Archive

The government’s Green Homes Grant Voucher Scheme - which left thousands of landlords in the lurch when it collapsed earlier this...

With landlords under pressure to improve energy efficiency, a new report suggests that even significant improvements in EPC levels won’t be...

A council is threatening to fine private landlords whose properties do not meet energy efficiency standards. Darlington council’s cabinet will meet next...

A survey claims that 80 per cent of prospective tenants would consider energy efficiency as one of the critical items determining...

Home repairs service Rightio has provided a useful checklist of the hidden costs of being a landlord. Many seasoned hands will...

With less than four years left until the government wants all new private rented properties to be rated at least EPC...

A charity is warning that landlords may not government help in reaching new EPC targets. Citizens Advice Scotland says the private rental...

Landlords will have to spend thousands to meet new government demands to improve energy efficiency in rental properties. Geospatial technology company Kamma...

It appears that the government is considering a replacement for the ill-fated Green Homes Grant, which was to have helped thousands...

Government ambitions to improve the energy efficiency of the private rental sector are just “a pipedream” without financial assistance according to...

A Bill is being introduced into both Houses of Parliament this week which will ramp up the pressure on the private...

The people behind a new smart system for controlling electric heating and household appliances claim it has the potential to save...

Eco issues are increasingly important for landlords, a mortgage lender claims.  Hodge Bank says a new survey shows 82 per cent of...

A landlord has been ordered by his local council to remove energy efficient triple glazed windows installed at a cost of...

A company claims its new range of so-called ‘no control’ heaters is ideal for private rental units because it offers a...

Specialist buy to let lender Landbay is the latest to try to turn landlords green by offering discounted mortgages for rental...

The government has come up with another bright idea which will impact landlords’ rental properties - changes to the availability of...

Rightmove has identified five ways that landlords and other property owners can improve their property’s EPC rating - some for well...

There’s been a wholesale lifting in standards of investment and quality in the private rental sector thanks to landlords, and in...

Offa, the UK’s first Shariah-compliant bridging loan provider, has launched a short-term loan system for landlords which is open only in relation...

The chair of the all-party Environmental Audit Committee of MPs is urging the government to introduce an alternative to the disastrous Green...

For the second time this week (and it’s only Wednesday) a lender has announced cheaper mortgage loans for buy to let...

The Mortgage Works, the specialist buy to let arm of the Nationwide, is trying to woo landlords to make properties more...

A respected private rental sector body wants the government to slow its timetable for energy efficiency reform, warning that landlords could...

A logistics software company with clients across the property spectrum has become the latest critic of the government’s axing of the...

An analysis of the Green Homes Grant applications show exactly which areas will be hit most when the scheme comes to...

Paragon Bank has launched a range of 80 per cent loan to value buy to let mortgages specifically for properties with...

The landlords’ trade body has urged the government to think more strategically about energy efficiency in the private rental sector, and...

The government is axing the Green Homes Grant scheme from 5pm on March 31 - putting a much criticised scheme out...

Specialist buy to let lender Paragon has taken the unusual step of issuing a so-called Green Bond to fund attempts to make...

A council says it’s on the hunt for landlords letting properties with EPCs below the minimum standard.  Working with Exeter Community Energy,...

The National Residential Landlords Association says it backs a report by MPs sharply criticising EPCs and urging more effective modern energy...

A prominent lettings agency chief says tenants are becoming more eco-conscious, putting increased emphasis on landlords to meet expectations. Mike Cook -...

There’s a new call on the government to get its act together on the Green Homes Grant, which has failed to live...

A rental activists’ campaign group wants tenancies reformed to allow tenants to claim back rent and “give tenants the confidence to...

A call has gone out for the overhaul of the Green Homes Grant scheme, which so far has left thousands of...

It might be thought that banks have made significant mistakes of their own in the recent past - including triggering the...

The landlords’ trade body says the tax system needs reforming to support energy improvements in the private rental sector. The intervention by...

The chaos surrounding the government’s Green Homes Grant, which was to have helped thousands of landlords and owner occupiers, appears to...

The government’s Green Homes Grant has been slammed by MPs for its snail’s pace progress, complications and poor delivery. The all-party Environmental...

There is substantial investment going in to the private rental sector by individual landlords, according to evidence from the latest edition...

The Green Homes Grant scheme is set to fail according to MPs, who claim the current slow roll-out means it would...

Up to 50,000 rental homes in the countryside could be sold off if the government presses ahead with stricter energy efficiency...

A prominent buy to let lender has launched a range of products to help landlords improve the energy efficiency of rental...

Former Labour leader Ed Miliband, now the shadow energy secretary, says the green homes grant scheme is in chaos. Media reports in...

The government has been slammed for missing out landlords in proposals to enforce new energy efficiency regulations. Propertymark - the trade group...

A leading utilities supplier to the rental sector says landlords should consider switching to smart meters, as tenants spend more time at...

The landlords’ trade body says it welcomes a change of heart by the government over details of the Green Homes Grant scheme. Until now...

Demands for ever-more energy efficient properties could drive landlords out of the sector, the government has been warned. In a response to...

Two players in the domestic energy industry are warning landlords that it will be an expensive exercise to meet predicted future...

The National Residential Landlords Association has released its manifesto for the 2021 Welsh Parliament elections - and it makes the case...

Gas boilers may be the next big issue for the private rental sector as an influential committee has called for them...

A warning has been issued that a bid to curb private rental sector rents in Scotland could well backfire with more...

Landlords considering taking advantage of the government’s new Green Homes Grant are being warned of a surge in cowboy building works. Sheffield...

Tell us about Airthings, why it was established, the products and what problem they were coming to solve? Airthings was established in...

Landlords now have another year to apply for the government’s Green Homes Grant scheme. The 12 months extension, announced last evening, follows...

A property specialist at Perrys Chartered Accountants has issued new advice for landlords on how they can reap the benefits of...

A trade body has told MPs the government must ensure work done to make homes energy efficient is ‘future-proofed’ to accept...

A council in the westcountry says it’s going to come down hard on rogue landlords and has identified ‘high risk’ properties...

The Green Homes Grant scheme went live on September 30 2020, offering landlords and investors the chance to apply for £5,000...

With new regulations and rules now in place for landlords, our in-house property experts outline their 10 essential safety requirements for...

Just under half of landlords say they intend to make energy efficiency improvements to properties as part of the government's Green Homes Grant...

A council wants to introduce private rental sector licensing as part of a pledge made back in 2018. Plymouth’s Labour controlled council pledged...

The government has launched an official consultation on proposals to make the private rental sector more energy-efficient - and they include...

A PropTech firm has drawn up a list of those regions with the highest proportion of rental properties with EPC rating...

TSB will no longer lend on buy-to-let properties in England and Wales that do not meet minimum energy efficiency standards.  Buy-to-let landlords...

As new details regarding the new Green Homes Grant emerge, landlords should hopefully be in a better position to assess whether...

With just a few weeks remaining until the opening of the Green Homes Grant, the National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA) is...

With just over a month until the opening of the Green Homes Grant, buy-to-let landlords in England should be in a...

The new £2bn grant scheme in England for projects such as insulation, unveiled yesterday by the chancellor Rishi Sunak as part...

Buy-to-let landlords north of the border are urging the Scottish government to take into consideration the impact that the Covid-19 pandemic...

The cost of buy-to-let mortgages has continued to fall, according to the latest research from Property Master.  The biggest month-on-month fall in...

With the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) coming into play last year, it's now more important than ever to ensure the...

The UK government has legally committed to going carbon neutral by 2050. That’s going to require a huge effort and significant...

If the private rental sector and sharing economy is to continue to thrive, regular engagement with your tenants is required to...

Most landlords will already be familiar with the Domestic Minimum Energy Efficiency (MEES) Regulations which came into force on 1 April...

The decision to delay the minimum energy efficiency standards deadline in Scotland has been welcomed by landlords as a ‘sensible one’.  The...

Buy-to-let landlords north of the border have come under increasing pressure ahead of the incoming changes to the energy efficiency of...

Landlords of the draughtiest homes in England and Wales will be required to upgrade their properties ahead of new rules requiring...

The National Landlords Association (NLA) has welcomed the Welsh government's plans to increase spending on housing in their draft budget for...

With the festive season fast approaching, it is completely natural for everyone to start winding down a bit at this time...

When it comes to buying, selling, letting or renting a property, you will likely be faced with words, phrases, acronyms and...

Scottish Land & Estates is calling on the Scottish government to ensure that private landlords who provide affordable homes to rent have...

Student Housing says that it has become the first business of its kind in the UK to only use renewable energy...

With the number of PRS regulations continuing to rise, technology is growing increasingly more important in aiding compliance and ensuring that...

A cap limiting landlord spending on energy efficiency improvements to £3,500 should be scrapped and replaced with a new £5,000 figure,...

It is estimated that around 33,000 properties across the UK may be unwittingly let illegally, according to research. A recent study exploring...

Following the changes introduced in England and Wales last year, an important piece of legislation is coming into force in Scotland...

The Residential Landlords Association (RLA) has welcomed calls by a parliamentary committee for tax incentives for private landlords to improve the...

A new pilot has been launched by TrustMark, the government endorsed quality scheme, in partnership with East Sussex Trading Standards, to...

It is estimated that buildings produce nearly half of this country’s carbon emissions - almost double that of cars and planes. The...

Investing in residential properties can be a great way to accumulate wealth. But before parting with your cash, an investment strategy...

Tenants living in sub-standard rented accommodation need greater support, according to Neil Cobbold, chief operating officer of PayProp UK, who has...

Tens of thousands of landlords across the UK could be unwittingly renting out property illegally because they have should have an...

With a new year now upon us, it’s time to look forward to what might happen (and what is definitely happening)...

Just 4% of landlords and tenants had in April this year heard of Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES), claims research by...

Letting a home can be an intimidating task if you’re doing it for the first time. You may have deliberately entered...

The private rented sector is a challenging landscape to negotiate, with tax changes and ever-changing regulation meaning that landlords now, more...

Even though the most recent Budget offered some welcome relief for landlords and the buy-to-let sector as a whole, there are...

This week’s announcement that landlords will need to pay the first £3,500 to make improvements to their properties to ensure they...

Landlords investing in the rural private rented sector face higher costs and fewer options to meet new requirements of minimum energy...

More landlords of the draughtiest homes in England and Wales will be required to upgrade their properties after amendments to regulations...

Buy-to-let landlords with properties in Croydon, south London, are being invited to attend a free conference being run this week by...

Early bird tickets are now on sale for the Residential Landlords Association’s (RLA) next Future Renting Conference in Cardiff. The one-day conference,...

Standards in the private rented sector have got better as buy-to-let landlords respond to a flurry of legislation aimed at improving...

The government is coming under growing pressure from landlords to be more ambitious when it comes to the energy efficiency of...

Cheshire East Council has pledged to clampdown on rogue landlords who allow tenants to live in poor housing standards within the...

The government is planning to reform Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) in a bid to make them more effective drivers of energy...

Amid the headline-grabbing political manoeuvring over Brexit, a policy proposal which could have serious ramifications for thousands of private landlords –...

Buy-to-let landlords with existing tenancies on properties rented out in the private rented sector are being reminded to take note of...

Buy-to-let landlords north of the border are being urged to demonstrate that they are complying with all of their legal obligations...

The Southern Homebuilding & Renovating Show kicks off at Sandown Park in Surrey at the end of next month, and you...

Buy-to-let landlords will hopefully have better access to reputable builders when developing and maintaining homes across England and Wales, following a...

A combination of tax reform and stricter regulation for landlords is slowing the growth of the private rented sector (PRS), but private...

The number of homes available to rent in the UK dropped in February to a 21 month low which letting agents...

There is still a worrying lack of awareness regarding new Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) being introduced next month, according to...

Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard has unveiled proposals to control rents and limit the power of private landlords, despite concerns that...

There is less than four weeks remaining until new Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) come into force across England and Wales,...

Buy-to-let landlords and letting agents working in the private rented sector in England are being invited to offer their views in...

A mix of tax reforms and tighter regulation for the buy-to-let sector must not prevent private landlords from being able to...

The buy-to-let property market is currently experiencing a wave of reforms, with the government looking to alter the way in which...

As a landlord you will undoubtedly be aware that you are responsible for the safety of your tenants, and that includes...

With less than three months until the new Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) are introduced in April 2018, Mike Feely of...

Hundreds of thousands of buy-to-let landlords will be required to pay a ‘green tax’ of up to £2,500 per property upfront...

The government’s proposal to introduce a cost cap of £2,500, down from £5,000, on the amount any landlord would need to...

Rent prices will increase next year, according to the latest property market analysis. Shortages of suitable properties to let and greater demand...

There are now only six months until the new Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) are implemented – a sweeping change due...

The Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) Regulations make it unlawful from April 2018 to let domestic and commercial buildings in England...

Around 5% of buy-to-let properties are set to fail new Minimum Energy Efficient Standards (MEES) that come into effect in April...

The importance of the private rented market in this country should not be underestimated – it is a crucial source of...

A cap on rents and more stringent regulations are among the proposals put forward by the mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy...

From the 1st April 2018, it will be unlawful to rent a property which breaches the requirement for a minimum energy...

With a high number of laws affecting buy-to-let landlords and changing frequently, it is now more important than ever to keep...

From the 1st April 2018, it will be unlawful to rent a property which breaches the requirement for a minimum energy...

The Scottish government is being urged to set a higher benchmark for the energy efficiency of private rented homes to help...

The Scottish government’s proposed new minimum energy efficiency standards for the private rented sector could risk having an adverse impact on...

If you fail to take action to ensure that your rental properties comply with the new Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES)...

Around two-thirds of buy-to-let landlords lack awareness of new Minimum Energy Efficient Standards (MEES) that come into effect in April 2018,...

New proposals to ensure all privately rented homes north of the border meet a minimum standard of energy efficiency have been...

The UK government’s Affordable Warmth Scheme (AWS) has been in place since 2013, as part of the Energy Companies Obligation (ECO).   The...

National Landlords Association (NLA) has teamed up with the National Insulation Association (NIA) to provide landlords with an easy to use...

The 2015 Energy Efficiency Regulations, passed in March 2015, set out minimum energy efficiency standards (MEES) for England and Wales. These...

Nearly 17% of properties currently available on the private rented sector could become unrentable by 2018 if government plans for new...

Landlord obligations can be difficult. Electrical safety, fire safety, deposit protection, licensing and consent, the list is endless - leaving some...

Nearly one in ten properties currently available on the rental market could become unrentable by 2018 if government plans for new...

Ian Shipley provides an insight into how you can prepare for the new minimum energy efficiency standards (MEES) set to come...

Around a third of tenants that were surveyed claim that they are being forced to pay for energy efficiency improvements in...

Construction of a unique south London housing scheme has got underway in a factory in Shropshire. The modular construction by Elements Europe,...

The government’s policy to improve the energy efficiency of the UK’s housing stock will almost certainly place upward pressure on rents...

Landlords in Cumbria are being offered grants to install gas or oil fuelled central heating systems in their homes for free...

Up to 330,000 buy-to-let landlords will be required to pay a “green tax” of up to £5,000 to make their properties...

More than half of tenants that were surveyed claim that they are being forced to live in cold and draughty rental...

With growing competition to attract the best tenants, more landlords are now going out of their way to provide an enhanced...

Rents in the private rented sector will increase as a result of the planned introduction of energy efficiency targets, a leading...

Stirling Council is inviting local private landlords and letting agents to register for an upcoming Open Day and Conference. The annual event,...

Simon May, heating controls expert and product manager at Drayton, discusses the benefits of smart thermostats and how they can help...

Tenants now have the right to request consent from their landlords to make energy-saving improvements for the properties they rent. The rules...

The Residential Landlords Association (RLA) has offered advice to HMO landlords affected by the new regulations affecting the provision of heat...

The All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for the private rented sector has launched an inquiry into the energy efficiency of private...

The Residential Landlords Association (RLA) is calling for urgent discussions with ministers following a ruling by the European Court of Justice...