All the major political parties have now released their manifestos ahead of the July general election. Here James Kent, the NRLA’s Chief Innovation Officer, and founder of digital compliance platform Safe2, looks at what they are promising when it comes to PRS property standards and compliance.
A rogue landlord who was fined £34,640 for having eight unlicensed HMOs has failed in an attempt to have his conviction overturned.
Labour party figures’ desire to end tenant bidding wars is unworkable in practice, while unenforced legislation would not lead to any real improvement, according to a top property lawyer.
A legal expert has warned that an amendment to the recently-passed Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act that raises the 25% non-residential limit in collective enfranchisement claims to 50% will have serious consequences for mixed-use developments.
The NRLA is to drop the word ‘landlord’ from its strapline in a bid to change public attitudes of those who rent out and manage properties.
Now more than ever, it makes sense to take extra precautions when letting a property. Taking a guarantor or rent guarantee insurance are great ways to protect yourself against rent arrears and other issues in a tenancy
The Labour party has clarified that although it will seek to stop agents and landlords encouraging bidding wars, tenants will be allowed to make ‘voluntary’ higher offers above the original rental asking price.
The NRLA has backed Labour’s proposal to stop landlords and letting agents enabling ‘bidding wars’ by requiring them to advertise a proposed rent based on market rates, with bids above that figure prohibited.
Four tenants will share a £21,515 rent repayment order after they took their landlord to court for repeatedly failing to licence his HMO.
If proof were needed this is it, rent controls lead to reduced landlord incomes, rental housing shortages, increased rents and deteriorating housing stock
Landlord Action’s Paul Shamplina has predicted a rise in landlords using rent guarantee insurance as well as tougher referencing to protect themselves against the fall-out of eviction reforms.
Leeds Council plans to extend selective licensing across more of the city when the current scheme ends next year.
A leading evictions lawyer has warned that without massive investment in the court system, time scales for possession hearings will dramatically increase.
The Government has revealed more details about its much-awaited and somewhat feared Renters’ Rights Bill that had its initial reading in parliament earlier this month.
Estate agency Leaders offers landlords some advice on how to stop being ripped off by fraudsters online.
Private tenants in Norfolk are being handed data loggers to record humidity levels in a bid to encourage simple lifestyle changes.
Landlords in Rugby will need permission to convert any home into an HMO next year after the council voted to introduce an Article 4 direction.
Short let and holiday lets landlords in Edinburgh could soon have to charge guests a visitor levy under the first scheme of its kind in the UK.
A leading property lawyer has described a campaigning MP’s latest attempt to usher in harsher regulation of short-lets in holiday hotspots as ‘intensely impractical’.
Labour has committed to regulating estate agents in a bid to oust the rogue operators within the sector who give the wider industry a bad name and often cost landlords money and time when their services fall short of minimum standards.
Manchester mayor Andy Burnham is to make a keynote speech at the NRLA’s annual conference in Birmingham next week.
Landlords face an ongoing buy-to-let investment challenge as a new report reveals that a third of all homes for sale in Britian have an EPC rating below a C.
A letting agent who allowed a criminal gang to use landlords’ empty flats to hide cash and drugs has been given a community sentence.
A rogue landlord who threatened to evict his tenant after she complained about dodgy utilities bills has been handed a huge court fine.
Landlords, tenants and letting agents are being asked to reveal their experiences of the private rented sector within a new national survey.
Insurance company Zurick UK warns that many Permitted Development (PD) conversions could become uninhabitable
Following the Prime Minister’s comments that he does not consider those who earn income from property as ‘working people’, TV star Paul Shamplina has said he does not agree, pointing out that many landlords work hard - and rarely for the 'millons' some activists claim they do.
The government should advise landlords to look at property location and an animal’s medical history when deciding whether to refuse pets, according to a campaigning animal charity.
Landlords in Wales could get stamp duty relief for renting out their properties through the Welsh government’s Leasing Scheme Wales.
A property and tenancy management app originally designed for the social housing sector is offering its service to private HMO landlords.
The Prime Minister’s comments about what constitutes “working people” has reignited landlords’ fears that they may be at risk of a tax raid.
Ahead of one of the most anticipated Budgets in a generation, given the government’s doom-laden hints, here’s some budget wishes from Britain’s builders.
The Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH) has called for more flexible and longer licensing schemes in its evidence to MPs scrutinising the Renters’ Rights Bill.
A new student shorthold tenancy (SST) would address student renters’ unique needs, ensuring fairness and safety while providing flexibility around academic schedules, according to iHowz landlord association.
Acorn has urged MPs to let tenants withhold their rent if landlords fail to repair serious repair including damp and mould.
How can we ensure that by welcoming furry visitors into our rental properties, we don’t get bitten asks Victoria Valentine.
This week The Telegraph hit the nail on the head when it reported that landlord profits had collapsed in the past decade following an onslaught of taxes and red tape.
A new inquiry led by Dame Kate Baker CBE has investigated the crisis in the housing market after a 20 year gap since her last housing study
The NRLA has backed many of the measures within a new report from a Welsh parliamentary committee which recommends big changes for the country's private rented sector.
Tenants’ union Acorn is lobbying Norwich City Council to introduce a selective licensing scheme and to better enforce its housing policies.
Only 6% of tenants would pay more rent to help fund energy efficiency measures, despite 80% being in favour of their properties getting an upgrade to an EPC rating of C.
A very big portfolio landlord has been ordered to pay £15,290 to former tenants after it failed to license one of its 750 properties.
Landlords may soon have to repay up to two years rents to tenants if they fail to comply with decisions with the sector’s looming new ombudsman.
