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Shrinking buy-to-let could see a buy-to-let mortgage drought

Shrinking buy-to-let could see a buy-to-let mortgage drought

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As landlords continue to exit the buy-to-let market, to the detriment of their tenants, could this rout also lead to buy-to-let mortgage lenders following their lead? This is a question posed by Chloe Cheung writing for the FT this last weekend. Its a serious question, a deve

Letting agents back HMO council tax re-banding reform proposals

Letting agents back HMO council tax re-banding reform proposals

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Letting agents have backed the Governments decision to reform the way HMO properties are banded for council tax. Propertymark, which represents the estate agency sector, says in its submission to a consultation by the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities that p

LATEST: Greens say 'immediate' rent freeze is only answer to housing crisis

LATEST: Greens say 'immediate' rent freeze is only answer to housing crisis

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Landlords wanting to back the eco movement may want to pause for thought after the Green Party today vowed to bring in an immediate rent freeze and no-fault eviction ban to tackle the housing crisis. During an election campaign visit to Suffolk, party co-leaders Carla Denyer and

Landlord jailed after ignoring court order to improve rat-infested property

Landlord jailed after ignoring court order to improve rat-infested property

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A rogue landlord has been jailed for 10 months after he failed to comply with conditions set by a court concerning his rat-infested property. Martin Ambler admitted four counts of breaching a criminal behaviour order in May 2022 but sentencing was deferred so that he could instr

Have you been hit by the 'cost of landlording' crisis? Here's some help

Have you been hit by the 'cost of landlording' crisis? Here's some help

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There is a lot of talk at the moment about how rents are up by 11% across the UK and although I know its tough on renters, landlord costs have, in many cases, doubled. This includes mortgage premium payments following interest rates rises from 0.5% to 4% in just 12 months, an

Tory think-tank and Shelter push for three-year tenancies for PRS

Tory think-tank and Shelter push for three-year tenancies for PRS

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The government should introduce three-year tenancies to protect tenants from uncertainty and rising rents, according to a liberal conservative think tank report. The Bright Blue group has teamed up with Shelter to publish, <strong id

NEW: Coalition slams Scots Government over rent cap and evictions freeze

NEW: Coalition slams Scots Government over rent cap and evictions freeze

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Landlords have heavily criticised the Scottish governments decision to implement its evictions freeze and rent cap without a proper consultation. The measures, which were widely criticised earlier this year for being rushed through, are now being fought by a coalition of orga

Mortgage provider sets up �50 million fund to help landlords upgrade EPCs

Mortgage provider sets up �50 million fund to help landlords upgrade EPCs

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A BTL mortgage provider has pledged to invest �50 million in a fund to help landlords enhance their propertys energy efficiency. OSB Group will channel the cash through its recently launched https://landlordleaders.osb.co.uk/media/w5ajeto5/osb

'Letting agents must help landlords navigate looming renting reforms'

'Letting agents must help landlords navigate looming renting reforms'

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Evictions expert Paul Shamplina has warned landlords and letting agents that the looming Renters Reform Act will present major challenges for the private rented sector as a wall of new red tape arrives. Speaking to a group of Belvoir business owners Shamplina who is also

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Council to 'educate' renters in person if they live within new licencing areas

Council to 'educate' renters in person if they live within new licencing areas

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Gateshead plans to include a third of its private rented properties in a selective licencing scheme that also aims to improve tenants’ wellbeing and prompt landlords to boost energy efficiency.

Housing minister slammed over failure to weed out rogue letting agents

Housing minister slammed over failure to weed out rogue letting agents

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A cross-party group of peers has attacked the government for sidestepping its proposals to clamp down on rogue letting agents.

Tenants should face consequences if they don't pay the rent, say landlords

Tenants should face consequences if they don't pay the rent, say landlords

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Landlords are less worried by the Government’s looming Renters (Reform) Bill and more concerned about the financial squeeze they face including tenants who don’t pay their rent, a new poll reveals.

160,000 rented homes 'disappear' from rental market

160,000 rented homes 'disappear' from rental market

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At least 163,000 privately rented properties disappeared from the market between 2019 and the end of 2023 as the number of landlords selling up outstripped purchases.

Legal Matters: Your Section 21 notice – is it valid?

Legal Matters: Your Section 21 notice – is it valid?

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Serving a Section 21 notice - you need to be meticulous in your preparation, making sure you have complied faultlessly with all the regulations

Ending fixed-term tenancies 'doesn't make sense' says Foxtons

Ending fixed-term tenancies 'doesn't make sense' says Foxtons

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A big lettings agency has questioned why the government is set on pursuing the end to fixed term tenancies, while ignoring the needs of landlords and tenants.

Labour report says tenants should be given 'rights charter'

Labour report says tenants should be given 'rights charter'

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A Labour-commissioned review of the private rented sector has called for a new renters’ charter to strengthen tenants’ rights and a mandatory National Landlords Register to help enforce compliance.

London landlords to repay tenants £45,000 after Tribunal decisions

London landlords to repay tenants £45,000 after Tribunal decisions

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Three London landlords are to pay over £45,000 in rent back to their tenants following separate Tribunal decisions, highlighting the increasing risks of Rent Repayment Orders as renters become more aware of the huge sums that are often involved.

Council launches licencing despite 'NO' from 73% of landlords

Council launches licencing despite 'NO' from 73% of landlords

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The London Borough of Lambeth is to launch a £923 per property selective licencing scheme in four wards this September after a lengthy consultation period that began in December last year.

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

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

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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

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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'

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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'

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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'

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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?

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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?

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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'

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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'

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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

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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

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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'

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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

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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

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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?

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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

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

More must be done to stop rogue tenants, says exiting landlord

More must be done to stop rogue tenants, says exiting landlord

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A fed-up landlord wants the government to legislate for more stringent referencing after being hit by rent dodging and criminal tenants.

Compliance – can you afford to get it wrong?

Compliance – can you afford to get it wrong?

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Landlords and agents could face fines of up to £40,000 for breaching new rules set to be introduced as part of the Government’s Renters’ Rights Bill.