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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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'Lack of bailiffs lengthening evictions process for landlords'

'Lack of bailiffs lengthening evictions process for landlords'

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Landlords are having to wait longer and longer to evict tenants particularly for those using London’s County Courts, says specialist firm Landlord Action, which blames the problems to a greater extent on a lack of bailiffs.

Landlords rush to sell before Xmas ahead of the Stamp Duty increase

Landlords rush to sell before Xmas ahead of the Stamp Duty increase

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It seems it’s one step forward, two steps back for landlords with the recent Budget introducing significant changes to Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) that will impact property transactions from April 2025. The changes have caused panic amongst landlords, with a spike in numbers looking to sell before Ch

Will failure to present accurate documentation styme eviction under the Renters’ Rights Bill?

Will failure to present accurate documentation styme eviction under the Renters’ Rights Bill?

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It is likely that under the Renters’ Rights legislation due in 2025, tenancy documentation will be highly scrutinised before an eviction trial is allowed

OFFICIAL: Time taken for landlords to evict tenants increases

OFFICIAL: Time taken for landlords to evict tenants increases

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The time taken for landlords to evict tenants has increased, latest Government figures show.

Landlords persuade Government to U-turn on pet rules in Jersey

Landlords persuade Government to U-turn on pet rules in Jersey

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Jersey landlords have avoided new rules that would have made imposing blanket bans on keeping pets illegal.

Big Norfolk council reveals new selective licencing plans

Big Norfolk council reveals new selective licencing plans

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News
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Great Yarmouth is asking landlords for their views on extending selective licensing in the town.

Landlord reveals nightmare cannabis factory saga

Landlord reveals nightmare cannabis factory saga

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News
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I’m writing this article to highlight the pitfalls landlords can face, and to share what I’ve learned from my experience.

Shocking number of prospective tenants fail to be 'rent ready'

Shocking number of prospective tenants fail to be 'rent ready'

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News
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More than a third of tenants looking for a new home aren’t organised to move, despite the fiercely competitive rental market.

New deadline set for landlords to file digital tax returns

New deadline set for landlords to file digital tax returns

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Landlords earning more than £20,000 will have to use the Making Tax Digital for Income Tax Self-Assessment by the end of the current Parliament.

More landlords risk falling foul of new licensing rules

More landlords risk falling foul of new licensing rules

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Landlords should check whether they’re in one of 37 licensing schemes under consultation or about to be implemented – or risk a huge fine.

Rayner confirms ambition for rent in advance controls

Rayner confirms ambition for rent in advance controls

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Landlords would be banned from demanding several months’ rent in advance under new amendments to the Renters’ Rights Bill.

Electrical safety shake-up for Northern Ireland landlords

Electrical safety shake-up for Northern Ireland landlords

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Landlords in Northern Ireland must soon guarantee that electrical safety checks have been carried out at private tenancies.

Council U-turns on licensing after damming report

Council U-turns on licensing after damming report

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Councillors have labelled a proposed voluntary landlord initiative to raise standards in North East Lincolnshire, “a waste of time”.

Saying social housing is good and private housing bad 'false and unrealistic'

Saying social housing is good and private housing bad 'false and unrealistic'

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News
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A leading Scots letting agent has warned that policies which seek to undermine the PRS are damaging tenants’ wellbeing.

Landlords await welcome reprieve from boiler ban

Landlords await welcome reprieve from boiler ban

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News
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Landlords could get longer to replace gas boilers if the government makes an expected announcement to allow their sale beyond 2035.

Where landlords can find bargains with a £50K budget

Where landlords can find bargains with a £50K budget

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News
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Wales and the North East are the best areas for hard-hit buy-to-let investors looking for above-inflation returns.

Agents report slightly improved picture for tenants

Agents report slightly improved picture for tenants

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The average number of available rental properties at letting agencies jumped to a two-year high last November.

It's time to get ahead of game

It's time to get ahead of game

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With the new year now upon us there’s no better time for landlords to start preparing for the wide-ranging legislation change on the cards for 2025.

TikTok video about looming landlord pets rules goes viral

TikTok video about looming landlord pets rules goes viral

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News
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A TikTok video on upcoming rules around tenants’ ability to keep pets has garnered more than two million views.

Letting agent slams Shelter over 'headline grabbing' eviction claims

Letting agent slams Shelter over 'headline grabbing' eviction claims

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A letting agent has slammed Shelter’s campaign to highlight Section 21 eviction cases as “absurd sensationalism”.

Labour MP declares war on 'too many' HMOs

Labour MP declares war on 'too many' HMOs

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News
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A campaigning MP has helped her constituents get every new HMO application thrown out in the last three years.

Thinktank reveal unusual solution to renting 'crisis'

Thinktank reveal unusual solution to renting 'crisis'

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The landlord exodus is a once-in-a-generation opportunity for councils to buy up properties and restore what was lost under Right to Buy, according to a campaigning think-tank.

Renting reforms to move forward on 14th January

Renting reforms to move forward on 14th January

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News
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The Renters’ Rights Bill is to get its latest airing in just under two weeks' time ahead of moving to the Lords.

Landlords to pay double stamp duty in April

Landlords to pay double stamp duty in April

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News
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Stamp duty bills will almost double from £8,452 to £16,190 in April, an increase likely to spark higher rental costs as landlords attempt to recoup costs.

Sadiq 'rent controls' Khan knighted in New Year's Honours

Sadiq 'rent controls' Khan knighted in New Year's Honours

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One of the most ardent political supporters of rent controls in England has been made a knight within the 2025 New Year honours list.

Councils use Generation Rent to highlight unaffordable rents

Councils use Generation Rent to highlight unaffordable rents

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Three quarters of Suffolk renters have struggled to find an affordable home in the last six months, while half had a rent increase – an average of £58 – according to new research.

Midlands council slams 'horrendous' local private rented sector

Midlands council slams 'horrendous' local private rented sector

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Peterborough Council’s selective licensing scheme has uncovered some “horrendous” living conditions since its launch last March.

Landlord who ignored licensing for second time given huge fine

Landlord who ignored licensing for second time given huge fine

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News
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A rogue landlord has been fined for a second time this year for failing to license his portfolio of houses.

PM's own rental house will soon fail EPC rules

PM's own rental house will soon fail EPC rules

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News
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Prime Minister Keir Starmer is facing an EPC upgrade bill of up to £28,000 for the property he rents out in North London.

Merry Christmas and a Happy News Year to all our readers

Merry Christmas and a Happy News Year to all our readers

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News
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The past 12 months have been a momentous time for private landlords as tax changes and looming new regulations have been unveiled by politicians of various hues.

'What's the point of good landlords if rogues aren't policed?'

'What's the point of good landlords if rogues aren't policed?'

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Councils are sending the wrong message to law-abiding landlords by failing to investigate those who can’t provide a valid EPC certificate.

Northern landlord fined £38,000 over multiple HMO offences

Northern landlord fined £38,000 over multiple HMO offences

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A landlord in Liverpool has been prosecuted by its city council for 23 offences under national HMO management regulations.

Heat pumps 'don't help upgrade EPCs' warns new report

Heat pumps 'don't help upgrade EPCs' warns new report

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News
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Despite enthusiasm in Whitehall for heat pumps they not the best way to upgrade a rented property EPC rating, a new report has claimed.

Two thirds of private renters struggling to pay rent

Two thirds of private renters struggling to pay rent

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Nearly two-thirds of working private renters - 4,450,000 people - are falling behind with rent payments or struggling to pay their rent.