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Renting reforms 'will go nowhere unless courts properly funded'

Renting reforms 'will go nowhere unless courts properly funded'

News

Lawyers have warned that an underfunded justice system will hinder any progress made in strengthening renters’ rights.

'Hold your nerve: Watch, wait, and don’t panic'

'Hold your nerve: Watch, wait, and don’t panic'

Opinion

The biggest news to hit the private rental sector in 25 years is here: the Renters' Rights Bill. Scheduled for its second reading today, 9 October, this Bill is poised to reshape the landscape for landlords and tenants alike.

Renters’ Rights Bill: how concerned should we be?

Renters’ Rights Bill: how concerned should we be?

News

Here’s an initial reaction to the Renters’ Rights Bill, thoughts that could change as it progresses through parliament - the second reading is today.

Funding confirmed for EPC improvements – but will it be enough?

Funding confirmed for EPC improvements – but will it be enough?

Sponsored

A new funding pot has been announced to support energy efficiency improvements in England.

MPs to debate renting reforms today as Rayner promises law 'ASAP'

MPs to debate renting reforms today as Rayner promises law 'ASAP'

News

The Renters’ Rights Bill will become law ‘as soon as possible’ housing secretary Angela Rayner has promised as parliament debates her legislation for the first time.

HMO landlords' fine appeal leads to £100,000 increase

HMO landlords' fine appeal leads to £100,000 increase

News

A judge has massively increased the fines given to two HMO landlords who have failed in a legal challenge against their sentence.

WARNING: Abolishing ASTs will push landlords into short lets sector

WARNING: Abolishing ASTs will push landlords into short lets sector

News

Removing fixed-term tenancies will drive up rents as landlords switch to short-term lets, warns Propertymark.

Landlord fined £22,600 after ignoring tenant safety warnings

Landlord fined £22,600 after ignoring tenant safety warnings

News

A landlord with multiple properties in Bootle has been ordered to pay £22,630 for ignoring safety risks that left his tenants facing imminent danger.

Many tenants are becoming 'unrentable' says leading figure

Many tenants are becoming 'unrentable' says leading figure

News

A significant number of people seeking properties to rent are finding themselves excluded and forced to live in temporary accommodation, it has been claimed, as landlords be become more risk averse.

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VOTE: Scots rent rises to be capped at 3% until October, MSPs agree

VOTE: Scots rent rises to be capped at 3% until October, MSPs agree

News
News
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Opinion
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Scottish MSPs have voted through a rent cap and extension of the eviction ban until 30th September. The rent cap for private sector tenancies will increase to 3% from 1st April under the amendment to the https://www.gov.scot/publications/cost-living-ten

NEW: Worcester latest to propose city-wide HMO licencing scheme

NEW: Worcester latest to propose city-wide HMO licencing scheme

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News
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All HMO landlords in Worcester will soon have to buy a licence if councillors back a new additional licensing scheme. The city has operated an additional scheme since September 2015 but amended it in 2020 to cover only the wards of Arboretum, Bedwardine, Cathedral and St Clement

Landlords LEFT OUT of new 'forbearance' guidance for mortgage holders

Landlords LEFT OUT of new 'forbearance' guidance for mortgage holders

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News
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Landlords have been left out of measures announced today designed to support mortgage holders during the cost of living crisis. The guidance, which has been issued by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) updating borrowers responsibilities to their existing mortgage holders,

FIRST rent repayment order against landlord issued following landmark case

FIRST rent repayment order against landlord issued following landmark case

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
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A landlord who tried to claim that he was the superior landlord of an unlicensed HMO has failed in his bid to avoid paying a Rent Repayment Order. In the first RRO case since the landmark�

'Zero-rate VAT for property upgrades if you want to hit EPC targets' say big landlords

'Zero-rate VAT for property upgrades if you want to hit EPC targets' say big landlords

News
News
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Opinion
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The British Property Federation (BPF) has called on the government to zero rate VAT on building repair and maintenance to incentivise essential upgrades across the residential sector or risk missing its 2050 net zero target. In the run-up to next weeks Budget, it says the

Politician warns big landlord fines by councils 'can be seen as hypocritical'

Politician warns big landlord fines by councils 'can be seen as hypocritical'

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News
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A Suffolk councillor has spoken out against targeting private landlords with tougher regulations when authorities face similar problems with their own housing stock. Both Babergh and Mid Suffolk councils have agreed that civil penalties of up to �30,000 should be used to deter

NRLA chief rebuts claims that he 'misled' MPs about PRS shortages

NRLA chief rebuts claims that he 'misled' MPs about PRS shortages

News
News
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Opinion
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A Commons committee has confirmed that NRLA chief Ben Beadle did not mislead MPs when giving evidence about the diminishing supply of private rented housing. Anhttps://amp.theguardian.com/society/2023/mar/03/landlords-accused-of-making-up-stories-in-campaign-to-change-t

A year in review for agents: The PRS annual report 2022

A year in review for agents: The PRS annual report 2022

Information
News
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The Property Redress Scheme annual report 2022 has just been released and reflects on

Retro-fitting buildings for energy efficiency - is it worth it?

Retro-fitting buildings for energy efficiency - is it worth it?

Information
News
Podcast
Opinion
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Refurbishing, or in the jargon - retrofitting - older commercial and residential buildings, according to the Government, is desirable and necessary, given that energy efficiency standards that will need to be met under the Governments legal commitment to net zero by 2050. But

Is the UK tax regime unfair on private landlords?

Is the UK tax regime unfair on private landlords?

Podcast
News
Podcast
Opinion
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In this episode of the Propertycast podcast Paul Shamplina, Eddie Hooker and Nigel Lewis discuss the pros and cons of why and how landlords are taxed on their renting income.

NW city ignores landlord concerns over bigger licencing scheme

NW city ignores landlord concerns over bigger licencing scheme

News
News
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Opinion
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Concerns among Blackpool landlords over the future of the city's selective licensing have been swept aside after councillors approved the hugely enlarged scheme, which must now go to Michael Gove for the final green light.

Big suburban council to extend £950 licencing scheme

Big suburban council to extend £950 licencing scheme

News
News
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Opinion
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Barking and Dagenham Council is the latest borough to launch a bid to renew and expand its licencing schemes.

Activists urge ministers to go further with rent controls

Activists urge ministers to go further with rent controls

News
News
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Arguments between politicians, landlords, charities and both tenant and trade unions in Scotland about what to do when the country’s ongoing rent cap scheme ends on 31st March deadline have ramped up in the past few days.

MPs slammed for tabling sensible amendements to reform bill

MPs slammed for tabling sensible amendements to reform bill

News
News
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Campaigners have accused leading landlord MPs of trying to ‘gut’ the Renters (Reform) Bill as it goes through parliament.

Official probe into rent-to-rent sector launched

Official probe into rent-to-rent sector launched

News
News
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The NRLA is questioning whether rent-to-rent’s days are numbered after the government announced it was investigating the sector in a bid to understand its impact on tenants and landlords.

Massive changes to short-lets sector to go ahead

Massive changes to short-lets sector to go ahead

News
News
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Opinion
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The Government has revealed changes to planning regulations that will clamp down on short-lets in tourism hotspots such as the Lake District and seaside towns.

Government to rush through changes to housing laws

Government to rush through changes to housing laws

News
News
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Housing secretary Michael Gove has announced restrictions on Airbnb style short-term lettings. He also wants to relax rules on permitted development rights for commercial to residential conversions, and he says he will abolish section 21 in this Parliament.

Legionella risk, one aspect of letting that many landlords never think about...

Legionella risk, one aspect of letting that many landlords never think about...

Information
News
Podcast
Opinion
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Landlords (and their agents) have a serious responsibility to undertake actions to protect tenants, visitors and passers-by, by preventing Legionella bacteria from causing a health hazard.

Government slammed as affordable rented home building tanks

Government slammed as affordable rented home building tanks

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News
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A consortium of London housing associations has warned the government that new affordable home-building is grinding to a halt.

Covid's long shadow over rental market 'finally fading'

Covid's long shadow over rental market 'finally fading'

News
News
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Opinion
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The Covid years’ extreme effect on the capital’s lettings market appears to be significantly easing – although demand remains abnormally high.

No-fault evictions ban 'an attack on basic property rights'

No-fault evictions ban 'an attack on basic property rights'

News
News
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A basic tenet of property rights that landlords should be able to reclaim their property after an agreed period from a tenant is being undermined by Michael Gove’s push to end Section 21 evictions, a leading free market thinktank has claimed.

Government to relax rules on heat pumps, Gove reveals

Government to relax rules on heat pumps, Gove reveals

News
News
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The government is considering relaxing heat pump rules in England which manufacturers believe could result in a boost in sales.

Letting agent slams Scotlands' 'nightmare' new repairs rules

Letting agent slams Scotlands' 'nightmare' new repairs rules

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News
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New safety regulations due to impact private landlords in Scotland have been labelled a logistical nightmare by one Edinburgh letting agent.

University launches first ever degree for letting agents

University launches first ever degree for letting agents

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News
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Estate agents might have been deemed more untrustworthy than lawyers and traffic wardens in public polls, but the Royal Agricultural University aims to demonstrate the profession’s value by launching the UK’s first university course in residential estate agency.

It's time to stop blaming private landlords for the rental crisis

It's time to stop blaming private landlords for the rental crisis

Opinion
News
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Government ministers, housing campaigners, landlords, letting agents and many of the other actors in the drama that is the private rented sector have been arguing hard about who is to blame for the high rents and lack of supply within the market.

Welsh city reveals 10% hike in HMO licencing fee

Welsh city reveals 10% hike in HMO licencing fee

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News
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Newport City Council is expected to back a 10% rise in HMO fees as part of changes to the authority’s additional licensing scheme.

Landlord mortgage rates slip below 4% for first time in 18 months

Landlord mortgage rates slip below 4% for first time in 18 months

News
News
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Opinion
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Paragon Bank is showing some love for landlords on Valentine’s Day by offering its lowest rate on two-year fixes for new customers in more than 18 months.

Legal aid for evictions 'about to collapse entirely' says Law Society

Legal aid for evictions 'about to collapse entirely' says Law Society

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News
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Housing legal aid providers are on the brink of collapse, according to the Law Society of England and Wales, which has urged the government to invest in the service before it’s too late.

It's got a ring to it! Landlords asked to support charity initiative

It's got a ring to it! Landlords asked to support charity initiative

News
News
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Opinion
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Landlords, letting agents and other players in the property game are being urged to support Paul Shamplina’s latest charity event which is due to take place on the night of Thursday June 27th.

Landlord wins unusual planning appeal over 'floating homes'

Landlord wins unusual planning appeal over 'floating homes'

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News
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Britain’s most unusual holiday rental investment has been uncovered following a planning appeal decision over two floating ‘pods’ at a Marina in Chichester Harbour.

'Small minority of rogue landlords exploit Section 21 eviction rules'

'Small minority of rogue landlords exploit Section 21 eviction rules'

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News
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A high-profile figure has claimed that ‘no-fault’ Section 21 evictions are a significant problem within London’s private rental sector and agrees with Shelter’s approach that they should be banned ‘as soon as possible’.

Comment: Gove’s solutions to Britain’s housing crisis increasingly look too little, too late

Comment: Gove’s solutions to Britain’s housing crisis increasingly look too little, too late

News
News
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Tom Entwistle tries to shed light on the severity of the crisis and explores some potential solutions, here he gives his opinions on the plans put forward by Michael Gove, the banning of Section 21, and the crisis within the courts system.

Gove 'playing games with words' says leading evictions expert

Gove 'playing games with words' says leading evictions expert

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News
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Property lawyer David Smith has questioned the accuracy of Michael Gove’s comments about funding the court system and banning Section 21 before the General Election.

Landlords need own courts, letting agents urge Government

Landlords need own courts, letting agents urge Government

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News
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Letting agents have once again called on the Government to establish a network of dedicated housing courts to process evictions and help speed up the currently arduous, expensive and slow system.