Consumer organisation Which? claims there are some 1,000 reports of rental fraud scams a month at this time of year. It says the start of the academic year sees a scramble to secure accommodation from students making last-minute choices on iniversities and colleges.  Which? calculates that this leads to £2.7m lost as prospective tenants pay deposits or so-called viewing fees to fake landlords, often advertising on social media and then… Continue Reading Prospective tenants lose millions through rental scams

Average arrears rose from £1,802 to £2,597 last year which is a rise of 44% says deposit alternative firm Reposit. Rent arrears have increased significantly recently by 44% as tenants struggle for a variety of reasons to pay their rent, new data shows. Reposit has found that the average cash deposit during the last three months of last year was £1,228 and with those tenants in arrears typically owing £2,597,… Continue Reading Deposits firm reveals shock 44% jump in rent arrears

New government figures have revealed a net loss of 7,723 social homes in England last year, as Right To Buy sales and demolitions continue to surpass the number of homes built.  The figures show that 17,589 social homes were either sold or demolished last year in England, yet just 9,866 social homes were built – a net loss of 7,723 homes.  In the past ten years, there has been a… Continue Reading Right To Buy removes thousands of homes from housing stock

Concern is growing over the one-size-fits-all  government demand for energy efficiency improvements in the private rental sector.  Last week the government confirmed that all private rental properties must be EPC rates C or higher by 2030 with a cost cap of £15,000 for landlord spending on each property.  Now The Property Institute says the initiative does not address the issue of tall blocks of leasehold flats. Jaclyn Mangaroo of TPI… Continue Reading Concerns grow about Labour’s EPC private rental clampdown

As part of Electrical Safety Week this week, Propertymark is supporting this year’s campaign to raise awareness about the fire risks associated with white goods. Last year 1,140 accidental electrical fires involving common household white goods, such as tumble dryers and washing machines, occurred in areas across England – the equivalent of three fires per day. Propertymark stresses the important role that letting agents play in ensuring private rented homes… Continue Reading Fire risks in white goods in lettings properties – agents back awareness campaign

Propertymark says the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954 needs to be reframed to reflect current challenges like Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards for non-domestic property, It also needs to be updated to consider greater protections for tenants against unfair claims of upkeep in England and Wales.   When it was implemented, the 1954 Act aimed to provide security of tenure for tenants while addressing the right of landlords to manage their… Continue Reading Call to reform 60-year-old law surrounding commercial property

A Labour council is contacting its social housing tenants to report their repair problems to their landlord and not through lawyers. York council says the plea is being made because legal firms are allegedly targeting social housing tenants in the city – with one example leaving the renter almost £8,000 out of pocket. ‘No win, no fee’ legal firms press tenants to make claims against the council for failing to… Continue Reading Council warns social tenants not to use lawyers to chase repairs

The government’s latest English Housing Survey, giving a snapshot of the private rental sector in 2023, says the problem of mould and damp is growing. In 2023 some 5% of homes in England had a problem with damp, higher than in any of the last five years and this was more prevalent in the private rented sector (9%) compared to the social rented sector (7%) and owner-occupied sector (4%). The… Continue Reading Mould and damp a growing problem in private rental sector – figures

The latest edition of the English Housing Survey reveals precisely how relatively rarely Section 21 is used. Data from the survey analysed by Propertymark shows that in 2022-23, some 63% of private renters who had moved in the previous 12 months stated they ended their tenancy by choice. Job-related reasons were the most common driver, followed by wanting a larger property or to live in a better area. Only 9%… Continue Reading Section 21: Only small proportion of renters evicted, official data shows

Propertymark hopes the House of Lords can provide a last-minute reality check on the government’s flawed Renters Rights Bill. Second Reading of the Bill takes place in the Lords tomorrow – and if it’s not changed it will drive up rents insists Propertymark. In the House of Commons last month, amendments were tabled by the government including a limit on how much rent a landlord can request in advance with… Continue Reading 200 letters sent to Lords explaining Renters Rights Bill dangers

Data gathered by Propertymark suggests that 50% of surveyed property agents are specifically concerned about the Renters’ Rights Bill.  Overall, Propertymark believes change is needed in the sector and supports many of the greater protections that the Renters’ Rights Bill will provide renters with. However, there are specific areas of the proposed legislation that the industry body believes will have wider implications across the sector.   The professional body believes that… Continue Reading Half of agents worried about Renters Rights Bill – Propertymark

Over 250 letters and emails have been sent to Peers from Propertymark members with a series of so-called ‘sensible amendments’ to the Renters Rights Bill. This is ahead of the Bill going into the Lords’ Committee Stage in the coming week. Propertymark has been lobbying throughout the passage of the Bill as well as meeting ministers, MPs, UK government officials and more recently briefing members of the House of Lords.… Continue Reading Agents bombard politicians demanding changes to Renters Rights Bill