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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

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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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News
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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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News
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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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News
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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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News
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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.

Leading landlord warns over property portal proposals

Leading landlord warns over property portal proposals

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One of the key provisions of the Renters (Reform) Bill was the provision of a portal to register all landlords. In effect a licencing system for every landlord in England and Wales and something Labour has said it would like to resurrect if it wins the General Election.

£45 billion! Report champions economic contribution of landlords

£45 billion! Report champions economic contribution of landlords

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A report published today attempts to counter the ‘anti-landlord’ rhetoric that has gathered pace in the UK recently by revealing that the private rented sector supports some 390,000 jobs and makes a £45 billion contribution to its economy.

Short-lets licencing in Scotland has been 'disastrous' says Tory MSP

Short-lets licencing in Scotland has been 'disastrous' says Tory MSP

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A Conservative MSP has slammed Scotland’s short lets licensing scheme for its negative impact on thousands of businesses.

FIVE housing ministers to quit, but which one nailed the job?

FIVE housing ministers to quit, but which one nailed the job?

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Five former housing ministers are among the 77 Conservative MPs standing down at the next election, leaving behind a mixed legacy.

Rugby star launches letting agency for landlords

Rugby star launches letting agency for landlords

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Welsh rugby star Gareth Davies is trying his hand at a career in lettings as he considers life after playing for the national team.

COMMENT: What has gone wrong, when a typical buy-to-let landlord makes a loss?

COMMENT: What has gone wrong, when a typical buy-to-let landlord makes a loss?

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Tom Entwistle asks the question, what’s gone wrong with the buy-to-let market, why has government policy been so much against it?

Social tenants pay £847 a month less in rent than private ones

Social tenants pay £847 a month less in rent than private ones

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Social rents are 64% more affordable than private rents, with social tenants in England paying about £828 less each month than private tenants, according to new analysis by Shelter.

John Lewis tells next Government to take lead on build-to-rent

John Lewis tells next Government to take lead on build-to-rent

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John Lewis has urged future governments to develop a clear national strategy around the need for build-to-rent developments.

Landlord fined for squeezing tenants into illegal HMO

Landlord fined for squeezing tenants into illegal HMO

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News
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A rogue landlord has been ordered to pay more than £23,000 after he admitted operating an unlicensed and unsafe HMO.

'We won't give up' vows pets campaigner as renting reforms axed

'We won't give up' vows pets campaigner as renting reforms axed

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News
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A pet activist has pledged to continue her fight for tenants’ right to keep pets following the demise of the Renters (Reform) Bill.

Total Property launches innovative new platform for mydeposits

Total Property launches innovative new platform for mydeposits

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News
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Leading private rented sector expert, Total Property, has launched an innovative new platform for its mydeposits custodial scheme members this week.

SW landlords invited to join Paul Shamplina live in Bristol

SW landlords invited to join Paul Shamplina live in Bristol

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Landlords in and around Bristol are invited to join TV star Paul Shamplina this Thursday, 30th May for an educational seminar run by leading estate agency Andrews.

Are you? Half of landlords worried about a Labour government

Are you? Half of landlords worried about a Labour government

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More than 40% of landlords are still undecided about who to vote for in the upcoming general election, while nearly half have concerns over a potential change in government.

Gove quits parliament, but what did he do for landlords?

Gove quits parliament, but what did he do for landlords?

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Michal Gove will leave the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities having seen his Leasehold and Freehold Reform Bill make it onto the statute book.

Landlord banned for three years from renting properties

Landlord banned for three years from renting properties

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A rogue landlord who let his tenant sleep in a bike store and rented out a crumbling property has been banned from letting houses in England for three years.

Tribunal publishes decision in dispute between tenant and agent

Tribunal publishes decision in dispute between tenant and agent

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A letting agent investigated by the BBC following complaints about the management of a student HMO in Salford has lost his appeal against expulsion from his industry’s trade association.

Councils issue record number of HMO licences

Councils issue record number of HMO licences

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An increase in licensing schemes pushed the number of HMO licences issued in England up to a record-breaking 27,177 last year.

Dismay as renting reforms finally hit the buffers

Dismay as renting reforms finally hit the buffers

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The Renters (Reform) Bill has been abandoned and must now go back to the drawing board after years of uncertainty and political wrangling.

South West properties see strongest tenant demand

South West properties see strongest tenant demand

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Eight in 10 landlords are reporting strong levels of tenant demand, Paragon Bank research has revealed.

All for nothing? General election 'death knell for Tories' renting reforms'

All for nothing? General election 'death knell for Tories' renting reforms'

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The Renters (Reform) Bill is almost dead in the water following the announcement of a 4th July general election which probably won’t leave time for it to become law before Parliament is dissolved next Thursday.

Comment: The Labour Party is at odds with itself over rent controls, just how effective are they?

Comment: The Labour Party is at odds with itself over rent controls, just how effective are they?

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The threat of rent control still lingers, despite Labour claiming the party policy goes against it, landlords still leaving...

Experts pour cold water on Welsh rent controls plans

Experts pour cold water on Welsh rent controls plans

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The Welsh Government should reinforce existing legislation, remove barriers to building more adequate homes and improve how it collects data instead of bringing rent controls into the housing debate, according to Propertymark.

Northern Mayor vows to seize properties from rogue landlords

Northern Mayor vows to seize properties from rogue landlords

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New North East mayor Kim McGuinness has vowed to seize properties from irresponsible landlords as part of her plan to stand up for renters.

Right to Rent rules relaxed to help landlords and agents

Right to Rent rules relaxed to help landlords and agents

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Changes to the EU Settlement Scheme mean tenants granted pre-settled status can continue to prove their right to rent easily while landlords will be better able to check their immigration status.

Sunak names date for election as 55% of landlords revealed 'undecided'

Sunak names date for election as 55% of landlords revealed 'undecided'

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Landlords are likely to be targeted heavily by political parties as new research shows most remain undecided following Rishi Sunak’s decision to go for a July 4th General Election.