A new law to crack down on predatory landlords who exploit vulnerable people for sex in return for free or discounted rent is being considered, Home Secretary Suella Braverman (main picture) has announced. Her department is seeking the views of victims, the police and charities
There are heavy fines for those landlords who fail to have their rental properties tested by a qualified electrician before letting, and for existing tenancies, or if they fail to comply with any of the important recommendations made in a test report. The landlord will ordinarily have 28 da
A Tribunal judge has warned landlords that unless they have a specific contractual arrangement with their letting agency to keep them abreast of licencing requirements it will - in most circumstances - be the landlord who pays the fine for non-compliance. Judge Phillip Barber ha
The number of VAT and/or PAYE enterprises operating in the UKs residential and commercial rental sectors climbed 2% in the past year, despite the governments best efforts to deter investment. Analysis of government data by debt advisory firm https://siriusfinance.
Luton Council is making yet another attempt to bring in two new licensing schemes after a string of false starts amid landlord opposition. Its overview and scrutiny board has agreed to recommend a town-wide additional scheme as well as a selective scheme in South ward, which now
Durham citys parish council has taken the unusual step of asking student landlords to make a voluntary donation towards the cost of cleaning up street waste and discarded furniture. It will ask for a contribution of �52 towards its precept from student landlords to match the
Two-thirds of private landlords might sell up if they are forced to make EPC upgrades, new research finds. The Mortgage Advice Bureau says 59% would consider selling their property due to not being able to afford the changes needed to meet the minimum level. With an
NRLA boss Ben Beadle has urged the government to learn from the awful implementation� of Renting Homes Wales which he labelled a car crash of epic proportions�. Speaking on The Guild of Property Professionalshttps://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/guildprop
The Mayor of London has accused private landlords across the UK of taking rent worth �9 billion for homes that are non decent, �1.6 billion of which is paid for via housing benefit. The figure is highlighted as, this morning, Sadiq Khan reveals his PRS research generated
Nearly 200,000 private renters haven’t had their deposits protected under an authorised scheme, according to new government data.
Property experts have warned that Labour’s promise to finish the job of ending the “feudal” leasehold system could complicate leaseholders’ situation.
A major high street lender has changed the terms and conditions of its mortgages to enable landlords to rent their properties out on short-term and holiday let sites such as Airbnb and Booking.com during void periods.
A Midlands council is on an unusual mission to get more students living in purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) instead of traditional HMOs.
This morning’s King’s Speech to a packed House of Lords has revealed Labour’s radical plans for landlords, letting agents and tenants.
Keen thirty-something investors have helped to lower the average age of private landlords by four years over the last decade.
The number of former rental properties currently for sale has risen dramatically as more landlords exit the market or downsize.
Official figures show inflation has held steady at 2% over the past 12 months but the detailed briefing from the Office of National Statistics also reveals that property costs remain at historically high levels.
Tom Entwistle looks at the likely changes ahead of this week’s King’s speech - this should reveal a bit more detail and the general direction of travel by Labour
More HMO landlords in the West Midlands borough of Sandwell face paying £1,000 for a licence after the council gave the go-ahead to an extended additional scheme to go live on October 1st 2024.
Sheffield Council is about to get tougher on private landlords as part of a new 10-year plan to improve the city’s housing.
Good landlords have little to fear from a Labour government if it can stabilise the economy to support the property market and make renting easier and less volatile, according to one letting agent.
Angela Rayner has revealed that the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities that it is to drop ‘levelling up’ from its name and concentrate on ‘basics not gimmicks’.
Wannabe Tory leader Kemi Badenoch has been appointed by Rishi Sunak as his shadow housing secretary.
If you were looking for a sign on whether or not to downsize or expand your property portfolio, this weeks’ news provided mixed messages on how landlords might be affected by Buy-to-let (BTL) mortgage rates.
More than 5,000 landlords are now managing their properties using the NRLA’s new Portfolio platform. Here James Kent, the NRLA’s Chief Innovation Officer, and founder of digital compliance platform Safe2, explains more about the platform, and how it can work for you.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves has today revealed Labour’s post-election plans to get the housing market moving but also confirms Section 21 evictions will go.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan is confident he will be able to push ahead with a massive house building programme in the capital and new powers to control the housing market.
A landlord has got into hot water for telling prospective tenants that they’re not allowed to work from home.
A coroner has called on the government to set up a private landlord register in England after the mould-related death of a tenant.
The UK’s youngest MP Sam Carling has revealed that he will work in parliament to improve the lot of renters following his shock victory in the General Election.
Landlords may be relieved to hear that a Labour MP with experience of the private rented sector has been appointed to the Government.
Experienced landlord Tom Entwistle, who has been letting property since the 1970s, gives some tips based on his experience when setting-up a new tenancy
Landlord representation in Parliament will be hugely diminished after 50 Tory MPs with residential rental properties either lost their seat in the election or had previously stepped down.
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 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.
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.
A battle between residents and HMO landlords is coming to a head in Liverpool where vacating students’ mess is being dumped on city streets.
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.
A growing number of landlords are ending up in mortgage arrears and having their rental properties repossessed.
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.
An HMO sales firm has launched with the ambitious aim of becoming the sector’s go-to property platform.
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.
Rents are rising at record levels because the private rental sector needs an extra 120,000 homes, the UK’s largest property portal has claimed.
