I have just been notified that Birmingham Council is planning a change to the scheme in which they lease private sector properties. The implication is that it would require the title deeds of the property to be updated to register their lease interest. My first reaction is what the heck? Why would I want to […]

Scottish landlords could be forced to accept pets in rental properties and face rent controls. During a debate, Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs) voted to pass Stage 1 of the Scottish Housing bill. The Scottish Housing Bill will allow renters to request permission to keep a pet in their home, and landlords will not […]

They say there is a housing crisis – and with good reason. Net migration to the UK reached an astonishing 906,000 in the year up to June 2023, far surpassing previous estimates. Approximately 1.3 million individuals moved to the UK during this period, while 414,000 people left. According to the Office for National Statistics, net […]

Kent Reliance for Intermediaries (KRFI), part of the OSB Group, has introduced two new limited edition buy-to-let (BTL) product ranges to assist brokers in supporting their landlord clients. The first range, designed to offer affordability, features lower fees starting at £799. Key features of this range include: 2-year and 5-year fixed-rate options 75% and 80% […]

The Intermediary Mortgage Lenders Association (IMLA) has issued a stark warning that increased government regulation on the private rented sector (PRS) could lead to significant rent hikes. In its latest report, ‘Vital role of the Private Rented Sector’, IMLA highlights the importance of the PRS, which currently houses 20% of UK households. The report expresses […]

In 2007, the housing benefit rate for a three-bed home in Cleveleys, Lancashire was £520pm, today it is £623.30 or a 20% rise in 17 years. The Bank of England kindly offers an inflation calculator which shows £523 in 2007 would cost £863 today, a rise of 65%. Goods and services have risen by three […]

Letting agents in the UK are facing a huge financial blow, with government figures revealing potential losses of nearly £400 million over the next decade due to the Renters’ Rights Bill. The Impact Assessment, published by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, estimates that the Bill will lead to a 41% increase in […]

House prices are set to rise next year as buyers rush to beat stamp duty changes. According to Zoopla’s House Price Index, house prices will rise by 2.5% in 2025, and by 7.5% over the next three years. Currently, about half of owner-movers pay stamp duty, but according to Zoopla, this will increase to 83% […]

The Labour government is considering banning landlords from accepting advance rent payments from tenants. During a question to Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook, Dr Simon Opher, Labour MP for Stroud, asked whether the Renters’ Rights Bill would prohibit landlords from accepting one month’s rent in advance. Many landlords and letting agents request tenants to pay the […]

The NRLA has criticised the government’s plan for a landlord database as “bureaucratic”. Under the Renters’ Rights Bill, a private rented sector database is set to be established, which the government claims will “give assurances to tenants”. However, the NRLA has slammed the government for the lack of information on what will be included in […]

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 […]