A council plans to introduce a new selective licensing scheme to “help raise living standards”. Brighton and Hove council introduced a new licensing scheme in September, requiring landlords to obtain a license for properties with one or two tenants, families, or single-storey flats and bungalows with three or four unrelated residents. The council wants to […]

Are you a landlord who is thinking of selling up because of the rumours of a capital gains tax increase. Then, Rachel Mortimer, assistant money editor for The Times would like to speak with you. The Times is looking to speak with landlords who plan to sell their investments ahead of any possible capital gains tax increase […]

In this episode of Property Breaking News, Ranjan Bhattacharya and Andrew Roberts examine the contentious proposal of tenants’ right to buy at a discounted rate, a policy once championed by Jeremy Corbyn in his manifesto. While selling directly to tenants can be a convenient option for landlords, concerns arise when the sale is forced below […]

Another council has ‘mothballed’ its housing company, despite investing £600,000 of public money, according to Private Eye. Central Bedfordshire council set up New Vista Homes in 2020 to address a shortfall in affordable housing in the area by building 250 homes over the next three to five years. At the time, the council hailed the […]

A radical overhaul of local property licencing schemes is necessary under the proposed Renters’ Rights Bill because they are ineffective and costly, Propertymark warns. The organisation says it has responded to consultations on additional and selective licencing consultations from Enfield, Reading, Gateshead and Wandsworth. It has also responded to a proposal from Lambeth to bring […]

Professional landlords are increasingly turning to multi-unit freehold blocks (MUFBs) as a lucrative investment option, according to Shawbrook. The lender has reported a 14% rise in landlords looking to invest in this property type in 2024 compared to the previous year. Also, the value of mortgages being sought by landlords for MUFB purchases has risen […]

We need to highlight the fact that to avoid further homelessness then the private rental sector needs to be supported. I would suggest we as an industry adopt the slogan: “Section 21 evictions are the symptom not the cause” Then go on to point out that S21 was not a problem five years ago and […]

Hi, it seems to me that the thing that worries lots of smaller landlords is the ever increasing/changing rules governing rental properties and the intolerance shown by many councils towards landlords who occasionally miss, or misunderstand something. It would be reassuring if one knew they would always be given an opportunity to correct a defect […]

Hi, I recently purchased a flat in a building where a sprinkler system was installed by the developer when the property was first built two years ago. The building is now managed by a management company. However, there is an issue, whereby there is a water leak from the pipe joint (PVC L-Bow) above the […]

The majority of private renters are struggling and have little to no housing support compared to social housing renters. New data from the government reveals that 62% of households renting from the council receive support costs to help them pay rent compared to just 25.4% of private renters. Even private renters who do receive support […]

A Labour MP who describes himself as a “renters champion” and a “good landlord” has been forced to admit that his rental properties are plagued by ant infestations and black mould. Jas Athwal, the newly-elected MP for Ilford South, owns 15 rental flats, making him the biggest landlord in the House of Commons. An investigation […]

Paragon Bank has expanded its buy to let mortgage range with a new two-year fixed-rate product with no fee and a discounted variable rate product. This is the first time in more than two years that the lender has offered a nil-fee two-year fixed-rate option. The two-year fixed-rate product starts at 6.10% for properties with […]

The alarm has been raised on the potential for a deepening rural housing crisis in Argyll and Bute, with significant issues being faced by landlords in the region. A report highlights the unique challenges faced by rural landlords, including difficulties in finding tradespeople and the rising costs of compliance with new regulations. These pressures have […]

A groundbreaking partnership has been launched to harness the potential of the private rented sector (PRS) to combat the homelessness crisis in the UK. The collaboration between Crisis and TDS Group will focus on developing strategies to encourage PRS landlords to rent homes to those who are homeless. Private landlords are seen as a potential […]

Increasing rent on an annual basis is a standard practice among many landlords, designed to help them keep pace with inflation and sustain the profitability of their rental properties. While some landlords may hesitate to raise rents due to concerns about tenant retention or perceived fairness, failing to do so can lead to financial pitfalls […]

Hi, I rent out a flat in a development of freehold flats where there’s an external managing agent to make sure relevant legislation is complied with. The issue is residents charging electric cars from their garages. Prior to the flats’ management picking up the tab for electricity used, the meters were read every quarter by […]

The private rented sector (PRS) is in dire straits, with rocketing tenant demand and a fall in the number of homes to rent, Ben Beadle says. In an article for The Times, the chief executive of the National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA), argued that tax increases over the past 14 years have made it more […]

Foundation Home Loans, the intermediary-only specialist lender, has announced that consumer buy to let (CBTL) mortgages are now accepted as standard criteria across its ‘Buy to Let by Foundation’ and ‘Solutions by Foundation’ product ranges.  The following scenarios are typical of a consumer buy to let: Property inherited from a relative Applicant/customer moved in with […]

Hello everyone, I am looking for advice/help to resolve this. I purchased a leasehold flat with 50% freehold interest in 2002. It is a detached property with three flats. The ground floor is owned by me and the first floor is owned by a lady who also has the other 50% of the freehold. I […]

The UK’s house prices saw a modest year-on-year increase in August despite a slight monthly decline from July’s figures, Nationwide reports. Its house price index reveals that average house prices rose by 2.4% year-on-year, up from 2.1% in July. This marks the fastest pace of annual growth since December 2022. However, prices dipped by 0.2% […]

Tenants and landlords are being encouraged to seek help from their local council to address persistent damp and mould problems in their rental properties. The Forest of Dean District Council’s environmental health team is offering advice and assistance as part of a new initiative called ‘Healthy Homes’. The project provides guidance and ensures that appropriate […]