Housing Ministry launches biggest private rented sector survey for a decade
Click here to view the original article ‘Housing Ministry launches biggest private rented sector survey for a decade’ Landlords and letting agents working in the private rented sector in England are being asked to give their views in what is being described as the most comprehensive survey of the sector for a decade. The […]
Rogue landlords taken to court should face minimum £30,000 fines
Click here to view the original article ‘Rogue landlords taken to court should face minimum £30,000 fines’ Latest figures from the English Housing Survey show that more than a quarter (27 per cent) of privately rented homes failed to meet the decent homes standard in 2016. Eight per cent of properties also had some […]
Green Deal reform proposal ‘will not work’
Click here to view the original article ‘Green Deal reform proposal ‘will not work’’ A government proposal to cap landlord contributions towards retrofitting domestic properties at £2,500 per home is flawed, a leading sustainability policy adviser has warned. Next month, the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) come into force, and will require privately rented […]
More ‘fake’ landlords pilfer agents’ marketing photos
Click here to view the original article ‘More ‘fake’ landlords pilfer agents’ marketing photos’ A would-be fraudster posing as a landlord has been using a letting agent’s photos to advertise a property they do not own. The case sounds very similar case to the one reported by EYE earlier this month, which saw an […]
Crooked landlords & agents already pocket over £0.75m in 2018
Click here to view the original article ‘Crooked landlords & agents already pocket over £0.75m in 2018’ The cash value of tenancy deposits crooked landlords and letting agents have been convicted of pocketing in 2018 has already passed £750,000 – a level only surpassed in October in 2017. Deposit free renting firm Dlighted last […]
Landlords who say ‘no DSS’ breaking equality laws
Click here to view the original article ‘Landlords who say ‘no DSS’ breaking equality laws’ The thousands of lettings agents and landlords around the country who reject housing benefit claimants could be flouting equality laws, due a recent legal case. The widespread practice has led to “no-go zones” for those on lower incomes – […]
Trading Standards: ‘We will not have resources to enforce fees ban unless penalties are far higher’
Click here to view the original article ‘Trading Standards: ‘We will not have resources to enforce fees ban unless penalties are far higher’’ Council and trading standards officials have told MPs that penalties for letting agents and landlords flouting the planned tenants’ fees ban should be higher. Officials said they wanted rogue landlords and […]
Council’s use of selective licensing to force new controls on landlord ‘illegal’, court rules
Click here to view the original article ‘Council’s use of selective licensing to force new controls on landlord ‘illegal’, court rules’ Councils cannot use selective licensing conditions to impose new standards on private rented homes, the Court of Appeal has ruled. The ruling comes following a case involving Paul Brown, a landlord in Accrington, […]
Selective licensing is a minefield of regulation
Click here to view the original article ‘Selective licensing is a minefield of regulation’ In 2006, selective licensing was introduced, giving councils the power to force landlords to clean up their acts. These licenses allow the local authorities to check if the landlord’s properties are up to scratch and if they are managing the […]
BBC Panorama to investigate Section 21 ‘no-fault evictions’ tonight
Click here to view the original article ‘BBC Panorama to investigate Section 21 ‘no-fault evictions’ tonight’ The BBC current affairs show Panorama is set to examine Section 21 notices – so-called ‘no-fault evictions’ – tonight, and debate whether tenants deserve more protection. The programme, called Evicted for No Reason, is at 8.30pm on BBC […]