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London council U-turns over 'onerous conditions' for new licensing scheme

London council U-turns over 'onerous conditions' for new licensing scheme

News

Lambeth has ignored landlord protests to launch its selective licencing scheme but backtracked on many onerous conditions.

Huge new selective licensing scheme goes live on South Coast

Huge new selective licensing scheme goes live on South Coast

News

Brighton & Hove City Council has set its controversial new selective licensing scheme live, which now covers 17 of its 23 wards.

'Make rent guarantee insurance for council-referred tenants mandatory'

'Make rent guarantee insurance for council-referred tenants mandatory'

News

A landlord association has called for councils and charities that refer homeless or vulnerable tenants to take out mandatory rent guarantee insurance.

Landlord couple fined £141,000 over failings at London HMO

Landlord couple fined £141,000 over failings at London HMO

News

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

News

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

News

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

News

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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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.

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Court allows 134 property investors to start 'class action' following £14m loss

Court allows 134 property investors to start 'class action' following £14m loss

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An appeal court judge has granted 134 property investors leave to contest a single ‘class action’ claim against a solicitor which is alleged to have provided negligent professional advice on an investment scheme.

TOM's Tips: 20 Steps to successful landlording

TOM's Tips: 20 Steps to successful landlording

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In this post, Tom Entwistle sets out the principles that he has used over his successful 50-year landlording career.

HMO figure calls out 'unfair' Tube ads slamming landlords

HMO figure calls out 'unfair' Tube ads slamming landlords

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Landlords travelling by London Underground might be shocked to find themselves as the butt of a joke used to sell coffee.

Are you ready for the biggest changes to the rented sector for 30 years?

Are you ready for the biggest changes to the rented sector for 30 years?

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Landlords are to face one of the most significant changes to how they rent out properties in their lifetimes once the Renters (Reform) Bill becomes law.

Controversial renting reforms take next step toward becoming law

Controversial renting reforms take next step toward becoming law

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Landlords hoping that theGovernment’s renting reforms might be kicked into the long grass will be disappointed today after it was revealed that The Renters (Reform) Bill will move to itsnext stage in parliament Wednesday 24th April.

ELECTION: Khan promises to get tough on 'dodgy landlords' and high rents

ELECTION: Khan promises to get tough on 'dodgy landlords' and high rents

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Sadiq Khan has promised he will be on the side of renters rather than “dodgy landlords” and has repeated his desire to introduce rent controls in the capital if he wins a record third term.

Landlord accuses council of 'hypocracy' over property inspections

Landlord accuses council of 'hypocracy' over property inspections

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Benefits landlord Mick Roberts has accused Nottingham Council of hypocrisy after it was revealed the authority hasn’t fully checked its housing stock for eight years, while private landlords must inspect their properties every six months.

Labour and Green MPs call for rent controls in England

Labour and Green MPs call for rent controls in England

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A group of MPs have lodged an Early Day Motion calling for rent controls in the PRS to stem the threefold increase in rents during the last 34 years.

NE city reveals plans for unusual licencing scheme

NE city reveals plans for unusual licencing scheme

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Newcastle Council has revealed plans for an unusual selective licensing scheme that includes building-specific zones.

Gove’s ambitious plan to reform leasehold is quietly being sidelined

Gove’s ambitious plan to reform leasehold is quietly being sidelined

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Abolishing leasehold is far from the easy process some of our politicians would have us believe – there are some powerful forces ready to counter the move.

Former housing minister facing questions over rented property

Former housing minister facing questions over rented property

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Former Housing Minister Esther McVey has been claiming tens of thousands of pounds in Parliamentary expenses for renting a London flat, despite her husband owning a property a mile away, it has been claimed.

MPs tell Government to protect landlords from rogue agents

MPs tell Government to protect landlords from rogue agents

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The government has been urged to stop “sitting on its hands” and bring forward changes to protect tenants, leaseholders and landlords from poor practices in the lettings industry.

DIY lettings service for landlords launches with big promise

DIY lettings service for landlords launches with big promise

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A new DIY lettings service for landlords should help Hello Neighbour fulfil its ambition of becoming the biggest letting agent in England, according to co-founder Richard Jenkins.

Council closes HMO after surprise visit reveals nightmare property

Council closes HMO after surprise visit reveals nightmare property

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A landlord who rented out his unlicensed, seven-bedroom HMO to 13 tenants has been ordered to pay £3,000.

COMMENT: Rent rises not profiteering but just 'landlords tracking costs'

COMMENT: Rent rises not profiteering but just 'landlords tracking costs'

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In February the average BTL mortgage rate fell to 5.5% which is the lowest since September 2022.

MPs urge Ministers to 'sort out' Local Housing Allowance rises

MPs urge Ministers to 'sort out' Local Housing Allowance rises

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Landlord and tenant groups have welcomed proposals by MPs on the Work and Pensions Select Committee to introduce an annual ‘uprating guarantee’ to the Local Housing Allowance (LHA).

REFORMS: Many landlords have 'no idea what's about to hit them'

REFORMS: Many landlords have 'no idea what's about to hit them'

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Only one in five (18%) landlords understand the Renters (Reform) Bill, while just 3% have read guidance surrounding the legislation, according to a new Propertymark poll.

Landlord warns: "sell now” as Government urged to further reduce PRS

Landlord warns: "sell now” as Government urged to further reduce PRS

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The Guardian suggests that Government may start to veer towards a “surprisingly simple solution to the UK housing crisis” which could see them squeeze landlords further, blaming them for the current housing crisis affecting home-buyers.

Report reveals £45 billion contribution landlords make to economy

Report reveals £45 billion contribution landlords make to economy

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A new report published today claims that 390,000 jobs rely on the private rented sector as critics of the sector, including the Guardian newspaper, have called for it to be shrunk or abolished entirely.

UK's only city-wide licencing scheme 'gets tough' on landlords

UK's only city-wide licencing scheme 'gets tough' on landlords

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Landlords in Oxford who fail to sign up to the city’s licensing scheme are being threatened with fines and enforcement action after a year of relative ‘grace’.

REPORT: Will lower inflation lead to lower BTL mortgage rates?

REPORT: Will lower inflation lead to lower BTL mortgage rates?

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Falling UK inflation could herald some good news for BTL landlords over the coming months, according to mortgage experts.

A reminder for landlords that electrical safety checks are mandatory

A reminder for landlords that electrical safety checks are mandatory

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Until recently landlords only had to concern themselves gas safety checks - but now all residential landlords or their agents must arrange for regular electrical safety checks (every 5 years)

Court approves tough bankcruptcy limits on 'property guru'

Court approves tough bankcruptcy limits on 'property guru'

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Infamous property guru Glenn Armstrong, who misled dozens of investors by promising to make them rich, has been handed tough bankruptcy restrictions lasting 12 years.

Tenant pockets £5,000 from Tribunal after realising HMO was unlicenced

Tenant pockets £5,000 from Tribunal after realising HMO was unlicenced

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A tenant who discovered that his landlord had not licenced the HMO in which he lived is to pocket £5,000 after winning a rent repayment order (RRO) during a Tribunal hearing.

Spring Budget shortfalls: What was missing for landlords?

Spring Budget shortfalls: What was missing for landlords?

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In what was likely his last Budget Statement before the next General Election, Jeremy Hunt announced his plans for tax, housing, and cost-of-living measures. Where did the Budget fall short for the private rented market (PRS)?

Murder conviction bars landlord from running rental properties

Murder conviction bars landlord from running rental properties

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A landlord who was jailed for culpable homicide in 2008 has been refused permission to rent out flats in Glasgow, despite claiming he has taken ‘responsibility for his actions’ and moved on.

Escalating 'housing emergencies' are Government's fault, say Scots letting agents

Escalating 'housing emergencies' are Government's fault, say Scots letting agents

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Letting agents have blamed poor Scottish government policies for the growing number of councils declaring ‘housing emergencies’.

Heat pumps still 'too expensive' warns national spending watchdog

Heat pumps still 'too expensive' warns national spending watchdog

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Heat pump sales continue to be hampered by high costs, lown awareness and a lack of long-term financial support, the government’s spending watchdog has warned.

90% of landlords reject Scottish rent control plans, official poll reveals

90% of landlords reject Scottish rent control plans, official poll reveals

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Vast majority of landlords have flatly rejected future widespread rent control across Scotland, in a new Holyrood survey.

Landlord fined after tenant harrassment revealed in court

Landlord fined after tenant harrassment revealed in court

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A landlord has been ordered to pay £2,500 in fines, compensation and costs after he admitted harassing two of his tenants.

Will landlord MPs stymie the Rental (reform) Bill?

Will landlord MPs stymie the Rental (reform) Bill?

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Momentum appears to be growing to torpedo the controversial legislation as evidence emerges that the Bill is ‘close to collapse’ in Parliament.

Should a good rent payment record count towards a mortgage application

Should a good rent payment record count towards a mortgage application

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It used to be the case that renting was a temporary phase in a young persons life. It gave flexibility until their career settled down to a fixed employer and a fixed location. But todays property prices mitigate against this pattern. Many people are locked into renting fa

Generation Rent calls for big landlord regulation push in Wales

Generation Rent calls for big landlord regulation push in Wales

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Generation Rent has urged the Welsh government to introduce an ombudsman for the PRS along with more grounds for rent repayment orders (RROs) in order to improve tenants’ lives.

80% of landlords say banning Section 21 evictions 'a mistake'

80% of landlords say banning Section 21 evictions 'a mistake'

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The vast majority of landlords and letting agents view the Government’s plans to abolish Section 21 evictions as a mistake, a new report has revealed.