In a worrying turn of events this week, The Guardian reported alarming news for landlords who might still be holding on to their property portfolios. It heralded “The end of landlords” with the suggestion that the Government should start to veer towards a “surprisingly simple solution to the UK housing crisis” which could see them […]

Angela Rayner has slammed the allegations of tax evasion over her council house sale as a ‘smear’ in a BBC Newsnight interview. The deputy Labour Party leader insists there was ‘no wrongdoing’ or ‘unlawfulness’ in the sale of her Stockport home. The allegations first appeared in the Daily Mail and a biography by Lord Ashcroft, […]

Hello, any advice is much appreciated. I have an unlicensed HMO in Newham which I need to draw to an end with minimum financial ruin…. I was living there with 2 lodgers. 6 months ago I moved out and another lodger moved in. They are all on lodger agreements – are you understanding that this […]

Foundation Homeloans, are one of the more flexible lenders and recently had a bit of a shake-up.  Landlords will be interested in some of the quirks: They have a ‘solution’ based approach where they will consider most cases and let us know if they can help. Speaking to their lending manager recently, he has expressed […]

I think this might be of interest to landlords and others who feel under the cosh of government. A new book (albeit with an American perspective) Everyday Freedom: Designing the Framework for A Flourishing Society by Philip Howard has lessons for us. Howard explains why government functions so poorly and why bureaucracy and litigiousness have […]

Curious about how the Bank of England’s interest rate decisions sway property prices? In this video, Ranjan Bhattacharya breaks down the complex relationship between interest rates and the housing market. Discover the key factors driving interest rate changes and learn how they influence property values. From analysing historical data to predicting future trends, Ranjan offers […]

Landlords worried about tenants with pets might be interested in research about pet-loving Brits who are forking out millions on DIY repairs caused by their furry friends running amok at home. Under the Renters (Reform) Bill, landlords won’t be able to refuse a home to a tenant with a pet without good reason. Now, research […]

The average UK rent has risen by 7.8% to £1,223 in the past year, but the pace of growth is starting to slow, Zoopla reveals. The property portal says this growth slowdown will continue this year – it is predicting a 5% rise in rents in 2024. One reason for that is that tenant demand […]

More than half of landlords are concerned about upcoming legislative changes, according to a survey. A government survey reveals that 62% of landlords are worried about legislative changes in the private rented sector. Landlords with smaller portfolios are particularly worried about navigating tax changes (52%) and unpredictable tenant behaviour (50%). Unwilling to let to tenants […]

One of the country’s largest selective licensing schemes will go live in two weeks’ time and landlords are being urged to sign up. Brent Council will have borough-wide licensing in place for all private rented homes, excluding Wembley Park. The council claims that its scheme will boost tenant living conditions and ‘build on Brent’s positive […]

The Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee has decided to hold the base rate at 5.25% – for the fifth meeting in a row. The current rate, which was set last August, is the highest for nearly 16 years. Economic experts are predicting that rates will fall later this year. A key tool in controlling […]

MPs on the Work and Pensions Select Committee say that Local Housing Allowance should be uprated every year by the Government so that it retains its value at the 30th percentile of rents in a rental market area. LHA rates have been frozen since April 2020 and from April this year, the LHA rate will […]

The title speaks for itself. Unfortunately, it has taken a year to the day exactly to evict non-paying tenants. This is the first time in 30 years I’ve had any issues, but it has now made me concerned that my experience could happen again. I want to be as protected as I possibly can be […]

In a bid to help tenants save for a deposit to buy a house, half of their council tax payment should paid into a dedicated savings account, one think tank says. The novel solution by the Social Market Foundation (SMF) acknowledges government efforts to help first-time buyers but argues they haven’t addressed the issue in […]

Tenants in Scotland are seeing big rent rises and the rent cap brought in by the SNP is being blamed – as rent rises elsewhere in the UK begin to fall. According to the Daily Telegraph which used Zoopla data, the rent cap and eviction ban implemented by Nicola Sturgeon is behind the rent increases. […]

A rent cap is needed in Wales to help essential workers struggling to find affordable housing, Generation Rent says. It warns that a one-bedroom flat in Cardiff accounts for 48% of a teaching assistant’s salary. The campaign group says this highlights the wider issue of rent affordability across Wales, with many key worker roles facing […]

The cost of renting in the UK has hit a new high as average rents across the UK rose by 9% in the 12 months to February – the highest rise recorded by the Office for National Statistics (ONS). The trend of rising rents is consistent across the UK, with all nations experiencing significant growth. […]

The private rented sector (PRS) in England and Wales supports more than 390,000 jobs across its supply chain and the wider economy, underlining the crucial role that landlords play in society and the economy. The report by PwC was commissioned by the National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA) and Paragon, and it also found that the […]

Hello, I received an order for possession operative on or after 5 March from Southend County Court. My agent tells me that a Court Bailiff can only be appointed following payment of a further fee, which has to now be paid over the telephone, to be instigated by the Court making the call. Over the […]

Hi everybody, regarding the Renters Reform Bill, I know Michael Gove said that he would allow student lets to have an end date which would be a positive step for student landlords. However, my wife tells me she can find no mention of this in the draft text of the Renters Reform Bill. Is Michael […]

Hi, I’ll try and be as clear as I can with this, it is not a system that everyone is aware of – new builds now come with a heating/energy system that produces heat and hot water to flats, this is billed separately to anything else and the leaseholder is directly responsible, usually you can […]