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.

OPINION: Rental Reform '� will it work in England?

OPINION: Rental Reform '� will it work in England?

Opinion

Across the UK nations theres been a rolling programme of rental reform, one new tenancy regime after another, but has any of this really worked for the benefit of tenants or landlords? We dont yet know the final form the Renters (Reform) Bill will take, theres a long wa

New Property Portal will be 'gold mine' for HMRC snooping, warns lawyer

New Property Portal will be 'gold mine' for HMRC snooping, warns lawyer

News

A law firm has warned that the looming property portal will be a gold mine for tax investigators who are likely to focus on accidental landlords rather than rogue operators. The new landlord database proposed by the Renters (Reform) Bill could expose those landlords who may - p

EPCs: Leading mortgage lender to help landlords upgrade properties

EPCs: Leading mortgage lender to help landlords upgrade properties

News

A new Home Energy Efficiency Tool promises to help landlords and homeowners make their homes more energy efficient and reduce bills. The Nationwide Building Society initiative aims to provide information about their current energy use and will then outline the cost, energy or ca

EXCLUSIVE: Evictions halted as bailiffs down tools over safety concerns

EXCLUSIVE: Evictions halted as bailiffs down tools over safety concerns

News

Landlords face even longer waits than normal to evict tenants in London after two big landlords were told that bailiff operations are to be suspended for the foreseeable future. This unusual situation has been blamed by officials on now confirmed health and safety reaso

'Reform bill misses point - we need more affordable rented homes, not regulation'

'Reform bill misses point - we need more affordable rented homes, not regulation'

News

Rent reforms wont work until the real problem of affordable housing waiting lists is addressed, according to leading property expert Kate Faulkner. Although MPs are focusing on the PRS, the housing crisis is nothing to do with the private sector, believes Faulkner, who sugges

NAMED: Where landlords will face hottest competition from Build to Rent

NAMED: Where landlords will face hottest competition from Build to Rent

News

Traditional landlords in the Midlands face growing competition as the region looks set to witness a big expansion in the build-to-rent sector. Birmingham led the way nationally in 2021, according to JLL, which reports that of the pipeline of 50,000 BTR homes outside London, 11,3

Lenders pull BTR mortgages as Bank of England threatens more rate rises

Lenders pull BTR mortgages as Bank of England threatens more rate rises

News

Landlords have increasingly fewer BTL mortgages to choose from as lenders withdraw products amid a rise in average fixed rates. Moneyfacts reports that since the beginning of last week, the number available has dropped from 2,748 deals to 2,343 while the average rate on two- and

HMO landlord loses landmark appeal against ban and £22,000 fine

HMO landlord loses landmark appeal against ban and £22,000 fine

News

A rogue landlord has lost a landmark case after she failed to convince an Upper Tribunal to overturn her banning order. <figure id="" class="w-richtext-figure-type- " data-rt-type="" data-rt-align=""><div><img src="https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/63bef2f3c329eff8e3a4af45/64cb99f6e035517f

BREAKING: Scotland extends rent cap and evictions freeze until March 2024

BREAKING: Scotland extends rent cap and evictions freeze until March 2024

News

Landlords in Scotland face further pain after it was announced today that it will for a second time extend the rent cap and evictions freeze first introduced in October last year to help combat rising inflation. The measures within the Cost of Living (Tenant Protec

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

Report reveals £45 billion contribution landlords make to economy

Report reveals £45 billion contribution landlords make to economy

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

A new report published today claims that 390,000 jobs rely on the private rented sector as critics of the sector, including the Guardian newspaper, have called for it to be shrunk or abolished entirely.

UK's only city-wide licencing scheme 'gets tough' on landlords

UK's only city-wide licencing scheme 'gets tough' on landlords

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Landlords in Oxford who fail to sign up to the city’s licensing scheme are being threatened with fines and enforcement action after a year of relative ‘grace’.

REPORT: Will lower inflation lead to lower BTL mortgage rates?

REPORT: Will lower inflation lead to lower BTL mortgage rates?

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Falling UK inflation could herald some good news for BTL landlords over the coming months, according to mortgage experts.

A reminder for landlords that electrical safety checks are mandatory

A reminder for landlords that electrical safety checks are mandatory

Information
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Until recently landlords only had to concern themselves gas safety checks - but now all residential landlords or their agents must arrange for regular electrical safety checks (every 5 years)

Court approves tough bankcruptcy limits on 'property guru'

Court approves tough bankcruptcy limits on 'property guru'

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Infamous property guru Glenn Armstrong, who misled dozens of investors by promising to make them rich, has been handed tough bankruptcy restrictions lasting 12 years.

Tenant pockets £5,000 from Tribunal after realising HMO was unlicenced

Tenant pockets £5,000 from Tribunal after realising HMO was unlicenced

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

A tenant who discovered that his landlord had not licenced the HMO in which he lived is to pocket £5,000 after winning a rent repayment order (RRO) during a Tribunal hearing.

Spring Budget shortfalls: What was missing for landlords?

Spring Budget shortfalls: What was missing for landlords?

Opinion
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

In what was likely his last Budget Statement before the next General Election, Jeremy Hunt announced his plans for tax, housing, and cost-of-living measures. Where did the Budget fall short for the private rented market (PRS)?

Murder conviction bars landlord from running rental properties

Murder conviction bars landlord from running rental properties

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

A landlord who was jailed for culpable homicide in 2008 has been refused permission to rent out flats in Glasgow, despite claiming he has taken ‘responsibility for his actions’ and moved on.

Escalating 'housing emergencies' are Government's fault, say Scots letting agents

Escalating 'housing emergencies' are Government's fault, say Scots letting agents

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Letting agents have blamed poor Scottish government policies for the growing number of councils declaring ‘housing emergencies’.

Renting reforms will cause 'gridlock' in justice system says Badenoch

Renting reforms will cause 'gridlock' in justice system says Badenoch

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

The government has been accused of pressing ahead with renter reform measures that will cause gridlock in the justice system, and pit landlords and tenants against each other in protracted litigation.

Few MPs defend landlords during Renters' Rights Bill debate in Commons

Few MPs defend landlords during Renters' Rights Bill debate in Commons

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Few MPs stood to defend landlords during yesterday’s second reading of the Renters' Rights Bill in parliament, but a few did - with all of them being Conservative.

Landlords 'selling up' ahead of expected CGT rise says RICS

Landlords 'selling up' ahead of expected CGT rise says RICS

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Landlords listing their properties for sale before potential capital gains tax rises are adding to a widening divide between supply and demand, report letting agents from around the UK.

Council to restrict HMOs despite 'no evidence' residents cause crime

Council to restrict HMOs despite 'no evidence' residents cause crime

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

A big Midlands council has revealed plans to introduce an Article 4 direction across the borough while admitting that there is no strong link between HMOs and crime.

Renting reforms 'to drive huge increase in tenancy disputes'

Renting reforms 'to drive huge increase in tenancy disputes'

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

The Renters’ Rights Bill is expected to fuel a surge in tenancy disputes following a 20% rise last year.

Renting reforms 'will go nowhere unless courts properly funded'

Renting reforms 'will go nowhere unless courts properly funded'

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Lawyers have warned that an underfunded justice system will hinder any progress made in strengthening renters’ rights.

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

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

Opinion
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

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
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

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
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

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
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

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
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

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
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

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
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

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
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

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
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

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

Landlords slam Labour's plan to tighten arrears eviction rules

Landlords slam Labour's plan to tighten arrears eviction rules

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Landlords have criticised the Government’s plan to raise the minimum period of rent arrears from two to three months before they can be served notice to repossess.

'Lease us your rented homes', Welsh Government urges landlords

'Lease us your rented homes', Welsh Government urges landlords

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

The Welsh Government wants landlords to lease their empty properties to local councils in a bid to boost the number of affordable homes within its private rented sector.

New housing committee chair promises to 'hold Government to account'

New housing committee chair promises to 'hold Government to account'

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Labour MP Florence Eshalomi has promised to hold the government to account in her new role as chair of the Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee.

Big Midlands town reveals selective licencing plans

Big Midlands town reveals selective licencing plans

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Mansfield is the latest major district council to reveal plans for a large selective licencing scheme.

Don't increase CGT for landlords, auctioneers urge Chancellor

Don't increase CGT for landlords, auctioneers urge Chancellor

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Auctioneers have urged the government not to increase Capital Gains Tax at a time when confidence is returning to the housing market.

'System is skewed in favour of tenants, not landlords'

'System is skewed in favour of tenants, not landlords'

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

A landlord struggling with an eviction has spoken out against the system which he says is heavily skewed in favour of tenants.

Number of landlords selling up gathers pace, says sobering report

Number of landlords selling up gathers pace, says sobering report

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Almost half of landlords have sold a property in the last year or plan to do so, according to the latest sobering industry survey.

Tenant campaigners call for landlords to pay compensation for evictions

Tenant campaigners call for landlords to pay compensation for evictions

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Tenants’ groups want the government to also introduce longer protected periods.

Can landlords afford property refurbishments and EPC upgrades?

Can landlords afford property refurbishments and EPC upgrades?

Information
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Property refurbishments are becoming increasingly important for landlords as the Government prepares to force the sector to upgrade properties to minimum levels of energy performance by 2030.

Banning Section 21 evictions will be 'catastrophe' say 75% of landlords

Banning Section 21 evictions will be 'catastrophe' say 75% of landlords

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

The majority of landlords (75%) are very concerned about plans to abolish no-fault evictions, labelling it “a catastrophe”.