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 […]

The Property Redress Scheme’s annual report paints a picture of a property sector facing challenges with agent complaint enquiries rocketing by 20% in 2023 compared to the previous year. The scheme says it is investigating 55% more cases but despite this rise, the average complaint rate per member fell. The report also features the results […]

The Housing Ombudsman has severely criticised social landlord Guinness Partnership for failing to fix problems in tenants’ homes – including a child having to live in mould for three years. Another resident had to put up with mushrooms growing in their mould-ridden bedroom. This is the second case this week which has seen the Housing […]

A council’s mandatory licensing scheme for private landlords has received a higher-than-expected response in its first year. The scheme, launched in September 2022, requires all rented homes in the city to be licensed. Landlords and letting agents have submitted applications for more than 12,300 properties, exceeding the council’s forecasts by 34%. Oxford City Council says […]

Hi, I’m a niche landlord with a small portfolio of garages. These are mostly small properties able to house a single vehicle, each (a garage, not a vehicle) priced in the £20-30K range. All freeholds, all owned by my company outright, most bought off auctions with me doing my own conveyancing. When I bought my […]

My long-term tenant has sadly died. She lived alone and had been in my property for over 15 years. She was on an AST tenancy agreement through my local council. The flat needs clearing and there is a lot of work to do in order to be able to rent it out again as quickly […]

Property investors in the UK favour trade publications over advisors when making investment decisions, research reveals. The study of 2,000 adults by Market Financial Solutions (MFS) reveals that 16% hold property investments. The investors have interests in buy to let and holiday homes, along with second homes and commercial units. Of the investors, 55% say […]

Propertymark is urging the Welsh Government to learn from Scotland’s experience with legislative changes in the private rented sector (PRS) with increased support for landlords to understand and follow new regulations. Speaking at the Local Government and Housing Committee inquiry into Wales’s PRS, Propertymark’s Timothy Douglas said the organisation supports the right to adequate housing, […]

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