HMRC figures reveal landlords and sole traders’ lack of knowledge about tax rule changes, says Josh Toovey of IPSE. Three-quarters of landlords and sole traders who should have signed up to the Government’s new digital tax system failed to do so by its launch this month, revealing a widespread lack of awareness as the new rules come into force. From 6th April, those earning more than £50,000 in the 2024… Continue Reading Three-quarters of landlords miss digital tax sign-up deadline

David Smith, Property Litigation Partner at Spector Constant & Williams, warns funding will not fix chronic shortages of experienced enforcement officers. The Government’s £60million funding package for councils will not be enough to ensure effective enforcement of new rules under the Renters’ Rights Act, a leading property litigation lawyer has warned. David Smith (pictured), Property Litigation Partner at Spector Constant & Williams, says the challenges facing local authorities are about more… Continue Reading Rental rules can’t be enforced with £60m, claims leading lawyer

The Government is considering giving local authorities additional powers to help strengthen council tax rules, according to Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook. Labour is reviewing rules that allow second homeowners to avoid paying council tax by reclassifying their properties as holiday lets and moving them into the business rates system, with pressure mounting to close the loophole. Under the current rules, owners can qualify for small business rates relief by letting… Continue Reading Second homes tax loophole may be closed

The coalition of investors, retirees and freeholders, is calling on the Government not go ahead with the existing leasehold reforms. A new group of investors have come together to challenge leasehold reform, and fight for a share of the “billions” that will be lost as a result of the changes. The coalition of investors, retirees, and freeholders, has launched a campaign called Justice for Property Rights, which is calling on… Continue Reading Investors seek share of ‘£30bn’ leasehold reform losses

The number of households in England is projected to rise by 17% to 27.6 million by 2040 causing significant demographic change. This would intensify pressure on an already stretched housing market, according to new research by multi-disciplinary development consultancy Marrons. The findings highlight a growing imbalance between supply and demand, with more than 1.3 million households on local authority housing registers in 2025 and more than 320,600 social homes projected to… Continue Reading England faces historic housing shortfall – households set to surge 17% by 2040

One of the leading legal experts on the Private Rental Sector has suggested extra cash given to councils for enforcement may not make a significant difference. The government is giving an extra £41.12m in new funding following an initial £18.2m given to councils last year. The high profile announcement was made by the government yesterday, less than a month before the local elections and the start of the Renters Rights Act. But David Smith, property litigation… Continue Reading Renters Rights Act enforcement stretched despite extra cash

Existing rent in advance agreements can continue beyond May’s rule changes, but only under certain conditions, according to property lawyer David Smith. Landlords who wish to continue charging rent in advance after the Renters’ Rights Act comes into force on 1st May will be able to do so, but only if the tenancy agreements are clearly and correctly worded, a leading property lawyer has warned. David Smith (pictured), Partner at… Continue Reading Rent in advance agreements can continue after May, but not all

Agents expect a sharp drop in buy-to-let investors as regulation and uncertainty reshape the rental market, says Iamproperty’s Ben Ridgway. Letting agents expect a 71% reduction in buy-to-let investors this year, which will reduce available stock and weaken a key source of portfolio growth, according to a study from Iamproperty. The proptech firm interviewed more than 320 agents who said it was forcing a shift away from landlord-led expansion towards… Continue Reading Letting agencies rethink strategies as landlord exodus accelerates

Rightmove’s Colleen Babcock says the average bill for first-time buyers tops £4.6k extra a year after a temporary Stamp Duty relief period ended. Rightmove is calling on the Government to reform Stamp Duty rules after it revealed first-time buyers are now paying an extra £4,600 since the temporary relief ended a year ago. The Government has collected an estimated £307million extra in the tax from households in England, averaging £4,618… Continue Reading Rightmove calls for Stamp Duty changes after first-time buyer hike

Charities and pressure groups sound the alarm over 65% increase in no-fault eviction cases ahead of May ban. A growing number of landlords are pushing through no-fault evictions in the final weeks before the law changes, with both tenant groups and charities warning of a significant last-minute surge in activity. Renters’ union Acorn told the Guardian that no-fault evictions have risen from one in five of the reports it received… Continue Reading Last-minute surge in evictions as law change looms

Labour’s flagship housing policy could collapse “like a house of cards” if courts overturn legislation, warns property legal expert James Carpenter. Leasehold reform is one of Labour’s key housing policies, but it is now facing an uncertain future after landowners secured the right to appeal the legislation that underpins the Government’s plans. The reforms rely heavily on the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act (LAFRA), which is designed to make it… Continue Reading Legal challenge threatens serious setback to leasehold reforms

Most landlords who fall victim to fraud by renters are unable to retrieve the financial losses, according to LegalforLandlords. Tenancy fraud is hitting landlords hard, with 70% unable to retrieve the resulting financial losses, according to a leading evictions expert. Around 275,000 property owners have been victims of illegal activity by tenants, LegalforLandlords estimates. This figure is around 5% of the total number, and is costing landlords an estimated £380million… Continue Reading Tenancy fraud hitting landlords hard, leading law firm warns

RICS’s Tarrant Parsons says a positive feeling in the housing market has been hit by war in the Middle East, and the outlook is now flat. The housing market ‘has taken a knock’, which has hit confidence and removed the optimism felt at the start of the year, surveyors say. The latest survey results by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) point to weakened demand and sales in March. House prices… Continue Reading Property market ‘takes a knock’, RICS reports

Redress scheme chief Sean Hooker advises agents to serve the new Information Sheet on the Renters’ Rights Act. Confusion over a new mandatory tenant information sheet could result in landlords and letting agents being fined up to £7,000, a property ombudsman has warned. Sean Hooker (pictured), Head of Redress at Property Redress, says property owners and agents must be clear who is responsible for issuing the document to renters. The… Continue Reading Agents and landlords warned Information Sheet confusion could result in £7K fines

Initiative is timed to help renters defend their rights once the Renters Rights’ Bill goes live on May 1 and comes with a poll suggesting 75% of tenants in London support rent controls. Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has launched a £400,000 ‘enforcement fund’ to support renters ahead of the Renters’ Rights Bill going live on May 1 alongside a poll that suggests 75% of renters in the capital support… Continue Reading Mayor reveals £400K to help tenants “hold letting agents to account”

Many let-only landlords think they can cope with Making Tax Digital’s red tape and tech but others are scared, and agents need to help says leading figure. It’s easy to assume that the biggest concern for landlords right now is the Renters’ Rights Act. In many conversations, that’s definitely the case. But recently, I was reminded that for some landlords, a different piece of legislation is causing far more immediate… Continue Reading BLOG: Some landlords are really worried about Making Tax Digital

ALEP’s Mark Chick says ministers must be transparent about their plans, and ensure changes to leasehold and commonhold law will work. The Government is being warned the ‘devil is in the detail’ as it attempts to overhaul leasehold and commonhold law. Leasehold experts say recent legislation contains “flaws”, and there is a danger that a new law will fall into the same trap. The Draft Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill… Continue Reading Government warned not to repeat mistakes on leasehold reform

Delays in the court system undermine the private rented sector, says agents’ body Propertymark. It claims figures from a range of sources show what it calls “significant waits” at every stage of the possession process.  In some cases, delays are leading to substantial financial losses, with reports suggesting landlords can lose thousands of pounds while waiting for hearings and enforcement. The body says this mirrors its own evidence that the… Continue Reading Starmer must deliver four reforms to cut possession delays – Propertymark

Industry figures said the Government must have a ‘laser focus’ on housebuilding after it announced plans to build seven new towns. The Government must have a ‘laser focus’ if it is going to succeed with its housebuilding target, leading industry figures have warned. They have called on ministers to create the right conditions to build large numbers of new homes. The Government has pledged to build 1.5 million homes before… Continue Reading Government needs ‘laser focus’ to meet housebuilding target, industry figures warn

Speaking on Radio 4’s Today programme, the housing and planning minister Matthew Pennycook confirmed that the number of proposed sites has been reduced. Plans for five new towns have been ditched with only three ‘breaking ground’ before the end of this Parliament, a Government minister has confirmed. Speaking on Radio 4’s Today programme, the housing and planning minister Matthew Pennycook confirmed that the number of proposed sites has been reduced… Continue Reading Plans for five new towns are ditched, Minister confirms