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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.

Rent controls in Scotland 'favour landlords' says Generation Rent

Rent controls in Scotland 'favour landlords' says Generation Rent

News

The Scottish government’s proposed rent control formula is generous to landlords but would leave tenants vulnerable to unaffordable rent rises, says Generation Rent.

Big council urges public to report rogue HMO landlords

Big council urges public to report rogue HMO landlords

News

Croydon Council is calling on local residents to report concerns about unauthorised HMOs as it ramps up action against errant landlords.

Landlords 'bewildered and frustrated' by Scotland's latest rent controls

Landlords 'bewildered and frustrated' by Scotland's latest rent controls

News

There is still widespread frustration and bewilderment among landlords and agent that rent controls are the only policy intervention to help tackle affordability in Scotland

CLAIM: Investors 'moving out of residential into commercial'

CLAIM: Investors 'moving out of residential into commercial'

News

Investors have started buying up shops and offices in London rather than houses in order to turn a profit.

Midlands landlord to pay £20,000 after ignoring improvement notice

Midlands landlord to pay £20,000 after ignoring improvement notice

News

A landlord in Telford is to pay a huge fine after his local council took him to court over a substandard property he rented out within the town.

Landlords caught up in latest cladding remediation problems

Landlords caught up in latest cladding remediation problems

News

A Lib Dem MP has highlighted what he describes as an unfolding EWS1 form scandal after a fire safety consultant was sanctioned for unprofessional conduct.

How will landlords handle risky tenants when 'rent in advance' is banned?

How will landlords handle risky tenants when 'rent in advance' is banned?

News

One of the seismic changes for landlords and letting agents this year will be when the Renters’ Rights Bill bans taking rent in advance.

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Landlords with leasehold properties in line for Ground Rent rip-off refunds

Landlords with leasehold properties in line for Ground Rent rip-off refunds

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More than 5,000 leaseholders including landlords could get refunds on their ground rent after the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) secured assurances from nine firms that bought freeholds from housing developer Taylor Wimpey. Those leaseholders who paid a doubled

EXPERT: Number of councils seeking to stop HMO conversions is on the rise

EXPERT: Number of councils seeking to stop HMO conversions is on the rise

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More councils are set to introduce Article 4 directions in a bid to clamp down on HMO development, with six currently waiting for approval. There are already about 45 local authorities in England partly or entirely affected by Article 4 which means planning permission is nee

Unintended consequences of plans to ban Section 21 evictions 'already happening'

Unintended consequences of plans to ban Section 21 evictions 'already happening'

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A new landlord survey has revealed the effects of the Government's proposals to ban Section 21 evictions already feeding into the private rented sector. Evictions specialist Landlord Action canvassed some 1,500 landlords and found that 26% of those who had evicted a tenant over

Speculation grows that Rees-Mogg will be Housing Secretary if Liz Truss wins

Speculation grows that Rees-Mogg will be Housing Secretary if Liz Truss wins

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Its known as silly season when the media focuses on light-hearted stories, but news that Jacob Rees-Mogg (pictured) is being mooted as the new Levelling Up Secretary has been seen by some as no laughing matter. As the leadership contest draws to a close, preparations fo

Making tax digital as a landlord: What you need to know

Making tax digital as a landlord: What you need to know

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Making tax digital (MTD) for income tax is part of the governments long-term strategy to digitalise tax and will have implications for how landlords pay tax on their income. For those used to self-assessment, it will represent a change, but providing digital records will give businesses

What are the special rules for VAT on commercial property?

What are the special rules for VAT on commercial property?

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VAT on Commercial Property is a complex topic and anyone wishing to understand these complexities in relation to their own situation should seek specialist advice. This article should give a broad brush general overview but you really should seek advice because errors can be irredeemable an

Landlord banned from letting properties in England for five years

Landlord banned from letting properties in England for five years

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A rogue portfolio landlord has been banned from letting properties for five years after she admitted multiple offences relating to fire safety issues. Naomi Knapp, a landlord with 34 properties in Bristol, was convicted of eight banning order offences and will now be added to th

'Spray foam must be regulated to stop properties becoming un-mortgageable'

'Spray foam must be regulated to stop properties becoming un-mortgageable'

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Urgent regulation of the spray foam industry is needed to prevent making thousands of homes un-mortgagable, warn leading property groups. Sprayed polyurethane expanding foams are often used in lofts, either to stabilise a failing roof covering or to provide extra insulation. But

EXCLUSIVE: Landlords battle city council over HMO council tax re-valuations

EXCLUSIVE: Landlords battle city council over HMO council tax re-valuations

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Portsmouths HMOs are in the firing line again as growing numbers are being referred to the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) to have their council tax bands reassessed. Rather than paying tax on the whole property, each room can be classified as a band A at a cost of �1,200, wit

What Documents do I need when letting a property?

What Documents do I need when letting a property?

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Lettings Document Checklist: When setting up a new Assured Shorthold Tenancy (AST) it has always been important to pay attention to the paperwork, which provides vital evidence should there be a dispute during or after the tenancy.But since the Deregulation Act 2015, with me

Minister claims courts 'will be ready for eviction changes'

Minister claims courts 'will be ready for eviction changes'

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The government has reassured landlords that it is forging ahead with plans for court reform in readiness for abolishing section 21.

Periodic tenancies 'pose huge risks for landlords' warns expert

Periodic tenancies 'pose huge risks for landlords' warns expert

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Government plans to abolish assured shorthold tenancies and replace them with periodic lets could put landlords’ properties at risk, according to inspection specialists NoLettingGo.

SW agents say landlords quitting sector 'in droves'

SW agents say landlords quitting sector 'in droves'

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Two letting agents in the South West has claimed that landlords are leaving the private rental market in droves.

Scotland to give landlords more time to meet minimum EPC rules

Scotland to give landlords more time to meet minimum EPC rules

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The Scottish government has backtracked on plans to force the private rented sector to meet energy efficiency deadlines by 2025.

Judge slams 'disrespectful' council over landlord's licencing complaint

Judge slams 'disrespectful' council over landlord's licencing complaint

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A First Tier Property Tribunal has criticised Barking and Dagenham Council for failing to support a landlord who mistakenly failed to get a selective licence.

Government works with Facebook to end property rental scams

Government works with Facebook to end property rental scams

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A new Online Fraud Charter aims to thwart property rental scams including fake accommodation listings on Facebook Marketplace used to lure in unsuspecting tenants.

Will landlords HAVE to use new ombudsman? Yes, says Court of Appeal

Will landlords HAVE to use new ombudsman? Yes, says Court of Appeal

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Landlords have been warned that a Court of Appeal decision issued late last week will mean that in future they will have to settle their differences with tenants via an ombudsman before going to court.

Landlords battle council over 'bad' new HMO licencing system

Landlords battle council over 'bad' new HMO licencing system

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New licensing application software introduced by Portsmouth City Council has been slammed for being badly written, hard to use and too demanding.

Serving fire officer to pay £25,000 over HMO blaze risks

Serving fire officer to pay £25,000 over HMO blaze risks

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A serving fire officer whose tenants were at risk of dying in a fire in his unsafe HMO has been fined more than £15,000.

Reform bill will make PRS 'more hostile' to landlords, warn letting agents

Reform bill will make PRS 'more hostile' to landlords, warn letting agents

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The UK's leading property trade association has warned MPs that the Renters Reform Bill contains measures likely to make the PRS increasingly hostile to landlords.

London landlord to repay tenants £10,000 in rent

London landlord to repay tenants £10,000 in rent

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A London landlord has been ordered to repay his tenants nearly £10,000 in rent following a Property Tribunal hearing.

Legal Case: AGAs and GAGAs - commercial tenancy guarantees

Legal Case: AGAs and GAGAs - commercial tenancy guarantees

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Commercial tenants, with the landlord's consent, not to be unreasonably withheld, can assign their lease (transfer it) to a third party (a new tenant).

Liverpool to spend £2 million on new 'rogue landlord' taskforce

Liverpool to spend £2 million on new 'rogue landlord' taskforce

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Liverpool City Council has launched a new taskforce to go after criminal landlords who exploit vulnerable tenants.

Leasehold WILL eventually be abolished for flats says minister

Leasehold WILL eventually be abolished for flats says minister

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The government has signalled that it will bring in more leasehold reforms for flat owners following the introduction of the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Bill.

Agency boss says mortgage interest tax relief for landlords 'must be reinstated'

Agency boss says mortgage interest tax relief for landlords 'must be reinstated'

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Leaders Romans Group (LRG) has called for a landlords’ reform bill to protect landlords and safeguard the housing sector.

Huge HMO prevention scheme launched by big Midlands city

Huge HMO prevention scheme launched by big Midlands city

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Coventry has gone ahead with a huge new scheme to prevent properties being converted into HMOs without full planning permission.

Does a missing landlord address invalidate a Section 8 notice?

Does a missing landlord address invalidate a Section 8 notice?

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This was a question answered during a recent appeal case covered here by Tom Entwistle In the Prempeh v Lakhany (Oct 2020) appeal the tenant claimed that a Section 8 notice was invalid because it did not contain the la

Shamplina among 20 winners at landlord awards

Shamplina among 20 winners at landlord awards

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Paul Shamplina has won Seminar Speaker of the Year at the National LIS Awards 2023, the third time in a row the Landlord Action founder has received the honour.

Letting agent caught blatantly refusing to return tenant's deposit

Letting agent caught blatantly refusing to return tenant's deposit

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A letting agent has been found to have blatantly broken the law by refusing to hand back a holding deposit.

Landlords warned they must ensure property ads are accurate

Landlords warned they must ensure property ads are accurate

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Landlords have been warned that they will have to work much harder with their letting agent to ensure property adverts for their homes to rent include all the ‘material information’.

Up to 50% of southern England landlords looking to sell up

Up to 50% of southern England landlords looking to sell up

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One in five landlords hit by rising costs are considering selling up, with a stark divide between those with properties in the north and south of the country.

Minister claims rent controls 'are working' for tenants and landlords

Minister claims rent controls 'are working' for tenants and landlords

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Scotland’s housing minister has defended the country’s policy of rent and eviction controls despite new figures showing rents continuing to rise.

Landlord couple to face jail following HMO tenant's fire death

Landlord couple to face jail following HMO tenant's fire death

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A landlord couple could face jail after admitting a string of offences which led to the death of one of their tenants in a fire.

Social housing ombudsman to deal with private landlords too, says Minister

Social housing ombudsman to deal with private landlords too, says Minister

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Disputes between landlords and their tenants will soon be handled by the social housing ombudsman, it has been confirmed by Government minister Jacob Young.