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Scottish government to finally end emergency rent cap

26th January 2024

The Scottish government has announced the end of the emergency rent cap. Introduced in 2022, the Cost of Living (Tenant Protection) (Scotland) Act, aimed to protect tenants from rent increases and ban evictions. The Scottish Parliament has confirmed from the 1st of April 2024, the legislation will no longer apply but one organisation claims the […]

The UK’s buy to let hotspots revealed

26th January 2024

The UK’s buy to let hotspot has been revealed after the city saw a 12% surge in the number of privately rented properties over the past year, a new report has revealed. The findings from Simply Business, which analysed more than 100,000 landlord insurance policies, have identified which cities have experienced the biggest growth in […]

How to tackle screaming noisy new neighbours?

26th January 2024

Hello, my tenants have messaged me with concerns about the new tenants in the flat below them. The building is a converted Edwardian property, eight flats. Ever since the new tenants, a man and a woman, moved in not quite a couple of months ago the man, more often than the woman, there has been […]

Landlords: it’s time to get 2024 off to a flying start

25th January 2024

You’re a landlord looking to sell, but last year was a challenge. In 2024, it’s time to get your portfolios and properties sold and get you moving on to your next projects. Why now? The biggest challenge for landlords wanting to sell is that they want to shift properties in bulk, want a single company […]

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Tenant gave notice then changed his mind?

25th January 2024

Hello, I am selling all my properties and planned to send the S21 to the tenant of the ‘next in line’ in early January as my mortgage fixed term ends in October. On the day I was going to start the process I was very happy to receive Notice from him, of 6 weeks (which […]

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Daily Telegraph wants to speak to young landlords with lodgers

25th January 2024

Are you a young live-in landlord? Then, Eir Nolsøe, senior economics reporter, for the Telegraph would like to speak with you. Eir would like to speak to young live-in landlords who got on the property ladder with help from family and are now subsidising the mortgage by renting out one or multiple rooms to lodgers. […]

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Scotland’s property boom as the pandemic pushes prices up by £43k

25th January 2024

Scotland has seen an extraordinary surge in property prices since the pandemic, with average values rising by £43,381 in less than four years, according to a leading estate agency. DJ Alexander Ltd has analysed the latest data and found that between March 2020 and November 2023, average house prices in Scotland rose from £150,625 to […]

Property expert outdoors discussing rising UK rent prices

Tenants squeezed out in England’s holiday home hotspots

25th January 2024

Holiday homes are not only making it harder for homebuyers to buy, but also for tenants to rent in England’s most sought-after holiday destinations, a report reveals. The findings from Zero Deposit found that the average rent for a holiday home is 292% higher than for a regular rental property, and in some places, this […]

Andy Hulme of Hyde Housing Association responding to Housing Ombudsman report

Disabled tenants ignored by social landlords, report reveals

25th January 2024

A new report by the Housing Ombudsman has exposed the widespread failure of social landlords to make reasonable adjustments for their disabled tenants. The report, entitled Relationship of Equals, is based on more than 1,663 responses from social residents, landlords and advocacy services, such as Citizens Advice. It found 58% of respondents identified as having […]

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When condensation and mould is caused by the tenant?

24th January 2024

Hello, We are currently dealing with a tenant who has complained to environmental health about the damp in their property. We have been instructed to re-decorate the whole property which we do not mind, but every time we go to the property, all the windows are shut, there is no central heating on, clothes are […]

Family renting – Should I commit?

24th January 2024

Hi everyone, Newbie here and I am looking for advice on letting to my son and his partner. I know most will say not rent to family, but needs must and I’m well aware of the family issues it could cause. I have the opportunity to help my son by renting a property to him […]

Scotland’s landlords warned about new electrical safety rules

24th January 2024

Private landlords in Scotland have been warned by SELECT, the trade association for the electrical industry, to make sure their properties meet the new Repairing Standard guidance on electrical safety, which comes into effect on March 1. The guidance, issued by the Scottish Government, sets out the minimum level of repair that all private rented […]

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HMO house with AST – two of four tenants are leaving?

24th January 2024

Hello, Two out of four tenants on an AST with a Lambeth HMO licence have given individual notice until 31/3/24. I have reminded them that they are still jointly and severally liable for rent etc. until an agreement is reached. Problem: We have been thinking of selling the house and dividing the proceeds among our […]

Propertymark representative discusses rent control concerns in Scotland

Industry body calls for training and qualifications across the housing sectors

24th January 2024

Following a committee report calling for Awaab’s law to be extended to the private rented sector, one industry body argues qualifications are the only way to eliminate bad practices from the rented and social housing sectors.   Propertymark believes all letting agents should be trained across the social housing and PRS sector and is calling […]

Most tenant issues are quickly resolved by landlords

24th January 2024

More than half of renters have faced problems with their housing in the past six months – and 78% of agents and landlords quickly resolved them, a survey reveals. The findings from TDS Foundation, which interviewed more than 2,000 renters, found that only 40% of tenants had no issues with their rented homes, while the […]

Limited company buy to let mortgages on the rise – Paragon

24th January 2024

Nearly half of mortgage brokers in the UK expect to see more buy to let business from landlords operating through limited companies in the next year, a survey reveals. According to Paragon Bank, more than 300 brokers were questioned and 49% of them are predicting an increase in buy to let mortgages for portfolio landlords […]

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Landlord organisation demands clarity over government’s net zero strategy

24th January 2024

One landlord organisation has criticised the government for its “sticking plaster approach” in addressing the energy transition to net zero. ihowz wrote a letter to the Energy Security and Net Zero committee arguing landlords have a lack of guidance from the government regarding the new minimum energy efficiency (MEES) standards. Last year the Prime Minister […]

Photo of Gina Peters author of 'Lettings Law for Property Professionals' property118.com

Financial strain and abolition of Section 21 are driving landlords out of the PRS

23rd January 2024

“A perfect storm” is how one legal expert describes the difficult position of landlords within the private rented sector (PRS), with the Renters’ (Reform) Bill playing a significant part in it. Gina Peters, the head of landlord and tenant at law firm Dutton Gregory, says many landlords of all ages are leaving the market due […]

Molo cuts BTL rates for UK and expat borrowers

23rd January 2024

Molo Finance has cut its buy to let fixed rates by up to 71 bps with products from 3.94% for two-year fixed and 5.19% for five-year fixed products. The digital lender says the offers are available to both individual and corporate borrowers at 75% LTV. Molo also caters to specialist segments, such as HMOs, MUFBs, […]

Limited company landlord filling out Form N5B?

23rd January 2024

Hi, I have a question about filling out form N5B – specifically on Question 1 and statement of truth, where the landlord is a limited company: At the top of the form, it asks to ‘Enter the full name of the claimants’. Question 1 then asks the First claimant’s First name and last name The […]

London retains its crown as the capital of £1 million homes

23rd January 2024

Despite a pandemic-induced surge in demand for spacious and rural properties, London remains the undisputed leader in the £1 million home market, a new report by Savills shows. The property firm estimates that there are 670,100 homes worth £1 million or more in Great Britain, down by 8.3% from 2022, but still up by 28% […]