Date

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.

Midlands city to extend HMO licensing until 2030

Midlands city to extend HMO licensing until 2030

News

Councillors in Worcester have agreed to extend the city’s additional licensing scheme for another five years.

Prolific rogue tenant faces jail over renting scams

Prolific rogue tenant faces jail over renting scams

News

A prolific fraudster has admitted scamming numerous would-be tenants out of hundreds of pounds.

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

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

News

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'

News

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

News

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

News

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

News

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

News

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

News

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.

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

Northern Ireland unveils radical affordable PRS scheme for landlords

Northern Ireland unveils radical affordable PRS scheme for landlords

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Northern Ireland has unveiled a radical new type of private rented housing that aims to provide more high quality, affordable homes in the region. Intermediate rent is not social housing but will offer rents set at a level below the open private rented market, while renters will

Lenders blame LHA freeze on 1000s of landlords falling into mortgage arrears

Lenders blame LHA freeze on 1000s of landlords falling into mortgage arrears

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

UK Finance has called on the government to review the local housing allowance (LHA) to prevent more private landlords falling behind on their mortgage repayments and potentially having to evict their tenants. The trade association for the UK banking and financial services sector

Comment: will landlords really evict anti-social tenants in two weeks?

Comment: will landlords really evict anti-social tenants in two weeks?

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Renters at risk under plans to let landlords evict tenants with two weeks notice,� says one headline. Yes, it kind of implies that tenants will be summarily evicted, I thought so when I first read it. As the recent press reports would have us believe, but this is not going

Ringleaders of shocking illegal HMO property gang fined �434,000

Ringleaders of shocking illegal HMO property gang fined �434,000

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

The activities of a huge HMO renting scam gang has been uncovered following a four-year investigation, with the five key individuals and three companies involved fined a total of �434,000. Following an investigation by West Northamptonshire Councils Private Sector Housing Te

'Revenge evictions' following tenant repair requests still common, says Shelter

'Revenge evictions' following tenant repair requests still common, says Shelter

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Private renters who complained to their landlord, letting agent or local council in the last three years were two and a half times (159%) more likely to be handed an eviction notice than those who kept quiet. New research from Shelter compiled by YouGov using online survey r

Landlord and her letting agency to pay HUGE fine over illegal HMO

Landlord and her letting agency to pay HUGE fine over illegal HMO

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

A landlord and her letting agency have together been fined more than �45,000 for illegally running an HMO. Barking and Dagenham Councils private sector housing team first discovered that professional landlord Husna Patel had not applied for, or been gr

In-house inventory services offered by letting agencies 'lack transparency' - claim

In-house inventory services offered by letting agencies 'lack transparency' - claim

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Property firms using their own inventory services are undermining the sectors integrity, according to the Association of Independent Inventory Clerks. It wants the government to include measures in the Renters Reform Bill to guarantee more transparency

BLOG: Six tax changes affecting private landlords this year

BLOG: Six tax changes affecting private landlords this year

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

The Government has made several changes to how income and profits are taxed in recent years and some of these will take effect from the new tax year on 6th April, with higher earners and those letting via a limited company most affected. Heres the six changes

Up to 25% of us don't have a passport and that's a problem for landlords, says ID firm

Up to 25% of us don't have a passport and that's a problem for landlords, says ID firm

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

More than a quarter of people in some local communities dont have a passport, raising questions about their ability to pass Right to Rent checks. Research by digital identity firm, https://www.idcrypt.global/" target="_blank" ID Crypt Global, reveals that 1

INSIGHT: Landlord service that takes unusual approach to hoarders

INSIGHT: Landlord service that takes unusual approach to hoarders

Information
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Holistic Hoarding has prevented 50 evictions in the last four years by working with tenants to address the causes of their mental health condition.

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

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

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

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

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

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

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

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

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

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

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

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'

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

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

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

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'

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

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

Sponsored
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

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

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

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

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

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?

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

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
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

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'

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

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

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

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
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

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

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

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

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

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

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

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

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

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

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

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?

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

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

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

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

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

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.