Date

Library

Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

Renters (Reform) Bill - we take a first look at the radical new legislation

Renters (Reform) Bill - we take a first look at the radical new legislation

News

The Renters (Reform) Bill has finally had its first reading in Parliament, promising a fair deal to renters, faster redress for landlords and giving more details on how 'pets with lets' will work. Heralded as a once-in-a-generation overhaul of housing laws�, the government

Purplebricks sold to rival for �1 after senior team throw in the towel

Purplebricks sold to rival for �1 after senior team throw in the towel

News

Purplebricks, which at one stage was used by thousands of landlords to manage their properties, has announced that its assets and business are to be sold to rival Strike for �1, pending approval by its shareholders. Any funds remaining in the firm some �5.5 million are

Gove to approve looser rules for HMO landlords housing asylum seekers

Gove to approve looser rules for HMO landlords housing asylum seekers

News

Housing Secretary Michael Gove is set to push through new rules on HMO safety for housing asylum seekers with little fanfare on the same day that the Renters Reform Bill is published. The changes outlined in the proposed https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukdsi/2023/9780

BLOG: 'Reform bill will solve the problem of pet damage for landlords'

BLOG: 'Reform bill will solve the problem of pet damage for landlords'

News

The long-awaited Renters (Reform) Bill will finally be introduced in parliament after Prime Minister's Questions today. Setting out plans for 12 key reforms to the private rental sector, the 11th pledge - to give tenants the right in law to request a pet, which should not be unr

Agents who lack licencing law know-how 'putting landlords at risk'

Agents who lack licencing law know-how 'putting landlords at risk'

News

Bungling letting agents with a lack of legal understanding are putting landlords at risk of prosecution, it has been claimed. One landlord expert has advised caution when signing up with a firm in the current climate of increasing legislation and falling profits, particularly fo

Opinion: does Michael Gove know something we don't?

Opinion: does Michael Gove know something we don't?

Opinion

It would seem that successive Tory governments have waged an ongoing and progressively more vicious war on buy-to-let landlords, but this latest layer of legislation goes much further. Yes, this latest iteration, and one thats https://bills.parliament.uk/bills/1768/s

EXTRA red tape, scams and repairs drive more landlords to use agencies

EXTRA red tape, scams and repairs drive more landlords to use agencies

News

Almost two thirds (63%) of private landlords who manage their own properties are tired of sorting out repairs and dealing with red tape and considering using a letting agency or property manager instead.  A Uswitch poll of 2,000 landlords found that the most common reason t

Labour to 'go further than Tories' with harsher Decent Homes Standard

Labour to 'go further than Tories' with harsher Decent Homes Standard

News

Labour has promised to ramp up the pressure on private landlords by introducing a legally binding Decent Homes Standard 2. Its latest draft policy programme a provisional blueprint likely to shape the next general election manifesto includes a proposal to take the

Starmer 'set to U-turn on rent controls' as London Mayor pleads for more powers

Starmer 'set to U-turn on rent controls' as London Mayor pleads for more powers

News

Keir Starmer is set to rebuff previous calls by London mayor Sadiq Khan to bring in a rent freeze, it has been reported. Khan has been banging his rent freeze drum for months now as the cost-of-living crisis has hit many tenants personal finances, telling the BBC in Oct

Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

BLOG: 'Labour must support the private rented sector - here's how'

BLOG: 'Labour must support the private rented sector - here's how'

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Labour's victory in the general election marks a significant turning point for the private rented sector (PRS). With their ambitious plans for housing reform, it is crucial that the new government addresses the pressing issues facing both landlords and tenants.

Landlords congratulate Labour but worry about eviction changes

Landlords congratulate Labour but worry about eviction changes

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Landlords have congratulated Labour on its landslide victory but warned that too much new red tape will make the housing shortage within the private rented sector even worse.

Tenants claim landlords 'failing to fix maintenance problems properly'

Tenants claim landlords 'failing to fix maintenance problems properly'

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

A new poll reveals that 88% of tenants have had problems in rental properties and more than a quarter (26%) were unhappy with their landlord’s response.

'Battle of the HMO bins' ramps up in Liverpool's student areas

'Battle of the HMO bins' ramps up in Liverpool's student areas

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

A battle between residents and HMO landlords is coming to a head in Liverpool where vacating students’ mess is being dumped on city streets.

TRENDS: Rental sector you've never heard of is growing the fastest

TRENDS: Rental sector you've never heard of is growing the fastest

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

The co-living sector grew by 65% in 2023 - nearly 2,500 new beds - and looks set to treble to more than 20,000 beds by 2027.

OFFICIAL: BTL mortgage arrears and repossessions rise

OFFICIAL: BTL mortgage arrears and repossessions rise

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

A growing number of landlords are ending up in mortgage arrears and having their rental properties repossessed.

Eviction courts still not ready for Section 21 ban, says top lawyer

Eviction courts still not ready for Section 21 ban, says top lawyer

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

A top property lawyer is adamant the courts won’t be able to handle a two-fold increase in possession actions when Section 21 is abolished.

INTERVIEW: The HMO expert setting up ambitious service for UK landlords

INTERVIEW: The HMO expert setting up ambitious service for UK landlords

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

An HMO sales firm has launched with the ambitious aim of becoming the sector’s go-to property platform.

DO YOU? 70% of landlords BACK 'rent controls of some kind'

DO YOU? 70% of landlords BACK 'rent controls of some kind'

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

A majority of landlords back some form of rent control, a new poll by a leading letting agency has revealed, as the likelihood of Labour ‘interference in rent pricing’ increases.

Property dealer to pay £700,000 after court case

Property dealer to pay £700,000 after court case

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

A property dealer who was involved in dealings with a controversial property investment company, Home Reit, has been ordered by a court to pay £700,000 to an intermediary.

Labour confirms national registration scheme for short lets

Labour confirms national registration scheme for short lets

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

A mandatory short-lets registration scheme and tougher planning laws look set to take effect soon in England.

Seasoned landlord apologises over £19,000 licencing error

Seasoned landlord apologises over £19,000 licencing error

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

A landlord firm which tried to argue that its agent was responsible for failing to organise an additional HMO licence has been handed a £19,753 rent repayment order.

Booking.com under fire over 'ghost' and 'scam' properties

Booking.com under fire over 'ghost' and 'scam' properties

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

A holiday lets platform used by thousands of landlords to generate income has come under fire over ‘ghost’ properties.

'Labour nightmare for landlords! No rent? Well, you can’t evict or sell now'

'Labour nightmare for landlords! No rent? Well, you can’t evict or sell now'

Sponsored
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

There is some uncertainty to what it actually means in practice until the details are written down but could the proposed hardship test mean even if your tenants won’t pay their rent, you will not be able to evict them if that makes them homeless or financially disadvantaged?

Big council takes unusual new role 'policing' all privately rented homes

Big council takes unusual new role 'policing' all privately rented homes

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

North Yorkshire Council has adopted a new housing enforcement policy to ensure all private rental properties across the county are up to scratch, the first time this has happened.

Tenant remanded in custody after landlord's death

Tenant remanded in custody after landlord's death

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

A tenant accused of murdering her landlord and stabbing his cat to death has been remanded in custody.

NEW: 'Dream home' raffle helps tenants pay their rent

NEW: 'Dream home' raffle helps tenants pay their rent

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

A property raffle has just handed out another £500,000 to a lucky winner to buy their dream house.

Council slammed for breaking property licencing scheme rules

Council slammed for breaking property licencing scheme rules

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Hackney Council has been called out for continuing to process additional and selective landlord licence applications five months after both schemes ended.

Will the commercial property market revive soon?

Will the commercial property market revive soon?

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

The UK commercial real estate sector has faced significant challenges recently due to changing trends, will recent signs of a turnaround continue?

Rogue landlord and agent first to be banned from PRS in Essex

Rogue landlord and agent first to be banned from PRS in Essex

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

A rogue landlord and also letting agent who let out grotty and overcrowded properties has been handed the first banning order in Essex.

Number of tenants looking for properties to rent drops 39%

Number of tenants looking for properties to rent drops 39%

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Rental growth has slowed to its lowest level for nearly three years while demand has dropped by 39% during the past 12 months.

Northern city named best BTL hotspot with 13.1% gross yield

Northern city named best BTL hotspot with 13.1% gross yield

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

As house prices have risen sharply in recent decades, many had thought that the sub-£100,000 house that returned double-digit gross returns had gone for good.

Scottish rent rises top charts after controls end

Scottish rent rises top charts after controls end

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

The Scottish government’s failure to plan for the end of temporary rent controls has led to rents rising faster than in most other parts of the UK.

Generation Rent boss urges landlords to absorb costs

Generation Rent boss urges landlords to absorb costs

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Landlords can bear the brunt of longer notice periods due to charging high rents, according to Generation Rent.

Manx council moves to restrict holiday let growth

Manx council moves to restrict holiday let growth

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

An Isle of Man village has become the latest authority to clamp down on the growth in short-term lets.

NEW: Councillors vote through selective licensing and higher fees

NEW: Councillors vote through selective licensing and higher fees

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Burnley councillors have recommended that its three selective licensing schemes covering some 2,000 homes be extended for another five years following a three-month-long consultation. The schemes in Burnley Wood and Healey Wood, along with the Leyland Road area of the town, were

NEW: Royal family make £1.4m a year from holiday lets

NEW: Royal family make £1.4m a year from holiday lets

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

The Royal Family could be raking in £118,775 each month from their holiday let portfolio, adding up to a lucrative annual rental income of more than £1.4 million.

3,000 landlords are under 21 years old, reveals finance data

3,000 landlords are under 21 years old, reveals finance data

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Gen Z are rushing to invest in buy-to-let property, with more than 3,000 buy-to-let landlords in the UK now under the age of 21.

Landlord given police caution after assaulting tenant over 'arrears'

Landlord given police caution after assaulting tenant over 'arrears'

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

A landlord who reportedly attacked a tenant after he complained about serious disrepairs has been handed a police caution.

Rent controls reduce supply and housing quality, says new report

Rent controls reduce supply and housing quality, says new report

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

A new report that evaluates the dozens of rent control schemes implemented over the past 60 years across the world has concluded that overall they are harmful to rental homes supply.

COMMENT: Did you know that tenants can claim compensation over disrepair?

COMMENT: Did you know that tenants can claim compensation over disrepair?

Information
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Tenants can claim compensation from their landlord for repairs that are not done in a reasonable time; repairs that are of bad quality and do not fix things

EXPERT: 'Now is the time to convert from commercial to residential'

EXPERT: 'Now is the time to convert from commercial to residential'

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

There’s never been a better time for landlords to convert a commercial building to residential use, according to a leading architect.

'Dont be afraid of the future' Zoopla boss tells landlords

'Dont be afraid of the future' Zoopla boss tells landlords

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Zoopla boss Richard Donnell has urged landlords and investors to steer clear of misinformation about the PRS and focus on the positives.

Landlord's rental properties seized in UK regulation 'first'

Landlord's rental properties seized in UK regulation 'first'

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

A rogue landlord who persistently failed to license several rented properties has had them seized by Merton Council in one of the first actions of its kind in the country.