Date

Library

Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

Hardship test “bombshell” for landlords

Hardship test “bombshell” for landlords

News

Labour’s housing minister Matthew Pennycook is said to be planning a “hardship test”

New minister says transfer from housing benefit to Universal Credit 'smooth' but expert disagrees

New minister says transfer from housing benefit to Universal Credit 'smooth' but expert disagrees

News

Claims by the new Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) minister of state Stephen Timms that the transfer of remaining housing benefit claimants to Universal Credit is being done ‘as smoothly as possible’ have been questioned by a leading expert.

Landlord fined £10,000 over failure to do £169 safety check

Landlord fined £10,000 over failure to do £169 safety check

News

Booking in a five-yearly Electrical Safety Installation Certificate (ESIC) check for your rented property often seems like one of the plethora of minor tasks on the ‘to do’ list.

Higher BTL repossessions making rental shortage worse says Law Society

Higher BTL repossessions making rental shortage worse says Law Society

News

An increase in buy-to-let repossessions is exacerbating the rental supply shortage and leaving evicted families without legal aid needed to fight their case.

'We're seeing mostly older landlords selling up' says agency boss

'We're seeing mostly older landlords selling up' says agency boss

News

An exodus of older landlords is paving the way for build-to-rent investors and younger landlords looking to capitalise on higher yield properties, according to a big estate agency boss.

Landlord property repossessions continue upward trajectory

Landlord property repossessions continue upward trajectory

News

At least 710 buy-to-let mortgaged properties were repossessed in the second quarter of the year, 13% up on the previous quarter and 51% up year-on-year.

OpenRent and Rightmove's 'war of words' ends with new deal

OpenRent and Rightmove's 'war of words' ends with new deal

News

Online lettings firm OpenRent and Rightmove have signed a new property listings deal after several weeks of corporate brinkmanship over fees.

COURTS: Time to evict a tenant jumps 15% to 25 weeks

COURTS: Time to evict a tenant jumps 15% to 25 weeks

News

The average time from claim to landlord repossession has jumped to 25.4 weeks, up from 22.1 weeks in the same period in 2023, according to the latest government figures.

'Supply of rented property thinning out, and Labour's not helping'

'Supply of rented property thinning out, and Labour's not helping'

News

Gloomy letting agents have reported a fall-off in private rentals coming onto the market around the country.

Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

PIX: Shocking size of 'rooms' within illegal HMO revealed

PIX: Shocking size of 'rooms' within illegal HMO revealed

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

A rogue landlord who turned her three-bedroom bungalow into a 15-room unlicensed HMO where tenants slept on camp beds in windowless rooms has been handed a £12,000 fine.

HMO landlords should be Scrooge not Santa this Christmas

HMO landlords should be Scrooge not Santa this Christmas

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Landlords have been advised not to let their tenants deck the halls with flammable holly during the festive season.

Government promises to fix cladding remiation problems by 2029

Government promises to fix cladding remiation problems by 2029

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

The government has set out new targets to fix unsafe buildings in England as part of its Remediation Acceleration Plan.

Gloucester plans clampdown on spread of HMOs

Gloucester plans clampdown on spread of HMOs

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Gloucester Council is to apply for an Article 4 Direction in a bid to curb the number of shared houses in the city.

'Labour's reforms will cost landlords and tenants'

'Labour's reforms will cost landlords and tenants'

Opinion
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

The Renters’ Rights Bill will add extra costs for tenants as well as landlords, and it will cause landlords to leave the private rented sector

Property groups call for more homes, not rent controls

Property groups call for more homes, not rent controls

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Property groups have called on the Scottish government to focus on building homes rather than rent controls in a bid to address the country’s housing crisis.

Labour to spend £20m helping tenants fight evictions

Labour to spend £20m helping tenants fight evictions

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Civil legal aid fees for eviction cases and immigration are to receive a £20 million boost, marking the first increase since 1996.

Looming open-ended tenancies to have 'unintended consequences for tenants'

Looming open-ended tenancies to have 'unintended consequences for tenants'

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

The Government should further consider its plans to mandate open-ended tenancies as a legal requirement, as set out in the Renters’ Rights Bill going through parliament.

New tech enables landlords to make money from solar

New tech enables landlords to make money from solar

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

A new tech launch allows landlords to generate and sell electricity from rooftop solar panels either to their tenants or back to the grid without going through the main meter.

Landlords persuade Government to U-turn on pet rules in Jersey

Landlords persuade Government to U-turn on pet rules in Jersey

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Jersey landlords have avoided new rules that would have made imposing blanket bans on keeping pets illegal.

Big Norfolk council reveals new selective licencing plans

Big Norfolk council reveals new selective licencing plans

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Great Yarmouth is asking landlords for their views on extending selective licensing in the town.

Landlord reveals nightmare cannabis factory saga

Landlord reveals nightmare cannabis factory saga

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

I’m writing this article to highlight the pitfalls landlords can face, and to share what I’ve learned from my experience.

Shocking number of prospective tenants fail to be 'rent ready'

Shocking number of prospective tenants fail to be 'rent ready'

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

More than a third of tenants looking for a new home aren’t organised to move, despite the fiercely competitive rental market.

New deadline set for landlords to file digital tax returns

New deadline set for landlords to file digital tax returns

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Landlords earning more than £20,000 will have to use the Making Tax Digital for Income Tax Self-Assessment by the end of the current Parliament.

Deposit-free offer sees boost in landlords' short-let bookings

Deposit-free offer sees boost in landlords' short-let bookings

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

PropTech firm Rentals United aims to disrupt the short-let market with a property damage protection service paid for by a small nightly fee.

BLOG: 'Don't punish Scottish landlords for doing the right thing'

BLOG: 'Don't punish Scottish landlords for doing the right thing'

Opinion
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Policymakers must act to right the wrongs that have been foisted upon the PRS in recent years, says Scottish landlord group.

Are your properties ready as the mercury falls?

Are your properties ready as the mercury falls?

Sponsored
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

The clocks have gone back and there is a distinct chill in the air – and with the winter months almost upon us now is the perfect time to make sure your properties are prepared for a cold snap.

Landlords and agents slammed by BBC over 'bidding war' tactics

Landlords and agents slammed by BBC over 'bidding war' tactics

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Many landlords and lettings agents are prepared to use a shortage of rental properties to their advantage, viewers of the BBC’s Morning Live show were told.

71% of tenants have 'no issues' paying their rent, reveals official data

71% of tenants have 'no issues' paying their rent, reveals official data

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

New official data about the private rented sector reveals that it is in better shape than some tenants’ rights groups like to claim.

Renting reforms will 'break' local councils warn environmental health officers

Renting reforms will 'break' local councils warn environmental health officers

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

The Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH) has warned that the Renters’ Rights Bill will place a huge enforcement burden on already stretched local councils.

What does it take to be a successful landlord in the new regime? with Suzanne Smith

What does it take to be a successful landlord in the new regime? with Suzanne Smith

Podcast
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

We talk to lawyer turned self-managing landlord, Suzanne Smith, founder of The Independent Landlord.blog and co-host of a weekly podcast called Good Landlording.

Council says £840 licencing scheme has seen 'incredible improvement'

Council says £840 licencing scheme has seen 'incredible improvement'

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Nottinghamshire local authority Gedling Council is relaunching selective licensing in its Netherfield ward in the new year after seeing “incredible improvements” to living standards.

Government promises to tackle business rates anomalies

Government promises to tackle business rates anomalies

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Following years of lobbying, Labour has promised to act on what is generally agreed is an unfair UK business rates system

Labour to 'go further' than Tories with holiday lets regulation

Labour to 'go further' than Tories with holiday lets regulation

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook has hinted heavily that the government will go further than the Tories in its bid to regulate holiday lets.

Labour's Manchester mayor urges landlords not to quit sector

Labour's Manchester mayor urges landlords not to quit sector

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham has confirmed he doesn’t want landlords to exit the market, in marked contrast to comments made by his national Labour colleagues in Parliament.

Rents to rise faster than property values over next three years

Rents to rise faster than property values over next three years

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Hamptons predicts that rents will rise by 17% between 2024 and 2027, outpacing house price growth of 12.5%.

Why it's time for landlords to get digital

Why it's time for landlords to get digital

Sponsored
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Now is a great time for landlords to look at ways to manage their property portfolios online as wide-reaching legislation change looms, including a new digital Private Rented Sector database.

Half of Facebook rental ads are fake, claims Generation Rent

Half of Facebook rental ads are fake, claims Generation Rent

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

More than half the rental listings on Facebook Marketplace are likely to be scams, according to an investigation by Generation Rent.

First meeting of London Rent Commission held at City Hall

First meeting of London Rent Commission held at City Hall

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

The group, which includes politicians and activists, say the commission is the step toweards rent controls in the capital.

Total Landlord wins 'best insurance provider' for SEVENTH time

Total Landlord wins 'best insurance provider' for SEVENTH time

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

For the seventh year, Total Landlord, part of Total Property, has been named the 'Best Landlord Insurance Provider' at the Insurance Choice Awards 2024.

Rents in England close to 'affordability ceiling' says Savills expert

Rents in England close to 'affordability ceiling' says Savills expert

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Rents will carry on rising next year as the supply of rental homes continues to be outstripped by supply – but an ‘inflection point’ where rents become too expensive for many tenants will eventually arrive, and already has done in London.

Big London council votes to hugely extend selective licencing

Big London council votes to hugely extend selective licencing

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Decision by Lambeth councillors comes just a few months after an initial and expensive four-ward scheme went live.

RICS reports that the Budget gives a mixed bag for property

RICS reports that the Budget gives a mixed bag for property

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

There are Autumn Budget winners and losers in the property industry as a whole

Government rejects calls for longer licencing schemes

Government rejects calls for longer licencing schemes

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

The Government has rejected calls for 10-year selective licensing schemes and insists that the government recognises the burden that licensing puts on landlords.