Last-minute guide to S21 changes that start tomorrow
Property repair software company Fixflo has issued last-minute guidance for agents and landlords regarding the Section 21 which come into effect tomorrow 1st October. The guide has a checklist of the changes required, and the responsibilities of agents and landlords under the new legislation. As a result of the Deregulation Act and the controversies in […]
Why is business-friendly George Osborne punishing landlords and renting business?
By Richard Lambert of the National Landlords Association. The majority of landlords put their faith in the Conservative Party in May believing the Tories had a better understanding of private renting than the other parties. So when the chancellor announced restrictions on the tax relief on buy to let mortgages, it came as a shock, […]
Councils want jail terms for rogue landlords and agents
A body representing over 370 local councils in England and Wales wants more powers to control the private rental sector, letting agents and landlords – and says magistrates should have the right to jail the worst offenders. The Local Government Association claims that all too often the sector has been, in its words, “ripping off […]
Landlords face delays from tenants on benefits
More than half of tenants say they have received late payment from their local council, often causing late payment to their landlords. Research from the National Landlords Association found that 52% of private sector tenants on housing benefit had received delayed payment from their council. This would represent around 3.3 million tenants across the UK. […]
NLA says new S21 rules “akin to a Laurel and Hardy sketch”
Landlords have hit out at a raft of new rules being introduced in just three weeks’ time. The Department of Communities and Local Government’s (DCLG) announced last week that new regulations will come into force on 1 October. The new rules include a new Section 21 form and an obligation on landlords to provide tenants […]
RLA takes “emotionally charged” Shelter to task
The Residential Landlords’ Association has taken Shelter to task for what it describes as “emotionally charged” media statements about alleged harassment of tenants in the private rental sector. Last week it was reported that Shelter claimed 125,000 tenants had suffered abusive behaviour from landlords in the past year, although the number of tenants cited as […]
Buy-to-let will become loss-making when rates rise
Landlords with standard buy-to-let properties will lose money when interest rates start rising, new research shows. This would be a double blow to landlords, following Chancellor George Osborne’s tax crackdown that could create a severe profits shock. The two measures combined could take the shine off buy-to-let as a long-term investment. Especially since so many […]