Amateur landlords are being warned about the dangers of new selective licensing schemes which could lead to hefty fines. The councils of Brent, Lambeth, Lewisham and Islington have all recently unveiled plans to introduce or expand licensing schemes for private rented properties. Landlord Licensing & Defence says these schemes unfairly target ‘accidental landlords’ who might, […]

The Liberal Democrats vow to ban no-fault evictions to stop the housing emergency. In a video interview with Shelter, Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey says far more needs to be done to end the housing emergency and help “renters who have had a tough time.” Housing charity Shelter met Mr Davey in Eastleigh on […]

Tenants in the private rented sector (PRS) want the next government to focus on controlling the pace of rent rises, a survey has found. The research from Zoopla and Ipsos says this demand is closely followed by the need for increased home construction and enhanced rights and protections for renters. While all political parties agree […]

Precise Mortgages, which is part of the OSB Group, has revamped its buy to let product range, offering landlords greater flexibility and access to larger loans. The lender’s key changes include: Reduced rates starting from 4.49% Reintroduction of higher loan-to-value (LTV) options for qualified borrowers Introduction of new fee products to increase borrowing potential. There […]

In 1988 Thatcher reformed the property market opening the way for BTL mortgages. She created new legislation and new tenancies were formed. Old contracts were not touched just new offerings introduced. At that point, 7% of property was rented through the private sector. This grew to 20% of property by 2021 and with 5 million […]

Renting your property to charities that sublet to vulnerable tenants can seem like a benevolent and socially responsible thing to do, coupled with the reassurance of ‘hands off’ passive income guaranteed for a number of years. However, landlords must be cautious and well-informed about the potential pitfalls. Inadequate and outdated tenancy agreements, improper subletting arrangements, […]

In a direct video addressed to Generation Rent’s Ben Twomey and Angela Rayner, Nottingham landlord Mick Roberts argues abolishing Section 21 will harm tenants. Labour has promised to immediately ban Section 21 and clampdown on ‘unscrupulous landlords ripping off tenants with extortionate rents and lurid living conditions’. However, Mr Roberts emphasises that abolishing Section 21 […]

With the election looming, what are the different government parties promising for rental reform? In this episode of ‘Good Landlording’, Richard from Alphaletz and Suzanne from The Independent Landlord discuss what the 2024 election manifestos actually say about landlords, rental reform and energy efficiency. Stay up to date with the Good Landlording weekly podcast, already […]

I’ve tried to ignore the manifestos and was doing well but then up pops my old friend Angela Rayner with some more nonsense about landlords in the private rented sector (PRS). Labour doesn’t understand housing and it certainly doesn’t understand landlords – and why we have invested time and money in providing housing for others. […]

In this episode of Property Answers, we examine the impact of recent Leasehold and Freehold reforms on landlords. Join us as we break down the key changes, their implications for property ownership, and what these reforms mean for the future of the rental market. Are these changes beneficial for landlords, or do they pose new […]

On Monday night (24th June) at 8pm, I will be running my 90-minute live online training about how you can achieve all of your property goals, much quicker than you thought possible, by using his Ultimate Property Investor, 3-step process. If you have not reserved your place yet, I highly recommend you do it now, […]

Nearly half (47%) of HMO (house in multiple occupation) landlords rely solely on their rental income for their livelihood, a survey reveals. The research from buy to let lender Landbay also found that almost a third (30%) of participating landlords owned HMO properties, with 72% of those using limited companies to manage their portfolios. Despite […]

Rising rents and stagnant benefits are creating a financial squeeze for private renters in the UK, with a study revealing more than a third (35%) are struggling to afford their rent. The research by the TDS Charitable Foundation surveyed more than 2,000 tenants and found a big rise in financial strain compared to last year. […]

With the general election approaching, there needs to be more clarification from the Labour Party on its plans for improving the private rented sector, Propertymark says. The move follows news of Labour adding more detail this week to its manifesto. Now, the party says that it will crackdown on ‘unscrupulous landlords’ It will also abolish […]

Dawn-style raids, more powers than the police and issuing £105,000 fines —councils wield considerable authority in regulating landlords. Phil Turtle, compliance director from Landlord Licensing & Defence deals with councils daily and issues a stark warning to landlords. With more than 160 pieces of legislation and 400 regulations, landlords may sometimes find themselves in hot […]

Labour says it will crackdown on ‘unscrupulous landlords’ who are strangling growth in the private rented sector (PRS). The party is adding details to its manifesto which was launched last week. It says there will be a clampdown on ‘unscrupulous landlords ripping off tenants with extortionate rents and lurid living conditions’. Labour adds that renters […]

The UK’s housing market appears to be stabilising after a period of decline, with average house prices edging upwards for the second month in a row, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) reports. It says that house prices rose 1.1% in the 12 months to April, reaching an average of £281,000. This follows a 0.9% […]

Scottish Labour will improve tenants’ rights by protecting them from unaffordable rent increases and unscrupulous landlords. In its manifesto dubbed change, Scottish Labour claims more proposals are needed to drive up standards in PRS homes in Scotland. The Scottish Association of Landlords (SAL) say rent controls are not the answer to the housing crisis. Tenants […]

The rate at which UK private rents increase is beginning to slow down with the average rent rising by 8.7% in the 12 months to May, down from 8.9% in April. This is still a significant rise, but it is the second consecutive month of easing annual inflation after a record high of 9.2% in […]

The SNP blames Brexit and Westminster underinvestment for Scotland’s housing crisis.    In the SNP’s manifesto dubbed ‘A Future Made In Scotland’ the party claims cuts made by the UK government have affected the Scottish budget for housing. Earlier this year, the Scottish government, along with six councils across Scotland, officially declared a housing emergency. […]

A lack of housing choice for tenants threatens to undermine private rented sector (PRS) reforms being proposed by political parties, the National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA) says. The NRLA is sounding the alarm as the Conservatives, Labour, Liberal Democrats and Green Party all consider ending section 21 ‘no-fault’ evictions. However, it says that none of […]