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.

FIRST rent repayment order against landlord issued following landmark case

FIRST rent repayment order against landlord issued following landmark case

News

A landlord who tried to claim that he was the superior landlord of an unlicensed HMO has failed in his bid to avoid paying a Rent Repayment Order. In the first RRO case since the landmark�

'Zero-rate VAT for property upgrades if you want to hit EPC targets' say big landlords

'Zero-rate VAT for property upgrades if you want to hit EPC targets' say big landlords

News

The British Property Federation (BPF) has called on the government to zero rate VAT on building repair and maintenance to incentivise essential upgrades across the residential sector or risk missing its 2050 net zero target. In the run-up to next weeks Budget, it says the

Politician warns big landlord fines by councils 'can be seen as hypocritical'

Politician warns big landlord fines by councils 'can be seen as hypocritical'

News

A Suffolk councillor has spoken out against targeting private landlords with tougher regulations when authorities face similar problems with their own housing stock. Both Babergh and Mid Suffolk councils have agreed that civil penalties of up to �30,000 should be used to deter

NRLA chief rebuts claims that he 'misled' MPs about PRS shortages

NRLA chief rebuts claims that he 'misled' MPs about PRS shortages

News

A Commons committee has confirmed that NRLA chief Ben Beadle did not mislead MPs when giving evidence about the diminishing supply of private rented housing. Anhttps://amp.theguardian.com/society/2023/mar/03/landlords-accused-of-making-up-stories-in-campaign-to-change-t

A year in review for agents: The PRS annual report 2022

A year in review for agents: The PRS annual report 2022

Information

The Property Redress Scheme annual report 2022 has just been released and reflects on

Retro-fitting buildings for energy efficiency - is it worth it?

Retro-fitting buildings for energy efficiency - is it worth it?

Information

Refurbishing, or in the jargon - retrofitting - older commercial and residential buildings, according to the Government, is desirable and necessary, given that energy efficiency standards that will need to be met under the Governments legal commitment to net zero by 2050. But

Property firm boss banned for 12 years after falsely claiming �45,000 Covid loan

Property firm boss banned for 12 years after falsely claiming �45,000 Covid loan

News

A property investor who falsely claimed a �45,000 Bounce Back Loan before dissolving his firm has been banned by the Insolvency Service. Simon Gorgin, 63, from Kings Langley, was sole director of P3 Estates Ltd until it was dissolved in December 2021. In May 2020,

Major council launches mould and damp crackdown in PRS including fines

Major council launches mould and damp crackdown in PRS including fines

News

Hackney Council has launched a major enforcement drive against private landlords who ignore complaints about serious damp and mould, signalling an unofficial application of 'https://www.landlordzone.co.uk/news/opinion-should-awaabs-law-to-be-applied-in-the-private-rented-sector/" i

HMO landlords urged to share views on controversial council tax re-banding consultation

HMO landlords urged to share views on controversial council tax re-banding consultation

News

Leaders of a campaign seeking to change the law on unfair HMO property council tax re-banding are urging landlords to input into the ongoing Government consultation on the matter due to end on the 31st March. As https://www.landlordzone.co.uk/news/exclu

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

Landlord jailed for eight weeks following 'deplorable' behaviour

Landlord jailed for eight weeks following 'deplorable' behaviour

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

A rogue landlord who tried to evict his tenant using “deplorable behaviour” has been jailed for eight weeks.

Give more legal aid to tenants facing eviction, say lawyers

Give more legal aid to tenants facing eviction, say lawyers

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

The government is being urged to consider hard-up renters who won’t be able to take on their landlords despite any court system upgrade ahead of the Renters Reform Bill.

'Many non-compliant landlords are offshore' claims Gove

'Many non-compliant landlords are offshore' claims Gove

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Housing secretary Michael Gove has pinned the blame for non-compliance within the private sector on foreign offshore landlords during a Q&A session at yesterday’s NRLA Conference in Birmingham.

HMOs offer TWICE the returns of traditional rental properties, it is claimed

HMOs offer TWICE the returns of traditional rental properties, it is claimed

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

A costly HMO conversion could prove a worthwhile long-term investment, with the average 8.1% HMO yield far higher than the 4.4% generated by a regular rental property, according to research by Octane Capital.

Property Portal could be deathknell for big selective licencing schemes, says MP

Property Portal could be deathknell for big selective licencing schemes, says MP

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

The mandatory national Property Portal for landlords to be introduced by the Renters (Reform) Bill next year will stop the spread of borough-wide selective licencing schemes, a leading MP has claimed.

Gove slams rent controls and defends Section 21 abolition

Gove slams rent controls and defends Section 21 abolition

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Michael Gove used his speech to introduce the second reading of his Renters (Reform) Bill to pour cold water on calls for rent controls while also trying to reassure ‘good’ landlords that the abolition of Section 21 ‘no fault’ evictions will not affect them.

BLOG: 'Landlords as well as tenants face a cost of renting crisis'

BLOG: 'Landlords as well as tenants face a cost of renting crisis'

Opinion
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Following months of uncertainty, this year will be looked back upon as a tumultuous one for landlords.

Legal matters: terminology, lease or licence, what's the difference?

Legal matters: terminology, lease or licence, what's the difference?

Information
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Yes, legal terms confuse and like many specialisms, the confusion is added to by the fact that different terms often have essentially the same meaning.

Landlords told to check tenancy contracts after landmark court case

Landlords told to check tenancy contracts after landmark court case

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

A judge has opened the door to higher compensation being paid by landlords if they fail to protect their tenants’ rental deposits within one of the official schemes.

Scottish First Minister warned against promoting hydrogen boilers

Scottish First Minister warned against promoting hydrogen boilers

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Housing and industry groups have warned Scottish First Minister John Swinney against promoting hydrogen boilers to heat homes.

North Hants Council creates tenants’ charter to boost standard of homes

North Hants Council creates tenants’ charter to boost standard of homes

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

North Herts Council has created a tenants’ charter to set out the rights and responsibilities of tenants, landlords and the council, in a bid to keep private rented homes up to scratch.

Rents grow at slowest level for three and a half years

Rents grow at slowest level for three and a half years

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Rents are growing at their slowest level for more than three years, but a limited supply of new rental homes will help keep prices high, it has been revealed.

Sex offender landlord banned from letting property

Sex offender landlord banned from letting property

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

A landlord has been banned from letting property in Edinburgh after he failed to report that he was a registered sex offender.

Tenant activists insist "landlords need us”

Tenant activists insist "landlords need us”

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Acorn has taken aim at private landlords again, this time questioning whether their existence is even necessary.

Ban on new leasehold flats moves closer

Ban on new leasehold flats moves closer

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Government vows to finish the job of ending ‘feudal’ leasehold system in England and Wales

Rents rise and void periods shorten, reveals Goodlord

Rents rise and void periods shorten, reveals Goodlord

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Average rents in England jump 4% in a year to February while voids dropped from 24 to 20 days

Younger people targeted in tenant fraud

Younger people targeted in tenant fraud

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Almost three quarters of rental fraud involves young people, official data has revealed.

Book Review: Carl Bayley’s book, Shelter your Family from the Taxman: How to Save Inheritance Tax

Book Review: Carl Bayley’s book, Shelter your Family from the Taxman: How to Save Inheritance Tax

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Carl Bayley is the author of more than twenty ‘Plain English’ TaxCafe published tax guides designed for the layperson and the non-specialist

Expert sounds alarm over rent arrears court decision

Expert sounds alarm over rent arrears court decision

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

An expert has warned that a court's decision to allow tenants to challenge landlord-requested rental arrears deductions from their UC payments will see more landlords shun tenants in receipt of benefits.

Big East of England town rushes in anti-HMO rules

Big East of England town rushes in anti-HMO rules

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Fenland Council has introduced an immediate Article 4 Direction before its consultation in a bid to clamp down on burgeoning HMOs in Wisbech.

Northern council heralds landlord fines of £1.38 million... so far!

Northern council heralds landlord fines of £1.38 million... so far!

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Landlords in County Durham have had to fork out fines totalling £1.38 million in the three years since selective licensing was introduced.

Dozens of new amendments proposed for Renters' Right Bill

Dozens of new amendments proposed for Renters' Right Bill

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Peers have tabled amendments to the Renters’ Rights Bill which, if approved, would shape the legislation into a version of the previous Renters’ Reform Bill.

'Chancellor must boost rental homes supply or risk economy'

'Chancellor must boost rental homes supply or risk economy'

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Chancellor Rachel Reeves has been warned that unless more rental properties are built her recent promise to ‘attract the best talent to the UK’ and boost economic growth will fall flat.

Build-to-rent giant celebrates as landlords exit student sector

Build-to-rent giant celebrates as landlords exit student sector

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Private HMO landlords leaving the sector have created a shortage of student housing, according to Unite Students, which boasts that it can help fill the gap with purpose-built student accommodation.

Labour rejects new calls for rent controls

Labour rejects new calls for rent controls

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

The government has repeated its rejection of “heavy handed” rent controls despite pressure from peers in the House of Lords.

Northern city to clamp down on 'too many' HMOs

Northern city to clamp down on 'too many' HMOs

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Preston Council has proposed new powers to reject HMO applications amid fears that the city is already being over-run by shared homes.

Landlords offered significantly discounted carpets in Scotland

Landlords offered significantly discounted carpets in Scotland

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Landlords in Scotland who are members of the country’s landlord association are to get discounted carpets when refitting their rented properties,

Landlords and agents slam Scotland's 'anti PRS' budget

Landlords and agents slam Scotland's 'anti PRS' budget

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Landlords and letting agents have slammed the extra BTL tax rise in the Scottish budget which they believe could backfire on the government.

Property lawyer reveals novel solution to 'glacial' evictions

Property lawyer reveals novel solution to 'glacial' evictions

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Moving landlord and tenant disputes from overburdened county courts to tribunals would help clear the backlog and make evictions faster, according to a senior housing lawyer.

EPC REFORMS: 'Don't pick on landlords', big lenders warn Labour

EPC REFORMS: 'Don't pick on landlords', big lenders warn Labour

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

UK Finance has urged the government not to single out the private rented sector when updating its EPC framework.

New laws will place extra demands on landlords and letting agents

New laws will place extra demands on landlords and letting agents

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

The extra risks associated with letting following the passing of the Renters' Rights Bill later this year will mean extra vigilance if landlords are to avoid trouble

Manchester warns landlords to 'get licensed' as scheme expands

Manchester warns landlords to 'get licensed' as scheme expands

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Manchester has extended selective licensing to another 1,863 rental properties across the city.

Housing minister vows to help tenants 'know their rights'

Housing minister vows to help tenants 'know their rights'

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Tenants in Scotland are being targeted by a new campaign that aims to make them aware of their rental rights.

Landlord MP to step down after mouldy homes revealed

Landlord MP to step down after mouldy homes revealed

News
News
Podcast
Opinion
Sponsored
Information

Jas Athwal, the Labour MP who was shamed for renting out mouldy and unlicensed flats, has stood down as a councillor for Redbridge Council.