Landlords and residents are to be consulted on whether selective licensing schemes in six areas in one town should be extended. Burnley council introduced selective licensing in 2008 as part of its regeneration strategy to improve the quality and reputation of the private rented sector. According to a report by the council’s executive, selective licensing […]

2024 is set to be a challenging year for the private rented sector, according to new research. Propertymark says proposed legislative changes will greatly impact the rental sector. However, there is a glimmer of hope as an uptick in the number of properties available to rent is increasing easing the supply and demand burden. A […]

The Liberal Democrats are urging the government to act on its pledge to ban Section 21 no-fault evictions, as new data shows that homelessness has risen across the UK. According to the latest government statistics, 35,760 people faced the threat of homelessness between July and September 2023, a 3.1% increase from the previous year. Of […]

Tenants in Scotland are being advised to know their renting rights as the emergency measures to protect them from rent hikes and evictions will end on 1 April. The Scottish Government has launched an awareness campaign and the tenants’ rights minister, Patrick Harvie, said: “Our emergency legislation has led the way in the UK in […]

A friend has asked for my opinion, and help, however despite being a landlord I do not feel fully qualified to give proper advice as I have never experienced a problem with my tenants. All help will be gratefully appreciated and thanks in advance, please see below the tenants statement of events: – I wish […]

UPDATE – 03/03/2024 The Chartered Institute of Taxation has published and submitted the following to HMRC. LINK HERE ORIGINAL POST – dated 16th Feb 2024 HMRC has issued Scheme Reference Numbers for both the Substantial Incorporation Structure and the Capital Account Restructure under DOTAS legislation. The scheme reference number for the Substantial Incorporation Structure (SIS) […]

Council leaders from across the political spectrum have asked the housing secretary, Michael Gove, to support an amendment to the Renters (Reform) Bill that would give tenants more time to find a new home if they are evicted. Sky News says it has obtained a letter, signed by 103 local authority leaders, including the leader […]

Well, well, well, if it isn’t my old friend, the Ashton-under-Lyne foghorn Angela Rayner making headlines this week and turning uncharacteristically shy about her antics. Angela is the deputy leader of the Labour Party and the shadow housing secretary. She is also a former council house tenant who bought her home under the right-to-buy scheme […]

Hi, I am meant to have exchanged this week on a property which has had the attic converted to a holiday let (1 bedroom, Kitchen, Bathroom and Sitting Room) in either 1999 or 2000. It has been rented ever since and has separate council tax, a separate entrance and separate utilities so would count as […]

Foundation Home Loans, the specialist lender for intermediaries, has unveiled two new products for HMO landlords with fee assistance. The products are part of its buy to let brand, Buy to Let by Foundation. They have a 1.25% fee, no application fee and a free standard valuation and offer up to 75% LTV, with a […]

The UK’s housing market showed further signs of recovery in February, as house prices increased by 1.2% year-on-year, according to Nationwide. This was the first positive annual change since January 2023, when prices fell by 0.2%. On a monthly basis, prices rose by 0.7% last month, after adjusting for seasonal factors. House price rise is […]

Homeless families in one Welsh area will benefit from a new housing scheme launched by the local council, which has bought and renovated 17 properties with the help of Welsh Government funding. Caerphilly County Borough Council has used the Transitional Accommodation Capital Programme, an initiative to address and prevent homelessness, to buy and refurbish 17 […]

More landlords are struggling to pay their mortgages than ever before, new data reveals. Octane Capital, a specialist property lender, has analysed data from UK Finance which shows that 13,570 landlords fell behind on their mortgage payments in the last quarter of 2023. That’s a shocking 93% rise from the first quarter of the same […]

Social housing landlords will have to follow new standards from April, the Regulator of Social Housing (RSH) has announced. The new standards are part of the Social Housing Regulation Act, a landmark law that aims to improve the lives of social housing tenants. The standards will cover tenant safety, complaint handling, accountability, fairness, respect, home […]

The number of people sleeping rough in England has more than doubled since 2010, according to new research. Data from the government reveals the number of rough sleepers has increased by more than 120% since 2010. In 2023, 3,898 people were recorded sleeping rough on a given night, a 27% increase in one year. Spiralling […]

Rightmove is calling for a range of policy measures to be introduced ahead of the Spring Budget. The website says more green target incentives to help landlords improve their properties is a key issue that needs to be addressed. Rightmove is also urging the government to support people moving home by reforming stamp duty. More […]

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has publicly backed his deputy Angela Rayner, who is facing scrutiny over the sale of her former council house and the tax implications. Ms Rayner, who bought the property under Margaret Thatcher’s right to buy scheme, sold it in 2015 and has been accused of not paying the appropriate capital […]

The UK’s housing market has demonstrated remarkable resilience, defying price trends and continuing its upward trajectory, one house price index reveals. Property website Zoopla says it is forecasting a substantial 10% surge in total home sales this year, reaching 1.1 million transactions compared to the 1 million recorded in 2023. Its latest House Price Index […]

The government’s lack of solutions to resolve the rental crisis has led to a landlord exodus, according to one expert. Gina Peters, head of landlord and tenant at Dutton Gregory Solicitors, says Michael Gove’s commitment to ban Section 21 ‘no-fault’ evictions before the next election has intensified landlord concerns. Ms Peters emphasises the upcoming budget […]

The government is proposing changes to the Renters (Reform) Bill in a bid to head off a backbench rebellion of its MPS, the BBC reports. The Bill, which will see Section 21 ‘no-fault’ evictions abolished, could see a major makeover. According to the BBC, ministers have been consulting with Conservative MPs who are critical of […]

The total value of homes sold in England plunged by 48% in 2023, from £295.7bn in 2022 to £154.7bn in 2023, a new report reveals. The research from eXp UK, the platform for personal estate agents, found a £141bn difference in the amount of money being spent on property. The findings, based on the latest […]