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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

NEW: Government promises crack-down on dodgy rent-to-rent operators

NEW: Government promises crack-down on dodgy rent-to-rent operators

News

The government has vowed to crack down on dodgy rent-to-rent landlords who flout housing laws. Housing Minister Baroness Scott of Bybrook (pictured) says it is aware of concerns that some rent-to-rent arrangements have sometimes been used to make it more difficult to identify la

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Hoarding under the spotlight in new NRLA courses

Hoarding under the spotlight in new NRLA courses

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News
Podcast
Opinion
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Hoarding is an issue for an estimated six per cent of the population so at some point, many landlords will house a tenant that is affected.

Council slammed after 'quietly' rolling out more landlord licensing

Council slammed after 'quietly' rolling out more landlord licensing

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News
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Waltham Forest has been slammed for failing to adequately publicise details of its new additional licensing scheme.

Minister offers support for landlords as anger grows over rent controls

Minister offers support for landlords as anger grows over rent controls

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News
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Landlord groups are hoping Scotland’s First Minister has softened his hard-line stance on impending rent controls amid promises to boost the PRS.

Wales to reform contentious HMO council tax banding system

Wales to reform contentious HMO council tax banding system

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News
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The Welsh government looks set to follow England’s lead by launching a consultation into how HMOs are valued and banded for council tax purposes.

More landlords are selling up as CGT rise looms, says Rightmove

More landlords are selling up as CGT rise looms, says Rightmove

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News
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The number of former rental properties being sold by estate agents is on the rise as a proportion of the market, it has been revealed, suggesting strongly that more landlords are leaving the market.

There’s never been a better time to convert commercial buildings to residential

There’s never been a better time to convert commercial buildings to residential

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News
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Architect Matthew Robinson argues that there’s never been a better time to convert commercial buildings to residential use...

TECH: New app gives tenants ability score landlords' properties

TECH: New app gives tenants ability score landlords' properties

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News
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A new app aims to help prospective tenants decide whether a rental property ticks all the right boxes.

Councils urged to follow Merton's lead and repossess landlord homes

Councils urged to follow Merton's lead and repossess landlord homes

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News
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A councillor has called for more local authorities to follow Merton’s lead and strip rogue landlords of their properties.

Renters' campaigners push for 'under-fire' landlord MP to resign

Renters' campaigners push for 'under-fire' landlord MP to resign

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News
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Calls are growing for the Labour MP who was shamed for renting out mouldy and unlicensed flats to step down.

TV investigation warns landlords over title fraud by tenants

TV investigation warns landlords over title fraud by tenants

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News
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Landlords have been warned by a TV programme to watch out for tenants who attempt to steal their properties via title fraud.

Councils call for eviction notice periods to be doubled to four months

Councils call for eviction notice periods to be doubled to four months

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News
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Council leaders are the latest group to lobby Michael Gove over the Renters (Reform) Bill, urging him to extend notice periods for evictions from two to four months.

New amendments to Renters (Reform) Bill published by rebel MPs

New amendments to Renters (Reform) Bill published by rebel MPs

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News
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The group of rebel Tory MPs backing moves to make significant changes to the Renters (Reform) Bill has today published its comprehensive list of amendments, along with the full names of the 49 MPs within the group (see list at end).

Report questions council's 'ringfencing' claim for landlord fees

Report questions council's 'ringfencing' claim for landlord fees

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News
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A financial report has revealed Nottingham Council’s struggle to keep money raised from selective licensing ring-fenced.

'Court reform delays mean binnng Section 21 must be reconsidered'

'Court reform delays mean binnng Section 21 must be reconsidered'

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News
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The Government has delayed its already-announced reforms of the courts, making it even less likely that the UK’s County Courts will be ready to take on the extra work created by banning Section 21 evictions, it has been claimed.

Rebel MPs on brink of 'pro-landlord' changes to reform bill

Rebel MPs on brink of 'pro-landlord' changes to reform bill

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The Government has taken on board a list of changes to the Renters (Reform) Bill requested by some 50 rebel Tory MPs, it has been reported

BLOG: When landlords talk to their MPs, politicians listen

BLOG: When landlords talk to their MPs, politicians listen

Opinion
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The anticipation surrounding the Renters (Reform) Bill has remained a constant topic recently, with discussions over the timing of the abolition of Section 21 constantly fluctuating.

Minister admits 'errors' within identity system for overseas tenants

Minister admits 'errors' within identity system for overseas tenants

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News
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The Government has admitted that the issuing of Biometric Residence Permits (BRPs), which are used by non-UK citizens to prove they have a right to rent properties, has been taking too long.

Landord fined £1.4m and has rental property confiscated

Landord fined £1.4m and has rental property confiscated

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News
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An absentee landlord has been stung with a £1.44 million penalty after he continually broke planning rules in a decade-long stand-off with Ealing Council.

Report urges Labour to spend £11.8bn on affordable rented homes

Report urges Labour to spend £11.8bn on affordable rented homes

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News
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Building 90,000 social homes a year will end the housing emergency and pay for itself within three years due to the wider economic benefits, according to a study by Shelter and the National Housing Federation.

ADVICE: How to deal with tenants who fake tenancy applications

ADVICE: How to deal with tenants who fake tenancy applications

Information
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Tom Entwistle passes on some thoughts on dealing with tenant selection and securing a good tenant-letting in the current economic climate

Council chases former landlord for tenant's 20-year tax debt

Council chases former landlord for tenant's 20-year tax debt

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News
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A former landlord has been ordered to pay a council tax demand dating back nearly 20 years.

Landlord pays heavy price for ignoring Improvement Order

Landlord pays heavy price for ignoring Improvement Order

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News
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A rogue landlord has been ordered to pay more than £9,000 for ignoring notices to improve his dangerous property.

Major building society stops lending to holiday let investors

Major building society stops lending to holiday let investors

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News
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Leeds Building Society has stopped lending to investors buying holiday lets in areas of North Norfolk and North Yorkshire in a bid to relieve pressure on local housing.

Lords to put letting agents' service quality under spotlight

Lords to put letting agents' service quality under spotlight

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News
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The quality of service provided by letting agents to landlords is under the spotlight again after an influential group within the Lords revealed it is to probe into the sector.

Rebel Tory MPs 'working hard to have renting reform legislation changed'

Rebel Tory MPs 'working hard to have renting reform legislation changed'

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News
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It has been confirmed over the weekend that a group of 49 ‘rebel’ Tory MPs are working hard have the Renters (Reform) Bill amended.

MPs given more details on holiday short-lets clampdown

MPs given more details on holiday short-lets clampdown

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News
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MPs have been given more details of the Government’s plans to clamp down on holiday lets in tourism hotspots following Michael Gove’s announcement this week.

Few councils policing minimum EPC rules or issuing fines

Few councils policing minimum EPC rules or issuing fines

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News
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Minimum energy efficiency standards (MEES) are not being enforced by overstretched councils who cannot keep any income they make from fines imposed for breaches.

HMRC's digital tax reporting scheme to cost landlords £460

HMRC's digital tax reporting scheme to cost landlords £460

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News
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Landlords will have to fork out an extra £460 to use the new Making Tax Digital for Income Tax Self-Assessment system.

Spray foam industry acknowledges problems with 'cowboy operators'

Spray foam industry acknowledges problems with 'cowboy operators'

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News
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Landlords who have used cowboy spray foam firms to insulate their properties are to be offered help by one of the main trade associations for the sector.

Most tenants and landlords say Tory PRS policies 'wrong'

Most tenants and landlords say Tory PRS policies 'wrong'

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A staggering 94% of renters don’t have confidence in the government’s approach to housing, according to a poll by SpareRoom.

Big city council seeks more powers to curb HMOs

Big city council seeks more powers to curb HMOs

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Salford Council wants new powers to help stem the growth of HMOs in the city.

Rees-Mogg savages Tory party's rental sector policies

Rees-Mogg savages Tory party's rental sector policies

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News
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Jacob Rees-Mogg has turned on Tory colleagues by labelling the Renters (Reform) Bill “desperate tinkering at the edges” which won’t help landlords or tenants.

Landlord faces big fine after ignoring HMO planning decision

Landlord faces big fine after ignoring HMO planning decision

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News
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A landlord who ignored a council’s enforcement notice to stop operating an HMO without planning permission has been told to return it to a ‘traditional family home’ or face a huge fine.

Commercial to residential conversions, a new dawn!

Commercial to residential conversions, a new dawn!

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Opportunities for developers and investors in property will open up as new amendments are laid down.