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Renters (Reform) Bill - we take a first look at the radical new legislation

Renters (Reform) Bill - we take a first look at the radical new legislation

News

The Renters (Reform) Bill has finally had its first reading in Parliament, promising a fair deal to renters, faster redress for landlords and giving more details on how 'pets with lets' will work. Heralded as a once-in-a-generation overhaul of housing laws�, the government

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 to approve looser rules for HMO landlords housing asylum seekers

Gove to approve looser rules for HMO landlords housing asylum seekers

News

Housing Secretary Michael Gove is set to push through new rules on HMO safety for housing asylum seekers with little fanfare on the same day that the Renters Reform Bill is published. The changes outlined in the proposed https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukdsi/2023/9780

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 to 'go further than Tories' with harsher Decent Homes Standard

Labour to 'go further than Tories' with harsher Decent Homes Standard

News

Labour has promised to ramp up the pressure on private landlords by introducing a legally binding Decent Homes Standard 2. Its latest draft policy programme a provisional blueprint likely to shape the next general election manifesto includes a proposal to take the

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

News

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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More money needed to support disabled tenants say landlords

More money needed to support disabled tenants say landlords

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Ministers must commit to uprating grants available to disabled people or many will miss out on vital adaptations, warns the NRLA.

Too many tenants facing eviction lack access to legal aid, say lawyers

Too many tenants facing eviction lack access to legal aid, say lawyers

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The government’s failure to increase housing legal aid has weakened the justice system and robbed those who face eviction and repossession of help, warns the Law Society of England and Wales.

Shelter slams landlords over increasing Section 21 notice evictions

Shelter slams landlords over increasing Section 21 notice evictions

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Shelter has attacked landlords for ‘kicking out’ over 26,000 tenants using a Section 21 ‘no fault’ eviction since the Government revealed it would ban this method of regaining possession of a property five years ago.

Asylum seeker HMOs WILL be included in licencing schemes, says Government

Asylum seeker HMOs WILL be included in licencing schemes, says Government

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The government has performed a U-turn over its plans to exempt accommodation for asylum seekers from HMO licensing requirements.

Landlord licencing launches to be 'highest number ever' in 2024

Landlord licencing launches to be 'highest number ever' in 2024

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This year is on track to break 2023’s record for the most additional and selective licensing schemes launched across the UK.

Eviction court system is now 'in crisis' says leading expert

Eviction court system is now 'in crisis' says leading expert

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The evictions process is in crisis with many landlords who are seeking to remove problem tenants facing huge court delays, it has been claimed.

'It's still a landlords' market' reveals RICS in latest report

'It's still a landlords' market' reveals RICS in latest report

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Letting agents have revealed continuing strong demand for rental properties but no let-up in weakening supply.

Calls for reforms to EPCs to help decarbonise UK homes

Calls for reforms to EPCs to help decarbonise UK homes

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Inconsistencies in the existing EPC calculation mean that property owners can currently pay out thousands of pounds for work that, when they come to sell, they find actually lowered their EPC rating.

Tenants facing rent rises call for 'lower energy bills in return'

Tenants facing rent rises call for 'lower energy bills in return'

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Most renters expecting a rent increase this year believe their landlords should make energy efficiency improvements to help offset the rise.

Renting reforms to be 'Armageddon' for some landlords, warns expert

Renting reforms to be 'Armageddon' for some landlords, warns expert

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Unprepared landlords face “Armageddon” once the Renters’ Rights Bill becomes law, one property expert has warned.

MP calls private rented sector 'wild west' as he launches Bill

MP calls private rented sector 'wild west' as he launches Bill

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Landlords in Northern Ireland could soon face more stringent rental reforms than those in England, if a Private Members’ Bill gains traction.

REPORT: Buy-to-let buying in ten-year decline but NE remains 'capital'

REPORT: Buy-to-let buying in ten-year decline but NE remains 'capital'

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Investment in buy-to-let has been grinding to a halt since extra stamp duty charge, new researsch has revealed.

Landlord platform reveals UK's first AI investing suite

Landlord platform reveals UK's first AI investing suite

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A mortgage and property financing platform has revealed a service that is claimed to be the first in the UK to use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to helps investors and landlords choose properties to buy and rent out.

Landlords pay price for cramming students into unsafe HMO

Landlords pay price for cramming students into unsafe HMO

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Two landlord brothers have been fined £20,000 and put on the rogue landlord database after failing to license their overcrowded HMO.

Agents risk tougher penalties for poor customer service

Agents risk tougher penalties for poor customer service

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Letting agents have been warned to heed legal changes that will impact their dealings with tenants and landlords.

Frustrated landlords advised to 'transfer up' for speedier possession

Frustrated landlords advised to 'transfer up' for speedier possession

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Landlords struggling to get their properties back have been urged to consider enforcing their judgments through the High Court.

Banks predict landlord exodus without EPC extension

Banks predict landlord exodus without EPC extension

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UK Finance has warned that mortgaged landlords’ properties won’t reach EPC C until between 2037 and 2043 – way off the expected 2030 target.

LATEST: Bank of England cuts rate by 0.25%

LATEST: Bank of England cuts rate by 0.25%

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The Bank of England has cut interest rates to 4.25% from 4.5% in a boost to landlord borrowing.

Landlord wins legal fight over council's poor eviction advice

Landlord wins legal fight over council's poor eviction advice

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News
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Sefton Council has been rapped on the knuckles for wrongly advising a tenant he could stay put, despite knowing it could not prevent an eviction.

Legal Matters: The extent of a landlord’s Duty of Care

Legal Matters: The extent of a landlord’s Duty of Care

Information
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Landlords owe a duty of care to their tenants, in particular to protect them from injuries caused by any defects in the rental property

Rent controls risk stifling Scotland's student property sector

Rent controls risk stifling Scotland's student property sector

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Letting agents have warned that introducing rent controls for purpose-built student accommodation in Scotland will have a “chilling” effect on investment.

Landlords offered hope for faster cladding crisis resolution

Landlords offered hope for faster cladding crisis resolution

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A new coalition in the capital aims to accelerate the removal of unsafe cladding on residential buildings over 11 metres.

Minister insists tenants will have pick of pet insurance policies

Minister insists tenants will have pick of pet insurance policies

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The government has rejected calls to introduce an additional pet damage deposit as part of the Renters’ Rights Bill.

Starmer's migrant housing scheme pushes landlords to jump on a profit-making opportunity

Starmer's migrant housing scheme pushes landlords to jump on a profit-making opportunity

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Starmer’s migrant housing scheme and incoming legislation are pushing landlords to rethink their strategy. With market prices still high, smart landlords are selling underperforming properties now to reinvest later when prices drop. Landlord Sales Agency offers a fast, profitable way to sell and sta

Rent control exemptions could hurt private landlords

Rent control exemptions could hurt private landlords

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Exempting build-to-rent developers from future rent controls in Scotland could result in a two-tier market and an unworkable system.

Half capital's short let owners flout law to boost income

Half capital's short let owners flout law to boost income

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The government has been urged to clamp down on central London’s short let sector after new research found at least half were being rented out unlawfully.

Give landlords more time to improve EPC or risk rental shortages, says bank

Give landlords more time to improve EPC or risk rental shortages, says bank

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A proposed 2030 deadline won’t give landlords time to get their properties to EPC C and could cause them to quit, according to Paragon Bank.

Landlord pays a high price for ignoring HMO rules - £11,000

Landlord pays a high price for ignoring HMO rules - £11,000

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A landlord who failed to license his unsafe and overcrowded HMO has failed in his bid to have a £11,000 fine dismissed.

GUIDE: What to do as energy costs go through the roof

GUIDE: What to do as energy costs go through the roof

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Energy costs are a major concern for landlords and tenants. Save on energy consumption and make your tenants’ homes more comfortable

HMO landlords 'culpable' as council tackles fly-tipping epidemic

HMO landlords 'culpable' as council tackles fly-tipping epidemic

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A leading London council has revealed plans to clamp down on HMOs and the ‘fly tipping’ and rubbish their residents create, and has pointed the finger at both landlords and letting agents for not doing enough to stop the problem.

Minister says 'more powers to regulate holiday let landlords' may be needed

Minister says 'more powers to regulate holiday let landlords' may be needed

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Housing minister Matthew Pennycook has hinted that extra powers to stop holiday lets and second homes may be needed - including planning permission.

Big London council launches 'tenants' rights' charter

Big London council launches 'tenants' rights' charter

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Westminster City Council has launched a tenants’ charter aimed at helping private renters better understand their rights, improve living standards, and access support services.

Landlord fighting licensing 'overeach' urges YOU to get behind new petition

Landlord fighting licensing 'overeach' urges YOU to get behind new petition

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A Portsmouth landlord has launched an online petition in a bid to stop councils using heavy-handed criteria when designing selective licensing schemes.

Is this councillor offering Britain's most generous landlord deal?

Is this councillor offering Britain's most generous landlord deal?

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Private landlords are being offered attractive letting and leasing deals by the Royal Borough of Greenwich in a bid to tackle its housing crisis.