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Number of new licensing schemes lined up has surpassed last year’s total

Number of new licensing schemes lined up has surpassed last year’s total

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The number of licensing schemes lined up to launch this year has already surpassed last year’s total, as councils continue to put the financial squeeze on landlords.

Landlord avoids £29K rent repayment order after tribunal ruling

Landlord avoids £29K rent repayment order after tribunal ruling

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A landlord has avoided a £29,000 rent repayment order after a First Tier Property Tribunal ruled that he had been the victim of administrative failings by Southwark Council.

Renters' Rights Bill to be discussed by expert panel at National Landlord Investment Show

Renters' Rights Bill to be discussed by expert panel at National Landlord Investment Show

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The huge changes that the Renters' Rights Bill will introduce for private landlords will be addressed by a panel of top experts at this year’s National Landlord Investment Show.

Tenants likely to go for every target when tougher rent repayment orders take effect, warns solicitor

Tenants likely to go for every target when tougher rent repayment orders take effect, warns solicitor

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Tenants are likely to go after every plausible target when tougher rent repayment orders take effect later this year, a solicitor has warned.

Number of new tenancies agreed increases, Propertymark reveals

Number of new tenancies agreed increases, Propertymark reveals

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The average number of new tenancies agreed per lettings agent branch climbed to around eight in the first month of this year, a new report has revealed

Rogue landlords face revised penalties of up to £30,000 per offence, Haringey Council warns

Rogue landlords face revised penalties of up to £30,000 per offence, Haringey Council warns

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Haringey Council has introduced tougher fines for errant landlords in a bid to raise housing standards across the London borough.

Shrinking pool of rental homes continues to drive up rents, reports RICS

Shrinking pool of rental homes continues to drive up rents, reports RICS

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A shrinking pool of rental properties continued to drive up rents last month, despite reduced demand from tenants

Rental homes that aren’t up to scratch are under increased threat

Rental homes that aren’t up to scratch are under increased threat

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Private landlords whose properties aren’t up to scratch face a significant increase in pressure and threat when the Decent Home Standard kicks in.

Tenants urged by housing minister to challenge unfair rents

Tenants urged by housing minister to challenge unfair rents

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Tenants are being urged by the housing minister to challenge unfair rent increases.

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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

LEGAL LATEST: Can the eviction of a disabled tenant ever be fair?

LEGAL LATEST: Can the eviction of a disabled tenant ever be fair?

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A severely disabled tenant and his family have barricaded themselves into their home in a bid to prevent a controversial eviction. Quadriplegic Harvey Cowe, 62, and his wife Sheree, 55, have lived at the house in Brittany Road, Hove, for 25 years after Brighton & Hove C

'Selective licencing fees will push up rents as cost of living rises squeeze landlords too'

'Selective licencing fees will push up rents as cost of living rises squeeze landlords too'

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A leading letting agent has criticised the reasoning behind the UKs ever-growing list of selective licensing schemes. Selective licensing covers all rented property in a given area or council borough and landlords are required to pay a five-yearly fee of between �500 and �9

More HMO restrictions in Bristol as battle over fast-expanding sector hots up

More HMO restrictions in Bristol as battle over fast-expanding sector hots up

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Landlords in Bristol will soon be required to gain planning permission to convert properties into HMOs in three key areas, it has been revealed. South Gloucestershire Council is to bring in Article 4 directions in the Bristol neighbourhoods of Stoke Park and Cheswick and parts o

LATEST: London mayor urges private landlords to sell their homes to councils

LATEST: London mayor urges private landlords to sell their homes to councils

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Londons mayor Sadiq Khan has urged private landlords who are planning to exit the private rented market to sell their properties to local councils instead of other landlords. Khan made the comments within a self-congratulatory statement on his website l

PICTURES: Landlord to pay �40,000 after multiple breaches of HMO licence

PICTURES: Landlord to pay �40,000 after multiple breaches of HMO licence

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A landlord in London must now pay �40,000 after losing his appeal against his fine for breaching Mandatory HMO licensing conditions at a bedsit property above a pub. Earlier this year Islington council brought a prosecution against Mohammed Shahid for fai

Likely cost of EPC upgrades for rental properties revealed by Government

Likely cost of EPC upgrades for rental properties revealed by Government

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Energy efficiency improvement costs for most private rental homes work out at between �5,000 and �9,999 (46%), while almost a third (30%) could be improved for under �5,000, according to the latest government analysis. At the other end of the scale, 19% of homes would cost be

Higher mortgage rates driving more landlords to request rent guarantors

Higher mortgage rates driving more landlords to request rent guarantors

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Landlords hit by mortgage rate hikes are demanding guarantors from increasing numbers of high earning tenants. Many tenants are seeing a greater proportion of their take-home pay go towards rent so are having to provide the additional security of a guarantor when signing new agr

Influential Labour group says tougher eviction rules needed to tackle poverty

Influential Labour group says tougher eviction rules needed to tackle poverty

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Landlords should be prevented from serving an eviction notice for at least the first year of a tenancy, in the case of repossession for selling or occupying the property, according to a new report from the Fabian Society. The independent left-leaning

Rents soar as agents report rising tenant demand but landlord slump

Rents soar as agents report rising tenant demand but landlord slump

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The Governments housing policies are coming home to roost as tenant demand continues to soar but the number of landlords advertising new properties to rent plummets, it has been revealed. RICS says that during June it found significantly more members (a net balance increase o

NEW: Big London borough brings in tighter HMO conversion rules for landlords

NEW: Big London borough brings in tighter HMO conversion rules for landlords

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Landlords in one of London's biggest boroughs now need planning permission to convert family homes into HMOs for three to six tenants. After a year-long pilot and consultation with residents, the London Borough of Hounslow (main picture) has made its borough-wide A

LATEST: Mortgage problems drive surge in portfolio landlords selling up

LATEST: Mortgage problems drive surge in portfolio landlords selling up

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Landlords with portfolios of 20 properties or more are making up the bulk of enquiries about selling to the Landlord Sales Agency. Despite reports that smaller landlords with one or two properties will be hardest hit by current market conditions, the firm has one landlord client

Housing chief tries to reassure landlords over looming eviction changes

Housing chief tries to reassure landlords over looming eviction changes

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Government officials have reassured private landlords that judges will be able to consider a wider range of behaviours before using their judicial discretion in ASB eviction cases. Giving evidence to the Levelling Up Housing and Communities Committee into

Almost a quarter of a million buy-to-let landlords are facing losses

Almost a quarter of a million buy-to-let landlords are facing losses

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According to the Daily Telegraph, around 225,000 landlords will be in a loss making situation following the latest jump in refinancing costs. It is estimated that these landlords will be in the red when they come to refinance as mortgage rates are climbing towards

Renting reform bill progress unlikely until much later this year, admits minister

Renting reform bill progress unlikely until much later this year, admits minister

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The Governments Renters Reform Bill is unlikely to make progress through parliament until much later this year, housing minister Rachel Maclean has admitted. Maclean was unable to confirm when the bill would get a second reading during a Q&A with MPs from the Levelling Up

Labour WARNED over claim that 'most renters live in homes owned via mortgages'

Labour WARNED over claim that 'most renters live in homes owned via mortgages'

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A team of independent fact checkers and campaigners has debunked Labours claims that most renters live in homes bought with a buy-to-let mortgage. Deputy leader Angela Rayner made the assertion last week, but charity Full Fact says the claim is technically incorrect, as it ho

Horrendous overcrowding at dilapidated HMO leads to £17,000 fine for landlord

Horrendous overcrowding at dilapidated HMO leads to £17,000 fine for landlord

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A letting agency-owning landlord has been fined more than £17,000 for renting out one small room in an HMO to a family of five. Ruhul Shamsuddin and his company Lordsons Estates were found guilty of 23 housing offences relating to a

Bank of England warns landlords face 'impossible position' as rates rise

Bank of England warns landlords face 'impossible position' as rates rise

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The Bank of England has warned that landlords with mortgages are under increasing strain from higher interest payments and other structural factors, all of which are likely to put pressure on their incomes�. The commentary is within the banks latest https:

Landlord mortgage arrears outstrip home owners' as costs squeeze profitability

Landlord mortgage arrears outstrip home owners' as costs squeeze profitability

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Landlords arrears are growing at a faster rate than homeowners, according to new research that suggests fewer investors are being shielded from economic headwinds. https://www.octanecapital.co.uk/" Octane Capital found that buy-to-let arrears of more tha

Kerching! Five tenants pocket �29,000 after landlord fails to licence HMO

Kerching! Five tenants pocket �29,000 after landlord fails to licence HMO

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Five tenants have shared a whopping �29,000 Rent Repayment Order after their landlord failed to licence its HMO. East London-based https://www.facebook.com/weletroomsuk/" We Let Rooms Ltd did not defend itself at a First Tier Property T

Corporate student rooms giant to 'clean up' as private landlords quit market

Corporate student rooms giant to 'clean up' as private landlords quit market

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The supply of purpose-built student accommodation cant keep pace with growing student demand as HMO landlords continue to leave the sector, according to the UKs largest PBSA provider. <figure id="" class="w-richtext-figure-type- " data-rt-type="" data-rt-align=""><div><img src="htt

Beadle slams claim that landlords will 'game new eviction rules'

Beadle slams claim that landlords will 'game new eviction rules'

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Landlord leader Ben Beadle has given Shelter a run for its money during a parliamentary committee evidence session on the Renters (Reform) Bill. Beadle, who is chief executive of the National Residential Landlords Association, wondered out loud during the meeting whether campaig

ANALYSIS: How it's a taxing time for landlords...

ANALYSIS: How it's a taxing time for landlords...

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Changes in tax rules for buy-to-let landlords have definitely made the business of letting property more challenging, particularly with those who have taken on big mortgages to buy their rental properties. The removal of mortgage interest relief (Section 24 of the Finance Act) a

'This is why landlords must approach guaranteed rent schemes with caution'

'This is why landlords must approach guaranteed rent schemes with caution'

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An Essex landlord has learned the hard way that unpicking rent-to-rent or guaranteed rent agreements can be a lot more difficult than many might believe. In a case handled by the Resolution Department Lead Suzy Hershman (main picture) and her team at

Agency boss to pay �8,000 after using 'terrifying' tactics to bully tenants

Agency boss to pay �8,000 after using 'terrifying' tactics to bully tenants

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A rogue letting agency boss who used heavies to scare tenants and misled them about their rights has been ordered to pay �8,000. Four residents complained to Tower Hamlets Councils environmental health and trading standards team about London Corporate Apartments Ltd (LCA), w

Landlords write open letter calling out Government's 'attack on property sector'

Landlords write open letter calling out Government's 'attack on property sector'

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Jerseys private landlords have urged lawmakers to rethink radical plans to shake up the sector which they fear will exacerbate the housing crisis. The Jersey Landlords Association (https://www.jla.je/" JLA ) has

'Give tenants some of your equity gains when you sell' says Big Issue founder

'Give tenants some of your equity gains when you sell' says Big Issue founder

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Landlords should give renters some of their equity gains when they sell up to stop the giant tenant rip-off, according to https://www.bigissue.com/ The Big Issue boss John Bird (main picture). Bird b

Agents say rent cap has 'forced more landlords to quit and pushed up rents'

Agents say rent cap has 'forced more landlords to quit and pushed up rents'

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One hundred percent of letting agencies in Scotland say they have seen more landlords exiting the market since the countrys government brought in and then recently-extended a rent rise cap and evictions ban. Agents canvassed by trade organisation Propertymark also reported an

'Landlords to be exempted from council tax premium on empty homes'

'Landlords to be exempted from council tax premium on empty homes'

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A consultation has opened into proposals not to charge landlords who are preparing a property to let or waiting to find a tenant the empty homes a council tax premium. The government wants to strengthen the existing long-term empty homes premium by applying this to properties th

UK house prices falling, mortgage rates rising but some landlords still buying

UK house prices falling, mortgage rates rising but some landlords still buying

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UK house prices fell by 3.1pc on an annualised basis in the first quarter (Q1) of 2023 and an increase in interest rates have a dampening effect on the market. Inflationary pressures With inflation currently running at 8.7pc (CPI), this is well above the Bank of Engl

Plans to make Airbnb landlords reach same standards as hotels criticised

Plans to make Airbnb landlords reach same standards as hotels criticised

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Statutory licensing scheme plans for visitor accommodation in Wales have got the thumbs down from many holiday home owners, short-lets landlords and residents. The proposals, which will see all holiday homes, https://www.landlordzone.co.uk/tag/airbnb-landlords/" target=