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.
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.
PropTech firm Rentals United aims to disrupt the short-let market with a property damage protection service paid for by a small nightly fee.
Policymakers must act to right the wrongs that have been foisted upon the PRS in recent years, says Scottish landlord group.
The clocks have gone back and there is a distinct chill in the air – and with the winter months almost upon us now is the perfect time to make sure your properties are prepared for a cold snap.
Many landlords and lettings agents are prepared to use a shortage of rental properties to their advantage, viewers of the BBC’s Morning Live show were told.
New official data about the private rented sector reveals that it is in better shape than some tenants’ rights groups like to claim.
The Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH) has warned that the Renters’ Rights Bill will place a huge enforcement burden on already stretched local councils.
We talk to lawyer turned self-managing landlord, Suzanne Smith, founder of The Independent Landlord.blog and co-host of a weekly podcast called Good Landlording.
Nottinghamshire local authority Gedling Council is relaunching selective licensing in its Netherfield ward in the new year after seeing “incredible improvements” to living standards.
Despite politicians and campaign groups claiming that the nation’s rental market is unaffordable, new research out today reveals that renting remains cheaper on average than buying a property with a 5% deposit.
A tenancy agreement is just like any other contract, so as soon as both tenant and landlord have signed the agreement, it becomes a legally binding contract.
Labour might be no more likely to deliver on promises to overhaul the leasehold system than the Conservatives, according to property experts.
A huge mismatch in the private rented sector has left tenants tackling ever-rising living costs and plummeting affordability levels.
Most portfolio landlords have been asked to make energy efficient improvements by their tenants in the past year, according to a new poll.
Private rented homes will have to meet minimum energy efficiency standards by 2030 if Labour get the keys to Number 10 next month.
Reform UK wants mortgage interest tax relief brought back as part of ‘critical reforms’ suggested by the party following the general election.
The NRLA has stepped in to help fight a legal battle over whether it is acceptable for vital rental documents to be served by post.
Increasing the energy efficiency of a property is undoubtedly of value - regardless of the election outcome.
Landlords could have to start keeping a digital logbook to demonstrate their compliance with energy efficiency measures.
Green MPs will push for rent controls and tenants’ right to demand energy efficiency improvements if they win more seats in the election.
Property expert Julie Ford has called out tenant union Acorn for suggesting the private rented sector should be greatly reduced.
In a bold appeal to the country’s incoming policymakers, George Walters, Chief Home Services Officer at Utilita Energy, is urging political parties to prioritise helping landlords to retrofit their properties in a bid to make millions of tenants more comfortable
Groups representing both tenants and landlords have reacted coolly to the Conservative manifesto which was deemed short on new initiatives.
The British Property Federation has called on the next government to set a bold target of 30,000 new build-to-rent homes a year.
The latest data shows that rent increases have been slowing but tenant demand still outstrips supply
The Scottish government has published new evidence that confirms the country’s private rented sector is getting smaller.
A former Conservative councillor has been banned from letting properties for two years after repeatedly failing to comply with improvement notices.
The Liberal Democrats have vowed to make three-year tenancies the default and to require landlords to achieve an EPC C or above by 2028.
The UK’s largest provider of property inventory management reporting services, No Letting Go, and mydeposits, which is powered by Total Property, are excited to announce a strategic partnership.
A tenancy agreement between the landlord and the tenant is just like any other contract, it is legally binding on both parties.
A private tenant has been inspired to pen her first novel by a contract renewal email sent by a letting agent - and has even named it after the letting platform involved.
Housing Secretary Michael Gove faces eviction from his government-owned mansion on 5th July, the morning after the election.
HMO Reform Group won a Lifetime Achievement Award at this year’s annual HMO Awards for its campaigning work to change the law on council tax being imposed on individual HMO rooms.
Rogue landlords continue to give the sector a bad name because many councils enforce private rented sector standards weakly or not at all, a new report reveals.
