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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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City office space under threat as personified by Canary Wharf exodus

City office space under threat as personified by Canary Wharf exodus

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The pattern of office working is changing and nowhere is its effect on commercial property being felt more strongly than in Londons Docklands Canary Wharf. A once thriving financial centre The development of the wharf into a thriving financial centre just outsi

BREAKING: Gove green lights expensive new licencing scheme in Nottingham

BREAKING: Gove green lights expensive new licencing scheme in Nottingham

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Michael Gove has given Nottingham city council the green light to proceed with one of the UKs most expensive and controversial selective licensing schemes. Due to start on December 1st, it will require all rented properties within 20 of its wards to be licenc

Government is afraid EPC upgrades will be final straw for landlords, says big bank

Government is afraid EPC upgrades will be final straw for landlords, says big bank

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A leading lender believes the governments likely decision to row back on EPCs is linked to fears that it will hit an already struggling PRS. Earlier this week, Housing Secretary Michael Gove suggested a delay in bringing in energy efficiency plans for rental properties to

Property firm reports more landlords selling up as 'red tape' burden rises

Property firm reports more landlords selling up as 'red tape' burden rises

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Home buying company the Open Property Group (OPG) has reported a 56% jump in PRS property purchases during the past year, with landlords blaming red tape for their decision to sell up. It bought nearly �6 million worth of property from homeowners and landlords looking for a fas

Payday! Three tenants to share �20,000 after landlord fails to licence property

Payday! Three tenants to share �20,000 after landlord fails to licence property

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Three tenants have won a �20,160 rent repayment order from their landlord who failed to licence his HMO. A First Tier Property Tribunal found that Simon Freed let out the three-bedroom flat in Frognal Court, Camden (main picture), a

Scots Ministers avoid revealing how many landlords are seeking big rent rises

Scots Ministers avoid revealing how many landlords are seeking big rent rises

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The Scottish Government has decided not to publish details of how many landlords north of the border have applied to raise their rent above the 3% maximum allowed under the countrys Cost of Living (Tenant Protection) (Scotland) Act. This controversial legislation was first in

Landlords warned over increase in unauthorised and illegal sub-letting by tenants

Landlords warned over increase in unauthorised and illegal sub-letting by tenants

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Sub-letting is on the increase within the private rented sector as the cost of living crisis bites, it has been reported. Direct Line says nearly half of all tenants who sublet rooms within their property have not told their landlord or checked they are allowed to within their r

Council's desperate measures to stop landlords evicting tenants revealed

Council's desperate measures to stop landlords evicting tenants revealed

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Brent Council is paying a landlord to house the tenant he was trying to evict after failing to come up with any alternative accommodation. The authority paid the legal fees and took over responsibility for paying the rent as long as the landlord continued to let his tenant stay

BTR makes another leap forward with £1.26 billion invested in just three months

BTR makes another leap forward with £1.26 billion invested in just three months

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T The UKs build-to-rent (BTR) stock now stands at 88,100 completed homes, with a further 53,500 homes under construction and 111,800 in the planning pipeline. Savills research reveals that in the second quarter of the year, the sector saw a record-breaking �1.26

Council slammed after 'quietly' rolling out more landlord licensing

Council slammed after 'quietly' rolling out more landlord licensing

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Waltham Forest has been slammed for failing to adequately publicise details of its new additional licensing scheme.

Minister offers support for landlords as anger grows over rent controls

Minister offers support for landlords as anger grows over rent controls

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Landlord groups are hoping Scotland’s First Minister has softened his hard-line stance on impending rent controls amid promises to boost the PRS.

Wales to reform contentious HMO council tax banding system

Wales to reform contentious HMO council tax banding system

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The Welsh government looks set to follow England’s lead by launching a consultation into how HMOs are valued and banded for council tax purposes.

More landlords are selling up as CGT rise looms, says Rightmove

More landlords are selling up as CGT rise looms, says Rightmove

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The number of former rental properties being sold by estate agents is on the rise as a proportion of the market, it has been revealed, suggesting strongly that more landlords are leaving the market.

There’s never been a better time to convert commercial buildings to residential

There’s never been a better time to convert commercial buildings to residential

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Architect Matthew Robinson argues that there’s never been a better time to convert commercial buildings to residential use...

TECH: New app gives tenants ability score landlords' properties

TECH: New app gives tenants ability score landlords' properties

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A new app aims to help prospective tenants decide whether a rental property ticks all the right boxes.

Councils urged to follow Merton's lead and repossess landlord homes

Councils urged to follow Merton's lead and repossess landlord homes

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A councillor has called for more local authorities to follow Merton’s lead and strip rogue landlords of their properties.

Renters' campaigners push for 'under-fire' landlord MP to resign

Renters' campaigners push for 'under-fire' landlord MP to resign

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Calls are growing for the Labour MP who was shamed for renting out mouldy and unlicensed flats to step down.

NRLA wins 'gold' for staff dedication to supporting private landlords

NRLA wins 'gold' for staff dedication to supporting private landlords

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The NRLA has won Gold status from the Investors in People (IIL) scheme following a wide-ranging accreditation process that scrutinised its commitment to deliver a positive work environment for the organisation’s staff.

London council U-turns over 'onerous conditions' for new licensing scheme

London council U-turns over 'onerous conditions' for new licensing scheme

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Lambeth has ignored landlord protests to launch its selective licencing scheme but backtracked on many onerous conditions.

Huge new selective licensing scheme goes live on South Coast

Huge new selective licensing scheme goes live on South Coast

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Brighton & Hove City Council has set its controversial new selective licensing scheme live, which now covers 17 of its 23 wards.

'Make rent guarantee insurance for council-referred tenants mandatory'

'Make rent guarantee insurance for council-referred tenants mandatory'

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A landlord association has called for councils and charities that refer homeless or vulnerable tenants to take out mandatory rent guarantee insurance.

Landlord couple fined £141,000 over failings at London HMO

Landlord couple fined £141,000 over failings at London HMO

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A landlord and his wife are to pay a total of some £141,000 in fines and costs after failings at their HMO.

Landlord to pay £17,000 after tenants leave property over rat infestation

Landlord to pay £17,000 after tenants leave property over rat infestation

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Tenants who were forced to move out due to an “unbearable” rat infestation have won back more than £17,000 from their landlord.

Landlord income from renting drops by £2 billion as 'attacks' continue

Landlord income from renting drops by £2 billion as 'attacks' continue

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The government could trigger a rental crisis if attacks on private landlords continue, warns a leading tax advisory expert, amid an overall drop in rental income.

Next steps taken on national landlord registration in NI

Next steps taken on national landlord registration in NI

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TNorthern Ireland has launched a survey to gather views from letting agents and landlords on its proposed Landlord Registration Scheme changes.

Big London borough consults on more HMO restrictions

Big London borough consults on more HMO restrictions

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One of London’s largest boroughs is the latest to tighten planning controls when granting permission for smaller HMOs, namely those accommodating between three and six unrelated tenants who share common services.

Landlord recently elected as MP under fire over damp, mould and ants

Landlord recently elected as MP under fire over damp, mould and ants

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A Labour MP who is also a landlord in London has apologised over the weekend after a BBC investigation uncovered damp, mould and ant infestation problems within his property.

'We will not stand for repeat offenders', council chief warns rogue landlords

'We will not stand for repeat offenders', council chief warns rogue landlords

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A landlord couple in Haringey have been fined a total of £15,000 for failing to license one of their properties and make another one safe.

'Licencing schemes should be abolished and replaced with annual MOT'

'Licencing schemes should be abolished and replaced with annual MOT'

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Licencing schemes are a blunt instrument, pointlessly cost compliant landlords hundreds of pounds, are ignored by rogue operators and consume scarce council resources.

Property experts say new EPC target 'impossible to meet'

Property experts say new EPC target 'impossible to meet'

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A straw poll of building surveyors, recovery experts, private landlords, investors and developers has found that the vast majority deem the government’s EPC C target by 2030 as impossible to meet.

Landlord fined £5,000 after ignoring improvement notices

Landlord fined £5,000 after ignoring improvement notices

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A landlord has been handed a £5,000 fine after persistently ignoring requests to carry out improvement works on his property – despite being a builder.

EPCs to be replaced by a new Home Energy Model this year

EPCs to be replaced by a new Home Energy Model this year

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EPCs to be upgraded with a new method of assessment, the new "Home Energy Model", later this year

US rent data firm with UK arm faces legal action at home

US rent data firm with UK arm faces legal action at home

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A tech firm is being sued by the US government for allowing landlords in America to increase rents and stifle competition.

Eco-upgrade schemes worth £20m for landlords now live across England

Eco-upgrade schemes worth £20m for landlords now live across England

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Landlords can get free or subsidised advice on eco upgrades from a raft of new government-funded schemes that are now up and running across England.