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Renters (Reform) Bill - we take a first look at the radical new legislation

Renters (Reform) Bill - we take a first look at the radical new legislation

News

The Renters (Reform) Bill has finally had its first reading in Parliament, promising a fair deal to renters, faster redress for landlords and giving more details on how 'pets with lets' will work. Heralded as a once-in-a-generation overhaul of housing laws�, the government

Purplebricks sold to rival for �1 after senior team throw in the towel

Purplebricks sold to rival for �1 after senior team throw in the towel

News

Purplebricks, which at one stage was used by thousands of landlords to manage their properties, has announced that its assets and business are to be sold to rival Strike for �1, pending approval by its shareholders. Any funds remaining in the firm some �5.5 million are

Gove to approve looser rules for HMO landlords housing asylum seekers

Gove to approve looser rules for HMO landlords housing asylum seekers

News

Housing Secretary Michael Gove is set to push through new rules on HMO safety for housing asylum seekers with little fanfare on the same day that the Renters Reform Bill is published. The changes outlined in the proposed https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukdsi/2023/9780

BLOG: 'Reform bill will solve the problem of pet damage for landlords'

BLOG: 'Reform bill will solve the problem of pet damage for landlords'

News

The long-awaited Renters (Reform) Bill will finally be introduced in parliament after Prime Minister's Questions today. Setting out plans for 12 key reforms to the private rental sector, the 11th pledge - to give tenants the right in law to request a pet, which should not be unr

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

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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

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Lobby group launches to fight Scotland's rent controls

Lobby group launches to fight Scotland's rent controls

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A new private rented sector lobbying group hopes to convince the Scottish government to temper its plans for permanent rent controls under the Housing (Scotland) Bill.

Landlords warned after deposits court case stops eviction

Landlords warned after deposits court case stops eviction

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An appeal judge has backed a tenant’s argument that serving prescribed information before the deposit is paid isn’t valid, meaning their eviction cannot go ahead.

REVEALED: Where landlords wait longest and shortest to find tenants

REVEALED: Where landlords wait longest and shortest to find tenants

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Gloucester was the fastest moving rental market last month where the average property was let within 14 days of being advertised.

NRLA warns rent controls would 'not benefit tenants' in long run

NRLA warns rent controls would 'not benefit tenants' in long run

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Trade association the NRLA has warned that rent controls would prompt a third of landlords to sell up if they were introduced in England.

Big build-to-rent firm in trouble over 'misleading consumers'

Big build-to-rent firm in trouble over 'misleading consumers'

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Build-to-rent developer Quintain Living has had its knuckles rapped for wrongly suggesting tenants could make big energy bill savings, get free WiFi and work from home areas.

Big building society follows other BTL lenders and cuts rates

Big building society follows other BTL lenders and cuts rates

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Leeds Building Society is the latest lender to announce reductions to its BTL mortgage products following the Bank of England’s decision to cut the base rate from 5.25% to 5%.

Tory policies have 'driven students into expensive corporate blocks' - claim

Tory policies have 'driven students into expensive corporate blocks' - claim

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Exiting student landlords have paved the way for PBSA developers charging higher rents, according to The FT.

Panic selling as landlords fear capital gains tax raid

Panic selling as landlords fear capital gains tax raid

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Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves refusing to rule out a swinging increase in capital gains tax (CGT) for landlords

Report shows 11% of tenants paying 60% of their income as rent

Report shows 11% of tenants paying 60% of their income as rent

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A new report based on data from 46,000 renters reveals shocking data on how much they are spending on their rent.

NEW: Official 'How to Rent' guide out next Monday, confirms Government

NEW: Official 'How to Rent' guide out next Monday, confirms Government

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The government has confirmed that the latest How to Rent guide will go live on Monday, 2nd October, including details on the new Housing Loss Prevention Service.

New landlords: are you properly prepared for letting a property for the first time?

New landlords: are you properly prepared for letting a property for the first time?

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Letting for the first time can be a daunting prospect. Here is a summary of the key points you should look out for...

UPDATED: The importance of the residential property Inventory

UPDATED: The importance of the residential property Inventory

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Ever since the launch of the Tenancy Deposit Scheme in April 2007, the lettings industry has recognised the importance of a professional standard inventory if deposit damage claims by landlords or their agents are to succeed.

80% of landlords ‘were ready for EPC changes’ scrapped by Rishi Sunak this week

80% of landlords ‘were ready for EPC changes’ scrapped by Rishi Sunak this week

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Rishi Sunak’s decision to scrap tougher EPC rules for rented properties may spark anger among some landlords following new research that four in five of them had already made preparations to meet the former minimum ‘Band C’ requirement.

Short-let landlords in London ‘must be regulated and taxed more’ says Westminster

Short-let landlords in London ‘must be regulated and taxed more’ says Westminster

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Westminster City Council has repeated its calls for a compulsory registration scheme for short-term lets, a tax on overnight stays and powers to issue penalties to unregistered hosts, saying Airbnb is now causing an ‘enforcement nightmare’.

Offering sex for rent should be ‘specific offence’ say tenant campaigners

Offering sex for rent should be ‘specific offence’ say tenant campaigners

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The government is being urged to bring in a dedicated ‘sex for rent’ law to protect tenants after it promised to clamp down on predatory adverts.

Higher rents caused by more landlords than usual quitting says Bank of England

Higher rents caused by more landlords than usual quitting says Bank of England

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The Bank of England has blamed higher rents on more landlords than usual quitting the private rental market within its detailed quarterly report on the economy.

REVEALED: What the boiler replacement scheme change means for landlords

REVEALED: What the boiler replacement scheme change means for landlords

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Landlords have more of an incentive to make green improvements following PM Rishi Sunak’s announcement that they can now claim £7,500 for a heat pump installation.

Short-let landlords in London 'must be regulated and taxed more' says Westminster

Short-let landlords in London 'must be regulated and taxed more' says Westminster

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Westminster City Council has repeated its calls for a compulsory registration scheme for short-term lets, a tax on overnight stays and powers to issue penalties to unregistere

Offering sex for rent should be 'specific offence' say tenant campaigners

Offering sex for rent should be 'specific offence' say tenant campaigners

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The government is being urged to bring in a dedicated �sex for rent' law to protect tenants after it promised to clamp down on predatory adverts.

UPDATED:Brighton looks to licence 23,000 properties under massive new scheme

UPDATED:Brighton looks to licence 23,000 properties under massive new scheme

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Brighton & Hove Council hopes to introduce a huge selective licensing scheme that would eventually cover 17 of the city’s 23 wards.

Unusual council deal agreed to help tenants claim cash off landlords

Unusual council deal agreed to help tenants claim cash off landlords

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York Council has teamed up with Justice for Tenants (JFT) to help more residents claim rent repayment orders from errant landlords in what is claimed to be a ‘ground-breaking partnership’.

Council signs up campaign group to help tenants claim rent back from landlords

Council signs up campaign group to help tenants claim rent back from landlords

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York Council has teamed up with Justice for Tenants (JFT) to help more residents claim rent repayment orders from errant landlords in what is claimed to be a 'ground-breaking

Big council to regulate more HMOs despite landlord criticism of inspection regime

Big council to regulate more HMOs despite landlord criticism of inspection regime

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Haringey Council has given the green light to an additional HMO licencing scheme consultation.

Landlords to be stopped from renting out HMO rooms as holiday lets

Landlords to be stopped from renting out HMO rooms as holiday lets

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North Devon Council could close a loophole that allows HMO landlords to rent out their rooms as holiday lets.

Brum council: ‘We’re bankrupt but still enforcing new selective licencing scheme’

Brum council: ‘We’re bankrupt but still enforcing new selective licencing scheme’

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Birmingham Council has confirmed to LandlordZONE that its selective licensing scheme will continue to be enforced despite its dire financial situation.

A few simple tricks can prevent your property being sold off under your nose

A few simple tricks can prevent your property being sold off under your nose

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So called title fraud is on the rise, where someone steals your identity, transfers your property title and either mortgages it or sells it off

REVEALED: Full details of Rishi’s U-turn on boiler ban and EPC rules

REVEALED: Full details of Rishi’s U-turn on boiler ban and EPC rules

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Rishi Sunak has made a speech rowing back on several key green policies that were to cost landlords thousands but that were part of his key Net Zero pledges.

‘Landlords due millions of pounds in returned stamp duty overpayments’

‘Landlords due millions of pounds in returned stamp duty overpayments’

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Scores of landlords could be owed thousands of pounds in stamp duty overpayments, according to a specialist tax firm.

PM’s re-think on emissions targets inspired by EU changes

PM’s re-think on emissions targets inspired by EU changes

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The PM is considering scaling back the Government’s green pledges by delaying the ban on new petrol and diesel cars from 2030 to 2035 and slowing the phase-out of oil and gas boilers.

Landlords urge Welsh Government to ditch rent control proposals

Landlords urge Welsh Government to ditch rent control proposals

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The NRLA has urged the Welsh government to ditch rent control proposals as the worst possible idea for a PRS facing a chronic supply and demand crisis.

Property management firm faces huge fine after tenants rescued from fire

Property management firm faces huge fine after tenants rescued from fire

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A property management firm and its fire risk assessors face a hefty fine for fire safety breaches following a blaze which saw 17 people evacuated.

BREAKING: Prime Minister to U-turn on boiler ban and EPC fines for landlords

BREAKING: Prime Minister to U-turn on boiler ban and EPC fines for landlords

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Rishi Sunak is due to make a speech this week that will row back on several key green policies that were to cost landlords thousands but that were part of his key Net Zero pledges, it has been reported.

LATEST: Landlords who don't protect tenants' deposits face prosecution in Jersey

LATEST: Landlords who don't protect tenants' deposits face prosecution in Jersey

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In an unusual move the Jersey government is to give local authorities on the island more powers to prosecute landlords who do not protect tenants' deposits within the 30 day

Landlord fined £32,000 after creating hazardous conditions within illegal flats

Landlord fined £32,000 after creating hazardous conditions within illegal flats

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A rogue landlord who ignored fire risks and serious hazards at his flats and caravans has been fined £32,000.