Political parties should stop bickering and instead work together to boost enforcement of rental standards in the private sector. That’s the view...
Archive
There wasn’t much by way of good news in the Spring Budget for landlords and property investors last month. Although some rumours...
18 April 2024
From: Sponsored Content
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
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
Trading Standards has defended the introduction of ‘material information’ requirements on details of properties for sale, after a conveyancer warned landlords...
25 March 2024
From: Breaking News
The removal of Section 21 notices and the end of fixed-term tenancies are the two issues that concern landlords the most,...
22 March 2024
From: Breaking News
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
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
A newly-nominated candidate in this spring’s London Mayoral election has vowed to lower private rents if he wins. Serge Crowbolder, currently a...
06 February 2024
From: Breaking News
A think tank claims that the government will pay landlords in the private sector six times the expected spend on new affordable homes in the five-year period between 2021 and 2026. The New...
01 February 2024
From: Breaking News
The Generation Rent activist group has called for a series of reforms about damp and mould. It wants the reinstatement of energy...
23 January 2024
From: Breaking News
The National Residential Landlords Association is urging MPs to back what it describes as “pragmatic” changes to the Renters Reform Bill...
19 January 2024
From: Breaking News
A new analysis of the private rental sector suggests that between 800,000 and one million more homes are required to meet...
17 January 2024
From: Breaking News
There is to be no comparable law for private landlords, following the introduction of Awaab’s Law. Earlier this week the Department of...
12 January 2024
From: Breaking News
Christmas goodwill towards landlords seems in short supply from activist group Generation Rent. It has this week issued a statement saying the...
21 December 2023
From: Breaking News
Tenants value location, flexibility and direct landlord relationships according to new research from specialist lending bank OSB Group. The Future Tenant Standard...
05 December 2023
From: Breaking News
Landlords will have to include many more specific points about their properties when they list them in future - whether directly...
01 December 2023
From: Breaking News
The government claims that millions of homeowners in England and Wales will be given greater rights, powers, and protections over their...
28 November 2023
From: Breaking News
Almost four fifths of landlords favour raising the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards for private rental properties, a think tank claims. The Social...
27 November 2023
From: Breaking News
This is back-to-school season and for the majority of university students who choose to move away from their family home during...
07 October 2023
From: Rental Reform
As the ‘big buy-to-let’ sell off gathers momentum, we take a look ways you can guestimate the value of your rental...
14 September 2023
From: Sponsored Content
In an unusual move, London Labour Mayor Sadiq Khan says home owners in dire financial difficulties should be able to switch...
24 August 2023
From: Breaking News
Activist group Generation Rent is now demanding a change to the Renters Reform Bill to help tenants with energy bills. The group...
04 August 2023
From: Breaking News
A controversial MP sacked by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak earlier this year says he will take up the cause of landlords...
02 August 2023
From: Breaking News
The new Housing Loss Prevention Advice Service kicks in tomorrow - it offers early legal advice, free of charge, to anyone...
31 July 2023
From: Breaking News
1. Extra mortgage costs While anyone who owns a property runs the risk of not being able to pay their mortgage, the...
22 July 2023
From: Tax & Finance
A law firm partner who advises rural estates and landowners has identified a new problem created by the Renters Reform Bill. James...
07 July 2023
From: Breaking News
The National Residential Landlords Associations has expressed relief that Labour appears to be backing away from rent controls. Association chief executive Ben...
29 June 2023
From: Breaking News
The long-awaited Renters Reform Bill has been unveiled, as Ministers bid to address the housing crisis and create a fairer rental...
17 June 2023
From: Agent Advice
A Labour pressure group wants the party to campaign on housing at the next General Election, including railing against what it...
07 June 2023
From: Breaking News
The current Housing Ombudsman, who presides over redress within the social housing sector, says private landlords should not fear the extension...
26 May 2023
From: Breaking News
A charity claims that private renters are about twice as likely as the general population to be in problem debt. StepChange, via...
23 May 2023
From: Breaking News
A mortgage broker claims there’s “no downside” to the current problem of landlords quitting the private rental sector. Jonathan Burridge, founding adviser...
18 May 2023
From: Breaking News
Build To Rent sector players are complaining about too much tax and regulation holding back their activities. A new analysis of 31...
03 May 2023
From: Breaking News
Move iQ, the consumer-facing online service operated by TV property guru Phil Spencer, is linking with the Build To Rent trade...
28 April 2023
From: Breaking News
Plans to change private rental sector tenancy law have gone out to consultation on Jersey. The minister for Housing and Communities, David...
19 April 2023
From: Breaking News
As most landlords know, a myriad of myths has built up around the private rented sector and one that seems to...
15 April 2023
From: The Big Issues
Over the last few years, the property industry has been focusing on the need to provide more information to buyers ‘up...
18 February 2023
From: Agent Advice
Two key figures jumped out at me from the National Residential Landlords Association’s (NRLA) excellent recent report on the private rented...
11 February 2023
From: The Big Issues
The landlords’ trade body is broadly welcoming some proposals from MPs to reform the private rented sector. Some aspects of the Levelling...
10 February 2023
From: Breaking News
The government’s proposed tenancy reforms - including the banning of section 21 evictions - could be undermined by delays in the...
09 February 2023
From: Breaking News
The private rented sector has an important economic and social role to play across the country, according to a new report...
31 January 2023
From: Breaking News
There are many misconceptions about the private rented sector, but a common one I hear is that it is the tenure...
07 January 2023
From: The Big Issues
Renters’ Reform Bill The Renters’ Reform Bill will dominate the PRS policy agenda in 2023. Signs are encouraging that DLUHC is considering...
07 January 2023
From: Legislation & Compliance
The Generation Rent campaign group says the latest English Housing Survey shows that 23 per cent of private rented homes fail...
19 December 2022
From: Breaking News
Phil Spencer’s online consumer service Move iQ has created a series on its YouTube channel looking at living in Build To...
01 December 2022
From: Breaking News
The Chartered Institute of Environmental Health has written to Housing Secretary Michael Gove urging him to make it easier for councils...
30 November 2022
From: Breaking News
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
The people behind the largest ever analysis of Build To Rent in England claim it shows a broad and evolving customer...
16 November 2022
From: Breaking News
Renters have higher rates of anxiety than home owners, it’s been claimed by a think tank. The Joseph Rowntree Foundation says that...
11 November 2022
From: Breaking News
Labour leader Sir Kier Starmer has told his party conference that buy to let landlords will no longer “get in first”...
27 September 2022
From: Breaking News
The National Residential Landlords Association has renewed calls for stamp duty cuts on homes to let out. The NRLA initially made the...
22 September 2022
From: Breaking News
As inflation passes the 10% mark, it’s no surprise that many landlords are hurriedly reviewing the health of their buy to...
17 September 2022
From: The Big Issues
Propertymark has welcomed a pledge by the new Housing Secretary to boost housing supply. After he was appointed last week, Simon Clarke...
14 September 2022
From: Breaking News
The National Residential Landlords Association has issued its formal congratulations to Simon Clarke, the new Housing Secretary. But Ben Beadle, NRLA chief...
08 September 2022
From: Breaking News
The housing chief of the Scottish Government says that all homes in that country - irrespective of tenure - must hit...
15 August 2022
From: Breaking News
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
The latest English Housing Survey report on the private rental sector gives the lie to the perception that most tenants are...
11 July 2022
From: Breaking News
The John Lewis Partnership is to offer short- and long-term lets when it builds flats to rent at three locations in...
13 June 2022
From: Breaking News
Landlords have welcomed the latest delays to radical rental reforms which were due to be implemented next month. Ben Beadle, chief executive...
01 June 2022
From: Breaking News
Wherever you stand, whether you’re a landlord or tenant, the supply and demand issues impacting the private rented sector are at...
28 May 2022
From: Rental Reform
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
Taxes on buy to let investment are fuelling a supply crisis, hiking rents and making homeownership more difficult to afford. That’s the...
06 May 2022
From: Breaking News
A lettings agency is to hold free events to support landlords ahead of what it calls a “landmark transformation” in rental...
05 May 2022
From: Breaking News
A warning has been issued by a business consultancy that renters are set to feel particularly vulnerable this year because of...
26 April 2022
From: Breaking News
An industry trade body is alerting landlords that new smoke and carbon monoxide alarm rules are likely to be introduced soon -...
20 April 2022
From: Breaking News
Oxford’s Labour-run council has called on private renters to join a new tenants union. A statement from the authority says some private...
21 March 2022
From: Breaking News
The government could benefit to the tune of £10 billion and the rental market could have soaring supply if stamp duty...
15 March 2022
From: Breaking News
Renters are finding it tough to locate a new home because of the continuing shortage of supply according to the National...
24 February 2022
From: Breaking News
Landlords are likely to be obliged to supply agents with additional details in future, before their properties are listed to let...
22 February 2022
From: Breaking News
New research commissioned by the landlords’ trade body shows that the UK needs almost 230,000 new private rented homes a year...
15 February 2022
From: Breaking News
The majority of local authorities in England do not accurately record the number of private rented sector tenure complaints which they...
11 February 2022
From: Breaking News
A House of Lords report claims that the private rental sector has become ”increasingly unaffordable” and says out welcomes the proliferation...
12 January 2022
From: Breaking News
ARLA Propertymark is expressing concern at the latest figures showing a fall in the size of the private rental sector. The latest...
10 December 2021
From: Breaking News
The Welsh Government has announced a £30m pot from which councils can pay for easing properties from private landlords. Under the Welsh Government’s...
30 November 2021
From: Breaking News
The UK’s largest provider of inventory services says rising tenancy lengths make a combination of inventories and regular inspections more valuable...
26 November 2021
From: Breaking News
The government should factor in the property market’s huge regional variations when offering landlords incentives to become more energy efficient. That’s the call...
21 October 2021
From: Breaking News
The UK’s first Minister for Tenants’ Rights says he will introduce rent controls because renters currently “pay way over the odds”. Although...
01 September 2021
From: Breaking News
Landlords will have to spend thousands to meet new government demands to improve energy efficiency in rental properties. Geospatial technology company Kamma...
16 August 2021
From: Breaking News
A retail bank has announced the launch of a £500m project to fund the construction of up to 2,500 suburban, purpose-built...
10 August 2021
From: Breaking News
New research by a property investment consultancy has revealed which regions of England present the most promising opportunities for buy to...
05 August 2021
From: Breaking News
Government ambitions to improve the energy efficiency of the private rental sector are just “a pipedream” without financial assistance according to...
26 July 2021
From: Breaking News
02 July 2021
From: Breaking News
A new government-created committee is considering the introduction of the new Commonhold tenure. Commonhold is a form of freehold ownership, largely for...
20 May 2021
From: Breaking News
The private rental sector is in slow retreat according to a new analysis by Nationwide-owned specialist lender, The Mortgage Works. Nationwide chief...
05 May 2021
From: Breaking News
The government should use today's ‘Tax Day’ consultation process to reform Capital Gains Tax so that it encourages a smaller, high...
23 March 2021
From: Breaking News
A senior Anglican priest has stood up for renting as a concept, and suggests Britain is too pre-occupied with home ownership. Angela...
09 March 2021
From: Breaking News
The last year has been one which has focused attention on dealing with the immediate, the here and now, in a...
04 February 2021
From: Sponsored Content
It’s been revealed that in just one part of Scotland, renters have failed to claim back over £188,000 in deposits at...
25 January 2021
From: Breaking News
The government is establishing a Commonhold Council - a partnership of leasehold groups, industry and government - that will prepare landlords,...
08 January 2021
From: Breaking News
A survey of over 2,000 tenants by a specialist buy to let lender shows that contrary to the popular belief, most...
27 November 2020
From: Breaking News
The findings of a survey conducted with 2,000 tenants give an insight into what renters want now, eight months on from...
25 November 2020
From: Breaking News
Build To Rent, which has predominantly focussed on secondary sites in major city centres, is branching out to the suburbs. One of...
18 November 2020
From: Breaking News
The government has confirmed its long-standing intention to scrap Section 21 eviction powers which currently sit with landlords - but the appropriate...
12 November 2020
From: Breaking News
A trade body has told MPs the government must ensure work done to make homes energy efficient is ‘future-proofed’ to accept...
06 November 2020
From: Breaking News
Just under half of landlords say they intend to make energy efficiency improvements to properties as part of the government's Green Homes Grant...
29 October 2020
From: Breaking News
A prominent rental industry figure has backed Shelter’s sweeping condemnation of the lettings sector - but insists landlords are not to...
07 October 2020
From: Breaking News
Over two million homes in England - that’s almost one in 10 - do not have a working smoke alarm according...
05 October 2020
From: Breaking News
Buy-to-let landlords in England could learn a thing or two from the Scottish market as the eviction deadline approaches, according to...