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COMMENT: Tax trap has landlords in a quandary

COMMENT: Tax trap has landlords in a quandary

Opinion

With substantial capital gains gathered within your properties, selling the whole portfolio will probably leave you exposed to a substantial capital gains tax bill

Welsh Government reveals 'baffling' stamp duty rise for landlords

Welsh Government reveals 'baffling' stamp duty rise for landlords

News

The Welsh Government has followed its counterparts in England and Scotland and raised the stamp duty that landlords buying rental properties must pay, effective from tomorrow.

Renting reforms will be 'costly ride' for landlords warns expert

Renting reforms will be 'costly ride' for landlords warns expert

News

Landlords may need to prepare for a turbulent and potentially very costly ride once the Renters’ Rights Bill becomes law, a financial expert has warned.

Judge orders landlord to pay back tenants £44,000

Judge orders landlord to pay back tenants £44,000

News

A landlord has been ordered to pay six tenants a whopping £44,358 after failing to provide an excuse for operating an unlicensed HMO.

People over 55 years old are 'fastest-growing tenant group'

People over 55 years old are 'fastest-growing tenant group'

News

Tenants heading for retirement age are the fastest growing group privately renting in England, according to new figures.

Campaigners target landlord's workplace over leaky flat

Campaigners target landlord's workplace over leaky flat

News

Tenant group Acorn has protested outside a landlord’s shop after he refused to return a former tenant’s deposit in a dispute over a leak.

City council slammed for 'double standards' over HMO licensing

City council slammed for 'double standards' over HMO licensing

News

Edinburgh Council has responded to accusations of double standards when housing homeless people in 30 unlicensed HMOs by moving tenants out of the properties.

Northern town popular with investors to clamp down on HMOs

Northern town popular with investors to clamp down on HMOs

News

Hyndburn Council wants to deter landlords from making the most of its cheap properties and ‘multiple deprivation’ by clamping down on HMO conversions.

A landlord Christmas carol - reflecting on the past, present, and future of the private rental sector

A landlord Christmas carol - reflecting on the past, present, and future of the private rental sector

Opinion

As we approach the festive season of 2024, like many of us, I find myself drawn to Charles Dickens's timeless tale, A Christmas Carol.

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

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

Opinion
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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?

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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

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News
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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

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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

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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

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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'

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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

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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

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

A recovering commercial property market is beginning to stall...

A recovering commercial property market is beginning to stall...

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News
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A recent RICS survey finds that interest rate hikes and cost of living pressures are beginning to weigh on sentiment. Credit conditions have deteriorated to such an extent that 43% of respondents to the RICS survey felt we're in early downturn.� Investor sentiment is steady, but the ma

NEW: HMRC confirms CGT property disposal rules for landlords after six-month wait

NEW: HMRC confirms CGT property disposal rules for landlords after six-month wait

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HMRC has confirmed that landlords must file a capital gains tax (CGT) property return - even if the disposal has already been reported on a self-assessment (SA) return. The government introduced the requirement to report disposals of UK residential property and pay the subsequen

Give tenants 'right to buy' their rented homes, says poverty organisation

Give tenants 'right to buy' their rented homes, says poverty organisation

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A leading poverty organisation has called for a radical overhaul of the private rented sector including a government-backed right to buy scheme for private renters. The Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF), which was founded by a Quaker philanthropist and sweets manufacturer i

LATEST: UK's first rent-to-own property scheme launches, backed by Nationwide

LATEST: UK's first rent-to-own property scheme launches, backed by Nationwide

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Kettel Homes has launched the UKs first open market rent-to-own programme for first-time buyers who cant access traditional home financing. Under the scheme, Kettel buys existing freehold single-family homes between �125,000 and �400,000 outside London, charging first-ti

'Government's plans to ban Section 21 evictions will lengthen evictions' - claim

'Government's plans to ban Section 21 evictions will lengthen evictions' - claim

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Landlords seeking to evict tenants face more delays when Section 21 notices are abolished, warns the boss of an insurance and referencing firm. Clogged courts and a shortage of judges and county-court bailiffs mean that cases are taking months to be heard, it is claimed. <p i

Rogue landlady faces jail over long-running campaign of violence against tenants

Rogue landlady faces jail over long-running campaign of violence against tenants

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A rogue landlady has been convicted of illegally evicting tenants during a decade-long campaign of violence, theft and vandalism. Sohila Tamiz , of Flint Lane, Lenham, even helped organise a gang of 10 to douse one man in petrol and smash his teeth, the tri

'Don't panic' as BTL mortgage rates rise, urges financial expert

'Don't panic' as BTL mortgage rates rise, urges financial expert

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A mortgage expert has urged landlords not to panic as buy-to-let mortgage rates continue to rise. <figure id="" class="w-richtext-figure-type- " data-rt-type="" data-rt-align=""><div><img src="https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/63bef2f3c329eff8e3a4af45/64cb992aa1ba8a68d7aa0638_dan-lee.jpeg"

City-backed firm to spend �1bn buying thousands of PRS properties with low EPCs

City-backed firm to spend �1bn buying thousands of PRS properties with low EPCs

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A proptech firm is to spend �1 billion buying up 3,000 private rented properties with low EPC ratings around the UK, which it plans to retrofit and rent out on behalf of its backers. With many individual landlords threatening to quit the sector - faced with licensing schemes an

40% of privately rented homes won't make 2028 deadline - agents claim

40% of privately rented homes won't make 2028 deadline - agents claim

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Forty per cent of privately rented homes in England are unlikely to achieve the energy efficiency rating target that is due to come into force in 2028. Trade organisation Propertymark says its analysis of the latest English Housing Survey shows that 60 per cent of the rental sec

Looming EPC rules to cause mayhem in the rental market, warns senior figure

Looming EPC rules to cause mayhem in the rental market, warns senior figure

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A staggering one-third of landlords plan to quit the sector or do nothing to address energy efficiency failings if and when new EPC regulations kick in. Research carried out on behalf of Paragon Bank reveals that 21% of landlords would not carry out any necessary works to bring

'Landlords NOT worried over proposals to give tenants more pet rights' says NRLA

'Landlords NOT worried over proposals to give tenants more pet rights' says NRLA

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The NRLA has played down landlords fears about new Government proposals to give tenants the right to request a pet. Speaking on the Radio 4 You and Yours programme, director of policy Chris Norris said many landlords werent too worried about the government

OPINION: Why do landlords get the blame for rejecting tenants on Universal Credit?

OPINION: Why do landlords get the blame for rejecting tenants on Universal Credit?

Opinion
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An official briefing document for MPs has underlined the contradictory position the government has manoeuvred itself into over landlords and letting agents who advertise properties as No DSS. The House of Commons Library document makes for interesting reading because, base

Well-known landlord jailed after defrauding HMRC out of £500,000

Well-known landlord jailed after defrauding HMRC out of £500,000

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A landlord who defrauded HMRC out of almost �500,000 by keeping deductions from his employees wages has been jailed for three years. Michael Stainer, 74, (inset, main picture) was found guilty of two counts of cheating the public revenue and one of fraud by false representat

Many UK buildings are in danger of becoming unusable in heatwaves

Many UK buildings are in danger of becoming unusable in heatwaves

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As temperatures in England and Wales soar this week, many office buildings will become unusable says real estate sustainability expert Chris Bennett of consultancy https://evoraglobal.com/" target="_blank" Evora Global - it should act as a powerful warning for real estate

'War on landlords' latest - 46,000 rental properties to disappear this year

'War on landlords' latest - 46,000 rental properties to disappear this year

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An estate agency has claimed that the governments war on landlords will cost the private rented market some 46,000 this year, or some 3,800 every month. Hamptons , which has branches all over the UK, says its research confirms that, as LandlordZONE

The cost of living crisis affects landlords as well as tenants

The cost of living crisis affects landlords as well as tenants

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With the cost of living crisis being the political issue of the day, and a political leadership contest underway, theres something of a hiatus in the way its being dealt with. But the situation is now quite urgent. Financial distress is now higher than during the pandemic.

'This is why I'm quitting the sector after 20 years' reveals frustrated landlord

'This is why I'm quitting the sector after 20 years' reveals frustrated landlord

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Fed-up landlord Sue is quitting the sector and taking a hit on her pension plan after being ground down by anti-landlord rhetoric and red tape. <figure id="" class="w-richtext-figure-type- " data-rt-type="" data-rt-align=""><div><img src="https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/63bef2f3c

Minister defends decision to exempt PBSA from periodic tenancy proposals

Minister defends decision to exempt PBSA from periodic tenancy proposals

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Housing minister Eddie Hughes has attempted to justify why institutional landlords who run Purpose Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) are to be exempted from the Governments proposal to move all tenancies in the PRS to periodic ones. <figure id="" class="w-richtext-figure-type- " data

EXCLUSIVE: Can landlords still access councils' empty homes funding?

EXCLUSIVE: Can landlords still access councils' empty homes funding?

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Landlords with empty properties are being urged to take advantage of council cash to help fight the housing shortage. About 300 councils currently offer a scheme mainly loans to carry out repairs - although some provide grants, usually ranging from �5,000 to more than �25,

What landlords letting abroad need to know about Making Tax Digital

What landlords letting abroad need to know about Making Tax Digital

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Letting out property abroad can be a great way of generating extra income. The property might have been bought primarily as an investment but for others or it could be second or holiday home let out when not in use. There are plenty of things to think about, though.

LATEST: Leicester ploughs on with selective licensing despite landlord criticism

LATEST: Leicester ploughs on with selective licensing despite landlord criticism

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Leicester is going ahead with its selective licensing extension in three areas of the city, charging landlords �1,090 per property - the highest fee in the Midlands. The council is introducing the scheme in parts of Westcotes, Fosse, Braunstone Park and Rowley Fields wards, whi

Landlords told to 'brace themselves' for inspections at 29,000 properties

Landlords told to 'brace themselves' for inspections at 29,000 properties

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Durham Council has warned landlords covered by its new selective licensing scheme to brace themselves for inspections next month. At least 29,000 properties, 42% of the countys PRS, are covered by the scheme which launched in April after winning government approval. <p id

LATEST: 18% of rented homes will need �10,000 spent on them to achieve EPC band C

LATEST: 18% of rented homes will need �10,000 spent on them to achieve EPC band C

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Nearly one-fifth of private rented homes would need work costing more than �10,000 to bring them up to an EPC Band C, according to the latest PRS figures. The English Housing Survey Private Rented Sector report for 2020-21 found that these were more likely to need larger sums o

London rents have seen record rises in a very hot spring market

London rents have seen record rises in a very hot spring market

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The latest figures available from Rightmove show that London rents jumped by around 14 per cent in the last year, with some property experts calling it the most competitive market on record Matt Hutchinson, a director at SpareRoom, the flat sharing website, has said: <p

What's the outlook for UK commercial property, post pandemic & Brexit?

What's the outlook for UK commercial property, post pandemic & Brexit?

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The pandemic has had a devastating impact on commercial property, with lockdowns, social distancing, working from home (WFH), all accelerating the move to online and home deliveries. The likes of Tesco, Ocado and the other big supermarket deliveries were the saviour of the public during the