Propertymark has given strong support to the government’s “flexible and affordable” approach to the green policy agenda. Timothy Douglas, Head of Policy and Campaigns at Propertymark, says: “Property agents have been desperate for clarity from the UK Government on new green policy agenda for energy efficiency targets and now we know that the planned changes will be scrapped with no new targets for homeowners and landlords. “Propertymark continues to want… Continue Reading Green Policy Agenda EPC Relaxation

An agency has been fined by a London council for failing a property licensing it was managing. Gracechurch Property Services has been prosecuted by Enfield council over the breach. The property management and letting agency was convicted for managing a privately rented property that was required to be licensed under the council’s selective licensing scheme. Gracechurch Property Services received a £7,500 fine and was ordered to pay £1,299 in costs… Continue Reading Agency Fined For Failing Property Licensing

Fewer than one in five homeowners support the government’s gas boiler ban plans in new homes by 2025, with 83 per cent in favour of the delay announced this week.  First announced in 2019 the gas boiler ban had originally intended to phase out all gas boilers by 2025.  However, while the delay to the ban has been focussed around giving landlords and homeowners more time to make the change,… Continue Reading Gas Boiler Ban Delay – Few Backed Idea

A prominent housing industry supplier is urging agents and landlords to lobby MPs to suggest improvements to the Renters Reform Bill. Housing industry supplier PayProp UK says informed comments may bring about some last-minute changes if the Bill is enacted soon – or may influence its ongoing direction under a new government. As the Renters (Reform) Bill currently stands, it is viewed negatively by 62.1 per cent of respondents to… Continue Reading Housing Industry Supplier Urges Agents To Lobby MPs

The chief executive of Propertymark has reiterated his call for the government to make investment in buy to let attractive. Nathan Emerson says: “The growing disparity in the number of homes available to rent when compared with increased demand from prospective tenants is alarming and continues to widen from already worrying levels which is putting pressure on rents. “In turn, more and more tenants are falling into arrears as affordability… Continue Reading Make Investment In Buy To Let Attractive

The National Residential Landlords Association is urging the government to make clear how it will help courts tackle a growing backlog of possession cases. In an open letter, the National Residential Landlords Association sets out the need to tackle the delays of sometimes six months or more before landlords can take back possession of their rental property – particularly so with section 21 set to be abolished in the Renters’… Continue Reading National Residential Landlords Association Want Details

A new survey reveals that rental properties with a low EPC rating below C are already more difficult to sell to other landlords, despite uncertainty over when strict energy efficiency rules kick in. A survey for Foundation Home Loans reveals that 71 per cent of almost 1,000 landlords who responded said they were unlikely to buy a property which has an EPC rating of less than C – for portfolio… Continue Reading Low EPC Rating Homes Tough To Sell

A legal advice service for landlords and their agents says it’s identified several areas with particularly lengthy delays in finding court time for possession cases. Several factors have contributed to the backlog, including delays caused by the pandemic and funding cuts; and Legal4Landlords, a legal advice service for landlords, says the issue has been made worse because of fears about the Renters Reform Bill forcing landlords to leave the sector.… Continue Reading Legal Advice Service For Landlords Identifies Delays

Propertymark has fired a broadside at Labour saying it must provide agents with a proper court system to handle no-fault evictions. Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner – who is also shadow housing secretary – has told her party conference in Liverpool that if she came to office she would push through the ban on Section 21 evictions. This is also a key feature of the Conservatives’ Renters Reform Bill. A… Continue Reading No-Fault Evictions Must Not Kill Private Rental Sector

Labour’s new shadow Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Secretary, Angela Rayner, says she will put council housing at the heart of her reform agenda, in a bid to reduce demand in the private rental sector. Rayner has told the TUC Congress: “As a young single mum, it was a Labour government that levelled the playing field for me. When I most needed it, a council house gave me and my… Continue Reading Council Housing Will Cut Rental Demand

More people are struggling with their private rental payments according to a new government survey. The study, by the Office for National Statistics, does not differentiate directly between tenants and owner occupiers but among those currently paying rent or a mortgage, 45 per cent reported that their private rental payments or mortgage payments had gone up in the past six months. Among those who are currently paying rent or a… Continue Reading Tenants Struggling With Private Rental Payments

Private rental prices have continued to soar in Scotland according to DJ Alexander, the largest lettings agency in the country.  It says rental prices increased 5.7 per cent year on year to July 2023 – the highest figure since at least January 2012 and up from 3.9 per cent a year ago. It was in September 2022 that the controversial Cost of Loving (Tenant Protection) Bill became law. This capped… Continue Reading Private Rental Prices Continue To Soar

New directives issued by the government put the emphasis firmly on private landlords and their letting agents to take responsibility for issues of damp and mould in rental properties. The guidance puts private landlords and agents on a par with housing associations and councils in facing unlimited penalties if they ignore damp and mould in rental properties. Housing Secretary Michael Gove says: “Damp and mould in the home are not… Continue Reading Damp And Mould In Rental Properties

Propertymark is backing a call for financial help for landlords who make EPC improvements to the energy efficiency of their properties. The think tank E3G has written to the Treasury saying that one in four households in the private rental market is estimated to be in fuel poverty, and that there is a need for policies to incentivise landlords to make EPC improvements. The letter – signed by Coventry Building… Continue Reading Agents Demand Incentives For EPC Improvements

Propertymark is pressing Housing Secretary Michael Gove to adopt a housing court system to solve the problem of abandoned tenancy. The agents trade body has released a statement this week saying that it’s written to Gove – in a joint approach with other property organisations – highlighting serious concerns over “the lack of clear legislation, support and resolution for when landlords find themselves dealing with an abandoned tenancy.” The letter… Continue Reading Abandoned Tenancy Court Solution

Financial support from family members – not just parents – is expected to help fund 318,400 property purchases in 2023, according to Legal & General. In joint research with the Centre for Economics and Business Research (Cebr), the figure is the highest number of property purchases family gifting has ever supported since Legal & General began tracking family lending in 2016. In previous years Legal & General has logged this… Continue Reading Property Purchases Helped By Family Members

Law firm Brevis Law is shedding light on the difficulties agents and landlords have in meeting Right To Rent requirements in the light of new fines introduced by the government. The government is set to triple fines for employers and agents and landlords who are seen as contributing to the factors attracting migrants to enter and stay in the country illegally. This major shift in civil penalties is being hailed… Continue Reading Right To Rent Requirements Difficulties

The Select Committee that shadows the work of Michael Gove’s Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities is complaining that its report into rental sector reform appears to have been ignored. The Levelling Up, Housing and Communities says that it is a well-established convention that government departments should respond to select committee reports within two months. Although a longer delay may be permissible in some circumstances, the committee claims “it… Continue Reading Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Questions Unanswered

A property investment group has released its latest research on the top 5 tenant must have property features that UK renters look for. Redmayne Smith says the top 5 tenant must have property features were firstly Parking; secondly Fully Furnished accommodation; thirdly a Balcony; fourthly Proximity to a Good School; and finally Bills included. Rental flats with parking included came out as the number one priority for prospective tenants in… Continue Reading Top 5 Tenant Must Have Property Features

Propertymark, together with Gas Safe Register, has produced top tips to be passed by agents to landlords and tenants as part of this week’s Gas Safety Week Initiative. This year, Gas Safety Week focuses on celebrating the breadth and diversity of gas engineers and the essential role they play in keeping the nation gas safe. As well as reminding the public, about gas safety and tips to ensure they stay… Continue Reading Gas Safety Week Initiative Top Tips