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Rent controls reduce supply and housing quality, says new report

Rent controls reduce supply and housing quality, says new report

News

A new report that evaluates the dozens of rent control schemes implemented over the past 60 years across the world has concluded that overall they are harmful to rental homes supply.

COMMENT: Did you know that tenants can claim compensation over disrepair?

COMMENT: Did you know that tenants can claim compensation over disrepair?

Information

Tenants can claim compensation from their landlord for repairs that are not done in a reasonable time; repairs that are of bad quality and do not fix things

EXPERT: 'Now is the time to convert from commercial to residential'

EXPERT: 'Now is the time to convert from commercial to residential'

News

There’s never been a better time for landlords to convert a commercial building to residential use, according to a leading architect.

'Dont be afraid of the future' Zoopla boss tells landlords

'Dont be afraid of the future' Zoopla boss tells landlords

News

Zoopla boss Richard Donnell has urged landlords and investors to steer clear of misinformation about the PRS and focus on the positives.

Landlord's rental properties seized in UK regulation 'first'

Landlord's rental properties seized in UK regulation 'first'

News

A rogue landlord who persistently failed to license several rented properties has had them seized by Merton Council in one of the first actions of its kind in the country.

Sadiq Khan goes quiet on rent controls after Labour 'slap down'

Sadiq Khan goes quiet on rent controls after Labour 'slap down'

News

London Mayor Sadiq Khan has been slapped down by Labour’s national leadership after asking to be given rent control powers, it has been reported.

Coventry to extend HMO licencing for five years

Coventry to extend HMO licencing for five years

News

Coventry councillors look set to give the go-ahead to extending the city’s additional licensing scheme, raising the fee for a five-year licence from £840 to £916.

Potential buyer reports landlord to council over illegal HMO

Potential buyer reports landlord to council over illegal HMO

News

A landlord renting out an unlicensed HMO was caught out when a prospective buyer reported her to the council.

REVEALED: £10k cost of getting rental properties up to Labour's new EPC minimum

REVEALED: £10k cost of getting rental properties up to Labour's new EPC minimum

News

Private landlords face an average bill of £10,000 to hit government EPC C targets by 2030, according to new research.

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Government to rush through changes to housing laws

Government to rush through changes to housing laws

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News
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Housing secretary Michael Gove has announced restrictions on Airbnb style short-term lettings. He also wants to relax rules on permitted development rights for commercial to residential conversions, and he says he will abolish section 21 in this Parliament.

Legionella risk, one aspect of letting that many landlords never think about...

Legionella risk, one aspect of letting that many landlords never think about...

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Landlords (and their agents) have a serious responsibility to undertake actions to protect tenants, visitors and passers-by, by preventing Legionella bacteria from causing a health hazard.

Government slammed as affordable rented home building tanks

Government slammed as affordable rented home building tanks

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News
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A consortium of London housing associations has warned the government that new affordable home-building is grinding to a halt.

Covid's long shadow over rental market 'finally fading'

Covid's long shadow over rental market 'finally fading'

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News
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The Covid years’ extreme effect on the capital’s lettings market appears to be significantly easing – although demand remains abnormally high.

No-fault evictions ban 'an attack on basic property rights'

No-fault evictions ban 'an attack on basic property rights'

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News
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A basic tenet of property rights that landlords should be able to reclaim their property after an agreed period from a tenant is being undermined by Michael Gove’s push to end Section 21 evictions, a leading free market thinktank has claimed.

Government to relax rules on heat pumps, Gove reveals

Government to relax rules on heat pumps, Gove reveals

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News
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The government is considering relaxing heat pump rules in England which manufacturers believe could result in a boost in sales.

Letting agent slams Scotlands' 'nightmare' new repairs rules

Letting agent slams Scotlands' 'nightmare' new repairs rules

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News
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New safety regulations due to impact private landlords in Scotland have been labelled a logistical nightmare by one Edinburgh letting agent.

University launches first ever degree for letting agents

University launches first ever degree for letting agents

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News
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Estate agents might have been deemed more untrustworthy than lawyers and traffic wardens in public polls, but the Royal Agricultural University aims to demonstrate the profession’s value by launching the UK’s first university course in residential estate agency.

It's time to stop blaming private landlords for the rental crisis

It's time to stop blaming private landlords for the rental crisis

Opinion
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Government ministers, housing campaigners, landlords, letting agents and many of the other actors in the drama that is the private rented sector have been arguing hard about who is to blame for the high rents and lack of supply within the market.

Report reveals £45 billion contribution landlords make to economy

Report reveals £45 billion contribution landlords make to economy

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News
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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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News
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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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News
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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

Information
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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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News
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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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News
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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?

Opinion
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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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News
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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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News
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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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News
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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.

Hunt's Spring Budget hid 'stealth' tax grab on landlords via CGT rules

Hunt's Spring Budget hid 'stealth' tax grab on landlords via CGT rules

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News
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Jeremy Hunt’s recent Spring Budget hid a ‘steal tax’ on landlords seeking to sell properties after April 1st, it has been claimed.

Time ticking away for Bill prompts fresh concerns

Time ticking away for Bill prompts fresh concerns

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News
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Fears are growing that the government is going soft on its commitment to the Renters Reform Bill.

Surge in fines for Right to Rent non-compliance

Surge in fines for Right to Rent non-compliance

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News
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An increasing number of landlords and letting agents are falling foul of Right to Rent rules, with a big rise in fines handed out last year.

Landlord turns up heat on TV show with winning pitch

Landlord turns up heat on TV show with winning pitch

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News
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An HMO landlord and entrepreneur has secured £80,000 worth of funding on Dragons' Den for his thermostat business.

Landlords fail to avoid London borough's HMO clampdown

Landlords fail to avoid London borough's HMO clampdown

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News
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Haringey Council is launching a new additional HMO licensing scheme despite limited backing from landlords and tenants.

Renters face growing struggle to pay rising rents

Renters face growing struggle to pay rising rents

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News
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Rent-to-income ratios in the UK have reached unsustainable new highs, forcing renters to spend a third of their wages on rent.

One council goes against the grain with short-term lets

One council goes against the grain with short-term lets

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News
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Northumberland council has refused owners consent to convert their short-term holiday let cottages into permanent private residences.

AI firm urges landlords to embrace 'snooping' sensors

AI firm urges landlords to embrace 'snooping' sensors

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News
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Landlords in the South West are being encouraged to access technology that detects heat loss, draughts, damp and mould.

Landlord to pay £220,000 after illegally converting flat

Landlord to pay £220,000 after illegally converting flat

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News
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A rogue landlord firm which illegally converted a property into six flats and ignored an enforcement order has been ordered to pay more than £220,000.