The future of the private rented sector (PRS) is a major worry for 75% of landlords, research reveals. The findings from the Simply Business’s Landlord Report highlight that the year so far has been challenging for landlords. They’ve seen increasing costs, evolving legislation and a new Labour government. However, it is Labour’s victory in the […]

Renting privately in England is apparently so traumatic that it’s having a devastating impact on tenants’ mental health, Generation Rent reports. The tenant campaign group has carried out a survey and found that almost nine in 10 renters report that their mental health has been negatively affected by their housing situation. Nearly two in five […]

I am currently advertising my property for rent in London and was recently contacted by HPL Estates. They claim to have been in operation for 55 years, with their main office in Maidenhead and four branches around London. During a phone conversation, a representative emphasised their contractual agreement with the NHS to support family relocations. […]

Lenders and mortgage brokers are urging the Chancellor to “carefully consider” landlords in light of upcoming EPC regulations. In a letter to Chancellor Rachel Reeves, the Mortgage Advice Bureau along with other lenders Leeds Building Society propose a Stamp Duty refund for homebuyers who retrofit their property to achieve an EPC rating of C or higher. Ed […]

A new service designed to streamline the handling of bills during void periods for landlords and agents and tenants has been unveiled. The Void Management service from the rent tech platform Vouch automates the process of switching bills to the correct name. Once a tenant moves out of a property, the service will alert utilities […]

Hi, I have a 2-bed flat with 20-year-old storage heaters still in working order. The electrician who reset one recently commented that I should be looking at replacing these shortly and recommended “eco electric rads” and replace the Economy 7 meter (with the cheaper night tariff), with a standard meter. This would require major disruption […]

Hi, recently, I found myself in a frustrating situation with Brent Council regarding the licensing of a property I rent out. After applying for and paying for a Selective Licence for my property, which is rented to a family, the council conducted an inspection. During the inspection, they spoke with one of the residents who, […]

Chancellor Rachel Reeves could hike capital gains tax to a whopping 39%, according to The Guardian. The newspaper reports the Treasury is testing a range of 33%-39% for capital gains tax to fill in the so-called £22 billion black hole in Britain’s finances. Propertymark warns raising capital gains tax could jeopardise growth in the housing […]

A professional landlord with a large portfolio faced a challenging situation when their tenant stopped paying rent and failed to communicate. Upon visiting the property, the landlord was met by an unfamiliar young woman, later identified as the tenant’s partner. She explained that her boyfriend, the named tenant on the tenancy agreement, had been sent […]

The unintended consequences of the Renters’ Rights Bill for the private rented sector (PRS) could make the housing crisis worse, Propertymark warns. It says that while the Bill is designed to protect tenants, landlords who cannot gain possession will leave the PRS – pushing up rents. Over the past decade, the PRS has faced legislative […]

1. I propose to replace a gas boiler, in a rented property I own, by an Air Source Heat Pump (ASHP) in order to improve the EPC rating from D to C. My provider tells me that installing an ASHP may in fact worsen the EPC rating, rather than improving it. Is that likely? 2. […]

Licensing enforcement in London has reached a new level of intensity, one firm reports, as fines for non-compliance with licensing schemes head towards £900,000 this year. This surge, according to PropTech firm Kamma, comes as councils adopt more sophisticated strategies to crack down on landlords. London’s landlords have forked out £10 million in licensing fines […]

A council is trying to address its housing crisis by offering cash incentives to landlords to make private renting more affordable for families currently living in temporary accommodation. The city council has been struggling to meet the increasing demand for council housing, with more than 1,000 households currently relying on temporary accommodation. Many of these […]

The NRLA is urging the government to introduce the UK’s housing, health and safety rating system (HHSRS) after years of delay. RHE Global was commissioned by the previous government to review the UK’s Housing, Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS) and finished the two-year review in 2022. This came after the Conservative government released a […]

The requirement for landlords to have their home address on a proposed public register, even if having a letting/managing agent, could be argued as a breach of Article 8 HRA 1998. ie – the right to respect for family and private life, home and correspondence. But only IF a court ruled that a landlord should […]

The following quotes reflect an evolving judicial attitude towards tax planning in the 21st century, with increasing emphasis on the need for commercial substance in tax planning arrangements and a clearer demarcation between legitimate planning and avoidance. Lord Steyn in Inland Revenue Commissioners v Fitzwilliam [1993] STC 502: “Tax planning is acceptable, provided the taxpayer […]

Nigel Farage has slammed the Renters’ Rights Bill as a “huge mistake” and says Ed Miliband’s EPC C rules will cost a fortune for landlords. In an interview with GB News, Mr Farage says the Renters’ Rights Bill will reduce housing supply and cause chaos in the rental market. Other industry experts say the Bill […]

Hey tenants, while you may be excited about the potential benefits of the Renters’ Rights Bill, it’s important to consider what the potential impact will be on your renting life. I know it all sounds like sunshine and flowers at the moment, but I don’t think you will like it. Firstly, Labour’s aim to ‘level […]

Unlock the secrets to successful property investment with our latest episode on how to de-risk property deals. Gain expert insights from industry leader John Howard, who shares professional tips to safeguard your investments and maximise returns in today’s volatile property market. You’ll learn essential investment strategies and how to transform uncertainties into opportunities. Discover how […]

The North East of England has emerged as the UK’s top region for rental yields with landlords achieving average returns of 8.13%, Paragon Bank reveals. It found that the region outperforms other parts of the country, including Wales (8.07%) and the North West (7.84%). Paragon’s report also highlights the strong rental yield potential in Yorkshire […]

Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook is warning that landlords will not be able to get around the Renters’ Rights Bill, and any landlord or letting agent caught discriminating against a tenant could be fined £7,000. In an interview with The i newspaper, Mr Pennycook claims “landlords pitch renters against each other” in rental bidding wars and […]