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'Hold your nerve: Watch, wait, and don’t panic'

'Hold your nerve: Watch, wait, and don’t panic'

Opinion

The biggest news to hit the private rental sector in 25 years is here: the Renters' Rights Bill. Scheduled for its second reading today, 9 October, this Bill is poised to reshape the landscape for landlords and tenants alike.

Renters’ Rights Bill: how concerned should we be?

Renters’ Rights Bill: how concerned should we be?

News

Here’s an initial reaction to the Renters’ Rights Bill, thoughts that could change as it progresses through parliament - the second reading is today.

Funding confirmed for EPC improvements – but will it be enough?

Funding confirmed for EPC improvements – but will it be enough?

Sponsored

A new funding pot has been announced to support energy efficiency improvements in England.

MPs to debate renting reforms today as Rayner promises law 'ASAP'

MPs to debate renting reforms today as Rayner promises law 'ASAP'

News

The Renters’ Rights Bill will become law ‘as soon as possible’ housing secretary Angela Rayner has promised as parliament debates her legislation for the first time.

HMO landlords' fine appeal leads to £100,000 increase

HMO landlords' fine appeal leads to £100,000 increase

News

A judge has massively increased the fines given to two HMO landlords who have failed in a legal challenge against their sentence.

WARNING: Abolishing ASTs will push landlords into short lets sector

WARNING: Abolishing ASTs will push landlords into short lets sector

News

Removing fixed-term tenancies will drive up rents as landlords switch to short-term lets, warns Propertymark.

Landlord fined £22,600 after ignoring tenant safety warnings

Landlord fined £22,600 after ignoring tenant safety warnings

News

A landlord with multiple properties in Bootle has been ordered to pay £22,630 for ignoring safety risks that left his tenants facing imminent danger.

Many tenants are becoming 'unrentable' says leading figure

Many tenants are becoming 'unrentable' says leading figure

News

A significant number of people seeking properties to rent are finding themselves excluded and forced to live in temporary accommodation, it has been claimed, as landlords be become more risk averse.

Environmental health officers call for stronger landlord licencing

Environmental health officers call for stronger landlord licencing

News

The Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH) has backed calls for better funding of councils’ housing enforcement and stronger selective licensing.

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Landlords warned over using unregulated solicitors to fill in eviction claim forms

Landlords warned over using unregulated solicitors to fill in eviction claim forms

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News
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A tenancy mediator has warned landlords that they or the experts they hire - risk being jailed for contempt of court by not using a regulated solicitor to fill in possession notice claim forms. PRS Mediations Julie Ford (pictured) says that under the L

First rental eviction prompted by tighter EPC rules takes place in Midlands

First rental eviction prompted by tighter EPC rules takes place in Midlands

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An 80-year-old disabled woman is being evicted from her home after more than 60 years because her property wont pass tighter new EPC rules, a case which is believed to be the first of its kind. Thoresby Estate which owns Anne Marshs property in Edwin

BUDGET: Charities call for LHA to be raised to relieve pressure on benefits tenants

BUDGET: Charities call for LHA to be raised to relieve pressure on benefits tenants

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Increasing the Local Housing Allowance would be the quickest way for the government to improve access to affordable homes, say housing charities. According to analysis by the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS), in 37 local authorities, the gap between market rents for three-bedr

Property manager to pay �25,000 after failing to appeal 'horror electrics' fine

Property manager to pay �25,000 after failing to appeal 'horror electrics' fine

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The director of a property management firm has been fined more than �25,000 after dangerous electrics were discovered at an HMO in Northampton. West Northamptonshire Council issued a warrant in May 2022 after tenants raised concerns about the property in Lutterwor

NE Landlords slam councils' blanket licencing plan as 'waste of time'

NE Landlords slam councils' blanket licencing plan as 'waste of time'

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Landlords in the North East have complained that a rubber stamped selective licencing scheme is a pure waste of time� and that they are fed up being taxed in this way�. The comments concern Middlesborough councils plans to extend its licencing scheme in the ce

BUDGET: What can landlords expect from the Chancellor this week?

BUDGET: What can landlords expect from the Chancellor this week?

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News
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Landlords will be looking for more government support to make energy efficiency improvements while hoping for some tax burden relief in the upcoming Budget. With EPC deadlines looming, many want greater incentives to back up the https://www.gov.uk/apply-boiler-upgrade-s

BREAKING: Government to issue new 'How to Rent' guide on Friday

BREAKING: Government to issue new 'How to Rent' guide on Friday

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A new How to Rent guide will come out on Friday (17th March) which landlords in England must serve at the start of any new tenancy or renewal. The new guide forms part of the prescribed information landlords must issue, and if they dont

VOTE: Scots rent rises to be capped at 3% until October, MSPs agree

VOTE: Scots rent rises to be capped at 3% until October, MSPs agree

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Scottish MSPs have voted through a rent cap and extension of the eviction ban until 30th September. The rent cap for private sector tenancies will increase to 3% from 1st April under the amendment to the https://www.gov.scot/publications/cost-living-ten

NEW: Worcester latest to propose city-wide HMO licencing scheme

NEW: Worcester latest to propose city-wide HMO licencing scheme

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All HMO landlords in Worcester will soon have to buy a licence if councillors back a new additional licensing scheme. The city has operated an additional scheme since September 2015 but amended it in 2020 to cover only the wards of Arboretum, Bedwardine, Cathedral and St Clement

Corporate landlords to be exempt from Decent Homes Standard

Corporate landlords to be exempt from Decent Homes Standard

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The Government has revealed more details about how the ‘corporate’ student sector, which competes with traditional landlords for tenants, will be regulated in the future.

Landlord fights council over £15,000 HMO fine... and wins

Landlord fights council over £15,000 HMO fine... and wins

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News
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A landlord has successfully fought a licensing fine after an Upper Tribunal judge ruled it couldn’t be proved that a fifth tenant was living permanently in his HMO.

'Landlord bashing won't help solve housing crisis'

'Landlord bashing won't help solve housing crisis'

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A mortgage lending expert has warned that landlord bashing risks pushing out more smaller landlords, creating a vicious circle of fewer available rental properties and higher rents for tenants.

Landlords spending 'too much' on EPC upgrades

Landlords spending 'too much' on EPC upgrades

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News
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Most landlords’ ignorance of the points-based EPC system means they can sometimes spend more money than necessary on energy efficiency improvements.

Tenants can now pay landlords via their credit card

Tenants can now pay landlords via their credit card

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A digital platform that enables tenants to pay their rent via their credit or debit card rather than a BACS payment has officially launched in the UK.

Local authorities’ new powers to auction leases of vacant commercial premises

Local authorities’ new powers to auction leases of vacant commercial premises

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Local authorities' now have new powers to auction off leases of vacant commercial units in Britain’s town centres and high streets

Landlords worried about missing payments discover agent in jail

Landlords worried about missing payments discover agent in jail

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Landlords who complained about a missing letting agent have discovered that he had been jailed for assaulting a sex worker.

Government to spend millions stopping landlord evictions

Government to spend millions stopping landlord evictions

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More money will be spent persuading landlords not to evict tenants as part of a huge cash boost to help prevent homelessness.

Northern council to expand selective licensing

Northern council to expand selective licensing

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More landlords in Wirral could have to pay for a selective licence under plans being drawn up by the local council.

Rents rising by 9.1% a year on average, official figures reveal

Rents rising by 9.1% a year on average, official figures reveal

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Rents charged for new tenancies across the UK continue to rise as landlords seek to offset higher costs and supply continue to be weak, latest Government data shows.

Labour to allow councils to 'take over' empty rental properties

Labour to allow councils to 'take over' empty rental properties

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Councils will be given more power to force landlords to rent out vacant residential properties as part of the government’s English Devolution white paper.

Letting agents warn over Labour's plan to increase licensing

Letting agents warn over Labour's plan to increase licensing

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Letting agents have slammed plans to ease licensing rules that will mean local councils can introduce large selective schemes without government approval.

HMO landlords warned as London council begins 1,000s inspections

HMO landlords warned as London council begins 1,000s inspections

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Ealing Council has ramped up its crackdown on rogue landlords with a rigorous programme of HMO inspections.

Councils given more powers to licence landlord properties

Councils given more powers to licence landlord properties

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Local authorities will no longer have to ask the Secretary of State for permission to introduced selective licensing schemes in England and Northern Ireland, it has been revealed.

Lenders warn of 'challenging' year ahead for landlords

Lenders warn of 'challenging' year ahead for landlords

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Economic headwinds are set to shrink purchases in the buy-to-let market by 7% next year to £9 billion, predicts UK Finance.

Norwich landlords fume over missing rental payments

Norwich landlords fume over missing rental payments

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Landlords in Norwich are chasing thousands of pounds in rent payments from a letting agency which appears to have gone under.

Tenant demo in London calls for rent controls

Tenant demo in London calls for rent controls

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Hundreds of tenants have staged a protest in central London calling for the government to introduce rent controls.

Major national park moves to restrict holiday lets

Major national park moves to restrict holiday lets

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One of the UK’s larger national parks is planning to stop any new homes that are built within it being used as holiday/short lets or second homes.

Legal Matters: Serving notices, don’t fall foul of the law

Legal Matters: Serving notices, don’t fall foul of the law

Information
News
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A crucial task for landlords and agents is to correctly serve statutory notices and other documents

What should the new rental contracts be called? Have your say!

What should the new rental contracts be called? Have your say!

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Property experts are pondering what the government might name new tenancies created by the Renters’ Rights Bill.

Council takes unusual approach to signing off HMOs

Council takes unusual approach to signing off HMOs

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A district council has come up with a set of exceptional circumstances to help decide when to give the go-ahead to new HMOs.

Student landlord lands £2.3 million refinancing deal

Student landlord lands £2.3 million refinancing deal

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A landlord in Liverpool has secured £2.3 million to refinance eight student HMOs within the city and unusually has gone public about the deal.

Letting agent slams police over 'lack of justice'

Letting agent slams police over 'lack of justice'

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A letting agent has criticised police who failed to act when vandals threw a brick through one of his tenant’s windows.

Landlords, Fed Up with the Labour Government? Sell your Portfolio NOW

Landlords, Fed Up with the Labour Government? Sell your Portfolio NOW

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The never-ending onslaught of landlords, including the abolition of Section 21, tough EPC rules, and changes to stamp duty, have left landlords fed up and thinking of throwing in the towel.

Energy firms called out over HMO tenant utility bill problems

Energy firms called out over HMO tenant utility bill problems

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A tenants’ champion has slammed energy companies for failing to help renters with energy bill problems at HMOs.