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Hardship test “bombshell” for landlords

Hardship test “bombshell” for landlords

News

Labour’s housing minister Matthew Pennycook is said to be planning a “hardship test”

New minister says transfer from housing benefit to Universal Credit 'smooth' but expert disagrees

New minister says transfer from housing benefit to Universal Credit 'smooth' but expert disagrees

News

Claims by the new Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) minister of state Stephen Timms that the transfer of remaining housing benefit claimants to Universal Credit is being done ‘as smoothly as possible’ have been questioned by a leading expert.

Landlord fined £10,000 over failure to do £169 safety check

Landlord fined £10,000 over failure to do £169 safety check

News

Booking in a five-yearly Electrical Safety Installation Certificate (ESIC) check for your rented property often seems like one of the plethora of minor tasks on the ‘to do’ list.

Higher BTL repossessions making rental shortage worse says Law Society

Higher BTL repossessions making rental shortage worse says Law Society

News

An increase in buy-to-let repossessions is exacerbating the rental supply shortage and leaving evicted families without legal aid needed to fight their case.

'We're seeing mostly older landlords selling up' says agency boss

'We're seeing mostly older landlords selling up' says agency boss

News

An exodus of older landlords is paving the way for build-to-rent investors and younger landlords looking to capitalise on higher yield properties, according to a big estate agency boss.

Landlord property repossessions continue upward trajectory

Landlord property repossessions continue upward trajectory

News

At least 710 buy-to-let mortgaged properties were repossessed in the second quarter of the year, 13% up on the previous quarter and 51% up year-on-year.

OpenRent and Rightmove's 'war of words' ends with new deal

OpenRent and Rightmove's 'war of words' ends with new deal

News

Online lettings firm OpenRent and Rightmove have signed a new property listings deal after several weeks of corporate brinkmanship over fees.

COURTS: Time to evict a tenant jumps 15% to 25 weeks

COURTS: Time to evict a tenant jumps 15% to 25 weeks

News

The average time from claim to landlord repossession has jumped to 25.4 weeks, up from 22.1 weeks in the same period in 2023, according to the latest government figures.

'Supply of rented property thinning out, and Labour's not helping'

'Supply of rented property thinning out, and Labour's not helping'

News

Gloomy letting agents have reported a fall-off in private rentals coming onto the market around the country.

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High-profile landlord warns Energy Secretary over EPC upgrade plan

High-profile landlord warns Energy Secretary over EPC upgrade plan

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Nottingham benefits landlord Mick Roberts has warned that the government’s push to get rental properties up to an EPC C by 2030 could backfire.

Labour struggling with house building – quantity as well as quality

Labour struggling with house building – quantity as well as quality

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News
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Angela Rayner’s promise to build 1.5 million new homes this Parliament is looking increasingly optimistic

BTL via Ltd company now most popular route

BTL via Ltd company now most popular route

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News
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Seven out of 10 landlords planning to buy a new rental property during the next 12 months will use a limited company structure, it has been claimed.

Landlord to repay tenants £21,000 after failing to license HMO

Landlord to repay tenants £21,000 after failing to license HMO

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News
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Four tenants have won £21,076 from their landlord who failed to explain why she hadn’t licensed her damp and cold HMO.

Rocketing leasehold charges trapping landlords with unsaleable flats

Rocketing leasehold charges trapping landlords with unsaleable flats

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News
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Many landlords are struggling to sell leasehold flats because management charges have reached astronomical levels with many now forking out £2,000 or more a year.

Housing minister reveals plans to digitise property buying and selling

Housing minister reveals plans to digitise property buying and selling

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News
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Landlords buying or selling homes will soon enjoy a smoother and quicker property transaction process after the Government announced that it is to digitise the system.

Salvation Army joins growing calls for Labour to unfreeze LHA

Salvation Army joins growing calls for Labour to unfreeze LHA

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News
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The Salvation Army has joined calls for the UK government to help prevent homelessness in Scotland by scrapping the planned freeze on Local Housing Allowance (LHA).

Labour to force landlords to achieve EPC band C minimum

Labour to force landlords to achieve EPC band C minimum

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News
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The government has confirmed its plan to force all private landlords to get their rental properties up to an EPC C – from the current EPC E – by 2030.

Renters’ Rights could scupper students’ uni plans

Renters’ Rights could scupper students’ uni plans

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Students from the UK and overseas could miss out on a university education unless the Government makes urgent changes to its Renters’ Rights Bill.

Tenant piles pressure on Labour to adopt rent controls

Tenant piles pressure on Labour to adopt rent controls

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News
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Lobbying group says tenant Bridget Chapman's experiences of a sudden rent rise is proof controls are needed.

Minister gifts solicitors £20m pay rise to help tenants fight evictions

Minister gifts solicitors £20m pay rise to help tenants fight evictions

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News
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The Government has increased its support for tenants who face eviction as its looming reforms bring in greater rights for private

Landlord fined £10,000 after ignoring requests to license property

Landlord fined £10,000 after ignoring requests to license property

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News
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A landlord who thought he could ignore council warnings over his property has been fined £10,000.

LATEST: New Decent Homes Standard consultation launched

LATEST: New Decent Homes Standard consultation launched

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News
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Labour has revealed more details of the new minimum standards private landlords will have to meet.

Campaign launched to reverse 'bonkers' pet insurance decision

Campaign launched to reverse 'bonkers' pet insurance decision

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News
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AdvoCATS has launched initiative after Labour decided inexplicably not to allow landlords to require tenants to take out pet insurance.

Labour 'not listening to sense' on renting reforms says peer

Labour 'not listening to sense' on renting reforms says peer

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News
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Lord Hacking tells housing minister Government is 'plain wrong' in its insistence on banning fixed-term tenancies.

Decent Homes Standard for private rented sector 'soon' says Labour

Decent Homes Standard for private rented sector 'soon' says Labour

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News
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Government reveals it is about to consult on a new Decent Homes Standard that will apply to private as well as social landlords.

Minister refuses to budge on ending 'tenancies in advance' for students

Minister refuses to budge on ending 'tenancies in advance' for students

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News
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Housing minister says asking students to commit before Christmas to a tenancy the next year is unfair.

Could the Renters’ Rights Bill result in hundreds of tenants forced out?

Could the Renters’ Rights Bill result in hundreds of tenants forced out?

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News
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The bill is designed to afford tenants more protections, but could it lead to them being ‘forced out’ of their homes?

Lettings agency fined £66,500 after council discovers 'dirty' HMO

Lettings agency fined £66,500 after council discovers 'dirty' HMO

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News
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The HMO that AM PM Estates managed in Slough was found to be dirty and in a poor state of repair inside and out, including a

Build to rent to take 30% of rental market, says big lettings agency

Build to rent to take 30% of rental market, says big lettings agency

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News
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More landlords are selling up than buying new properties to rent, a new Savills report highlights.

Government U-turns on RTS electricity meter switch off

Government U-turns on RTS electricity meter switch off

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News
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The Government has, following feedback from various property and other industry bodies, delayed the 'big switch off'.

Four 'profit before people' landlords banned for life

Four 'profit before people' landlords banned for life

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News
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In an unusual move, a Midlands local authority has added the four men to the national rogue landlords database.

Tough tenant referencing to be 'crucial' after renting reforms

Tough tenant referencing to be 'crucial' after renting reforms

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News
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Robust tenant referencing will be increasingly important for landlords when the Section 8 process becomes more protracted.

Labour U-turn on pet insurance a 'betrayal' says campaigner

Labour U-turn on pet insurance a 'betrayal' says campaigner

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News
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Labour's bewildering decision to U-turn on requiring tenants to have pet insurance has been slammed.

HMOs up to 50% more valuable than average house price

HMOs up to 50% more valuable than average house price

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News
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New research reveals how higher yields make licensed HMOs much sought after among investors.

Greater Manchester landlords urged to sign up to Andy Burnham’s Charter

Greater Manchester landlords urged to sign up to Andy Burnham’s Charter

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All landlords in Greater Manchester will be expected to sign up for the Charter scheme which is the first of its kind in the UK

South coast city councillors greenlight 'Airbnb' offensive

South coast city councillors greenlight 'Airbnb' offensive

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Brighton & Hove Council has given the go-ahead for a crackdown on short lets in a bid to reclaim homes.

'Let only' agent wins appeal against licensing fine

'Let only' agent wins appeal against licensing fine

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News
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A letting agent who was fined for letting a room in an unlicensed HMO has won his appeal.

Landlords' relief at new rent in advance rule

Landlords' relief at new rent in advance rule

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News
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Landlords with existing tenancy agreements which have rent payable in advance can continue collecting it until the tenancy ends.

Tenants' dismay at likely rental reform delay

Tenants' dismay at likely rental reform delay

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News
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The Renters’ Rights Bill is being held up and isn’t expected to become law until at least the autumn, according to reports.

EPC rules will force scores of tenants to move out

EPC rules will force scores of tenants to move out

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News
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Nearly a quarter of tenants face being moved out of their homes when landlords start energy efficiency improvements.

Landlords 'betrayed' by government U-turn over pets

Landlords 'betrayed' by government U-turn over pets

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News
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Landlords will need to foot the bill for damage caused by pets under a last-minute amendment to the Renters’ Rights Bill.

UK Landlords urged to prepare for change at National Landlord Investment Show summer spectacular

UK Landlords urged to prepare for change at National Landlord Investment Show summer spectacular

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The National Landlord Investment Show’s free Summer Spectacular on July 9th in London offers UK landlords and property professionals essential expert-

Another surge in shop closures comes due to mounting pressures on retail

Another surge in shop closures comes due to mounting pressures on retail

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News
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Death by a thousand National Insurance contributions - the fate of retailers since the October 2024 budget which imposed higher employment costs