It has been reported this week that housing minister Rachel Maclean (main picture) told a meeting in Westminster that fellow Conservative MPs and the property sector (i.e. the NRLA and other trade associations) are wrong to claim that landlords are leaving the sector. This
Manchester students occupying a university-owned building in a protest over rent costs and living conditions have been ejected by bailiffs. Manchester University says their action was illegal and that it was granted a possession order by the High Court. When the 20 strikers refu
Housing Secretary Michael Gove has dropped a hint that he could be willing to consider tax concessions for landlords. Speaking in the Commons during a Budget debate, he told MPs that the government needed to make sure there was fairness in the tax treatment of landlords before l
Tax changes in the private rented sector have lost the Treasury �1.5 billion in revenue, according to new research commissioned by the NRLA. https://www.capitaleconomics.com/" target="_blank" Capital Economics fou
A landlord in Derby has been convicted of an illegal eviction and ordered by a court to pay a �1,600 fine. After initially agreeing a 12-month rental for an unfurnished house with a young family, landlord Grace Young of Pear Tree Street, Derby then attempted to illegally evict
A new devolution deal will give the 10 Greater Manchester councils powers to approve larger selective licensing schemes. The pact, signed by Levelling Up Minister Dehenna Davison (pictured, below), Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham (main pic) and the council leaders, will al
A landlord whose properties are caught up in the cladding scandal faces a bill of up to �50,000 unless the government changes the rules about who it will subsidise. Neera Soni rents out a number of leasehold properties and says she and at least a quarter of those owners at
London Mayor Sadiq Khan has been urged to clamp down on rogue exempt accommodation providers who exploit the housing benefit system and put vulnerable tenants at risk. An investigation by the London Assembly Housing Committee found some rogue providers wer
The Isle of Wight Council has vowed to charge owners of second homes and empty properties more council tax as soon as it gets the go-ahead from the government. Its ruling Alliance Administration had suggested putting a 100% tax premium on second homes and empty properties, howev
A senior figure from the banking world has claimed that institutional investment is the golden ticket to solve the UKs supply and quality problems within the private rented sector (PRS). Cedric Bucher (main image), who heads up Hearthstone Investments </st
Another First Tier Property Tribunal has confirmed that a superior landlord cannot be held responsible for a Rent Repayment Order (RRO), following the landmark Rakusen case. Tenant Riaz Moola had tried to argue that landlord Khalil Mbarek was responsible for the property in t
The Government must stop its ongoing and irresponsible attempts to curry favour with tenants via its looming reform of the private rented sector, a buy-to-let lender has said. Mortgages for Business boss Gavin Richardson (main
A landlord couple have been convicted of a �1 million benefit fraud stretching over 20 years. Emmanuel Bay , 68, and Nancy Bay , 67, of Sudbourne Road, Brixton (pictured), were found guilty of 21 offences between 1999 and 2018 under t
Home Reit, an investment trust landlord, was set-up to house Britains homeless. But the company has found itself running into increasing difficulties, with tenants' complaints and failed rent payments, a negative short-seller's report, a financial squeeze with falling stock prices and al
A boost in court resources as well as measures to fast-track the most serious possession cases related to anti-social behaviour and rent arrears will be vital post-Section 21, says NRLA chief executive Ben Beadle . Without reform, a rise in cases will add t
Councillors in Reading are set to rubber stamp plans to extend restrictions on the number of HMO conversions. An Article 4 direction already covers parts of the town where HMOs are prevalent, in much of Park, Redlands and Katesgrove wards, as well as Jesse Terrace.
Propertymark has called for a set of standards for developers and clear guidance for local councils as a way to effectively convert empty commercial properties into affordable homes - an increasingly popular path for some bigger PRS landlords. Responding to an inquiry from all-p
Converting commercial buildings to residential use would seem an ideal solution to a housing shortage, especially with and a glut of underused commercial buildings, but how easy is it? The planning regulation changes have made it easier to convert commercial buildings to residen
The exact wording in leases is so very important when it comes to landlord - tenant disputes with commercial and residential property leases
The extent of the Government’s reliance on private landlords to provide housing for those on benefits after years of under-investment in affordable homes has been revealed.
A proposed shake-up of social housing would tighten allocation rules and allow landlords to get tougher on anti-social tenants.
Signs that landlords may see their tax bill reduced during the Spring Budget on March 6th have emerged from parliament following a question in the Lords.
A lack of council-organised landlord gatherings could hamper the Renters Reform Bill’s ambitions, according to Propertymark.
Problem tenants are difficult to deal with for landlords at the best of times. The government's promise to introduce a fast-track process to deal with anti-social behaviour sounds promising, but can it work in practice?
Tenants have been urged to be wary of ‘no-win, no-fee’ solicitors who deal with private rental sector cases after an almost farcical case in London.
Disability rights groups have called on the government to include information about accessibility for disabled people on its new property portal due to go live next year.
A service that alerts landlords when fraudulent tenants try to ‘steal’ their properties via title fraud has struck a deal with the National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA).
Older tenants are increasingly choosing alternative deposit products, in line with growth in 55+ households in the PRS.
Voluntary tax disclosures from landlords who have underpaid netted HMRC an extra £107 million last year.
Croydon landlords face having to join a selective licensing scheme in the borough after a five-year break.
What should landlords and tenants do when mail arrives addressed to previous tenants?
A new poll has revealed a decline in deposit protection compliance and significant inconsistencies in landlord behaviour.
Student housing won’t be covered by rent controls in the Housing (Scotland) Bill after a parliamentary vote.
Private landlords have borrowed millions more to improve their properties this year, according to new data.
Salford has approved a selective licensing scheme for parts of Broughton, Kersal, and Broughton Park.
A growing number of landlords are showing more interest in two-year fixes and tracker options when remortgaging.
A new AI tool combines financial modelling and local market intelligence to give BTL landlords a smarter way to invest.
Broxtowe Council has become the first local authority in England to formally serve a High Street Rental Auction notice.
Landlords in Croydon have been encouraged to use an early-intervention service before asking tenants to move out.
Thurrock landlords have failed to persuade the council that a scheme is unnecessary and too expensive.
Falling house prices, slower rent growth, and rising costs are driving landlords to sell. Now could be the best time to exit before the market weakens
Awaab’s law is coming - the full force of the law regarding condensation and mould will affect private landlords
A benefits expert has urged landlords not to succumb to tenants’ demands to pay them off after building up rent arrears.
Holiday-let landlords will have to register their properties and collect a £1.30 per-person, per-night fee from guests.
mydeposits and Fiixit have teamed up to help landlords streamline property repairs and build better relationships with tenants.
The Bank of England has voted to hold the base rate at 4% as inflationary pressures persist.
The Scottish Greens have called on the country's government to match protections coming into place in England.
House share availability has dropped by almost -60% in some parts of England, sparking fears of an HMO landlord exodus.
The Renters’ Rights Bill will be back in the House of Lords on 14th October for its final stages before becoming law.
Landlord Janice Pope was ordered to pay nearly £3,500 after ignoring the threat of legal action.
Two letting agents have been expelled from The Property Ombudsman after failing to transfer rental payments received from tenants.
