls, but the Royal Agricultural University aims to demonstrate the profession’s value by launching the UK’s first university course in residential estate agency.

It's time to stop blaming private landlords for the rental crisis

It's time to stop blaming private landlords for the rental crisis

Opinion

Government ministers, housing campaigners, landlords, letting agents and many of the other actors in the drama that is the private rented sector have been arguing hard about who is to blame for the high rents and lack of supply within the market.

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

Gove calls for EPC deadline reprieve to give landlords a break

Gove calls for EPC deadline reprieve to give landlords a break

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Housing Secretary Michael Gove has suggested a delay in bringing in energy efficiency plans for the private renter sector. Citing financial pressures on landlords, he told The Telegraph that the government should relax the pace of changes to

Landlord with OBE to pay £300,000 fine over 'appalling conditions' at properties

Landlord with OBE to pay £300,000 fine over 'appalling conditions' at properties

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

A veteran landlord with an OBE has been handed a whopping �300,000 fine after two decades of managing illegally converted houses. Nirpaul Riat was given one of the largest ever fines in Hounslow for managing 22 properties where vulnerable tenants lived in appalling conditions.<

Under-cooked Renters (Reform) Bill could be just 'much ado about nothing'

Under-cooked Renters (Reform) Bill could be just 'much ado about nothing'

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

One of the drawbacks of being labelled an expert is you are in demand for your expertise. It becomes your product and when stocks are running low, like we have all experienced when trying to find an egg in the supermarket at the end of the week for your Saturday morning cooked breakfast, th

Will the looming PRS reforms make evicting badly-behaved tenants more difficult?

Will the looming PRS reforms make evicting badly-behaved tenants more difficult?

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

After years of campaigning and lobbying by tenant groups the Government has committed to huge changes for landlords when evicting tenants.

Huge London selective licencing scheme given green light by Gove

Huge London selective licencing scheme given green light by Gove

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Southwark Council has been given the green light for one of the UKs largest selective licencing schemes. It got approval from Housing Secretary Michael Gove following the introduction last year of a borough-wide additional licensing scheme for HMOs and a small, selective lic

Extra stamp duty clobbering Welsh landlords with �92 million extra tax take

Extra stamp duty clobbering Welsh landlords with �92 million extra tax take

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Landlords and holiday homeowners continue to be clobbered by a tax grab from the Welsh Revenue Authority. The latest figures show revenue from the higher rate of stamp duty - Land Transaction Tax (LTT) - increased by 50% from �61 million in 2020/21 to �92 million in 2022/23 -

Some landlords and letting agents treating migrants 'heartlessly' say campaigners

Some landlords and letting agents treating migrants 'heartlessly' say campaigners

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Migrant communities face discrimination while navigating the private rental market, according to new research by Generation Rent and Migrant Organise. Their poll of 126 migrant private renters found that 42% had struggled to find a landlord or letting agent to rent to them as a

OPINION: Inflation cut bodes well for property, but we're not out of the woods yet!

OPINION: Inflation cut bodes well for property, but we're not out of the woods yet!

Opinion
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

The FT reports a surge in property stocks as inflation falls, and bricks and mortar property values could soon follow stocks? The latest Office for National Statistics (ONS) measure of inflation and prices, which includes consumer price inflation, producer price i

Landlord who 'ignored responsibilities' given criminal conviction and �18,000 fine

Landlord who 'ignored responsibilities' given criminal conviction and �18,000 fine

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

A landlord who failed to licence her six properties has ended up with a criminal conviction and hefty fines totalling nearly �18,000. London Land Holdings Ltd, London Land Holdings 1 Ltd and sole director of both companies, Susannah Meisner , were charged

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

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

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

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.

Third of UK adults say BTL 'safest' way to build long-term wealth

Third of UK adults say BTL 'safest' way to build long-term wealth

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Despite the sometimes hostile environment endured by current landlords, a third of UK adults aspire to invest in buy-to-let to build their long-term prosperity.

New independent report tracks BTR's huge growth

New independent report tracks BTR's huge growth

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

The first independent report into the build-to-rent (BTR) sector has tracked huge growth in urban areas and city centres where it’s taking up the slack from traditional landlords.

Scotland consults on minimum EPC band C for rented homes

Scotland consults on minimum EPC band C for rented homes

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

The Scottish Government has launched a consultation on its plans to introduce a minimum EPC level for rented homes.

TV show seeks landlords happy to settle tenant disputes on camera

TV show seeks landlords happy to settle tenant disputes on camera

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Landlords seeking to recoup money from tenants now have an alternative to a lengthy and expensive battle through the courts.

Paragon mortgage approvals defy the decline of buy to let

Paragon mortgage approvals defy the decline of buy to let

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Paragon Bank’s latest financial results show that buy to let is not in terminal decline, but the industry is going through structural change

When will the Renters' Rights Bill go live? Experts reveal all

When will the Renters' Rights Bill go live? Experts reveal all

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Two leading proeprty industry figures give their views on when landlords will face the new Renters' Rights Bill.

REVEALED: Fines for landlords who resist empty shops scheme

REVEALED: Fines for landlords who resist empty shops scheme

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Landlords could be fined if they don’t engage with local councils who target their premises for a high street rental auction.

Brighton expected to push ahead with 'Airbnb' restrictions

Brighton expected to push ahead with 'Airbnb' restrictions

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Brighton & Hove Council could push for an earlier crackdown on short lets in the city rather than waiting for government restrictions.

Margaret Thatcher's favourite council reveals start date for landlord licensing

Margaret Thatcher's favourite council reveals start date for landlord licensing

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

One of London’s most high-profile councils has revealed the start date for its new selective and additional licensing schemes as it bids to clamp down on rogue landlords and improve rental properties.

Landlord exodus to limited companies drives up BTL lending

Landlord exodus to limited companies drives up BTL lending

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Landlords moving into limited companies and HMOs have fuelled a big jump in lending.

MP to stop holiday let owners dodging council tax via Bill

MP to stop holiday let owners dodging council tax via Bill

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

A Cornwall MP has launched a bid to ban short-let and holiday let landlords from switching to business lets.

Scotland moves closer to inflation-linked rent controls in 'hotspots'

Scotland moves closer to inflation-linked rent controls in 'hotspots'

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Scotland's parliament has finished scrutiny of its Government's plans to restrict how landlords can raise rents, and much more.

Commercial tenants may reclaim millions after landmark ruling

Commercial tenants may reclaim millions after landmark ruling

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Commercial landlords are now on high alert following a recent high court ruling over insurance commissions

Timetable for landlords to upgrade rental homes to minimum EPC band 'unachievable'

Timetable for landlords to upgrade rental homes to minimum EPC band 'unachievable'

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

The UK’s largest landlord association has called out the Government’s plans to make rental properties reach a minimum EPC ‘C’ band by 2028 as ‘unachievable’.

'Immigration and too few landlords real reason for high rents'

'Immigration and too few landlords real reason for high rents'

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Rising immigration is likely to push rental demand to new heights, a banking boss has warned.

40 landlords join agent's fight-back against 'extortionate' licensing fees

40 landlords join agent's fight-back against 'extortionate' licensing fees

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Landlords have been urged to join a legal action to challenge Leicester Council’s “unreasonably extortionate” selective licensing fees.

Senior letting agent slates 'too few' amendments to Renters' Rights Bill

Senior letting agent slates 'too few' amendments to Renters' Rights Bill

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

A leading letting agent has criticsed the progress of the Renters’ Rights Bill which left the House of Lords with few amendments.

Beware using WhatsApp to discuss rental contracts, warns lawyer

Beware using WhatsApp to discuss rental contracts, warns lawyer

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

A property lawyer has warned that landlords might fail to realise their tenant has given notice after a court ruled that a WhatsApp exchange was sufficient to create a contract.

CLAIM: Fees ban has saved tenants £1bn and 'didn't push up rents'

CLAIM: Fees ban has saved tenants £1bn and 'didn't push up rents'

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Private renters in England have saved nearly £1 billion in letting agent fees since the 2019 Tenant Fees Act, research by Generation Rent has found.

Student HMO landlords face tenancies-in-advance 'crunch' this November

Student HMO landlords face tenancies-in-advance 'crunch' this November

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

One of the UK’s leading student lettings agencies has pointed out a huge ‘crunch point’ for HMO landlords when the Renters’ Rights Bill goes live later this year.

Landlords to raise rents when reform restrictions go live

Landlords to raise rents when reform restrictions go live

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

New poll shows landlords are planning to raise rents in response to new restrictions within the looming Renters' Rights Bil.

BLOG: 'Tenants and landlords will see harder times when section 21 is abolished'

BLOG: 'Tenants and landlords will see harder times when section 21 is abolished'

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Property lawyer Ian Narbeth takes a detailed but scathing look at Labour's looming Renters' Rights Bill and predicts there is trouble ahead.

London politician calls for action against rogue landlords

London politician calls for action against rogue landlords

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Comments have been made after residents at a property that was illegally converted into 11 bedsit flats remain worried about its condition.

Landlord trio sell portfolio for £22m citing 'complex renting environment'

Landlord trio sell portfolio for £22m citing 'complex renting environment'

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Three landlord brothers have had a whopping £22 million pay day after selling their property portfolio to an investment trust.