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Agents who lack licencing law know-how 'putting landlords at risk'

Agents who lack licencing law know-how 'putting landlords at risk'

News

Bungling letting agents with a lack of legal understanding are putting landlords at risk of prosecution, it has been claimed. One landlord expert has advised caution when signing up with a firm in the current climate of increasing legislation and falling profits, particularly fo

Opinion: does Michael Gove know something we don't?

Opinion: does Michael Gove know something we don't?

Opinion

It would seem that successive Tory governments have waged an ongoing and progressively more vicious war on buy-to-let landlords, but this latest layer of legislation goes much further. Yes, this latest iteration, and one thats https://bills.parliament.uk/bills/1768/s

EXTRA red tape, scams and repairs drive more landlords to use agencies

EXTRA red tape, scams and repairs drive more landlords to use agencies

News

Almost two thirds (63%) of private landlords who manage their own properties are tired of sorting out repairs and dealing with red tape and considering using a letting agency or property manager instead.  A Uswitch poll of 2,000 landlords found that the most common reason t

Labour to 'go further than Tories' with harsher Decent Homes Standard

Labour to 'go further than Tories' with harsher Decent Homes Standard

News

Labour has promised to ramp up the pressure on private landlords by introducing a legally binding Decent Homes Standard 2. Its latest draft policy programme a provisional blueprint likely to shape the next general election manifesto includes a proposal to take the

Starmer 'set to U-turn on rent controls' as London Mayor pleads for more powers

Starmer 'set to U-turn on rent controls' as London Mayor pleads for more powers

News

Keir Starmer is set to rebuff previous calls by London mayor Sadiq Khan to bring in a rent freeze, it has been reported. Khan has been banging his rent freeze drum for months now as the cost-of-living crisis has hit many tenants personal finances, telling the BBC in Oct

'Disaster' renting reform bill to enter parliament tomorrow after PMQs

'Disaster' renting reform bill to enter parliament tomorrow after PMQs

News

The much-delayed Renters Reform Bill is rumoured to be getting its first reading tomorrow after Prime Ministers Questions, although the 'full meat' of the proposals will come later. Rumoured to be renamed the Rented Homes Bill or Renters (Reform) Bill, landlords are waitin

BREAKING: Renters (Reform) Bill to get first airing after PMQs today

BREAKING: Renters (Reform) Bill to get first airing after PMQs today

News

The Government is to finally introduce its long-delayed renting reforms into parliament later today following Prime Ministers Questions (PMQs) in the Commons. The Bill, which is to be called the Renters (Reform) Bill, will get its first reading just aft

Third of tenants turning to credit to fund tenancy deposits - claim

Third of tenants turning to credit to fund tenancy deposits - claim

News

A tenancy deposit affordacility crisis is looming as new data reveals that nearly a third of renters are borrowing money to pay for them, new research shows. The poll of 1,000 tenants reveals how they are using credit cards, personal loans, overdrafts and family loans to scrape

Tech firm gets public cash to help portfolio landlords improve energy efficiency

Tech firm gets public cash to help portfolio landlords improve energy efficiency

News

Proptech company Propflo is working with BTL mortgage lenders to help portfolio landlords make their properties more energy efficient. It has been given a grant by Innovate UK to encourage lenders to explore initiatives such as encouraging retrofitting in their products, creatin

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Landlords, Fed Up with the Labour Government? Sell your Portfolio NOW

Landlords, Fed Up with the Labour Government? Sell your Portfolio NOW

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The never-ending onslaught of landlords, including the abolition of Section 21, tough EPC rules, and changes to stamp duty, have left landlords fed up and thinking of throwing in the towel.

Energy firms called out over HMO tenant utility bill problems

Energy firms called out over HMO tenant utility bill problems

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A tenants’ champion has slammed energy companies for failing to help renters with energy bill problems at HMOs.

Landlords fume after letting agency shuts down owing money

Landlords fume after letting agency shuts down owing money

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Northwood letting agency in Romford has gone bust, leaving angry landlords out of pocket.

Most labour-voting landlords now regret their decision

Most labour-voting landlords now regret their decision

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Most landlords who voted Labour wouldn’t do it again, a new survey from buy-to-lender Landbay has found.

RICS reports first dip in tenant demand since 2020

RICS reports first dip in tenant demand since 2020

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Surveyors are the latest group to report a cooling rental market in the UK, with a slowing in demand among tenants for the first time since 2020.

Big town in south reveals plans for more HMO licencing

Big town in south reveals plans for more HMO licencing

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Reading Council has given the go-ahead for an additional licensing scheme in the town – and defended the rising costs set to hit landlords.

Campaigners urge MPs to back more severe renting reforms

Campaigners urge MPs to back more severe renting reforms

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News
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Generation Rent has urged renters to get more MPs backing amendments to the Renters’ Rights Bill.

LATEST: Rental market cooling as landlord 'sell off' eases

LATEST: Rental market cooling as landlord 'sell off' eases

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News
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Rental growth in the UK has dropped to 3.9%, its lowest level in more than three years and down from 9.1% a year ago.

Demand for accessible homes grows as renting population ages

Demand for accessible homes grows as renting population ages

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Demand for accessible homes is growing as the tenant population ages, a leading estate agency has reported, calling on Labour to help landlords finance upgrades.

Minister grilled over conflicting Section 21 evictions ban promises

Minister grilled over conflicting Section 21 evictions ban promises

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Cross-party peers have grilled Housing Minister Baroness Penn over the government’s ambiguous assurance that no-fault evictions would be banned before the general election.

Landlord hit with £45,000 fine over unlicenced HMOs

Landlord hit with £45,000 fine over unlicenced HMOs

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A rogue landlord who ignored requests to raise standards at his two unlicensed properties has been hit with a bill of more than £45,000.

Property investment duo under fire as SFO probes £140m collapse

Property investment duo under fire as SFO probes £140m collapse

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News
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The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) has today raided homes and arrested four people connected to a group of investment companies that left some 1,000 investors out of pocket.

Leading Tory lobbyist warns Gove over Section 21 evictions

Leading Tory lobbyist warns Gove over Section 21 evictions

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A leading Tory lobbyist and political commentator has called on the government to ditch plans for abolishing Section 21 amid fears that it will only worsen the housing crisis.

60% of renters struggling financially and 11% using food banks

60% of renters struggling financially and 11% using food banks

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News
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New research among tenants reveals a bleak picture as the cost-of-living crisis hits home within the private rented sector.

'Airbnb growth is down to Gove's anti-landlord policies' - claim

'Airbnb growth is down to Gove's anti-landlord policies' - claim

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Leading letting agent Marc von Grundherr (pictured) has labelled the government’s crackdown on short lets “ironic”, given its hard line on buy-to-let landlords.

Two thirds of landlords making leap to Ltd companies

Two thirds of landlords making leap to Ltd companies

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A surprising 65% of landlords are considering or have already become a limited company as thousands seek tax benefits to help their business succeed.

Only big money (not private landlords) can solve rental crisis, claims Savills

Only big money (not private landlords) can solve rental crisis, claims Savills

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The private rented sector is forecast to lose half a million homes during the next decade, leaving a large supply gap that can be filled by the build-to-rent sector, it has been claimed.

Is the UK tax regime unfair on private landlords?

Is the UK tax regime unfair on private landlords?

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In this episode of the Propertycast podcast Paul Shamplina, Eddie Hooker and Nigel Lewis discuss the pros and cons of why and how landlords are taxed on their renting income.

NW city ignores landlord concerns over bigger licencing scheme

NW city ignores landlord concerns over bigger licencing scheme

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Concerns among Blackpool landlords over the future of the city's selective licensing have been swept aside after councillors approved the hugely enlarged scheme, which must now go to Michael Gove for the final green light.

Big suburban council to extend £950 licencing scheme

Big suburban council to extend £950 licencing scheme

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News
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Barking and Dagenham Council is the latest borough to launch a bid to renew and expand its licencing schemes.

Activists urge ministers to go further with rent controls

Activists urge ministers to go further with rent controls

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Arguments between politicians, landlords, charities and both tenant and trade unions in Scotland about what to do when the country’s ongoing rent cap scheme ends on 31st March deadline have ramped up in the past few days.

MPs slammed for tabling sensible amendements to reform bill

MPs slammed for tabling sensible amendements to reform bill

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Campaigners have accused leading landlord MPs of trying to ‘gut’ the Renters (Reform) Bill as it goes through parliament.

Official probe into rent-to-rent sector launched

Official probe into rent-to-rent sector launched

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The NRLA is questioning whether rent-to-rent’s days are numbered after the government announced it was investigating the sector in a bid to understand its impact on tenants and landlords.

Massive changes to short-lets sector to go ahead

Massive changes to short-lets sector to go ahead

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The Government has revealed changes to planning regulations that will clamp down on short-lets in tourism hotspots such as the Lake District and seaside towns.

Government to rush through changes to housing laws

Government to rush through changes to housing laws

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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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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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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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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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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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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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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

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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.

Welsh city reveals 10% hike in HMO licencing fee

Welsh city reveals 10% hike in HMO licencing fee

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Newport City Council is expected to back a 10% rise in HMO fees as part of changes to the authority’s additional licensing scheme.