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

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

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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

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

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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

Average rent now 25% higher than before Covid says leading agency

Average rent now 25% higher than before Covid says leading agency

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Rents on newly-let homes have increased by 25% across the UK since the start of Covid, costing the average tenant an extra �2,962 each year. Hamptons reports that rents rose 11% year-on-year, with April marking the second strongest month for rental growth on record.&nbsp; <p

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Cut corners on inventories at your peril, landlords warned

Cut corners on inventories at your peril, landlords warned

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Landlords and letting agents aren’t carrying out inventory inspections on nearly a third of tenancies, leaving themselves open to disputes.

Landlord tax burden puts the squeeze on maintenance budgets

Landlord tax burden puts the squeeze on maintenance budgets

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Landlords have been warned that cutting maintenance budgets could jeopardise their ability to rent out properties and puts renters at risk.

Court throws out rent-to-rent ruling against superior landlord

Court throws out rent-to-rent ruling against superior landlord

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A landlord has successfully overturned a rent repayment order after he argued he wasn’t responsible for an unlicensed HMO.

Condensation and mould – how can I deal with this knotty problem?

Condensation and mould – how can I deal with this knotty problem?

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It’s that time of year again. The first signs of the UK’s autumn cold arrives as we see more cooling rain and wind, and a noticeable drop in temperature

COMPLIANCE: How staying on top of your responsibilities could avoid five-figure penalties

COMPLIANCE: How staying on top of your responsibilities could avoid five-figure penalties

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A Hastings landlord is counting the cost after failing to provide their local authority with an essential safety certificate – a timely reminder to make sure you’re up-to-date with all your safety certificates.

Renting campaigners call for Labour to go further with reforms

Renting campaigners call for Labour to go further with reforms

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The Renters’ Reform Coalition has called for more radical renter reforms including longer eviction notice periods, longer protected periods free from eviction when a tenancy starts and limits on rent increases during a tenancy.

CGT hike 'to be final nail in rental sector's coffin' claims expert

CGT hike 'to be final nail in rental sector's coffin' claims expert

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A Capital Gains Tax rate change could be the final nail in the PRS coffin as investors ditch bricks and mortar, according to one big financial analyst.

Big landlords tell Labour "it's time to work with us to solve crisis"

Big landlords tell Labour "it's time to work with us to solve crisis"

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A portfolio landlord group has urged the government to voice support for the sector and work with it on finding a solution to the country’s housing crisis.

Hoarding under the spotlight in new NRLA courses

Hoarding under the spotlight in new NRLA courses

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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.

Tech firm that helps landlords sell rented homes to sitting tenants secures first funding

Tech firm that helps landlords sell rented homes to sitting tenants secures first funding

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A free service that helps landlords manage their portfolios more profitably but also sell individual properties to sitting tenants through an innovative funding model has secu

Northern council prepares planning crackdown against HMO conversions

Northern council prepares planning crackdown against HMO conversions

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Bolton council has revealed its intention to begin a coordinated campaign to rein-in the creation of more HMOs within its boundary including via planning and parking rules and

COMMENT: Government has got itself in a muddle over the rental market

COMMENT: Government has got itself in a muddle over the rental market

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Bidding wars, tenant CVs, queues outside properties � these phenomena have become common in the rental market across Britain.� So runs the editorial in this week's Su

BREAKING: Fines for Right to Rent breaches to rise from £80 to £5,000 per tenant

BREAKING: Fines for Right to Rent breaches to rise from £80 to £5,000 per tenant

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The Home Office has revealed plans to hugely increase the level of fines that landlords can face if they are found to have not checked tenants properly to see if they have the

Landlord fined £36,000 by court after fire reveals his property wasn't licenced

Landlord fined £36,000 by court after fire reveals his property wasn't licenced

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A landlord in the North West has been handed a �36,000 fine after a fire at his property revealed it had not been licenced.

Warwick to charge landlords £1,116 as it doubles size of HMO licencing

Warwick to charge landlords £1,116 as it doubles size of HMO licencing

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Warwick is the latest local authority planning to more than double the size of its HMO licencing scheme, starting in January 2024. This follows a public consultation earlier t

Government tax 'windfall' revealed as more landlords sell their properties

Government tax 'windfall' revealed as more landlords sell their properties

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Official figures out today revealing a huge increase in capital gains tax paid on residential property sales can be explained by more landlords than usual selling rental homes

'Base rate rise will put landlords and tenants under even more financial strain'

'Base rate rise will put landlords and tenants under even more financial strain'

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Landlords have warned the Bank of England that its decision to raise the base rate by a quarter of a percent to 5.25% will only put more pressure on to renters and buy-to-let

ANALYSIS: Short term lets under threat...

ANALYSIS: Short term lets under threat...

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The rental market in the UK has undergone something of a revolution in recent years, with a significant shift away from permanent or long-term renting towards Airbnb style hol

Unusual legal win by landlord shows appealing council fines can be worth it

Unusual legal win by landlord shows appealing council fines can be worth it

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Landlords operating good-quality and well managed rented properties and who are of good character should fight unfair council fines for failing to licence properties, an unusu

Landlord company registrations rise as many seek to avoid higher tax bills

Landlord company registrations rise as many seek to avoid higher tax bills

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Higher taxes and the pandemic have significantly increased the number of landlords starting up limited companies rather than owning and operating properties personally, new re

MARKET: Rents hit historic high of £1,367 a month as void periods plunge

MARKET: Rents hit historic high of £1,367 a month as void periods plunge

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The average rent for a property in the UK has hit a historic high of �1,367 a month, helping push void periods between tenancies down to their lowest ever, an average of nine

Is it fair that councils can fine landlords even though they too break the law?

Is it fair that councils can fine landlords even though they too break the law?

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There is a burning issue within the rented homes market that is grossly unfair on private landlords and that is never discussed by politicians or the trade associations that o

Landlord to pay tenants £12,500 because 'innocence of law is no defence'

Landlord to pay tenants £12,500 because 'innocence of law is no defence'

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Being ignorant of landlord law is no defence, a brutal legal point that has cost a landlord duo in London dearly after they were told by judges to repay their tenants �12,500

Looming EPC changes already skewing the buy-to-let market, claims finance boss

Looming EPC changes already skewing the buy-to-let market, claims finance boss

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The Governments plans to force landlords to upgrade their properties to a minimum C energy efficiency standard is already affecting how rental properties are being purchased, the boss of a big money firm has claimed. Louisa Sedgwick, Commercial Director at Paragon Bank

City office space under threat as personified by Canary Wharf exodus

City office space under threat as personified by Canary Wharf exodus

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The pattern of office working is changing and nowhere is its effect on commercial property being felt more strongly than in Londons Docklands Canary Wharf. A once thriving financial centre The development of the wharf into a thriving financial centre just outsi

BREAKING: Gove green lights expensive new licencing scheme in Nottingham

BREAKING: Gove green lights expensive new licencing scheme in Nottingham

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Michael Gove has given Nottingham city council the green light to proceed with one of the UKs most expensive and controversial selective licensing schemes. Due to start on December 1st, it will require all rented properties within 20 of its wards to be licenc

Government is afraid EPC upgrades will be final straw for landlords, says big bank

Government is afraid EPC upgrades will be final straw for landlords, says big bank

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A leading lender believes the governments likely decision to row back on EPCs is linked to fears that it will hit an already struggling PRS. Earlier this week, Housing Secretary Michael Gove suggested a delay in bringing in energy efficiency plans for rental properties to

Property firm reports more landlords selling up as 'red tape' burden rises

Property firm reports more landlords selling up as 'red tape' burden rises

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Home buying company the Open Property Group (OPG) has reported a 56% jump in PRS property purchases during the past year, with landlords blaming red tape for their decision to sell up. It bought nearly �6 million worth of property from homeowners and landlords looking for a fas

Payday! Three tenants to share �20,000 after landlord fails to licence property

Payday! Three tenants to share �20,000 after landlord fails to licence property

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Three tenants have won a �20,160 rent repayment order from their landlord who failed to licence his HMO. A First Tier Property Tribunal found that Simon Freed let out the three-bedroom flat in Frognal Court, Camden (main picture), a

Scots Ministers avoid revealing how many landlords are seeking big rent rises

Scots Ministers avoid revealing how many landlords are seeking big rent rises

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The Scottish Government has decided not to publish details of how many landlords north of the border have applied to raise their rent above the 3% maximum allowed under the countrys Cost of Living (Tenant Protection) (Scotland) Act. This controversial legislation was first in

Landlords warned over increase in unauthorised and illegal sub-letting by tenants

Landlords warned over increase in unauthorised and illegal sub-letting by tenants

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Sub-letting is on the increase within the private rented sector as the cost of living crisis bites, it has been reported. Direct Line says nearly half of all tenants who sublet rooms within their property have not told their landlord or checked they are allowed to within their r

Council's desperate measures to stop landlords evicting tenants revealed

Council's desperate measures to stop landlords evicting tenants revealed

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Brent Council is paying a landlord to house the tenant he was trying to evict after failing to come up with any alternative accommodation. The authority paid the legal fees and took over responsibility for paying the rent as long as the landlord continued to let his tenant stay

BTR makes another leap forward with £1.26 billion invested in just three months

BTR makes another leap forward with £1.26 billion invested in just three months

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T The UKs build-to-rent (BTR) stock now stands at 88,100 completed homes, with a further 53,500 homes under construction and 111,800 in the planning pipeline. Savills research reveals that in the second quarter of the year, the sector saw a record-breaking �1.26

Landlord outcry over 'unfair' major Midlands selective licencing scheme

Landlord outcry over 'unfair' major Midlands selective licencing scheme

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Landlords in Birmingham have slammed the citys new selective licensing scheme which some claim is unfairly targeting ethnic communities. The scheme, which took effect at the beginning of June, affects all landlords in 25 of the citys wards which have more than 20% of rente