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Room for optimism in rental market despite agents' gloomy forecast

Room for optimism in rental market despite agents' gloomy forecast

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The majority of letting agents expect to see more landlords leave the market in 2023, against a backdrop of rising arrears and falling https://www.landlordzone.co.uk/news/december-dip-makes-small-dent-in-rising-house-prices/" house prices . Goodlord reveals tha

Government urged to ban sale of gas boilers within a decade

Government urged to ban sale of gas boilers within a decade

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New and replacement gas boilers should be banned by 2033, two years earlier than current plans, according to the governments net zero tsar. Conservative MP Chris Skidmore believes it should make the decision to decarbonise homes by next year to help the country meet its clima

Alarm as Scottish ministers look to extend rent controls

Alarm as Scottish ministers look to extend rent controls

News

The Scottish government has admitted it is considering long-term proposals for rent control after the https://www.landlordzone.co.uk/news/leading-letting-agent-slams-chaotic-rent-freeze-announcement-in-scotland/" Cost of Living Act has expired. Minister for Te

Secretive landlord ordered to pay �37,000 for exploiting tenants

Secretive landlord ordered to pay �37,000 for exploiting tenants

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A rogue landlord who created false identities and fake letting agencies as part of an elaborate web of misinformation designed to exploit his tenants has been fined �12,000 and ordered to pay �25,000 costs.   Thomas Flight, who owns flats on Portland Square in ht

Landlord deals to come under close scrutiny as cost-of-living rises bite

Landlord deals to come under close scrutiny as cost-of-living rises bite

News

Tougher checks on lending to buy-to-let https://www.landlordzone.co.uk/news/office-blocks-and-high-streets-provide-hope-for-canny-investors/" investors are on the cards after the Bank of England warned it would scrutinise risky areas more heavily due to rising interest ra

BLOG: Will the last landlord to leave Scotland please turn out the lights

BLOG: Will the last landlord to leave Scotland please turn out the lights

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With the consistent implementation of draconian legislation over the last year from the Scottish Government, its no surprise that more landlords are leaving the private rented sector than ever before. Although some may cheer at the news, what they fail to realise is that the

Experts join forces to share knowledge and raise redress standards

Experts join forces to share knowledge and raise redress standards

News

The Property Redress Scheme's (PRS) advisory panel has chosen experts from across the sector to join its new member panel. The UKs largest lettings redress scheme, covering more than 13,250 letting agency branches, launched the panels as new, open, and transparent forums to b

Bid to ditch stamp duty benefit for BTL investors thrown out by MPs

Bid to ditch stamp duty benefit for BTL investors thrown out by MPs

News

MPs have voted against an amendment to prevent a tax cut from applying to buyers of second and additional homes. During a debate on the Stamp Duty Land Tax (Reduction) Bill, Opposition Treasury Secretary Abena Oppong-Asare said that a clause which increases the threshold for peo

The average UK household will lose over �2,000 in income this year

The average UK household will lose over �2,000 in income this year

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According to a new report just out by the Resolution Foundation (RF), UK households face a torrid time in the coming months in what is going to be the worst cost-of-living crisis in living memory. Its the aftermath of a Covid pandemic that involved massive Government borrowin

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Thousands of HMO landlords to face tougher rules in East of England

Thousands of HMO landlords to face tougher rules in East of England

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Norwich Council is overhauling its HMO policy by bringing in higher standards and tougher enforcement action.

Stretched councils 'unable to police landlords' mouldy homes'

Stretched councils 'unable to police landlords' mouldy homes'

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Local authorities are not enforcing private landlords’ legal duty to maintain safe housing, a BBC investigation has found.

High-profile landlord warns Energy Secretary over EPC upgrade plan

High-profile landlord warns Energy Secretary over EPC upgrade plan

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Nottingham benefits landlord Mick Roberts has warned that the government’s push to get rental properties up to an EPC C by 2030 could backfire.

Labour struggling with house building – quantity as well as quality

Labour struggling with house building – quantity as well as quality

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Angela Rayner’s promise to build 1.5 million new homes this Parliament is looking increasingly optimistic

Buying BTL property via a limited company now 'most popular route'

Buying BTL property via a limited company now 'most popular route'

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Seven out of 10 landlords planning to buy a new rental property during the next 12 months will use a limited company structure, it has been claimed.

Landlord to repay tenants £21,000 after failing to license HMO

Landlord to repay tenants £21,000 after failing to license HMO

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Four tenants have won £21,076 from their landlord who failed to explain why she hadn’t licensed her damp and cold HMO.

Rocketing leasehold charges trapping landlords with unsaleable flats

Rocketing leasehold charges trapping landlords with unsaleable flats

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Many landlords are struggling to sell leasehold flats because management charges have reached astronomical levels with many now forking out £2,000 or more a year.

Housing minister reveals plans to digitise property buying and selling

Housing minister reveals plans to digitise property buying and selling

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Landlords buying or selling homes will soon enjoy a smoother and quicker property transaction process after the Government announced that it is to digitise the system.

Salvation Army joins growing calls for Labour to unfreeze LHA

Salvation Army joins growing calls for Labour to unfreeze LHA

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The Salvation Army has joined calls for the UK government to help prevent homelessness in Scotland by scrapping the planned freeze on Local Housing Allowance (LHA).

Landlords across UK given more time to find out about licencing launches

Landlords across UK given more time to find out about licencing launches

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Councils have been given three months longer to launch selective licencing schemes, new Government guidance has revealed. An update to the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities advice to local authorities considering or planning a selective licencing scheme has

NEW: Former rental properties now account for 11% of homes for sale

NEW: Former rental properties now account for 11% of homes for sale

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More than 1 in 10 (11%) homes for sale on Zoopla are former rental properties after private landlords faced with tax changes and higher borrowing costs have rationalised their portfolios or quit the market. Before the pandemic, half of these homes for sale returned to th

MORTGAGES: Worried landlord tells BBC how his payments have tripled

MORTGAGES: Worried landlord tells BBC how his payments have tripled

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Paul Bradley, a landlord with a single rental property in North London, has told the BBC how the ongoing mortgage crisis has seen his monthly interest-only loan payments triple over the past 12 months. His case illustrates vividly the significant challenges that the approximatel

EXCLUSIVE: More tenants failing reference checks as cost-of-living bites

EXCLUSIVE: More tenants failing reference checks as cost-of-living bites

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The number of tenants passing referencing checks has dropped off drastically as the cost-of-living crisis bites. Rent guarantee firm Housing Hand reports that about 35% previously passed checks, but that the number is dropping and could now be as low as 25%. Another 40% will get

UPDATED: consider these things before you increase your tenant’s rent

UPDATED: consider these things before you increase your tenant’s rent

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With interest rates rising and this reflected in mortgage rates, landlords are being forced to contemplate rent increases. If you go down this road you need to be aware and follow the rules.

Powerless councils could make or break reforms, says Labour MP

Powerless councils could make or break reforms, says Labour MP

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A Labour MP has called on the government to extend notice periods from two to four months to prevent landlords from unjustly evicting tenants. <figure id="" class="w-richtext-figure-type- " data-rt-type="" data-rt-align=""><div><img src="https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/63bef2f3c329eff8e3

Licencing scheme off to weak start after only a third of landlords register

Licencing scheme off to weak start after only a third of landlords register

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Only one-third of Oxfords private rental properties have been registered for its city-wide selective licensing scheme and could soon face steeper fees or a hefty fine. The scheme, which launched last September, has received more than 10,500 licence applications from the 3

Landlord pleads with council to consider HMO tenants as housing shortages bite

Landlord pleads with council to consider HMO tenants as housing shortages bite

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An https://www.landlordzone.co.uk/news/braverman-under-pressure-to-reverse-outrageous-new-hmo-rules-for-asylum-seekers/" HMO landlord says desperate new tenants are moving in hours after the previous tenants leave due to a dearth of available properties. In he

'Despicable fraudster' gets eight-year ban for stealing landlords' deposits and rent

'Despicable fraudster' gets eight-year ban for stealing landlords' deposits and rent

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A letting agent who ripped off dozens of landlord clients has been banned from being a company director for eight years. https://www.landlordzone.co.uk/news/letting-agent-who-stole-80000-from-dozens-of-landlords-admits-fraud/" Frank Smart , 46, the owner of Sma

UPDATED: consider these things before you increase your tenant's rent

UPDATED: consider these things before you increase your tenant's rent

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News
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With interest rates rising and this reflected in mortgage rates, landlords are being forced to contemplate rent increases. If you go down this road you need to be aware and follow the rules.As landlord you can't legally increase your rent whenever you like, or by any amount you see fit. You need

Landlords encouraged to sell this month as property prices rise by 0.2%

Landlords encouraged to sell this month as property prices rise by 0.2%

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In a market where interest rates are sky high, tax bills are extortionate and mortgage payments are higher than rents, coupled with a backlog of refurb costs and difficult tenant situations, landlords are rushing to cash in and sell their property portfolios. If you were a landl

REFORM: 'We need legislation that works with landlords, not against them'

REFORM: 'We need legislation that works with landlords, not against them'

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With one in five households now renting, the private rented sector is an essential part of the housing market. As the government has reduced its housebuilding strategy for all local authorities from mandatory to advisory, with some councils scrapping targets all together, the ho

Portal launches in UK offering landlords direct online advertising to find tenants

Portal launches in UK offering landlords direct online advertising to find tenants

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A European lettings portal has launched in the UK aimed at globe-trotting students and young professionals. Rotterdam-based https://housinganywhere.com/" HousingAnywhere , which specialises in mid- to long-term rentals, now covers London,

Do HMOs still stack up as an investment?

Do HMOs still stack up as an investment?

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Over the last 15 years, the HMO market has been transformed and there has been a boom. The reason for the boom&nbsp; was, quite simply, that HMOs could generate far better returns than single home lets. &nbsp; But as the market grew, regulations tightened. On top of the extra du

LATEST: Section 21 evictions increasing as landlords quit sector, says Citizens Advice

LATEST: Section 21 evictions increasing as landlords quit sector, says Citizens Advice

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Nearly half of all Section 21 eviction notices have been prompted by landlords selling their properties, Citizens Advice has revealed. It also says that its seen a ramping up of evictions by landlords using Section 21 notices, handling some 2,000 cases last month. <p id=""

Guaranteed rent firm takes down website after LandlordZONE probe

Guaranteed rent firm takes down website after LandlordZONE probe

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A guaranteed rent firm has taken down its website after being exposed for using spurious claims about its connections with reputable bodies. London-based UK Housing Group Ltd, which boasts of being, the largest social housing agency in London and the Midlands featured out-

'Frustrated' council makes historic move to limit short-let holiday homes

'Frustrated' council makes historic move to limit short-let holiday homes

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A council in Wales is likely to become the first one to use an Article 4 Direction to clamp down on the use of houses as holiday lets. Gwynedd councillors approved the historic move after becoming frustrated with the increase in holiday homes across the county, and the effect th

Extra costs and red tape hitting landlords hard, mortgage chief warns

Extra costs and red tape hitting landlords hard, mortgage chief warns

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Politicians and lobby groups are likely to continue blaming private landlords for the housing shortage largely created by the hostile regulatory environment imposed by the same politicians who want even more draconian laws, finds a new report. One of the most bizarre aspects of

Council cracks down on illegal HMOs with surprise inspections

Council cracks down on illegal HMOs with surprise inspections

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Two unlicensed HMOs have been discovered during unannounced inspections by a council in the North, which says more 'surprise visits' are on the cards. <figure id="" class="w-richtext-figure-type- " data-rt-type="" data-rt-align=""><div><img src="https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/63bef2f3c3

BREAKING: Landlords tell housing minister face-to-face that sector needs support

BREAKING: Landlords tell housing minister face-to-face that sector needs support

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Landlords in Wales have called for the countrys government to make more effort to encourage private investment in the sector during a face-to-face meeting with housing minister Julie James. The National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA) has asked her government to exem

Less that 20% of PRS homes within LHA rates reveals shocking research

Less that 20% of PRS homes within LHA rates reveals shocking research

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Fewer than one in five private rental properties in England were within the Local Housing Allowance (LHA) rates last year, according to new joint research by the Chartered Institute of Housing and Shelter . The groups say the average

Leading property figure calls for 'tenancy register' in England and Wales

Leading property figure calls for 'tenancy register' in England and Wales

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The government has missed a trick by not introducing a tenancy register instead of an anti-landlord landlord register, one property consultant has claimed. Blackbird Real Estate founder https://www.richard-berridge.co.uk/" target="_blank" Richa

EXCLUSIVE: Conveyancer reports big drop in landlords buying BTL properties

EXCLUSIVE: Conveyancer reports big drop in landlords buying BTL properties

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The number of BTL investors buying properties has plummeted in the last six months while long-term landlords are selling up, according to one large conveyancing firm. Basildon-based https://pcslegal.co.uk/" PCS Legal

Business ratepayers will have to report any changes, and annually, under new bill...

Business ratepayers will have to report any changes, and annually, under new bill...

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The Non-Domestic Rating Bill going through Parliament (House of Lords) will require business ratepayers to report any changes and also report annually to the Valuation Office Agency (VOA). These changes to the operation of business rates will apply to all organisations responsib

BLOG: Why abolishing Section 21 isn't all bad news for landlords

BLOG: Why abolishing Section 21 isn't all bad news for landlords

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Yesterday I spoke to a room of 200 anxious landlords.&nbsp;The uncertainly surrounding the Renters (Reform) Bill really has whipped the housing market into a frenzy with landlords serving notices, selling up and exiting the sector in their droves.&nbsp; The mere thought of Sect