Page 254 – Property118

New Property Investing Opportunities for 2024

17th November 2023

This week Ranjan takes a deep dive into new property investing opportunities coming in 2024. In particular, new permitted development rights coming into force in early 2024. Watch this video below so you are ready to benefit from first mover advantage!

Neil Cobbold discusses impact of Renters’ Rights Bill on letting agents

Industry expert urges Chancellor to help landlords and tenants in Autumn Statement

17th November 2023

The Chancellor will unveil his Autumn statement next week and one industry expert is urging for “swift and specific” measures to help landlords and tenants. Neil Cobbold, the managing director of PayProp UK, is calling on Jeremy Hunt to reduce taxes for landlords and to unfreeze the local housing allowance. According to the Institute for […]

EPC

British Gas urges government action on EPC upgrades for landlords

17th November 2023

British Gas is calling on the government to provide more green grants to landlords. The energy supplier says one of the main barriers for landlords upgrading their properties comes from a lack of knowledge about EPC standards and the availability of grants. The supplier lists a number of recommendations which they say aim to help […]

Boarded-up house representing a fixer-upper property opportunity.

Alarming rise of empty homes across England

17th November 2023

Empty homes in England have risen by more than 10% over the past five years, according to the Local Government Association (LGA). The LGA and Empty Homes network study reveals that one million properties across England in 2022 were unoccupied, an increase of nearly 60,000 homes since 2018. Despite the introduction of an empty homes […]

Your Invitation to Gain Early Access to my Black Friday Offer!

17th November 2023

Every year my team and I challenge ourselves to come up with a Black Friday Offer even better than the year before. Last year’s offer was pretty amazing, if I say so myself, but I think we have done it again, and come up with an even better offer this year, which I am confident […]

Labour MP calls for seizing properties from criminal landlords to tackle housing crisis

17th November 2023

Rental properties should be seized from landlords who consistently break the rules and take advantage of tenants, says a Labour MP. Clive Betts, the chair of the levelling up, housing and communities select committee, told the Guardian, that confiscated homes could become the property of councils, which could then use them to house people in […]

ONS reports a rental price surge across UK

17th November 2023

Private rents increased by more than 6% in England, according to the ONS lettings price index. London saw a big surge in rent prices at 6.8% ­­­– the biggest annual rate rise since London records started in 2006. Private rental prices in Wales increased by 6.9% in the 12 months to October 2023 and by […]

Right to rent guide update

16th November 2023

The Home Office has issued an update to the Right to Rent guide for landlords and letting agents. The sixth version of the guide comes into force alongside the Immigration Act 2014 (Residential Accommodation) (Maximum Penalty) Order 2023 and the Immigration (Restrictions on Employment and Residential Accommodation) (Codes of Practice) (Amendment) Order 2023. All landlords […]

Should the guarantor be told about pets?

16th November 2023

Hello Property118 memebers. My question is if there are changes to a tenancy for anoccupational contract in Wales must the guarantor be told of these changes? In the case I am considering it’s about applications made by the tenant to add pets to the property. This can obviously significantly increase the risk of damages for […]

Government shifts away from blanket bans on benefit recipients and families

16th November 2023

The government has tabled amendments to make it illegal for landlords and letting agents to have blanket bans on renting to people who receive benefits or who have children. Other amendments include introducing a Decent Homes Standard to the private rented sector. The amendments will be considered at the Committee stage for the Renters Reform […]

Picture of streets in the UK landlord HMO licensing schemes property118.com -

Professional body backs property portal and wants continued use of selective licensing

16th November 2023

A professional membership body has expressed support for a property portal for landlords but believes it won’t remove the need for selective licensing. The Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH) highlighted the lack of environmental health professionals to enforce housing standards in the PRS and the role played by licencing in providing funding for enforcement. […]

losing faith in government, renters lose faith

Government faces backlash from renters

16th November 2023

Renters have lost faith in the government following the delay of Section 21 evictions, according to a new survey. The survey of more than 1,000 current tenants across England and Wales, commissioned by Benham and Reeves, reveals that 91% of renters believe the government doesn’t care about them or their quality of life. The government […]

Regular inspections are essential to combat bed bug epidemic

16th November 2023

Regular property inspections are crucial to tackling the bed bug crisis, says inventory chief. Daniel Evans, chair of the Association of Independent Inventory Clerks, said dealing with any infestation early was vitally important. This comes after newspaper reports of “bed bug invaders” across the UK with cities like London and Manchester being bed bug hotspots. […]

Black mould growing on a window frame in a damp home.

£15 million blitz to tackle damp and mould in homes across Greater Manchester

16th November 2023

More than 12,000 social homes in Greater Manchester are to be treated for mould and damp problems following the release of government funding. Earlier this year, Housing Secretary Michael Gove announced £15 million in funding to tackle damp and mould health hazards. The government also recently announced a new ‘Awaab’s law’ that will force social […]

Rent increase according to inflation?

15th November 2023

Hi, I have asked my tenant for a rent increase from £800 to £1100. But she is blaming now that there is a clause in the tenancy agreement which says that the rent will be reviewed annually and be increased according to inflation. So this should only be £855 as the inflation rate is now […]

Section 8 – What if house left empty for longer?

15th November 2023

I issued a section 21 which expired in early September. The tenant stayed in. My insurer took over and seems they are going the Section 8 route, not the Section 21, even though all procedures were followed exactly with the S21. I have a rent guarantee policy in place and I understand this may be […]

Rayner’s no-nonsense warning to landlords using Section 21

15th November 2023

Angela Rayner has accused landlords of using Section 21 “as an easy get-out to turf people out of their home.” In an interview with ITV News, Ms Rayner slammed the government for delaying no-fault evictions which was first promised in 2019. The Shadow Housing Secretary also said Section 21 is having a “devastating impact on […]

Aerial view of the UK Parliament and surrounding Westminster area supporting discussion on the Renters Rights Bill

Renters Reform Bill debate heats up in Committee stage

15th November 2023

The Renters Reform Bill is taking centre stage and is beginning its next passage through the House of Commons to the Committee stage. Organisations across the private rented sector were invited to give evidence and propose amendments to a cross-party group of MPs. The NRLA and Propertymark called for more clarity regarding fixed-term tenancies in […]

Shelter warns of “terrible winter of evictions”

15th November 2023

More than 815,000 private renters are under threat of eviction this winter, according to new research by Shelter. The housing charity reveals private renters in England are fearing the worst, with 3.5 million tenants (43%) saying they are now worried about becoming homeless due to housing costs. Shelter is calling on the government to unfreeze […]

green belt london

Londoners demand green belt reforms to solve housing crisis

15th November 2023

Londoners want homes built on the green belt to improve their housing chances, according to a new survey. In a poll, by property developer Pocket Living, 63% of Londoners aged between 25-45 years old would support green-belt reforms to bolster their housing opportunities. The survey also reveals more than three-quarters (78%) of young people in […]

Tenant demand hits record high amid rising rents

15th November 2023

Tenant demand in the UK reached a record high in the third quarter of the year, with more than seven in 10 landlords reporting an increase, a survey reveals. The research from Paragon Bank found that 71% of landlords saw rising levels of tenant demand in Q3, up from the previous record of 67% in […]