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Gove to approve looser rules for HMO landlords housing asylum seekers

Gove to approve looser rules for HMO landlords housing asylum seekers

News

Housing Secretary Michael Gove is set to push through new rules on HMO safety for housing asylum seekers with little fanfare on the same day that the Renters Reform Bill is published. The changes outlined in the proposed https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukdsi/2023/9780

BLOG: 'Reform bill will solve the problem of pet damage for landlords'

BLOG: 'Reform bill will solve the problem of pet damage for landlords'

News

The long-awaited Renters (Reform) Bill will finally be introduced in parliament after Prime Minister's Questions today. Setting out plans for 12 key reforms to the private rental sector, the 11th pledge - to give tenants the right in law to request a pet, which should not be unr

Agents who lack licencing law know-how 'putting landlords at risk'

Agents who lack licencing law know-how 'putting landlords at risk'

News

Bungling letting agents with a lack of legal understanding are putting landlords at risk of prosecution, it has been claimed. One landlord expert has advised caution when signing up with a firm in the current climate of increasing legislation and falling profits, particularly fo

Opinion: does Michael Gove know something we don't?

Opinion: does Michael Gove know something we don't?

Opinion

It would seem that successive Tory governments have waged an ongoing and progressively more vicious war on buy-to-let landlords, but this latest layer of legislation goes much further. Yes, this latest iteration, and one thats https://bills.parliament.uk/bills/1768/s

EXTRA red tape, scams and repairs drive more landlords to use agencies

EXTRA red tape, scams and repairs drive more landlords to use agencies

News

Almost two thirds (63%) of private landlords who manage their own properties are tired of sorting out repairs and dealing with red tape and considering using a letting agency or property manager instead.  A Uswitch poll of 2,000 landlords found that the most common reason t

Labour to 'go further than Tories' with harsher Decent Homes Standard

Labour to 'go further than Tories' with harsher Decent Homes Standard

News

Labour has promised to ramp up the pressure on private landlords by introducing a legally binding Decent Homes Standard 2. Its latest draft policy programme a provisional blueprint likely to shape the next general election manifesto includes a proposal to take the

Starmer 'set to U-turn on rent controls' as London Mayor pleads for more powers

Starmer 'set to U-turn on rent controls' as London Mayor pleads for more powers

News

Keir Starmer is set to rebuff previous calls by London mayor Sadiq Khan to bring in a rent freeze, it has been reported. Khan has been banging his rent freeze drum for months now as the cost-of-living crisis has hit many tenants personal finances, telling the BBC in Oct

'Disaster' renting reform bill to enter parliament tomorrow after PMQs

'Disaster' renting reform bill to enter parliament tomorrow after PMQs

News

The much-delayed Renters Reform Bill is rumoured to be getting its first reading tomorrow after Prime Ministers Questions, although the 'full meat' of the proposals will come later. Rumoured to be renamed the Rented Homes Bill or Renters (Reform) Bill, landlords are waitin

BREAKING: Renters (Reform) Bill to get first airing after PMQs today

BREAKING: Renters (Reform) Bill to get first airing after PMQs today

News

The Government is to finally introduce its long-delayed renting reforms into parliament later today following Prime Ministers Questions (PMQs) in the Commons. The Bill, which is to be called the Renters (Reform) Bill, will get its first reading just aft

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'New landlord portal WON'T remove need for selective licencing'

'New landlord portal WON'T remove need for selective licencing'

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The Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH) has told MPs that the Government's looming national property portal for landlords won’t diminish the need for selective licencing.

EXPERT: Does guaranteed rent pay better than traditional landlording?

EXPERT: Does guaranteed rent pay better than traditional landlording?

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Landlords using a guaranteed rent scheme can earn £3,600 a year more than by conventional letting, according to one guaranteed rent provider.

Notice periods should be same for landlords and tenants, experts tell MPs

Notice periods should be same for landlords and tenants, experts tell MPs

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Granting landlords and tenants the ability to give the same notice periods would prevent the private rented sector “becoming Airbnb by the back door”, NRLA’s chief executive Ben Beadle has told MPs.

Landlords claim victory after council delays licencing schemes

Landlords claim victory after council delays licencing schemes

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Landlords in Luton claim to have once again persuaded the town’s council to delay its highly controversial additional and selective licencing schemes, the fourth time this has happened in as many years.

20% of short-lets in London are former long-term rentals

20% of short-lets in London are former long-term rentals

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More than 20% of short-term lets advertised in London were previously long-term rentals, according to research by property data platform Propalt.

Councils call for huge fines if landlords evade new eviction rules

Councils call for huge fines if landlords evade new eviction rules

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Councils are calling for a widening of the conditions under which tenants can claim rent repayment orders (RROs) as part of the Renters (Reform) Bill.

Landlords called out over £80m interest from rental deposits

Landlords called out over £80m interest from rental deposits

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Letting agents and landlords are benefitting from higher interest rates by reaping more than £80 million this year from billions of pounds’ worth of tenants’ deposits.

Term tenancy are fixed and must be for all landlords

Term tenancy are fixed and must be for all landlords

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A leading student accommodation expert has urged the Government to create a level playing field for the sector within the looming Renters (Reform) Bill or face a perfect storm of rising rents and contracting suipply.

Renting reform minister GONE nine months after getting job

Renting reform minister GONE nine months after getting job

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A housing minister appointed just nine months ago by Rishi Sunak has now been asked to stand down during today’s reshuffle triggered by the sacking home Home Secretary Suella Braverman.

Tenant activists insist "landlords need us”

Tenant activists insist "landlords need us”

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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!

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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

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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'

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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'

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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

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

DWP 'carefully considering' what to do about High Court rent arrears judgement

DWP 'carefully considering' what to do about High Court rent arrears judgement

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DWP is expected to look at reforms that will make it harder for landlords to have money deducted from a tenant's UC benefits to repay arrears.

'Saddened' landlord to sell half her portfolio as reforms loom

'Saddened' landlord to sell half her portfolio as reforms loom

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A landlord has revealed how increasing risk and a “lack of joy” has prompted her to start offloading half her portfolio ahead of the Renters’ Rights Bill.

'Careless' portfolio landlord to pay back tenants £10,000

'Careless' portfolio landlord to pay back tenants £10,000

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A “lackadaisical” landlord who rented out an unlicensed and cockroach-infested HMO has been told to pay £10,834 back to three tenants.

Council to ban repeat rogue landlord from renting homes

Council to ban repeat rogue landlord from renting homes

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Peterborough Council is considering banning a rogue landlord who was handed a fine for housing a family in an uninhabitable property for a second time.