Selective licensing could leave areas with rental accommodation shortfalls
As more and more councils in England introduce selective licensing for private rented sector landlords, legal experts are warning that such a ‘heavy handed’ approach councils could drive them to locate to other areas. Kirwans law firm says it has been contacted by landlords with properties affected by selective licensing laws who have been ‘utterly […]
Nothing For The Buy To Let Landlord In Autumn Budget
In an Autumn Budget much anticipated by the property industry, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Philip Hammond has given very little in the way of help. The hoped-for announcements of waiving Capital Gains Tax for landlords who sell to first time buyer tenants, and also tax breaks and incentives for landlords who offer longer-term tenancies […]
Would banning ‘No DSS’ rental ads help low-income tenants find homes — or add to the confusion?
When private landlords like me say in rental ads that we won’t accept tenants on benefits, it must seem mean or offensive. It probably looks like we’re saying to the many people who rely on benefits to survive that they’re not good enough to live in our properties. Now homelessness charity Shelter is claiming we […]
Tenants one step closer to being able to sue landlords over conditions
Tenants are now a step closer to being able to sue landlords if they do not properly maintain their properties. The Commons has passed a measure requiring homes in the private and social rented sector to be fit for human habitation and enabling tenants to take legal action if basic standards are not met. Labour […]
How Wales deals with criminal landlords (clue: it’s not the same as England)
This week’s news highlighted the gaping loopholes in English law that allow criminal ‘rogue’ landlords to continue to operate even after being banned. Most of the coverage lumped England and Wales together – leading to much tweeting and use of the #thatsdevolved hashtag – and ignored the progress that we’ve made towards professionalising the Welsh […]
One in three landlords raised rents in September
A third of landlords have increased rents although two thirds say they are willing to ease their demands to keep hold of reliable tenants, research shows. According to research from Arla Propertymark, 31% of landlords surveyed increased rents to tenants in September. While the figure was a noticeable drop from the 40% reported in August, […]
Government U-turn on rogue landlord database
The government is yet to put a time frame on making its ‘rogue landlord’ database accessible to tenants – after being exposed as empty since a launch in April. Related revelations have also pushed politicians toward a review of the legislation designed to police the private rented sector. Though the announcement on the database came […]
Rented homes are urgently required, so why are landlords ‘underappreciated’?
Private landlords provide a vital service for people looking for housing, and that is why the government is wrong to persecute those who invest in the buy-to-let sector, according to haart. A growing number of people are opting to rent as a lifestyle option, with most tenants satisfied with their existing landlord, which is why […]
Landlord remortgaging activity hits all-time high
There’s been plenty of good news hitting the buy-to-let (BTL) market recently. Not only has the value of landlords’ investment property hit a record high, but figures from Moneyfacts.co.uk revealed that the average rate for a five-year BTL mortgage has fallen to the lowest on record, so it may come as little surprise to learn […]
Banned but still in business: law fails to stop rogue landlords
Barred operators with housing convictions still renting out properties, Guardian and ITV News investigation finds. Convicted landlords who have been ruled unfit to rent out their properties are continuing to operate by exploiting loopholes in the law that is supposed to protect the most vulnerable tenants. The rogue owners are collecting rents – often funded […]