An industry body warns the Renters’ Rights Bill could undermine the justice system and destabilise the private rented sector. Propertymark says that while letting agents are not opposed to reform, it must be carried out in a way that protects both landlords and tenants. The warning comes after members of the House of Lords raised […]

New mandatory sanctions checks for letting agents come into effect this month, aimed at cracking down on financial crime. The government is making it mandatory for letting agents to carry out sanctions checks on all prospective landlords at the point of instruction, and on all tenants before a tenancy agreement is finalised. However, research by […]

A London council has introduced a five-year initiative aimed at curbing illegal waste dumping throughout its borough with plans for prevention, stringent enforcement and community collaboration. The move by Merton council follows recent criticism of Sefton council which threatened landlords with an unlimited fine for failing to tackle fly-tipping. Now Merton’s Fly-Tipping Strategy 2024–2029, states […]

A Parliamentary petition to challenge selective licensing rules, claiming they are being exploited by councils for generating cash has been launched by a landlord. Simon Fletcher explains on the Portsmouth and District Private Landlords Association website that the 2015 government order, which broadened local councils’ powers to implement selective licensing, lacks proper Parliamentary oversight and […]

A London council has introduced a ‘Private Rented Sector Tenant’s Charter’ to clarify tenant entitlements, improve housing quality and provide accessible support. Westminster Council says that with nearly half of its households renting privately, the charter offers essential standards for rental properties. The charter addresses a range of topics such as damp, mould, illegal evictions […]

As you know, property investing can give you a fantastic income, but it does come with its fair share of problems. What if there was an “Alternative Property Investing Strategy” which could give you double digit returns on your investment, but with no tenants, no mortgages, no stamp duty, no solicitors, no repairs, and it […]

Nearly a third of renters claim they would risk moving in a pet or partner without permission from their landlord, according to a new survey. Data from Homeprotect reveals a surge in demand for pet-friendly rentals, with over 1,300 people searching for them each month in the UK. The news comes after a previous report […]

A council is set to revive limitations on letting boards across several residential areas after complaints from residents. Nottingham City Council says complaints have also been made by community groups and local councillors over the proliferation of signs. The areas where a ban is being considered includes Hyson Green and Arboretum, Lenton and Wollaton East, […]

Three leading buy to let lenders – Landbay, Fleet Mortgages and ModaMortgages – have introduced changes to their BTL mortgage offerings, aimed at supporting landlords with lower rates and enhanced incentives. Landbay has reduced its rates by 0.25% across its non-portfolio range, tailored for landlords owning up to three mortgaged properties. This range, featuring five-year […]

Generation Rent has issued an urgent call for the UK government to cap rising rents, pointing to a deepening housing crisis that has left record numbers of families in temporary accommodation. Its plea follows the release of the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government’s statutory homelessness statistics for October to December 2024, which reveal […]

A consultation on exempting certain properties from rent caps has been labelled as a sign of confusion in the Scottish government’s housing strategy by one property expert. David Alexander argues that the proposal fails to provide the much-needed clarity for the private rented sector (PRS). He spoke out after Housing Minister Paul McLennan announced the […]

The Decent Homes Standard, which is part of the Renters’ Rights Bill going through the House of Lords currently, may require significant property upgrades, potentially pushing some landlords to sell rather than renovate, one expert says. Dave Sayce, the co-founder of Compare My Move, says the legislation evaluates properties based on three criteria: The condition […]

It’s hard not to laugh at the current governmental interference when it comes to landlords and our properties. First, they hit us with the Renters’ Rights Bill, an aggressive swipe that could see thousands of landlords destroyed, down and out, then this: Keir Starmer’s latest appeal to landlords to house Channel migrants. As the saying […]

It’s bizarre, isn’t it? Landlords, already battered by a barrage of legislative changes and economic pressures, are now being asked by the Labour government to offer their properties to asylum seekers. The National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA) has voiced strong opposition, saying the government needs to support us if they want more homes to become […]

It is being promoted as a way to level the renting playing field and empower tenants, but one housing law expert says the Renters’ Rights Bill‘s real aim is to enrich councils. And it will leave both landlords and tenants worse off, says Des Taylor of Landlord Licensing & Defence. The director of casework says […]

Hello, My letting agent got taken over, and then that company got taken over a few months later. Now the current one is saying that the original letting agreement I signed has been replaced by theirs – even though I’ve never been sent a copy. My understanding it that when a company is sold its […]

Members of the House of Lords warn that the court system could be left in limbo, with landlords facing long delays. The Telegraph previously revealed that landlords are already struggling with eviction delays of more than eight months, and there are growing concerns that the Renters’ Rights Bill will only make the situation worse. According […]

Just one-in-five of England’s PRS’ properties are estimated to fall short of the forthcoming Decent Homes Standard, according to FCC Paragon. This standard, which is embedded within the proposed Renters’ Rights Bill, aims to guarantee that all PRS homes are both safe and habitable. The firm’s analysis of government data indicates that 21% of private […]

A property management boss claims the heart of the housing crisis lies with landlords refusing to work with councils. John Angus, managing director at Switch Management, writes in the housing magazine Inside Housing that too many households are being placed in temporary accommodation instead of “stable and secure private rentals.” According to Mr Angus, many […]

While 73% of renters believe they are financially savvy about renting, there are critical gaps in their knowledge – including 46% of tenants saying they don’t know how deposit protection schemes work, research reveals. And 63% are clueless about the timeline for deposit refunds. Additionally, 65% don’t know about deposit-free renting options, the survey from […]

The Mortgage Works has unveiled a series of reductions across its buy to let, limited company BTL and let-to-buy mortgage products. The lender’s two-year fixed rate for purchase and remortgage now stands at 2.99% with a 3% fee, available up to 65% loan-to-value (LTV), down by 0.15%. For those seeking longer-term stability, a five-year fixed […]