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BENEFITS: 'Absurd' rent payments policy discriminates against private landlords

BENEFITS: 'Absurd' rent payments policy discriminates against private landlords

News

Universal Credit expert Bill Irvine says the DWP is using the benefits cap as a reason to halt Alternative Payment Arrangements (APA) which goes against previous advice from the departments boss. In a letter to Irvine, at https://universalcreditadvice.com/our-service

£17,000: Council issues highest ever penalty against non-compliant landlord

£17,000: Council issues highest ever penalty against non-compliant landlord

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A landlord in Mansfield has been ordered to pay a �17,000 penalty after renting out a sub-standard and unlicensed HMO. The landlord, who was investigated by Mansfield District Council officers after a complaint about alleged overcrowding, was found not to

Landlords and university jointly launch unusual student week initiative

Landlords and university jointly launch unusual student week initiative

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Landlords and student groups have teamed up to tidy Leedss streets during student changeover week. The city hosts about 37,000 students, the vast majority of whom will move house each year at the same time, leaving behind large amounts of rubbish, overflowing bins, furniture

'Tenants look after HMOs better when they're fitted with posh furniture'

'Tenants look after HMOs better when they're fitted with posh furniture'

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A twenty-something entrepreneurial pair aim to shake up the HMO sector by building on their upmarket guaranteed rent model. Liverpool-based Cosi Living founders Joe Duggan , 24 and Olivia Maher , 25, (main picture) only rented their fi

Exclusion of landlords from mortgage help scheme 'a mistake' says Labour

Exclusion of landlords from mortgage help scheme 'a mistake' says Labour

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Omitting BTL landlords from the governments mortgage charter will only hurt supply and push up rents as landlords are forced to pass on their costs, says Labour. The new agreementhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B_76Y3b2cjM" https://www.youtube.com

Tenant's �120,000 claim threatens entire deposits protection system

Tenant's �120,000 claim threatens entire deposits protection system

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A tenant who failed to convince a judge that his landlord did not give him statutory tenancy deposit information is taking his case to the High Court. Merryck Lowes application relating to a claim for �120,888 against charitable landlord, the Governors of Suttons Hosp

REPORT: Thinktank says landlords should pay MORE tax to balance inequality

REPORT: Thinktank says landlords should pay MORE tax to balance inequality

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Landlords should pay more tax to balance inequalities within the tax system, according to the Resolution Foundation. The think-tanks new report points out that while the top tax rate for employees stands at 53.4% including employer NICs, only 28% is paid on property gains. </

Landlords '� can you continue to let your buildings?

Landlords '� can you continue to let your buildings?

News

Are you confident your buildings will meet the coming changes to energy performance rules? Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) legislation has been in statute since 2008. Since then there has been a progression of increasingly stringent regulations to cajole property owners to

EXPERT: Landlords buying via personal mortgages facing more 'stress testing'

EXPERT: Landlords buying via personal mortgages facing more 'stress testing'

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Landlords buying properties via personal buy-to-let mortgages are facing greater stress testing of their affordability as economic jitters unsettle lenders, it has been revealed. Financial expert Louisa Sedgwick (main picture) from broker ht

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How many laws must landlords adhere to, asks legal expert

How many laws must landlords adhere to, asks legal expert

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Law-savvy landlords are being asked to help compile a definitive list of legislation impacting the PRS.

No.10 cat 'backs' mandatory pet damage insurance campaign

No.10 cat 'backs' mandatory pet damage insurance campaign

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Larry the Number 10 cat has backed a charity’s campaign to change the law allowing tenants to keep pets.

Hardship test “bombshell” for landlords

Hardship test “bombshell” for landlords

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Labour’s housing minister Matthew Pennycook is said to be planning a “hardship test”

New minister says transfer from housing benefit to Universal Credit 'smooth' but expert disagrees

New minister says transfer from housing benefit to Universal Credit 'smooth' but expert disagrees

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Claims by the new Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) minister of state Stephen Timms that the transfer of remaining housing benefit claimants to Universal Credit is being done ‘as smoothly as possible’ have been questioned by a leading expert.

Landlord fined £10,000 over failure to do £169 safety check

Landlord fined £10,000 over failure to do £169 safety check

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Booking in a five-yearly Electrical Safety Installation Certificate (ESIC) check for your rented property often seems like one of the plethora of minor tasks on the ‘to do’ list.

Higher BTL repossessions making rental shortage worse says Law Society

Higher BTL repossessions making rental shortage worse says Law Society

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An increase in buy-to-let repossessions is exacerbating the rental supply shortage and leaving evicted families without legal aid needed to fight their case.

'We're seeing mostly older landlords selling up' says agency boss

'We're seeing mostly older landlords selling up' says agency boss

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An exodus of older landlords is paving the way for build-to-rent investors and younger landlords looking to capitalise on higher yield properties, according to a big estate agency boss.

Landlord property repossessions continue upward trajectory

Landlord property repossessions continue upward trajectory

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At least 710 buy-to-let mortgaged properties were repossessed in the second quarter of the year, 13% up on the previous quarter and 51% up year-on-year.

OpenRent and Rightmove's 'war of words' ends with new deal

OpenRent and Rightmove's 'war of words' ends with new deal

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Online lettings firm OpenRent and Rightmove have signed a new property listings deal after several weeks of corporate brinkmanship over fees.

Landords warn of 'huge consequences' if reforms go live un-amended

Landords warn of 'huge consequences' if reforms go live un-amended

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The NRLA has warned of potentially devastating consequences for the PRS unless the House of Lords approves new amendments to the Renters’ Rights Bill.

CLAIM: Rent in advance demands 'widespread among landlords'

CLAIM: Rent in advance demands 'widespread among landlords'

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The use of ‘rent in advance’ is widespread among landlords in the UK, the leader of a coalition of tenants’ rights groups has claimed

UK rents fall, house sales rise and the commercial property recover stalls

UK rents fall, house sales rise and the commercial property recover stalls

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It’s a mixed picture in the UK property markets - UK rents fall for first time in five years, house sales rise and commercial recovery property stalls

RICS warns landlords over 'unqualified' fire assessors' paperwork

RICS warns landlords over 'unqualified' fire assessors' paperwork

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The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) has urged flat owners to check assessors’ credentials after a fire engineer was sanctioned by the Institution of Fire Engineers for unprofessional conduct.

Council moves to ban 'To Let' boards in central London

Council moves to ban 'To Let' boards in central London

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Letting agents have warned Westminster Council that its plan to ban advertising boards outside landlords' properties borough-wide could cause delays for renters.

Tenants in England now pay half their income in rent

Tenants in England now pay half their income in rent

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Rightmove says the average rent in the UK now eats up 50% of the net income of those living within the private rented sector where the monthly rent per property is now £1,526.

Housing quality in rented sector rising - but so's damp

Housing quality in rented sector rising - but so's damp

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Numbers of non-decent homes and Category 1 hazards in the PRS have fallen in recent years, although problems with damp are on the rise.

Rent controls in Scotland 'favour landlords' says Generation Rent

Rent controls in Scotland 'favour landlords' says Generation Rent

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The Scottish government’s proposed rent control formula is generous to landlords but would leave tenants vulnerable to unaffordable rent rises, says Generation Rent.

Big council urges public to report rogue HMO landlords

Big council urges public to report rogue HMO landlords

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Croydon Council is calling on local residents to report concerns about unauthorised HMOs as it ramps up action against errant landlords.

Landlords 'bewildered and frustrated' by Scotland's latest rent controls

Landlords 'bewildered and frustrated' by Scotland's latest rent controls

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There is still widespread frustration and bewilderment among landlords and agent that rent controls are the only policy intervention to help tackle affordability in Scotland

CLAIM: Investors 'moving out of residential into commercial'

CLAIM: Investors 'moving out of residential into commercial'

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Investors have started buying up shops and offices in London rather than houses in order to turn a profit.

Midlands landlord to pay £20,000 after ignoring improvement notice

Midlands landlord to pay £20,000 after ignoring improvement notice

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A landlord in Telford is to pay a huge fine after his local council took him to court over a substandard property he rented out within the town.

Landlords caught up in latest cladding remediation problems

Landlords caught up in latest cladding remediation problems

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A Lib Dem MP has highlighted what he describes as an unfolding EWS1 form scandal after a fire safety consultant was sanctioned for unprofessional conduct.

How will landlords handle risky tenants when 'rent in advance' is banned?

How will landlords handle risky tenants when 'rent in advance' is banned?

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One of the seismic changes for landlords and letting agents this year will be when the Renters’ Rights Bill bans taking rent in advance.

Big London borough to renew HMO licensing and raise fees

Big London borough to renew HMO licensing and raise fees

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Camden Council wants to renew its additional licensing scheme with a potential £82 hike in fees.

NE town reveals plans to start selective licensing for landlords

NE town reveals plans to start selective licensing for landlords

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Landlords in Grimbsy are being asked for their views on a new selective licensing scheme for parts of the East Marsh ward.

NEW: Research reveals key reason for political action on 'unfair' PRS

NEW: Research reveals key reason for political action on 'unfair' PRS

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Over two thirds of private renters in the UK believe it is ‘too easy’ for landlords to take advantage of tenants, much higher than the global average of 59%.

Uswitch has produced the latest ‘Mouldy Nation Report’

Uswitch has produced the latest ‘Mouldy Nation Report’

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The energy specialist, comparison website operator Uswitch, has released its latest “Mouldy Nation Report”

TV presenter warns landlords over Ofgem's eletricity meter 'cliff face'

TV presenter warns landlords over Ofgem's eletricity meter 'cliff face'

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Landlords have been warned to swap their Radio Teleswitch Service (RTS) meters at rental properties by 30th June or face possible legal action.

Is Scotland getting ready for its own EPC minimum for landlords?

Is Scotland getting ready for its own EPC minimum for landlords?

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The Scottish Government is to upgrade its Energy Performance Certificates (EPC) system.

Government raises legal aid fees for tenants' eviction solicitors

Government raises legal aid fees for tenants' eviction solicitors

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A new consultation has been launched into how tenants at risk of unfair eviction could benefit from a £20 million a year boost in legal aid.

Rogue tenant prosecuted after running barking business from filthy home

Rogue tenant prosecuted after running barking business from filthy home

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A rogue tenant has been prosecuted for running an illegal dog breeding service inside her filthy rented property.

Falling rates trend brings surge in demand for commercial property investment

Falling rates trend brings surge in demand for commercial property investment

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Commercial property portal Rightmove sees a 28% increase across all sectors

Government kicks dozens of eco installers off schemes used by landlords

Government kicks dozens of eco installers off schemes used by landlords

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The Energy Company Obligation 4 (ECO4) and Great British Insulation Scheme - used by landlords to insulate homes - have been hauled up for fitting substandard solid wall insulation.

High Court decision complicates rent collection for landords with UC tenants

High Court decision complicates rent collection for landords with UC tenants

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The High Court has ruled that the Department of Work and Pensions acted unlawfully by making deductions from a tenant’s Universal Credit payments to his landlord without first consulting him – a decision which could impact thousands of other claimants.