A surprising 42% of landlords are unaware of the impending requirement for a minimum EPC rating of C for private rented properties, a survey reveals. Research conducted by epIMS, highlights the lack of awareness of the need to meet Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) standards by 2030. Last month, the government announced a consultation on proposed […]

Rents climbed 4.6% in January compared to last year, reaching an average of £1,207 per property, according to the Goodlord Rental Index. This jump from £1,154 in January 2024 signifies an acceleration in annual rent rises. The North East experienced the most substantial annual growth at more than 8%, while the East Midlands saw the […]

Hi everyone, I’ve recently found out one of my tenants has a cannabis farm in my rental property. I’ve informed the police who have investigated and are due to attend. The tenant has not really lived in the property. The period of initial rental has expired so now he’s on a periodic tenancy. My agent […]

Cardiff, Birmingham and Plymouth have emerged as prime locations for buy to let investment, according to Paragon Bank’s 2024 lending data. It says that Cardiff’s CF24 postcode in Cardiff, encompassing Cathays and Roath, led the pack, attracting landlords keen to house the city’s large student population. Paragon says that BTL investors there can see average […]

Hello, Do you provide premises for residential or commercial tenants? If the answer is residential, then you are a housing provider. Landlord is an archaic legal term which today is a misnomer. Some hundreds of years ago a landlord was lord of his land. No longer. Landlord is now a pejorative word. We are housing […]

Hello, I hope someone here can give me some advice. I have a fixed term tenancy due to end in May and I normally approach the tenants about 3 months before to discuss renewal of the agreement etc. Now with the Renters’ Rights Bill coming, I wonder how I should approach this. Should I still sign […]

Years ago, bridging finance was considered a very expensive option, but bridging products are a lot cheaper and many savvy investors are turning to us, to know which lenders to turn to. There are many ways in which short-term finance can be used as detailed below Starting with Standard Bridging for: Chain breaking, Cash flow […]

Paul Shamplina’s renowned charity boxing event, ‘Rumble with the Agents’ is celebrating its milestone 10-year anniversary with two spectacular events this year. One in London on 19th June and, for the first time, a second event in Newcastle on 4th December. Since its inception, ‘Rumble with the Agents’ has grown into a highly anticipated fixture […]

Jeremy Corbyn has called for the introduction of rent controls as part of broader reforms to address the rising costs faced by tenants in London. The government claims its Renters’ Rights Bill, which includes measures such as banning section 21 ‘no-fault’ evictions and bidding wars, limiting rent increases to once a year, and allowing tenants […]

Hello, I have a question that hopefully someone can answer. I have an overseas student tenant who is due to move into an HMO of mine in July. She has asked if she can pay the whole year up front. This is not normally a problem and has always been the answer to an overseas […]

Croydon Council has escalated its efforts against unauthorised housing developments, particularly Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs).  In recent weeks, officers from planning enforcement and HMO teams inspected 21 properties suspected of being unauthorised HMOs. They visited properties in Thornton Heath, Norbury, New Addington, Central Croydon, Addiscombe and Purley. The council says that ‘multiple violations’ of […]

A city council’s tenants are being urged to report their repair issues directly to the council, following a rise in ‘no win, no fee’ legal firms targeting residents. A recent court case saw a tenant ordered to pay £7,964 in costs after their disrepair claim against the council was dismissed. This comes as the council […]

A comprehensive briefing paper has been presented to the House of Lords ahead of tomorrow’s (Tuesday 4 February) Second Reading of the Renters’ Rights Bill to highlight its potential detrimental effects. The National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA) is urging revisions to safeguard vulnerable renters, including those facing financial hardship, ensuring access to available properties. The […]

The UK’s housing market saw a slowdown in price growth last month with an annual increase of 4.1%, a dip from December’s 4.7%, according to Nationwide.  It says that month-on-month, prices edged up 0.1% after seasonal adjustments. Robert Gardner, Nationwide’s chief economist, said: “The housing market continues to show resilience despite ongoing affordability pressures. As […]

A housing company linked to Labour-run Nottingham City Council evicted nine of its tenants last year, the Nottingham Post reveals. This is despite the council previously calling for the abolition of Section 21 under the former Conservative government. Nottingham City Homes Enterprises, a subsidiary of Nottingham City Homes (NCH), which is responsible for managing the […]

I am always frustrated by the expression ‘rent in advance’ which is now part of discussions around the Renters’ Rights Bill. Rent is due at the point of use, i.e. the day a tenant starts to ‘use’ the property on the date stipulated in the tenancy agreement. You would not walk into a shoe shop, […]

News last week on Property118 about amendments in the Renters’ Rights Bill, which could allow tenants to move in without paying rent sent a shiver down every landlord’s spine. The new amendment prevents landlords from accepting rent in advance of a tenancy agreement or more than a month’s rent in advance. Advance rent agreements offer […]

It’s been six months since the Renters’ Rights Bill hit the statute books and the dust still hasn’t settled. Tenants are outraged at the government’s meddling and can’t believe that evictions haven’t ended. That’s despite reassurances from the naïve crowd in Labour that Section 21 ‘no-fault’ evictions are the ‘leading cause of homelessness’. But we’ve […]

Landbay and Precise have both announced updates to their product offerings, with Landbay reducing buy to let mortgage rates and Precise cutting bridging finance costs while introducing a new developer exit loan. Landbay’s reductions in BTL interest rates will some products reducing by 0.20%. Two-year fixed rates now begin at 3.59% for up to 75% […]

Hull is the most affordable city for renters, according to Rightmove. It found that the average advertised rent in the city is £799 – that’s nearly half the national average of £1,526. Rightmove says that Carlisle (£816) and Wrexham (£817) follow as the second and third most affordable cities, respectively. Other affordable cities for rent […]

Hello, I am having my first video call with our local Labour MP later this week. I have sent an email before our discussion. Let me know if I have missed anything? Please see the email below: Government policies are inadvertently contributing to homelessness and increases in house prices and rents Landlords operating in the […]