With electric car manufacturers threatening to pull out of the UK over strict EV targets, why are landlords still subject to EPC rules when they are hurting both landlords and tenants? Under the current mandate, a percentage of cars that firms sell must qualify as zero-emission. Falling short of this target could result in penalties […]

Blackpool Council has approved a new selective licensing scheme which will come into effect on 1 April 2025. It says the scheme will address poor management practices by some private landlords and ensure higher standards for tenants. The designated area covers 11,000 privately rented properties in eight wards. All landlords within this area must obtain […]

A leading firm of landlord and housing law experts has slammed a recent report suggesting councils in England and Wales are failing to adequately address landlord misconduct as ‘misleading and inaccurate’. The report, published by Public Interest Lawyers, claimed nearly half a million complaints were made about landlord misconduct in five years, yet councils took […]

Aldermore has announced a relaxation of its buy to let remortgage criteria for properties purchased within the last six months. The move is designed to provide landlords with greater flexibility and potentially unlock funds for further property investments. Previously, the maximum loan for an early remortgage was based on the recent purchase price, plus any […]

The Local Authority is insisting I have a wired smoke alarm fitted (England) and a new EICR once completed (just got a new one !). It currently has interlinked wireless alarms and threatening enforcement notice My question is – I believe this is not the Law as Gov.UK legislation states The regulations do not stipulate […]

HM Land Registry is set to pocket an extra £27 million a year following a fee hike that will come into effect on December 9, one organisation has calculated. The increase will affect a range of services, including a £4 rise for electronically inspecting an individual register or plan. Moverly, a provider of property information, […]

An estate agent is warning landlords of a new Airbnb scheme that allows tenants to sub-let their rental properties. Knight Frank says the scheme could be open to abuse by tenants, allowing them to list properties without the landlord’s permission. Airbnb says the scheme is meant to make it easier for tenants to host on […]

Monthly rents across the UK have surged to unaffordable levels in every region except the North East, research reveals. Analytics firm TwentyCi has published its latest Property and Homemover Report which compares average full-time employee incomes from the ONS, with median rents. The Office for National Statistics defines affordable rent as 30% or less of […]

A lawyer has slammed the Renters’ Rights Bill impact assessment, calling it “unreliable.” David Smith, head of dispute resolution at JMW Solicitors, says the government’s assessment doesn’t “paint a true picture” of the financial impact on landlords. The Renters’ Rights Bill is expected to cost £33 million a year, but the government insists it will […]

London Mayor Sadiq Khan has unveiled plans to introduce rent-controlled homes to help make housing more affordable for key workers in the capital. The proposed ‘Key Worker Living Rent’ homes would see rents capped at 40% of key workers’ average household incomes, potentially saving them up to £600 per month. However, according to the Telegraph, […]

Propertymark has welcomed the government’s Warm Homes Plan, which aims to help homeowners save money on energy bills and improve home energy efficiency. The plan includes grants for heat pumps, support for renters and low-income households, and a relaxation of planning permission rules for heat pumps in England. However, Propertymark says it is concerned that […]

London’s terraced houses are the most lucrative property type for buy to let investors, research reveals. With average property prices of £579,743 and rent of £2,594, terraced houses in the capital offer BTL investors yields of 5.37% – that’s higher than the average of 4.81%. The second most lucrative BTL property type are flats which […]

Rents across Britain have surged over the past year by 8.7%, with some areas experiencing staggering increases – including one area that saw a jaw-dropping 30.1% rent hike. The research from Zero Deposit, the tenancy deposit alternative, reveals that London saw the most significant jump at 10.4%. Yorkshire and the Humber recorded the smallest increase […]

My evicted tenants were on a joint tenancy. Apparently, one tenant had moved out and the remaining tenant had to be evicted, leaving a house full of items and some unpacked. Recently, he had asked to collect, in particular, his child’s item (as he has received a Court order) Now the other tenant (the mother […]

The first survey of social housing tenants has found that while many of them are happy with their homes, there’s still room for improvement. It found that just one in three tenants are happy with how complaints are handled, and one in five say they aren’t happy with their landlord’s service. For shared owners, just […]

The impact of the Renters’ Rights Bill is expected to cost £33 million a year, but the government insists it will not trigger a mass exodus of landlords. According to the government’s impact assessment, the estimated cost for landlords is £12 per rented property annually, while agents are expected to face an average cost of […]

With all the recent fuss about farmers and the changes in inheritance tax rules for them, something struck me and I wonder what thoughts other members have. I raise this partly in jest as IN NO WAY would these thoughts be entertained owing to the low opinion had of landlords. So, what other business has […]

Positive input Ventilation units (PIVs) to clear dampness around the window reveals. We have had new double-glazed plastic windows fitted just before the legal requirement of ventilation top vents. We have super tenants who wipe the windows down daily and understand the need for ventilation and general dampness avoidance. The plaster around the window reveals […]

I had a friend ask me for help, unfortunately, I am at a loss to advise. Can anyone offer some further guidance please? An AST was signed by the tenant and the landlords Mr & Mrs Smith (also the joint owners). It started on 5 August 2024. A copy of the AST was sent to […]

Growing uncertainty around the Renters’ Rights Bill has led to more landlords leaving the market and rents to rise, according to Knight Frank. According to the estate agent, rents could jump by 17.6% over the next five years, between 2025 and 2029. However, Knight Frank’s housing market forecast suggests that house prices are expected to […]

A major landlord has unveiled plans to sell its private rented sector (PRS) business portfolio of 3,147 homes across 53 schemes in Greater London. London & Quadrant Housing Trust (L&Q) is looking for buyers to take on its Metra Living arm. The move is part of L&Q’s strategy to focus on its core business of […]