19 Feb, 2025

Library

Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

Hardship test “bombshell” for landlords

Hardship test “bombshell” for landlords

News

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

News

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

News

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

News

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

News

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

News

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

News

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

COURTS: Time to evict a tenant jumps 15% to 25 weeks

COURTS: Time to evict a tenant jumps 15% to 25 weeks

News

The average time from claim to landlord repossession has jumped to 25.4 weeks, up from 22.1 weeks in the same period in 2023, according to the latest government figures.

'Supply of rented property thinning out, and Labour's not helping'

'Supply of rented property thinning out, and Labour's not helping'

News

Gloomy letting agents have reported a fall-off in private rentals coming onto the market around the country.

Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

Planners green light first rental homes from John Lewis

Planners green light first rental homes from John Lewis

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

John Lewis has finally received the green light to begin its transformation into a build-to-rent landlord after Bromley Council approved its plans for 353 rental homes.

AI firm launches that pairs up tenants with ideal rental properties

AI firm launches that pairs up tenants with ideal rental properties

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

A new tech start-up using AI to pair tenants with the most suitable rented homes has been launched.

Former minister who ushered in unpopular 'evictions ban' seeks Tory leadership

Former minister who ushered in unpopular 'evictions ban' seeks Tory leadership

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Former housing secretary Robert Jenrick who brought in the controversial 'evictions ban' during Covid has joined the Conservative party leadership race.

EXCLUSIVE: Senior figures slam ongoing court delays for landlords

EXCLUSIVE: Senior figures slam ongoing court delays for landlords

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Two leading figures from the private rented sector have slammed the ongoing nightmare many landlords are facing when waiting for evictions to pass through the courts.

Shelter calls for radical changes for landlords, but will Labour listen?

Shelter calls for radical changes for landlords, but will Labour listen?

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Shelter has called for indefinite tenancies as well as rent increases restricted to once a year and limited to a rise either in line with inflation or wage growth. 

Is Labour about to give councils full powers to licence landlords?

Is Labour about to give councils full powers to licence landlords?

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Housing minister Matthew Pennycook has hinted heavily that councils will be given powers to introduce large licencing schemes without his approval as part of Labour’s push for greater devolution.

REVEALED: Real cost of making a property energy efficient

REVEALED: Real cost of making a property energy efficient

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

While the new Labour government has talked about making rented homes more energy efficient, one company has shone a light on how much it will cost landlords to achieve it.

Lettings agency chiefs call for minimum property standards

Lettings agency chiefs call for minimum property standards

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

New minimum standards for rental properties and industry training are needed to improve quality and safety in the PRS, the government has been told.

Landlord to return £800 deposit over jaw-dropping contract clause

Landlord to return £800 deposit over jaw-dropping contract clause

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

A landlord who tried to charge a prospective tenant for having overnight guests has been ordered to repay the holding deposit.

Government raises legal aid fees for tenants' eviction solicitors

Government raises legal aid fees for tenants' eviction solicitors

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

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

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

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

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

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

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

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

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

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.

MPs grill Angela Rayner over Local Housing Allowance freeze

MPs grill Angela Rayner over Local Housing Allowance freeze

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

MPs are continuing to press Housing Secretary Angela Rayner about the impact of freezing Local Housing Allowance rates on families in the PRS.

New HMO yields report reveals best regions for yields

New HMO yields report reveals best regions for yields

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

The North East offers BTL investors the best HMO rental yields in the UK, with the highest rental income to be found in the South East.

INTERVIEW: Larger portfolio landlords are 'future of the private rented sector'

INTERVIEW: Larger portfolio landlords are 'future of the private rented sector'

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

LandlordZONE caught up with Marcus Selmon, Chair of portfolio landlord group PLAN to discuss the state of the private rented sector and the soon-to-be enacted Renters’ Rights Bill from the perspective of his members.

Book Review: How to Become a Successful Property Investor

Book Review: How to Become a Successful Property Investor

Information
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

This is a book I wish I’d had available when I first started out on my own property investing career

WARNING: Banning Section 21 will cause 'chaos' unless courts property funded

WARNING: Banning Section 21 will cause 'chaos' unless courts property funded

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

The government’s reluctance to properly fund eviction courts could cause chaos once the Renters’ Rights Bill becomes law, a leading lawyer has warned.

SHOCK: Tenants £17,000 in arrears seek £16,800 rent repayment order

SHOCK: Tenants £17,000 in arrears seek £16,800 rent repayment order

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

A landlord caught out for having an unlicensed property has managed to get her fine slashed after a First Tier Property Tribunal heard that the tenants owed more than £17,000 in rent.

Leasehold reform takes first steps forward - but it's 'too slow'

Leasehold reform takes first steps forward - but it's 'too slow'

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Landlords who buy leasehold apartments will next month be able to extend the property’s lease without having to wait two years, as it presently the case.

Landlord slams tenant group's 'childish' social post

Landlord slams tenant group's 'childish' social post

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

A fed-up landlord has challenged tenants’ union Acorn for using social media to relentlessly bash the PRS without considering the bigger picture.

Landlords: Should You Hold or Sell Before Time Runs Out To Act Before The Renters’ Rights bill becomes law?

Landlords: Should You Hold or Sell Before Time Runs Out To Act Before The Renters’ Rights bill becomes law?

Sponsored
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

The decision to hold onto your rental properties or sell them is more critical than ever – landlords everywhere are taking time to weigh up the balance between risk and profit.

Tenants live in BTR homes for less time than traditional rentals

Tenants live in BTR homes for less time than traditional rentals

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Tenants are living in build-to-rent developments for less time than their counterparts in the traditional PRS – suggesting that they are not the panacea for the housing crisis that is often claimed.

Landlord who ignored outbuilding demolition order fined £23,000

Landlord who ignored outbuilding demolition order fined £23,000

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

A landlord who built an illegal outbuilding to store his tenants’ belongings has been ordered to pay more than £23,000.

EXPERTS: What will happen next to BTL mortgage interest rates?

EXPERTS: What will happen next to BTL mortgage interest rates?

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Buy-to-let mortgage rates could fall slightly soon after creeping up since the Autumn Budget, according to financial experts.

BTL bounces back as lenders reveal surprise jump in lending

BTL bounces back as lenders reveal surprise jump in lending

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Activity within the buy-to-let market is reviving after months of uncertainty and political interference, new official landlord lending data suggests.

Get your energy-efficient house in order with Safe2

Get your energy-efficient house in order with Safe2

Sponsored
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

With the Government launching a consultation on the way EPCs are calculated – and with another on energy efficiency standards in the pipeline, we know that the rental homes of the future will need to reach much higher standards.

Welsh landlords to return two months' rent to evicted tenants

Welsh landlords to return two months' rent to evicted tenants

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Letting agents have called out Welsh Government plans to enable tenants facing eviction to keep their final two months’ rent as ‘compensation’.

EXCLUSIVE: National Trust rebuffs MPs claims over empty rental homes

EXCLUSIVE: National Trust rebuffs MPs claims over empty rental homes

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

The National Trust has rejected claims that it stopped renting out its properties to avoid the growing legislative burden.

Property firm and landlord fined £14,000 over 'slum conditions' at house

Property firm and landlord fined £14,000 over 'slum conditions' at house

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

A Liverpool landlord has been hit with a fine of almost £14,000 for allowing tenants to live in a “house of horrors”.

POLL: 44% of landlords support most extreme form of rent control

POLL: 44% of landlords support most extreme form of rent control

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Nearly half of landlords and three quarters of the general public support rent controls, a poll by YouGov on behalf of wealth inequality not-for-profit Common Wealth has revealed.

Welsh MS says reforms will push too many landlords out of rental market

Welsh MS says reforms will push too many landlords out of rental market

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

A Welsh politician has sounded the alarm over new legislation which risks exacerbating the mass exodus of private landlords.

Agent warns renting reforms will throw tenancy starts into disarray

Agent warns renting reforms will throw tenancy starts into disarray

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

A leading agency has warned that tenants could move into a property without having paid any rent once the Renters’ Rights Bill becomes law.