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KEYWORD "Westminster" - 100 RESULTS
Call for “sentencing guidelines” to punish landlords over licensing

A charity is calling for landlord licensing schemes which cost enough to fund annual inspections, and the issuing of “sentencing guidelines”...

28 March 2024

From: Breaking News

Empty Homes Scandal - TV property guru on the warpath

Homes Under The Hammer property expert Lucy Alexander is fronting a new campaign to identify empty homes and bring them back...

20 March 2024

From: Breaking News

Generation Rent: homeless data shows “whole new level of horror”

Activist group Generation Rent has described the latest homelessness data from the government as showing “a whole new level of horror.” It...

01 March 2024

From: Breaking News

Under 30s Face An Impossible Task When Renting

Research by Zero Deposit, a deposit alternative service, claims that under-30s face an almost impossible task when it comes to current...

03 February 2024

From: Tax & Finance

Mandatory Short Lets registration scheme introduced in part of UK

A mandatory short lets registration and licensing scheme is to be introduced in part of the UK, described as a system...

10 January 2024

From: Breaking News

Revealed - England’s Least and Most Affordable Rental Locations

A new analysis has produced a league table of the most and least affordable rental locations in England. The findings placed Rutland...

11 November 2023

From: Top tips & guides

Half a million fine for HMO landlord who put tenants at risk

A landlord and a property management company have been found guilty of putting tenants at risk after a council probe. Kensington and...

08 November 2023

From: Breaking News

Traditional Lettings Market Returns to London says Foxtons

It’s taken some time but one of London’s biggest lettings agencies says a ‘traditional’ lettings market has returned to the capital.  Last...

17 October 2023

From: Breaking News

Rent Controls Here To Stay says Scottish Government

The Scottish Government says rent controls - already existing as a so-called emergency measure - will become permanent. Scottish First Minister Humza...

07 September 2023

From: Breaking News

Renting in Posh School Catchment Areas - does it really work?

Families opt to rent so they can move fast to buy a home close to London’s top schools, according to a...

25 August 2023

From: Breaking News

Tough for Renters - Agent’s Insight Into London Market

The latest research by London lettings agency Benham and Reeves has revealed the uphill struggle facing those in search of a...

22 July 2023

From: Agent Advice

Foxtons figures show rents and demand dip slightly in London

New figures from London-focussed agency Foxtons show applicant demand up 19 per cent in June, as the capital enters the peak...

21 July 2023

From: Breaking News

Gove wants to extend measures in Renters Reform Bill - BBC report

The BBC says discussions are underway to extend the Renters Reform Bill to specifically outlaw any rental listing banning families and benefit recipients...

06 July 2023

From: Breaking News

Larger lateral apartments tipped as good investment potential

A leading buying agent says changing planning priorities amongst London councils are likely to mean that large lateral apartments will maintain...

21 June 2023

From: Breaking News

Airbnb ‘problem’ may be smaller than critics claim

New data appears to show that the number of active short lets is lower - and not higher - than in...

31 May 2023

From: Breaking News

Activists back Labour Mayor’s demand for power to seize homes

The Generation Rent campaign has given its support to a call by London Mayor Sadiq Khan to be given powers to...

26 May 2023

From: Breaking News

Labour Mayor wants powers to seize empty properties

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, wants new powers to impose higher tax on empty homes - and even seize them...

24 May 2023

From: Breaking News

Will Renters Reform Bill Disrupt the Student Accommodation Market?

2023 could be a landmark year for the private rented sector if Michael Gove succeeds in his pursuit of reforming the...

13 May 2023

From: Rental Reform

Renters Reform Bill - just a delay or a major rethink?

The government has back-tracked on its decision to publish the long-awaited Renters Reform Bill this week. The Mirror newspaper reports this morning that...

10 May 2023

From: Breaking News

Tory MPs unhappy at anti-landlord tone of Rental Reform Bill

A newspaper report claims that some Conservative MPs are unhappy at the anti-landlord tone of the Renters Reform Bill which is...

09 May 2023

From: Breaking News

Rising number of properties owned by foreign-registered firms

The government response to a Freedom of Information request has shed light on the increasing number of homes in England and...

20 April 2023

From: Breaking News

Anti-Landlord Sentiment is Changing - now we need action

I often use this column to discuss the reputation of landlords and the broader private rented sector which, as we all...

19 November 2022

From: The Big Issues

Rental Reform - Time Is Of The Essence

The future of the private rented sector in England has been back under the Westminster spotlight in the last two weeks...

12 November 2022

From: Rental Reform

Agents’ chief to stick up for landlords at influential policy forum

Propertymark’s head of policy and campaigns, Timothy Douglas, will explain how investment in the private rented sector can be better incentivised when...

31 October 2022

From: Breaking News

Landlords under assault from government: This will end badly

It is a fundamental principle of a functioning democracy that parties, when in power, should pay at least lip service to...

15 October 2022

From: Rental Reform

Stricter EPCs - ‘landlords can’t meet targets because of rising costs‘

A bank boss says landlords are facing a crisis of affordability when it comes to meeting strict new energy efficiency targets...

26 September 2022

From: Breaking News

Landlords may sell cheaply to avoid EPC upgrade costs

Many landlords who do not want to commit to high levels of expenditure to improve the energy efficiency of their homes,...

15 September 2022

From: Breaking News

Tax Break? Emergency Budget likely for next week

Speculation is growing that next week there will be an Emergency Budget - or a ‘fiscal event’ as new Prime Minister...

15 September 2022

From: Breaking News

Eviction ban and emergency rent freeze from today in Scotland

An emergency rent freeze in the private and public sectors has been announced this afternoon in Scotland. It will last until...

06 September 2022

From: Breaking News

Rent controls council pays housing boss £280,000 a year

Bristol’s Labour council has made a name for itself with policies shifting power from landlords to tenants. Earlier this year the Mayor,...

02 August 2022

From: Breaking News

Agents back landlord warning that homes will fail new EPC minimum

Letting agents have come out with figures to back up an argument that landlords have been making for some time  -...

27 July 2022

From: Breaking News

Clarity Not Confusion - White Paper reforms must be detailed

With speculation about what happens next in Westminster at fever pitch, now isn’t the time to make predictions as to how...

09 July 2022

From: The Big Issues

Rents roar ahead of pre-pandemic levels in prime areas - Savills

Rental growth continues to roar ahead across prime areas of London, according to Savills. Prime London rental values increased a further 3.3...

05 July 2022

From: Breaking News

Landlords discriminated against in re-insurance scheme - claim

A prominent London council wants rental properties to be included in the government’s Flood Re reinsurance scheme. Westminster council says the current...

22 June 2022

From: Breaking News

Goodbye to Section 21 - a short history

Housing has always been one of the most sensitive political issues, meaning that legislation in this area is unusually sensitive to...

21 May 2022

From: Rental Reform

Study reveals number of Airbnb-style short lets in London

Research by a rental platform suggests there are currently over 65,000 short let properties being advertised in London alone. The platform, Rentd,...

12 May 2022

From: Breaking News

 Labour calls for rent freeze now and rent controls long term

Labour’s London Mayor - buoyed up after the party’s successes in the capital in last week’s elections - has renewed his...

10 May 2022

From: Breaking News

Rent Controls - now a trade union wants government action

A trade union has called on the government to “look at all forms of rent control” as a way of combatting...

06 May 2022

From: Breaking News

Revealed - best capital appreciation areas of prime London

Landlords seeking capital appreciation from a recovering prime London market have been provided with a league table by a debt advisory...

28 April 2022

From: Breaking News

Capital appreciation - new league table shows unexpected winner

New research has produced a league table of locations where capital appreciation in the past year has exceeded the average wage...

07 April 2022

From: Breaking News

Good news for London investors as yields bounce back

Research by rental portal Rentd suggests improved London yields this year after being in the doldrums during the pandemic. Rentd analysed the...

23 February 2022

From: Breaking News

The True Costs of Being A Landlord In 2022

Covid-19 has undoubtedly shifted the way new landlords will be looking to invest in 2022, and our ranking makes it clear...

22 January 2022

From: Tax & Finance

Rents skyrocketing in London according to latest index

Rents in Greater London are up an annualised 25 per cent, with much of the increase attributed to the stock of...

13 January 2022

From: Breaking News

Rent Controls: Now Labour jumps on the bandwagon

Labour is the latest political party to call for rent controls following similar pleas from the Green Party and the Scottish Nationalists. Paul...

04 January 2022

From: Breaking News

Looming rent controls may be deterring landlords from buy to let

A leading market analyst says the looming threat of rent controls may be deterring landlords entering the buy to let sector,...

18 October 2021

From: Breaking News

Why council’s new licensing regime will backfire badly - a case study

A lettings agent says a new HMO licensing regime in one of London’s highest profile boroughs will reduce the number of rental...

13 October 2021

From: Breaking News

Well over £700 fee for UK’s largest-ever HMO licensing scheme

Landlords must pay well over £700 for entry into what is now the UK’s largest ever HMO licensing scheme, at Westminster...

02 September 2021

From: Breaking News

Pets In Lets back on the agenda thanks to petition

A petition has been launched on the Channel Island of Jersey to prevent landlords banning pets from the local private rental...

10 August 2021

From: Breaking News

Cheaper Rents - tenants' protest scheduled for next week

Protesters in a part of the UK with high numbers of holiday lets will stage a demonstration next week demanding cheaper...

09 August 2021

From: Breaking News

Landlord Tip-Off - where to find discounted homes in London

Landlords wanting to break into London buy to let have been provided with a guide to boroughs with the most discounted...

06 August 2021

From: Breaking News

At last! London rental market shows strong signs of recovery

After months in the doldrums thanks to tenants moving away and an excess of supply, London’s rental sector is recovering. The Home...

18 June 2021

From: Breaking News

Surge in tenants seeking charity advice - claim

A charity claims it’s seen increasing numbers of private tenants seeking help, just as the bailiff enforced eviction ban has ended...

01 June 2021

From: Breaking News

Jail for man who used terrorist attack for revenge on landlord

A man who tried to frame his landlord’s partner as being involved in the Westminster terrorist attack has been jailed. Gerald Banyard,...

21 May 2021

From: Breaking News

Police hunt tenant who used terror attack for revenge on landlord

A former tenant who tried two frame his landlord’s partner as being involved in the Westminster terrorist attack has been convicted...

13 May 2021

From: Breaking News

 Break clauses to be demanded by many students in future - claim

A website claims an average £1,621 has been ‘wasted’ by each student on accommodation they haven't used this academic year -...

17 February 2021

From: Breaking News

 Landlords urged to respond to London council’s consultation

Landlords have only until February 11 to respond to the licensing proposals of the London council with the largest private rental...

28 January 2021

From: Breaking News

London rents fall but stronger performance in rest of the UK

The latest HomeLet rental index suggests that the average rent in the UK is now £974 after a 2.9 per cent...

04 December 2020

From: Breaking News

It's like saying 'You can only afford two-thirds rent’” - furlough criticised

The government’s former homelessness guru has criticised the Boris Johnson administration for risking the country entering a period of destitution, with...

16 October 2020

From: Breaking News

Council introduces fresh strategy to improve conditions for private tenants

A new strategy has been launched today by Westminster City Council to help raise standards for tenants who rent privately.  Westminster, which...

23 September 2020

From: Breaking News

Landlords’ losses to hit £5.7bn by 2024 as rents look set to fall

Buy-to-let landlords face having to reduce rents by at least 5% over the next five years as a growing number of...

28 July 2020

From: Breaking News

Chancellor refuses to confirm plans to increase capital gains tax

Rishi Sunak has distanced himself from reports that he is looking at increasing capital gains tax to help pay for the...

16 July 2020

From: Breaking News

Initial cost of renting has increased by almost a quarter in some parts of England

The cost of renting in England since the tenant fee ban was introduced has increased by almost a quarter in some...

06 July 2020

From: Breaking News

London councils call for mandatory registration system for short-term lettings

Those who rent out homes short-term in either the London borough of Camden or Westminster could soon face fresh restrictions. Both councils...

05 March 2020

From: Breaking News

What areas have enjoyed biggest hike in rental yields since the ban on tenant fees?

Rental yields in the private rented sector have dipped marginally since the introduction of the ban on tenant fees in June...

06 February 2020

From: Breaking News

How confident are property investors in the Conservative government?

After two elections and three years of intense debate and hostility, the general election in December seemed to offer the political...

29 January 2020

From: Breaking News

What key events do property investors need to be aware of in 2020?

Towards the end of last year, I wrote an article for Landlord Today outlining the difficulties many landlords in the UK...

21 January 2020

From: Breaking News

Next government urged to cut VAT on maintenance and improvement works

The next government should urgently reduce VAT on maintenance and improvement works to people’s homes to help boost investment in the...

04 December 2019

From: Breaking News

Revealed: Areas where there are major rental supply shortages

The worst served city for rental stock is Newport in Wales where just 13.5% of properties listed are to rent, according...

13 November 2019

From: Breaking News

Most pet-friendly London boroughs for renters revealed

Many tenants who own at least one pet have struggled to find pet-friendly accommodation, and yet despite efforts to encourage more...

27 September 2019

From: Breaking News

Buy-to-let sector has got flight left in it yet

To say that the buy-to-let sector has had a tough time of it in recent years would be one hell of...

27 September 2019

From: Breaking News

HS2 spends more than £1.25bn buying property in London

More than £1.25bn has been spent acquiring property in London to make way for High Speed Rail 2 (HS2), according to...

09 September 2019

From: Breaking News

Sensible rules will ensure ‘responsible growth’ of short-term letting sector

It is not always possible for an individual or company to improve its image beyond that of its industry, and that is...

07 August 2019

From: Breaking News

Council tenant fined £100,000 for sub-letting his studio flat on Airbnb

An Airbnb host who rented out his council flat in central London has been fined £100,000 and evicted by Westminster City...

30 July 2019

From: Breaking News

Rogue landlord jailed for illegally converted flats and failing to repay £130k

A rogue landlord who made almost £130,000 in illegal rent after converting his three-bedroom house in east London into two flats...

20 June 2019

From: Breaking News

Government urged to simplify the benefits system to prevent discrimination

Nationwide were among a small group of mortgage lenders asked to give evidence at a select committee yesterday on restrictions around...

25 April 2019

From: Breaking News

RLA welcomes launch of new APPG looking into short-term lets

A new All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) has been launched with a view to looking into short-term lets. The new group, which...

25 April 2019

From: Breaking News

Revealed: how the cost of renting a room varies across London

A growing number of young professionals and students are choosing to house share, driving up the average cost of renting room...

01 March 2019

From: Breaking News

What would a no-deal Brexit mean for the UK’s landlords?

Life just doesn’t get any easier for Theresa May. No sooner had her Brexit withdrawal plan been rejected by a record-breaking...

22 January 2019

From: Breaking News

‘Green shoots’ of recovery emerging in London’s buy-to-let sector

There are growing signs of confidence returning to the London market, with a resurgence in house prices being anticipated owed in...

21 January 2019

From: Breaking News

RLA membership hits all-time high

More buy-to-let landlords are adopting a more professional approach to running their property business, as reflected by the number of people...

08 January 2019

From: Breaking News

Rent controls would hurt both tenants and landlords, warns RLA

The Residential Landlords Association (RLA) has warned that growing speculation the mayor of London Sadiq Khan is considering introducing rent controls...

11 December 2018

From: Breaking News

BTL landlords earned £34bn in rental income last year

Private landlords across the UK collectively earned £33.8bn from their buy-to-let investments in the year from 5 April 2017 to 2018,...

04 December 2018

From: Breaking News

Boost for renters as rent payments added to their credit score

Private tenants who pay their rent on time are set to benefit from better credit scores, after Experian said it was...

26 October 2018

From: Breaking News

 My London Home’s lettings book to rebrand as Stirling Ackroyd

If you own a house or flat in London, there is a fair chance that you may have heard of, and...

11 September 2018

From: Breaking News

Increasing housing supply offers tenants ‘more power to negotiate lower rents’

Rents for residential properties fell across parts of London in quarterly terms as the supply of properties coming on to the...

24 July 2018

From: Breaking News

Sharp decline in the number of homes to let

The UK is facing a critical rental shortage as many landlords continue to offload properties due to recent tax a change,...

15 June 2018

From: Breaking News

London’s most and least pet-friendly boroughs revealed

With the number of people living in private rented accommodation continuing to grow, more tenants are seeking permission to keep pets...

23 May 2018

From: Breaking News

Rogue letting agents fined £14k for unlicensed HMOs in Camden

Two letting agents have been hit with £14,000 fines for unlicensed shared properties in Camden, north London. The two rogue letting agents...

14 May 2018

From: Breaking News

Landlords continue to quit the Scottish rental market

An increasing number of buy-to-let landlords are likely to exit Scotland’s private rented sector or reduce the size of their property...

20 March 2018

From: Breaking News

Average London renter now requires £3K deposit, says campaigning letting agent

Tenants in London are now required to pay up to £8,650 just to move into a rented home, it has been...

20 March 2018

From: Breaking News

Parliament to discuss giving tenants legal right to challenge landlords this week

A Private Members’ Bill put forward by Labour MP, Karen Buck, which offers tenants the legal right to take action against...

16 January 2018

From: Breaking News

Rent payments should be added to tenant’s credit score, says PayProp

PayProp has added its voice to growing calls for rent payments to be added to a tenant’s credit score. The automated rental...

04 January 2018

From: Breaking News

New database leaves rogue landlords with ‘nowhere to hide’

The mayor of London Sadiq Khan yesterday launched a new public online database which ‘names and shames’ dodgy landlords and letting...

20 December 2017

From: Breaking News

Government urged to introduce new buy-to-let tax on ‘nightly letting’

Buy-to-let landlords who let out their properties as short-term holiday lets should be hit with fresh taxes to deter them from...

14 December 2017

From: Breaking News

The effects of the Manchester city centre housing boom

A continuous increase in the number of cranes, hoardings and skyscraper frames around Manchester’s inner ring road is visual proof of...

21 November 2017

From: Breaking News

Rent payments should automatically be added to tenant’s credit score, say MPs

Rent payments should be used as part of credit scores to help private renters secure a mortgage to buy a home...

24 October 2017

From: Breaking News

Landlord fined over £200,000 for endangering lives of tenants

A landlord who endangered the lives of his tenants has been successfully prosecuted and fined more than £200,000 for failing to...

19 September 2017

From: Breaking News

Survey finds 31% of landlords ‘unaware of proposed letting fee ban

Almost a third of buy-to-let landlords are unaware of the proposals for a draft bill banning letting agent fees, according to...

07 September 2017

From: Breaking News

Trade body supports MP’s proposals to improve housing standards

An MP’s bid to make homes in the rented sector ‘fit for human habitation’ has received support from the Residential Landlords...

19 July 2017

From: Breaking News

Landlord ordered to pay over £60,000 for ‘deathtrap’ in west London

The owner of a rental property in west London, which was described by a judge as a “deathtrap”, has been told...

02 May 2017

From: Breaking News

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