Rental properties decline for first time in 18 years as landlords sell up
The latest Ministry of Housing report shows that almost 4,000 buy-to-let properties are being sold by landlords each month, resulting in the first recorded decline in the number of rental properties in 18 years. The figures show the number of privately rented homes in England fell by 46,000 to 4.79 million last year, the largest […]
Branch where 17 rental households have been given notice because landlords are selling up
Belvoir is calling for the Chancellor to introduce incentives in November’s Budget to encourage landlords to remain in the sector. It said that in one of its branches, 17 rental households have been given notice because the landlords want to sell up. The franchise network’s latest data on activity among its letting agents in the […]
4.8 million considering becoming a landlord in 2018
9% of UK adults have shown an interest in taking out a buy-to-let mortgage in 2018, meaning an extra 4.8 million people could become landlords in 2018, according to Sainsbury’s Bank research. Of those taking out or considering a buy-to-let mortgage, over a third (35%) said a change in income had inspired them to do […]
PRS hits back at Shelter and NHF campaign on housing benefit
ARLA Propertymark has responded to the launch of the campaign by National Housing Federation and Shelter against private landlords not letting to those on housing benefit. Sector leaders from the private rented sector have said landlords and letting agents not renting to those on benefits is not their fault. Responding as the Shelter and the […]
Revealed! The images that prompted one council to introduce landlord licensing
A Nottingham health inspector has lifted the lid on some of the worst examples of hazards he has seen in rental properties as selective licensing is introduced in the city. Steve Matthews, principal environmental health officer in Nottingham City Council’s safer housing team, has highlighted some of the worst instances in his two decades of […]
Lettings sector will return to growth – but maybe not until 2021…
A new analysis of the buy to let market forecasts more bad news for agents, landlords and investors over the next three years, before the market stabilises in 2021 and returns to growth in the following two years. The analysis undertaken for the Shawbrook Bank by the Centre for Economics and Business Research forecasts buy […]
A fifth of landlords intend to stay in buy-to-let for life
One in five individual and portfolio landlords intend to remain in the buy-to-let market indefinitely, according to research from Foundation Home Loans. Unperturbed by recent regulatory and tax changes paving the way for exit and indications of a ‘mass exodus’, 18% of landlords said they would expect to remain a landlord indefinitely, and 19% of […]
No-fault evictions making hundreds of families homeless each week
A law allowing landlords to throw out private tenants without giving a reason is exacerbating the crisis. Hundreds of families are being made homeless every week in “no-fault” evictions by landlords keen to cash in on rising property prices or put the rent up. Analysis of quarterly eviction and homelessness data by the pressure group […]
World first Airbnb sanction scheme aims to expose rogue landlords
Airbnb and short-let hosts will be able to apply for national accreditation as the industry attempts to stamp out unscrupulous landlords. Thought to be the first scheme of its kind anywhere in the world, it is being launched next month and is backed by the Government. The assessments will be voluntary and examine a property’s […]
New Electrical Regulation ‘can only be seen as a positive’
Landlords generally believe that many recent regulation changes have gone too far and want to see the government rethink the swathes of changes it has made to and still has planned for the private rented sector, in order to prevent a potential mass exodus of landlords from the market. But the government’s plans for the […]