The reputations of ‘good landlords’ being ‘tarnished by the bad ones’, says LGA
Local councils are calling on the government to close a legal loophole that allows landlords to get away with converting properties into multiple tiny units which are marketed as self-contained flats in order to secure the maximum level of housing benefit payments which are paid on behalf of tenants direct to landlords. The Local Government […]
Two-third of landlords unaware of new energy efficiency rules
Around two-thirds of buy-to-let landlords lack awareness of new Minimum Energy Efficient Standards (MEES) that come into effect in April 2018, fresh research shows. The 2015 Energy Efficiency Regulations set out minimum energy efficiency standards for England and Wales. These regulations make it unlawful for landlords to grant a new lease for properties that have […]
‘Dangerous rogue landlord benefit scam’ costs taxpayer millions.
Council chiefs are calling on the Government to close a loophole in the law which enables rogue landlords to carry out a dangerous and costly housing benefit scam. The legal loophole allows landlords to convert properties into multiple tiny ‘units’. These ‘micro-conversions’ are marketed as self-contained flats, which helps the landlord to secure the maximum […]
New measures to tackle rogue landlords come into force
Councils are now able to impose heavy fines on rogue landlords as an alternative to prosecution, housing minister says. Gavin Barwell today announced local authorities would have the power to issue fines of up to £30,000 for a range of housing offences as part of a push to improve the private rental sector. First announced […]
Edinburgh set for new US-style rent control powers
RENT rises would be capped under calls for tight controls on landlords in the Capital once new laws come into force. Lothian has the highest inflation in private rents in Scotland, with rents for both one and two-bedroom properties in the region rocketing by more than 25 per cent over the past six years. Experts […]
Buy-to-let is becoming a ‘less attractive investment for landlords’, says ARLA
The past year has been a challenging time for landlords, following a raft of changes introduced by the government, prompting concern that it will be harder for a number of buy-to-let investors to make a profit from renting out property, leaving many with little alternative but to exit the sector, restricting the level of housing […]
Beware revenge evictions: Newcastle charity exposes the heartache faced by tenants
Citizens Advice highlight growing number of ‘revenge’ evictions that are happening in private properties in the city. The behaviour of private landlords in Newcastle has been laid bare by an investigation. Citizens Advice Newcastle has exposed how tenants are badly treated by landlords. And they are calling for anyone who has a problem to contact […]