Shelter claims NHS workers are being priced out of the private rented sector. According to the housing charity, in almost half (45%) of local authorities in England, renting in the private sector is unaffordable for newly qualified nurses. Last year, Generation Rent called for rents to be capped for key workers, despite the fact that […]

The Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) Doves came out on top today, voting 8-1 to hold the Bank Base Rate at 4.5%. One MPC member voted for a 0.25% reduction in the rate. This coincides with the US Federal Reserve’s decision yesterday to also maintain their rate at the range of 4.25 to […]

Hi everyone, I am in court for compensation against a tenant who is now thankfully evicted. I have a judgment of debt, but I am pursuing a Charging Order securing the debt against a property he now owns. Straightforward you would think, but it’s now been 18 months of no order, and no enforcement. During […]

A video by the NRLA reveals that 5,000 retrofits would need to be completed every working day to meet EPC C targets. The Energy Secretary, Ed Miliband, has announced that all private rented properties must meet Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) targets by 2030, with a stricter deadline of 2028 for new tenancies. The NRLA warns […]

Strong buyer demand is seeing house prices surge in the north of England with Yorkshire and the west Midlands leading the way, Home.co.uk says. Its latest index also reveals that rents in the north are also increasing ahead of London’s rates. The platform says that the property market is showing resilience, but London is lagging […]

Estate agents are lining up behind Rightmove in urging the government to extend the existing stamp duty relief thresholds. According to a survey from GetAgent.co.uk, 86% of agents support extending the tax break to ease the burden on homebuyers navigating purchases. Rightmove has championed a modest continuation of the current relief levels, aiming to shield […]

The popularity of larger homes has propelled UK house prices upwards by £10,431 in the past year, marking a robust 3.7% climb, Halifax data shows. As borrowing costs softened with falling interest rates, buyers shifted their sights to bigger properties, leaving flats trailing with a 3.2% uptick, averaging £168,569. Meanwhile, detached residences soared by 4.1% […]

Tenants aged 18-27 are facing soaring rents and many now fear homeownership is slipping further away as rising costs hurt their ability to save, Barclays reveals. Its latest Property Insights report points to a phenomenon known as ‘rentflation’ which has seen nearly six in 10 renters (58%) have their housing costs climb over the past […]

News that Britain’s landlords have increasingly moved from holding property in their personal names to limited companies has been slammed by one journalist as ‘widespread tax avoidance’. Writing on the left-wing website, Novara Media, Harriet Williamson said: “Let’s call this what it is: widespread tax avoidance by a workshy, parasite class – and at a […]

Many landlords are upset and concerned at the legal changes being brought in by the Renters’ Rights Bill. Some landlords take the view that the government is actively hostile towards landlords and that the bill is an exercise in malice. At the recent Renters’ Rights Bill Conference run by Landlord Law on 11 and 12 […]

Two prominent buy to let lenders, Accord Mortgages and The Mortgage Works, have announced reductions to their BTL offerings. The revamped ranges are aimed at a variety of borrowers, from those wanting short-term deals to others eyeing longer commitments. Accord Mortgages has trimmed its buy to let line up by as much as 0.15%. Two- […]

As Awaab’s Law is set to be introduced in the social housing sector in Scotland, there are plans to extend it to the private rented sector, though one organisation has warned against regulations that could “impede landlords.” The Scottish government has announced amendments in the Scottish Housing Bill will require social housing landlords to address […]

A surprising 71% of homebuyers with accepted offers will fail to meet the 31 March stamp duty deadline, a survey reveals. The research from estate and lettings firm Benham and Reeves, highlights that sluggish conveyancing is the main reason slowing down property transactions across the nation. The study, which questioned more than 1,000 British buyers […]

Eviction and housing law specialists, Landlord Action, is celebrating 25 years of operation. Established in 1999 by founder Paul Shamplina alongside his original co-director, the business launched with a bold vision to overhaul property recovery and tenant removal processes. Disenchanted with the steep costs charged by traditional solicitors, Mr Shamplina introduced a groundbreaking three-step, fixed-fee […]

The Labour government is being urged to overhaul renter legislation which 28 charities say will hit poorer tenants from being able to access PRS housing. The charities have written an open letter to the Housing Secretary Angela Rayner with their concerns over the Renters’ Rights Bill. They include Shelter, Generation Rent, the Joseph Rowntree Foundation […]

News about Chancellor Rachel Reeves meeting with industry regulators to cut the cost of regulations, including environmental measures, and reduce red tape to build new housing raises important questions. The Chancellor claims these measures will “boost investment and put more money into working people’s pockets.” This plan comes alongside 60 measures agreed upon by regulators […]

Rents in Scotland have risen at a gentler pace compared to residents’ earnings which shows there’s no need for the rent controls, one firm says. DJ Alexander Ltd has analysed data from Zoopla’s latest UK Market Rental report and found that rents rose 3.1% in the 12 months to January. Average salaries surged ahead by […]

Hi, I own a small maisonette in London. It has been rented out for 19 years, always using a letting agent and never been used as a second home. In July of last year, I decided to help my daughter, who is finishing her final year at university in May this year, by renting her […]

Hi, I have recently applied for and been granted licences for some flats I own in Birmingham. Now the council are conducting assessments on all flats wishing to spend half an hour with each tenant. Firstly, they expect me to organise all my tenants to be home on the same day but not offering a […]

Only 5% of private rented properties are affordable to benefit claimants, according to new research. Data from the National Institute of Economic and Social Research (NIESR) reveals the figure has fallen dramatically from 20% of rental homes being affordable to those in receipt of benefits just five years ago. The National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA) […]

Nearly 19,000 people have rallied behind a charity’s call to extend the Renters’ Rights Bill provision to allow pets in private lets to be extended to council and social housing.  In January, the Dogs Trust unveiled a petition to overhaul the inconsistent rules surrounding pet ownership in social homes.   The charity has written to Angela […]