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KEYWORD "Cons" - 100 RESULTS
Changes to Renters Reform Bill after Easter

The government has written to Conservative MPs promising changes to the Renters Reform Bill to ease concerns over its anti-landlord bias. Amendments...

28 March 2024

From: Breaking News

Politicians propose State Control of private rents in Scotland

The Scottish Government’s Housing Bill allows SNP and Green politicians to create rent control areas, triggered by local authorities, and this...

28 March 2024

From: Breaking News

Lawyers ask: Why is Gove delaying ground rent reform?

The ban on the sale of new leasehold homes is welcome but there can be no further delay in announcing ground...

28 March 2024

From: Breaking News

Rents soar by almost half since 2014 - deposit service’s latest claim

A deposit alternative service claims rents have risen an average 46% in the last decade. Zero Deposit claims it’s analysed rental market...

28 March 2024

From: Breaking News

Jail for landlord who put lives of tenants at fire risk

A fire and rescue service has successfully prosecuted a landlord for failing to comply with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order...

27 March 2024

From: Breaking News

Councils set to grab over half a billion from higher tax

Changes to empty home council tax rates could generate an additional £540m from Monday, a lettings agency claims. Since April 2013, billing...

27 March 2024

From: Breaking News

Energy costs could vary according to time of day

A consultation on how to develop a more dynamic energy price cap has been launched by the regulator, Ofgem. The regulator claims...

27 March 2024

From: Breaking News

HMO clampdown after worry over bins, parking and loss of housing

A south coast council is set to clampdown on HMOs after a report highlighted alleged issues with the likes of bins,...

27 March 2024

From: Breaking News

More buy to let mortgage rate changes from lenders

There have been more changes to buy to let mortgage ranges from lenders. Coming into effect today, The Mortgage Works will be...

26 March 2024

From: Breaking News

Another council slaps 100% extra tax on property owners

A council has agreed a council tax rise of an additional 100% on second home and long-term empty homes, despite widespread...

26 March 2024

From: Breaking News

Renting set to boom as buying is even less affordable

The average house prices in England was £290,000 last year, some 8.3 times average annual earnings. This was actually down from 8.5...

26 March 2024

From: Breaking News

UK housing is expensive, small and old - new report

Britain’s housing stock offers the worst value for money of any advanced economy, according new analysis published by the Resolution Foundation. The...

25 March 2024

From: Breaking News

Controls over Airbnbs to be relaxed in near future

While parts of Britain are considering tightening rules over Airbnbs and other short lets, the Channel island of Jersey appears to...

25 March 2024

From: Breaking News

New Tax Year - the Winners and Losers

It’s all change at the start of the new tax year, and with so many tweaks to so many rules, it’s...

23 March 2024

From: Tax & Finance

 Landlords’ Top Worries, Challenges and Expectations for the Future

The Property Redress Scheme, one of two approved ombudsman-style schemes for the private rental sector, has published the findings from a...

23 March 2024

From: The Big Issues

Is the Furnished Holiday Let sector dead post-Budget?

The tax reliefs enjoyed by landlords running Furnished Holiday Lets (FHL) were cut by the Chancellor this month. Some say the...

23 March 2024

From: Tax & Finance

Landlords selling up may face higher costs, warns conveyancing solicitor

Landlords quitting the sector could have to spend hundreds of pounds more when selling their home owing to new Trading Standards...

22 March 2024

From: Breaking News

Older Renters’ group takes up Generation Rent’s demands

A charity representing older people has taken up almost all of the key demands of activist group Generation Rent. Independent Age says...

22 March 2024

From: Breaking News

Energy Theft is ticking time bomb for rental sector - claim

Anonymous reports of energy theft have skyrocketed by 62% since 2021, Crimestoppers’ figures reveal.  In 2023 alone, the charity received 11,552 reports...

22 March 2024

From: Breaking News

Landlords who sold earlier ‘may still benefit from tax cut’ - claim

Landlords who paid Capital Gains Tax at 28% - before the Chancellor reduced it to 24% in this month’s Budget -...

21 March 2024

From: Breaking News

Council Tax Rebates for renters - think tank’s suggestion

A think tank is urging the UK government to consider tax perks for private renters to help them save faster for...

21 March 2024

From: Breaking News

Interest rates may drop, whatever today’s Bank of England decision

Slowing inflation may - just may - lead the way for reduced interest rates. The headline inflation rate is now just 3.4%,...

21 March 2024

From: Breaking News

MPs want Local Housing Allowance and other benefits updated annually

An all-party House of Commons committee is calling on Local Housing Allowance to be updated automatically and annually. LHA rates have been...

21 March 2024

From: Breaking News

The Truth - landlords add billions to economy, and house millions of people

Some of the biggest names in the trade, lending and advisory sectors have produced a report outlining the vast significance that...

20 March 2024

From: Breaking News

New HMO clampdown launched by Labour council

A new additional HMO licensing scheme is about to hit landlords in part of London.  Haringey council claims its initiative aims to...

20 March 2024

From: Breaking News

Gove ‘to rely on Labour to pass Renters Reform Bill’

A newspaper reports that Housing Secretary Michael Gove is willing to rely on Labour votes to pass the Renters Reform Bill...

19 March 2024

From: Breaking News

Jeremy Hunt has “rendered hundreds of businesses unviable - overnight”

The Chancellor has rendered hundreds of lettings businesses unviable overnight as a result of his Budget tax clampdown. That’s the view of...

18 March 2024

From: Breaking News

Critical week ahead for interest rates and inflation

Latest inflation figures are announced on Wednesday and the Bank of England makes its next base rate decision on Thursday. The Office...

18 March 2024

From: Breaking News

Long term Renting risks ruining our retirement resilience

Renting affects the resilience of all age groups.  Only one fifth of Millennial/Gen Z households who rent are on track for a...

16 March 2024

From: Tax & Finance

How Technology is Transforming Property Management

The management of BTL properties, whether it's a modest collection of three units or a more sizable portfolio of fifteen, can...

15 March 2024

From: Sponsored Content

Capital Gains Tax cut won’t encourage landlords to sell - agent

A prominent agent who advises many landlord clients says the Capital Gains Tax cuts announced in the Budget are too small...

15 March 2024

From: Breaking News

Rents rise in most areas as landlords quit lettings sector

A new market snapshot from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors shows tenant demand rising but at a rather more modest...

15 March 2024

From: Breaking News

Planning Row Landlord forced to pay over £220,000

A landlord who illegally converted a property into six flats has been ordered to pay more than £220,000. A previous unlawful change...

15 March 2024

From: Breaking News

Landlord fined thousands for not handing over paperwork to council

A council is warning landlords and tenants after one landlord was ordered to pay more than £4,700 in fines and costs...

14 March 2024

From: Breaking News

Mortgages - many landlords to renew rates soon, says lender

Some 40% of residential landlords with a mortgage - fixed, tracker or discount - are due to renew their mortgage rate...

14 March 2024

From: Breaking News

Tory slams Gove’s “wretched restrictions” on Section 21 and short lets

A Tory has slammed the proposed clampdown on short lets proposed by Housing Secretary Michael Gove - and he calls them...

13 March 2024

From: Breaking News

Massive rise in complaints from social housing tenants

The Housing Ombudsman has revealed figures showing huge increases in the numbers of complaints from tenants on social housing. The Ombudsman says...

13 March 2024

From: Breaking News

Airbnb bans security cameras inside rental properties

Airbnb is banning the use of security cameras inside rental properties from the end of April. Airbnb currently allows security cameras in...

13 March 2024

From: Breaking News

Locations slammed for failing to meet energy efficiency targets

New analysis claims that the North East of England has made “no progress on greening the highest-emissions homes in 13 years.” Meanwhile,...

12 March 2024

From: Breaking News

Landlords make huge contribution to local economies - new figures

New research from specialist lender Aldermore reveals the financial boost landlords provide to local economies.  Nearly eight out of ten landlords opt...

12 March 2024

From: Breaking News

Capital Appreciation boost as prices nearly back to 2022 peak

UK house prices rose for the fifth consecutive month in February, up by 0.4 per cent or £1,091 in cash terms,...

11 March 2024

From: Breaking News

Landlord Licensing - drop-in events to be part of formal consultation

Another council is consulting about a controversial selective licensing scheme.  North Lincolnshire council says the proposed scheme is “designed to improve housing...

11 March 2024

From: Breaking News

Advice for Landlords on Energy Efficiency and Sustainability

In September the Prime Minister announced that landlords will no longer be required to meet the minimum EPC minimum energy rating...

09 March 2024

From: Agent Advice

House Price Boost could just be momentum … or it could be better news

The latest index, from the Halifax, shows house prices rose 0.4 per cent in February – the fifth consecutive monthly increase....

09 March 2024

From: The Big Issues

Bad News - Landlords predict retail will face highest level of negative growth

Nearly a third of landlords predict that the retail sector will see the highest level of negative growth over the next...

09 March 2024

From: Top tips & guides

Landlords ‘should only get lower tax if they sell with sitting tenants’

An activist group is demanding that the lower Capital Gains Tax should apply only to landlords who sell with sitting tenants. In...

08 March 2024

From: Breaking News

Newspaper claims Renters Reform Bill “on brink of collapse”

A national newspaper says the Renters Reform Bill is “on the brink of collapse” as Tory MPs are divided on their views...

08 March 2024

From: Breaking News

Jeremy Hunt slashes the values of holiday homes

A legal firm says Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has effectively slashed the value of holiday homes which are sold from April 2025...

08 March 2024

From: Breaking News

Pet-owning tenants ‘cause less damage than non-owners’ - new figures

Landlords are being accused by academics of under-estimating the cost of allowing pets, and under-estimating their financial benefits. A new report commissioned...

08 March 2024

From: Breaking News

Two landlords to pay £600,000 for ignoring planning and improvement notice

A London council has successfully prosecuted two landlords who failed to comply with a planning enforcement notice originally issued against substandard...

07 March 2024

From: Breaking News

300 per cent council tax premium proposed for long-term empty homes

Cardiff council is proposing new measures to help bring long-term empty houses back into use. Tomorrow it’s considering introducing a council tax...

06 March 2024

From: Breaking News

Four figure fine for failing to produce gas certificates

A landlord who failed to produce annual gas safety certificates as she ignored warnings from a council, has left court with...

06 March 2024

From: Breaking News

I Quit!  Landlord sells up because of “unfair” licensing regime

A landlord has quit the private rental sector after a battle with his council over why his properties were put into...

05 March 2024

From: Breaking News

E-bike Charging - worry over fire risk in rental properties

Despite several fires in rented properties, the government is proposing to double the maximum legal power of e-bikes. A Department of Transport...

05 March 2024

From: Breaking News

Rent up, Voids down - new snapshot of lettings market today

The latest Rental Index from PropTech supplier Goodlord has recorded a rent rise and a reduction in void lengths over the...

05 March 2024

From: Breaking News

Tax Grab from landlords closely resembles Generation Rent advice

A controversial proposal for a £300m tax grab on landlords appears to closely follow a policy suggestion put forward by activists...

04 March 2024

From: Breaking News

Another council jumps on the selective licensing bandwagon

Yet another council is consulting on whether to continue a selective licensing scheme. The scheme applies to several areas of Burnley and...

04 March 2024

From: Breaking News

Agent urges price-sensitivity despite strong housing market data

UK house prices rose by 0.7 per cent in February, says the Nationwide, after taking account of seasonal effects.  This resulted in...

04 March 2024

From: Breaking News

NRLA accused of putting landlord profits before society’s interests

A leader of the Renters Reform Coalition activist lobby has made a specific targeted attack on the motives and honesty of...

04 March 2024

From: Breaking News

Tax Raid planned on landlords in Budget - report

The Budget on Wednesday will contain a £300m tax raid on the private rental sector according to a report this morning...

03 March 2024

From: Breaking News

Population Projections have repercussions for Private Rental Sector

The Government quietly announced population projections towards the end of January that could have major implications for the types of homes...

02 March 2024

From: The Big Issues

Tax Cuts - what should we expect in Wednesday's Budget?

Like a parent whose kids expected half term in Disneyland, Jeremy Hunt is spending the week managing expectations – and crushing...

02 March 2024

From: Tax & Finance

Navigating the regional property market in 2024

Building on the momentum of 2023, the North West is poised for continued growth in rental and property prices. Early investment...

02 March 2024

From: Top tips & guides

Guidance for landlords: 5 top tips for navigating responsibilities

Landlords play a crucial role in providing safe and comfortable housing for tenants while also managing rental properties effectively. Staying informed...

01 March 2024

From: Sponsored Content

Supporters of council selective licensing start rearguard action

Supporters of council selective licensing start rearguard action  Some of those involved in local councils have started a campaign to save selective...

01 March 2024

From: Breaking News

Landlords urge speedy action on compromise Renters Reform Bill

The National Residential Landlords Association says it wants a speedy implementation of the Renters Reform Bill to avoid uncertainty - and...

29 February 2024

From: Breaking News

Letting agents demand banks cut mortgage rates

The letting agents’ trade body has made the unexpected move of calling on banks to cut mortgage rates. Rates are typically decided...

29 February 2024

From: Breaking News

Lawyer steps up criticism of Gove’s attack on private landlords

A prominent lawyer has stepped up her criticisms of Housing Secretary Michael Gove and his attacks on buy to let and...

28 February 2024

From: Breaking News

New attack on Airbnb landlords - possible charge for bin collections

Media outlets in Scotland are reporting that Edinburgh council is considering charging short let landlords for bin collections. The plans are to be...

28 February 2024

From: Breaking News

Call for eco-tax incentives to make landlords improve, and not sell

Rightmove is calling on Chancellor Jeremy Hunt to use next week’s Budget as an opportunity to incentivise landlords to make properties...

28 February 2024

From: Breaking News

Ouch! Landlord hit with £1.4m Proceeds of Crime penalty

A landlord who was involved in a decade-long dispute with a London council has been hit with a £1.44 million penalty...

28 February 2024

From: Breaking News

Short Lets Crackdown - Labour council worry over brothels and parties

Government proposals on limiting short lets "fall a long way short of what's needed and will do nothing to put right...

28 February 2024

From: Breaking News

Councillors make ‘breakthrough’ proposal for improving rental EPCs

SNP councillors in Scotland have come up with an innovative suggestion to improve energy efficiency in private rental properties. They want councils...

27 February 2024

From: Breaking News

Tenants advised to check their shared rental is licensed HMO

A council is reminding prospective tenants about the importance of making sure their next shared rental is licensed as a house...

27 February 2024

From: Breaking News

Buy To Let mortgage fixed rates fall as product choice rises

The buy to let mortgage sector has seen fixed rates fall to their lowest point since September 2022, according to analysis...

27 February 2024

From: Breaking News

What’s your view on tenants getting 99% mortgages?

Rental sector and property industry views are split over the controversial idea of allowing first time buyers to put down a...

26 February 2024

From: Breaking News

Labour’s Rayner defends buying her council house at a discount

Labour deputy leader and shadow housing secretary Angela Rayner says she is not ashamed to have brought her council house at...

26 February 2024

From: Breaking News

Countryside campaigners back Gove on short lets clampdown

Countryside campaigning charity CPRE has given a warm welcome to Michael Gove’s clampdown on short lets. Last week Housing Secretary Gove announced...

26 February 2024

From: Breaking News

Why the 1% mortgage deposit scheme is unworkable

The government’s proposal to introduce a new one per cent deposit mortgage scheme to help young people onto the property ladder...

24 February 2024

From: Rental Reform

Unmortgageable Properties have attractive discounts for investors

A property finance consultancy claims that unmortgageable properties can be snapped up with a discount of 27 per cent. Apex Bridging says...

24 February 2024

From: Top tips & guides

Holiday Let Mortgages - Everything You Need To Know

One of the biggest parts of buying a holiday home is securing a holiday let mortgage which can differ substantially to...

24 February 2024

From: Agent Advice

Easing tax on landlords would end Airbnb ‘problem’ says NRLA boss

Reversing the tax penalties imposed on buy to let landlords in recent years would reduce the impact of short lets on...

23 February 2024

From: Breaking News

Tens of thousands of new homes built on flood plains - claim

New analysis by insurance giant Aviva reveals that one in every 13 new homes built in England in the last decade...

23 February 2024

From: Breaking News

Landmark joint session between NRLA and homelessness charity

The National Residential Landlords Association will jointly host a networking and information session with homelessness charity Crisis. It will take place on...

23 February 2024

From: Breaking News

HMRC admits Making Tax Digital will cost landlords money and time

The government has confirmed that Making Tax Digital for Income Tax Self Assessment (MTD for ITSA) will cost landlords both extra money...

22 February 2024

From: Breaking News

Airbnb reveals income and demographics of landlord hosts

Airbnb has released new figures showing that the typical host landlord makes a modest £5,500 a year by sharing their space...

22 February 2024

From: Breaking News

Worries grow over dramatic slump in older buy to let landlords

New figures from lenders trade body UK Finance show a massive fall in buy to let loans for those aged 55...

22 February 2024

From: Breaking News

Generation Rent wants rent controls to be election issue

Generation Rent has yet again come out for rent control over the private sector - and wants it to be an...

22 February 2024

From: Breaking News

Agency claims new rental hotspot with yields amongst UK’s highest

According to Haslams lettings agency’s latest House Price Index, a new hotspot has emerged for private rental sector investors. It claims Reading...

22 February 2024

From: Breaking News

Labour MP slams Airbnb clampdown as “not going nearly far enough”

A Labour MP who has campaigned for some years against short let landlords says proposals to crack down on the sector...

21 February 2024

From: Breaking News

Optimism amongst landlords despite tsunami of attacks - survey

Some 69 per cent of landlords have already or are planning to increase the size of their property portfolio, increasing to...

21 February 2024

From: Breaking News

Licensing scheme fees based on landlords’ past performance

A London council is consulting on another controversial landlord licensing scheme. Barking and Dagenham council’s existing Selective Licensing Scheme has been applied to...

21 February 2024

From: Breaking News

Activists slam Gove for being too soft on short let landlords

Housing Secretary Michael Gove’s proposals to restrict Airbnb-style short lets do not go far enough, a group of activists has said. Yesterday...

20 February 2024

From: Breaking News

“My tenants will have to pay for licensing” warns landlord

A landlord has warned her local authority that high charges for licensing are unaffordable without the fee being passed on to...

20 February 2024

From: Breaking News

Tory council chief backs Gove’s clampdown on short let landlords

The Conservative leader of a council which claims it has had problems with Airbnbs and short lets has given wholehearted backing...

20 February 2024

From: Breaking News

It’s Over - Rental growth “passed its peak” says top agency

Average rents on newly let properties across Britain rose 8.3 per cent year-on-year in January, the slowest pace for 13 months...

20 February 2024

From: Breaking News

Clampdown on Airbnb and other short lets revealed by Michael Gove

Housing Secretary Michael Gove has this morning announced wholesale changes to planning and regulations surrounding short lets. His proposals include: - planning permission...

19 February 2024

From: Breaking News

Airbnb backs Gove’s mandatory short lets landlord register

Airbnb has given its backing to a proposal from Housing Secretary Michael Gove to introduce a mandatory register of short let...

19 February 2024

From: Breaking News

Selling Up? Don’t push the asking price to avoid being left on the shelf

Landlords selling up because of rising taxes and unaffordable regulations are being advised not to be over ambitious with asking prices.  Tim...

19 February 2024

From: Breaking News

Tax Demand - premiums slapped on second homes and empty properties

Dorset councillors have approved proposals for a council tax premium on second homes and a tightening up on its existing premium...

19 February 2024

From: Breaking News

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