The government has launched a public consultation on a radical new UK home energy rating system to replace the long-standing Standard Assessment Procedure or SAP rating. SAP is the government’s current system for assessing and comparing the energy performance of homes.  It is used in building regulations, to ensure new homes are energy efficient and low carbon and is used to generate Energy Performance Certificates, which have become increasingly controversial… Continue Reading Home Energy Rating System Consultation

Propertymark has expressed its anger at the Chancellor stamp duty hike on additional homes from 3% to 5%. The measure took effect at midnight.  Angharad Truman, ARLA Propertymark President, says: “We continue to see a growing disparity in the number of private rented homes available against a backdrop of increasing demand from tenants. Therefore, it is disappointing to see that the UK Government did not address this fundamental issue in… Continue Reading Stamp Duty Hike For Buy To Lets

A prominent lettings agency director says the government needs to realise that higher taxes for landlords mean higher rents for hard-pressed tenants. Greg Tsuman, lettings agency director at Martyn Gerrard Estate Agents, spoke out following the rise in stamp duty on additional homes from 3% to 5%. This was announced in yesterday’s Budget and took effect from midnight. Tsuman says: “The government needs to join the dots – more taxes… Continue Reading Lettings Agency Director Warns Of Landlord Exodus

Over a third of all properties listed for sale currently have an EPC rating below C, climbing to 46% in some major cities. Labour has already pledged that all privately rented properties must hold an EPC rating of C or above by 2030. For those landlords who currently don’t meet this criteria, it’s estimated that the average cost of bringing a rental property up to standard in England currently stands… Continue Reading Properties Listed For Sale Miss New EPC Targets

Benefits landlord Mick Roberts is losing patience with MPs whose continued anti-landlord policies have only made more people homeless and increased rents. The Nottingham-based landlord believes that despite initiatives claiming to help tenants, instead they simply cause harm – and the latest changes in the Renters’ Rights Bill, legislating that landlords can only increase rents using Section 13 once a year, could be the final straw. Roberts has agreed informal… Continue Reading Anti-Landlord Policies Will Hurt Benefits Tenants

A group of student accommodation landlords have warned the Government that its plans to dispense with fixed-term tenancies and move to open ended ones will lead to fewer providers and homes within this market. The Student Accredited Private Rental Sector (SAPRS) organisation, which wants to raise standards in the ‘shared house’ student accommodation sector -typically used by second and third-year students- has made the comments ahead of today’s Committee Stage… Continue Reading Student Accommodation Landlords Warn Labour

Landlords and businesses are rushing to transfer and liquidate assets ahead of a potential Capital Gains Tax hike in next week’s budget. Property law firm Thackray Williams has seen a surge in demand over the last couple of months from landlords and businesses, with a more than 200% increase in enquiries from those looking for tax advice, especially around transferring assets out of their names to take advantage of the… Continue Reading Landlords And Businesses Rushing To Liquidate Assets

Rent Your House to the Council – A Guide by Central Housing Group in London To rent your house to the council is an increasingly popular choice for landlords seeking a steady, hassle-free income while making a positive impact on their communities. Central Housing Group, a trusted name in London’s property rental market, specialises in helping landlords navigate this process seamlessly. With the city’s ever-growing demand for affordable and temporary… Continue Reading How to Rent Your House to the Council

The Tribunal system is at risk of being overrun when the Renters Rights Bill becomes law, it’s been claimed. Between 2019 and 2023, the number of fair or market rent cases before England’s Residential Property Tribunals increased by almost 89%, from 483 to 921. These cases arise when tenants challenge a Section 13 rent notice. Once the Renters’ Rights Bill becomes law, Section 13 will be the only method landlords… Continue Reading Tribunal System Overrun By Renters Rights Bill

Claims by politicians and activists that most former rental properties become homes for first time buyers are not borne out by new research. Hamptons, which has some 90 branches across the UK, says its data shows that only a third of former rental properties are snapped up by first time buyers while 18% are bought by another landlord, the rest (47%) going to existing owner-occupiers or ‘movers’. The percentage of… Continue Reading Former Rental Properties Not Bought By First Time Buyers

Ben Beadle, the Chief Executive of the NRLA, has told LandlordZONE that abolishing Section 21 evictions might sound noble, but it’s not the silver bullet to solve the homelessness crisis, as many campaigning groups and MPs often claim. During the recent Renters’ Rights Bill second reading in parliament last week, many if not all Labour MPs who spoke during the debate repeated their belief that Section 21 evictions are the… Continue Reading Abolishing Section 21 Evictions Won’t Stop Homelessness

Aviva is warning that it’s seen a 7% increase in customer claims over the past year for fire risks of tenants started by lithium-ion batteries, commonly found in rechargeable devices like e-bikes, and e-scooters. The data, which looks at claims of fire risks of tenants across 2022 and 2023, includes a significant house fire started by an e-cigarette being charged with an incompatible charger, extensive fire damage to a house… Continue Reading Fire Risks Of Tenants Using Rechargeable Batteries

The Law Society President is concerned an underfunded justice system will hinder progress made in strengthening renters’ rights. Law Society President, Nick Emmerson, has welcomed Labour’s renting reforms, but sounds a warning: chronic underfunding of the courts could mean huge delays for both landlords and tenants during evictions will undermine its aims. “While abolishing ‘no-fault’ evictions is a critical step in bolstering protections for renters,” he says, “and we are… Continue Reading Underfunded Justice System Will Hinder Renters’ Rights

Marc von Grundherr of Benham and Reeves accuses the Government of risking doomsday in the private rental market with the Renters’ Rights Bill. Leading letting agent Marc von Grundherr has warned that the Renters’ Rights Bill will bring “doomsday” to the private rental market and be bad for renters, landlords and agents. Speaking on the day the bill received its second reading in Parliament, von Grundherr said the bill will… Continue Reading Doomsday In The Private Rental Market

Kemi Badenoch, who is the odds-on favourite to become the Conservative party leader, warns the Renters’ Rights Bill will cause chaos in the PRS. Conservative leadership frontrunner Kemi Badenoch has accused the Government of “breaking” the private rental market (PRS) with its Renters’ Rights Bill, which was debated by MPs for the first time yesterday. Badenoch, who is the Shadow Housing Secretary, says the Bill will cause chaos in the… Continue Reading Chaos In The PRS Accuses Tory Leadership

Kemi Badenoch, who is the odds-on favourite to become the Conservative party leader, warns the Renters’ Rights Bill will cause chaos in the private rental sector. Conservative leadership frontrunner Kemi Badenoch has accused the Government of “breaking” the private rental market (PRS) with its Renters’ Rights Bill, which was debated by MPs for the first time yesterday. Badenoch, who is the Shadow Housing Secretary, says the Renters’ Rights Bill will… Continue Reading Renters’ Rights Bill Will Cause Chaos In PRS

Ed Miliband is willing to risk a fight with landlords to meet EPC C targets, according to The Times. In a speech at the Labour party conference, Ed Miliband says landlords must provide decent standards for private rented homes including reaching EPC C targets by 2030. The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero has announced that it will soon hold a consultation on proposals aimed at helping landlords meet… Continue Reading Meet EPC C Targets Miliband Tells Landlords

Landlords have criticised the Government’s plan to raise the minimum period of rent arrears from two to three months before they can be served notice to repossess. So says the National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA) which points out that ministers should be doing more to prevent tenants building up rent debt, not allowing them to get bigger. The new more generous rent arrears rules are within the Renters’ Rights Bill… Continue Reading Minimum Period Of Rent Arrears Slammed

One leading landlord organisation is warning that older properties without EPC exemptions could see half of the private rented sector’s homes disappearing from the market. In an exclusive interview with Property118, the chief executive of iHowz, Peter Littlewood says “EPCs are a blunt instrument” when it comes to rating energy efficiency and makes it almost impossible for older properties to reach EPC exemptions. Peter emphasises that the government needs to… Continue Reading EPC Exemptions Drive Properties From Rental Market