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Renters' Rights Bill heralds biggest change to sector in 30 years

Renters' Rights Bill heralds biggest change to sector in 30 years

News

Landlords are bracing themselves for the impact of a ban on Section 21 after the government published its Renters’ Rights Bill.

Rental listings see big uplift after recent rate cut

Rental listings see big uplift after recent rate cut

News

The first base rate cut since 2020 has boosted rental stock levels across major British cities, according to new research.

Landlords' views sought on updating house sale process

Landlords' views sought on updating house sale process

News

Landlords are being asked to share their experiences of conveyancing to help strengthen the case for digital property packs.

Ministers debate even tougher rules for holiday let owners

Ministers debate even tougher rules for holiday let owners

News

The government is considering a further crackdown on short-term lets in a bid to free up more homes for local people.

Cut corners on inventories at your peril, landlords warned

Cut corners on inventories at your peril, landlords warned

News

Landlords and letting agents aren’t carrying out inventory inspections on nearly a third of tenancies, leaving themselves open to disputes.

Landlord tax burden puts the squeeze on maintenance budgets

Landlord tax burden puts the squeeze on maintenance budgets

News

Landlords have been warned that cutting maintenance budgets could jeopardise their ability to rent out properties and puts renters at risk.

Court throws out rent-to-rent ruling against superior landlord

Court throws out rent-to-rent ruling against superior landlord

News

A landlord has successfully overturned a rent repayment order after he argued he wasn’t responsible for an unlicensed HMO.

Condensation and mould – how can I deal with this knotty problem?

Condensation and mould – how can I deal with this knotty problem?

Information

It’s that time of year again. The first signs of the UK’s autumn cold arrives as we see more cooling rain and wind, and a noticeable drop in temperature

COMPLIANCE: How staying on top of your responsibilities could avoid five-figure penalties

COMPLIANCE: How staying on top of your responsibilities could avoid five-figure penalties

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A Hastings landlord is counting the cost after failing to provide their local authority with an essential safety certificate – a timely reminder to make sure you’re up-to-date with all your safety certificates.

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Is converting commercial buildings to residential use a viable proposition?

Is converting commercial buildings to residential use a viable proposition?

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News
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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

BREAKING: New mandatory 'How to Rent' guide delayed for a week

BREAKING: New mandatory 'How to Rent' guide delayed for a week

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News
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The new How to Rent guide due to come out today (17th March) has been delayed for a week, according to industry sources. The new guide forms part of the prescribed information that landlords in England must issue at the start of any new tenancy or renewa

John Lewis build-to-rent plans stall as locals oppose huge apartment 'towers'

John Lewis build-to-rent plans stall as locals oppose huge apartment 'towers'

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News
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John Lewiss build-to-rent strategy appears to be stalling amid local opposition to its plans for large developments in West Ealing and Bromley. The retailer has just announced pre-tax losses of �234 million as sales dipped 2% last year, making it even more vital to find new

'Disappointing' - housing chiefs slam lack of property measures in Budget

'Disappointing' - housing chiefs slam lack of property measures in Budget

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News
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Landlords, estate agents and surveyors have all given yesterdays Budget an unqualified thumbs down after the Chancellor chose to focus on economic growth but ignore several problem threatening to engulf the housing market. All have said the budget was disappointing and a m

BUDGET: Scrapping lifetime pension fund limit 'will reduce BTL investment'

BUDGET: Scrapping lifetime pension fund limit 'will reduce BTL investment'

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News
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Despite new research showing that one in four people plan to invest in property to generate retirement income, Chancellor Jeremy Hunt's scrapping of the 'lifetime pension fund limit' could dampen demand for BTL property, says Cornerstone Tax. The impact of inflation on savings a

'A budget that does nothing to help struggling renters', says Shelter

'A budget that does nothing to help struggling renters', says Shelter

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News
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Shelter has slammed the Chancellor for failing to raise Local Housing Allowance (LHA) rates in his spring Budget. The homeless charity says Jeremy Hunt could have put an end to spiralling homelessness, but instead, he has stuck his head in the sand. Yet again we

Leading economics expert says 'enough is enough' for bruised landlords

Leading economics expert says 'enough is enough' for bruised landlords

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News
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Sunday Times economics editor David Smith has expressed sympathy for private landlords who he believes feel bruised by increasing regulation in the sector. He says higher mortgage rates might be the straw that breaks the camels back for many, with some alrea

Gap between renting and home ownership cost narrows as mortgage payments rise

Gap between renting and home ownership cost narrows as mortgage payments rise

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News
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First time buyers remain better off owning than renting an equivalent home, Lloyds Bank says, but the gap is narrowing. Its latest Owning vs Renting Review reveals that owning a first home now costs �971 a month, four percent less than renting at �1,013.

BUDGET 2023: Hunt ignores pressing needs of landlords and tenants

BUDGET 2023: Hunt ignores pressing needs of landlords and tenants

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News
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The government failed to offer long-term support for energy efficiency improvements or increase the Local Housing Allowance in a Budget which instead focused on getting the country back to work. Chancellor Jeremy Hunt extended support for energy bills at current levels of �2,50

Tenant activists insist "landlords need us”

Tenant activists insist "landlords need us”

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Acorn has taken aim at private landlords again, this time questioning whether their existence is even necessary.

Ban on new leasehold flats moves closer

Ban on new leasehold flats moves closer

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News
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Government vows to finish the job of ending ‘feudal’ leasehold system in England and Wales

Rents rise and void periods shorten, reveals Goodlord

Rents rise and void periods shorten, reveals Goodlord

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News
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Average rents in England jump 4% in a year to February while voids dropped from 24 to 20 days

Younger people targeted in tenant fraud

Younger people targeted in tenant fraud

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Almost three quarters of rental fraud involves young people, official data has revealed.

Book Review: Carl Bayley’s book, Shelter your Family from the Taxman: How to Save Inheritance Tax

Book Review: Carl Bayley’s book, Shelter your Family from the Taxman: How to Save Inheritance Tax

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News
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Carl Bayley is the author of more than twenty ‘Plain English’ TaxCafe published tax guides designed for the layperson and the non-specialist

Expert sounds alarm over rent arrears court decision

Expert sounds alarm over rent arrears court decision

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News
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An expert has warned that a court's decision to allow tenants to challenge landlord-requested rental arrears deductions from their UC payments will see more landlords shun tenants in receipt of benefits.

Big East of England town rushes in anti-HMO rules

Big East of England town rushes in anti-HMO rules

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News
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Fenland Council has introduced an immediate Article 4 Direction before its consultation in a bid to clamp down on burgeoning HMOs in Wisbech.

Northern council heralds landlord fines of £1.38 million... so far!

Northern council heralds landlord fines of £1.38 million... so far!

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News
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Landlords in County Durham have had to fork out fines totalling £1.38 million in the three years since selective licensing was introduced.

Dozens of new amendments proposed for Renters' Right Bill

Dozens of new amendments proposed for Renters' Right Bill

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Peers have tabled amendments to the Renters’ Rights Bill which, if approved, would shape the legislation into a version of the previous Renters’ Reform Bill.

'Chancellor must boost rental homes supply or risk economy'

'Chancellor must boost rental homes supply or risk economy'

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News
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Chancellor Rachel Reeves has been warned that unless more rental properties are built her recent promise to ‘attract the best talent to the UK’ and boost economic growth will fall flat.

Build-to-rent giant celebrates as landlords exit student sector

Build-to-rent giant celebrates as landlords exit student sector

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Private HMO landlords leaving the sector have created a shortage of student housing, according to Unite Students, which boasts that it can help fill the gap with purpose-built student accommodation.

Labour rejects new calls for rent controls

Labour rejects new calls for rent controls

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The government has repeated its rejection of “heavy handed” rent controls despite pressure from peers in the House of Lords.

Northern city to clamp down on 'too many' HMOs

Northern city to clamp down on 'too many' HMOs

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Preston Council has proposed new powers to reject HMO applications amid fears that the city is already being over-run by shared homes.

Landlords offered significantly discounted carpets in Scotland

Landlords offered significantly discounted carpets in Scotland

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Landlords in Scotland who are members of the country’s landlord association are to get discounted carpets when refitting their rented properties,

Landlords and agents slam Scotland's 'anti PRS' budget

Landlords and agents slam Scotland's 'anti PRS' budget

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News
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Landlords and letting agents have slammed the extra BTL tax rise in the Scottish budget which they believe could backfire on the government.

Property lawyer reveals novel solution to 'glacial' evictions

Property lawyer reveals novel solution to 'glacial' evictions

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News
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Moving landlord and tenant disputes from overburdened county courts to tribunals would help clear the backlog and make evictions faster, according to a senior housing lawyer.

EPC REFORMS: 'Don't pick on landlords', big lenders warn Labour

EPC REFORMS: 'Don't pick on landlords', big lenders warn Labour

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News
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UK Finance has urged the government not to single out the private rented sector when updating its EPC framework.

New laws will place extra demands on landlords and letting agents

New laws will place extra demands on landlords and letting agents

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News
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The extra risks associated with letting following the passing of the Renters' Rights Bill later this year will mean extra vigilance if landlords are to avoid trouble

Manchester warns landlords to 'get licensed' as scheme expands

Manchester warns landlords to 'get licensed' as scheme expands

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News
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Manchester has extended selective licensing to another 1,863 rental properties across the city.

Housing minister vows to help tenants 'know their rights'

Housing minister vows to help tenants 'know their rights'

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News
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Tenants in Scotland are being targeted by a new campaign that aims to make them aware of their rental rights.

Landlord MP to step down after mouldy homes revealed

Landlord MP to step down after mouldy homes revealed

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News
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Jas Athwal, the Labour MP who was shamed for renting out mouldy and unlicensed flats, has stood down as a councillor for Redbridge Council.

DWP 'carefully considering' what to do about High Court rent arrears judgement

DWP 'carefully considering' what to do about High Court rent arrears judgement

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News
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DWP is expected to look at reforms that will make it harder for landlords to have money deducted from a tenant's UC benefits to repay arrears.

'Saddened' landlord to sell half her portfolio as reforms loom

'Saddened' landlord to sell half her portfolio as reforms loom

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News
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A landlord has revealed how increasing risk and a “lack of joy” has prompted her to start offloading half her portfolio ahead of the Renters’ Rights Bill.

'Careless' portfolio landlord to pay back tenants £10,000

'Careless' portfolio landlord to pay back tenants £10,000

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News
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A “lackadaisical” landlord who rented out an unlicensed and cockroach-infested HMO has been told to pay £10,834 back to three tenants.

Council to ban repeat rogue landlord from renting homes

Council to ban repeat rogue landlord from renting homes

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Peterborough Council is considering banning a rogue landlord who was handed a fine for housing a family in an uninhabitable property for a second time.