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KEYWORD "Councils" - 100 RESULTS
Call for “sentencing guidelines” to punish landlords over licensing

A charity is calling for landlord licensing schemes which cost enough to fund annual inspections, and the issuing of “sentencing guidelines”...

28 March 2024

From: Breaking News

Politicians propose State Control of private rents in Scotland

The Scottish Government’s Housing Bill allows SNP and Green politicians to create rent control areas, triggered by local authorities, and this...

28 March 2024

From: Breaking News

Councils set to grab over half a billion from higher tax

Changes to empty home council tax rates could generate an additional £540m from Monday, a lettings agency claims. Since April 2013, billing...

27 March 2024

From: Breaking News

Councils combine to take rogue HMO landlord to court

A landlord referred to only as ‘Mr Gurung’ has been named by two councils as being penalised £3,000 for an overcrowded...

25 March 2024

From: Breaking News

Landlord Tax Changes - how the government has got it wrong

The chief executive of a short lets service says Chancellor Jeremy Hunt is wrong to think penalising landlords will help solve...

11 March 2024

From: Breaking News

Estate agents back Airbnb clampdown “to be on same terms as rental sector”

Agents’ trade body Propertymark has called for equal parity between short-term lets and the private rented sector to ensure they meet...

08 March 2024

From: Breaking News

Radical reforms to rejuvenate renting, by industry commentator

A property industry commentator has set out what he calls a plan of action to rejuvenate the buy to let sector. Jonathan...

05 March 2024

From: Breaking News

Supporters of council selective licensing start rearguard action

Supporters of council selective licensing start rearguard action  Some of those involved in local councils have started a campaign to save selective...

01 March 2024

From: Breaking News

Landlords urge speedy action on compromise Renters Reform Bill

The National Residential Landlords Association says it wants a speedy implementation of the Renters Reform Bill to avoid uncertainty - and...

29 February 2024

From: Breaking News

Renters Reform Bill compromise 'near' but activists re-ignite arguments

Generation Rent has issued an angry statement about amendments to the Renters Reform Bill - just as one MP says agreement...

29 February 2024

From: Breaking News

New attack on Airbnb landlords - possible charge for bin collections

Media outlets in Scotland are reporting that Edinburgh council is considering charging short let landlords for bin collections. The plans are to be...

28 February 2024

From: Breaking News

Short Lets Crackdown - Labour council worry over brothels and parties

Government proposals on limiting short lets "fall a long way short of what's needed and will do nothing to put right...

28 February 2024

From: Breaking News

Councillors make ‘breakthrough’ proposal for improving rental EPCs

SNP councillors in Scotland have come up with an innovative suggestion to improve energy efficiency in private rental properties. They want councils...

27 February 2024

From: Breaking News

Tenants advised to check their shared rental is licensed HMO

A council is reminding prospective tenants about the importance of making sure their next shared rental is licensed as a house...

27 February 2024

From: Breaking News

Labour’s Rayner defends buying her council house at a discount

Labour deputy leader and shadow housing secretary Angela Rayner says she is not ashamed to have brought her council house at...

26 February 2024

From: Breaking News

Countryside campaigners back Gove on short lets clampdown

Countryside campaigning charity CPRE has given a warm welcome to Michael Gove’s clampdown on short lets. Last week Housing Secretary Gove announced...

26 February 2024

From: Breaking News

Easing tax on landlords would end Airbnb ‘problem’ says NRLA boss

Reversing the tax penalties imposed on buy to let landlords in recent years would reduce the impact of short lets on...

23 February 2024

From: Breaking News

Labour MP slams Airbnb clampdown as “not going nearly far enough”

A Labour MP who has campaigned for some years against short let landlords says proposals to crack down on the sector...

21 February 2024

From: Breaking News

Activists slam Gove for being too soft on short let landlords

Housing Secretary Michael Gove’s proposals to restrict Airbnb-style short lets do not go far enough, a group of activists has said. Yesterday...

20 February 2024

From: Breaking News

Tory council chief backs Gove’s clampdown on short let landlords

The Conservative leader of a council which claims it has had problems with Airbnbs and short lets has given wholehearted backing...

20 February 2024

From: Breaking News

Clampdown on Airbnb and other short lets revealed by Michael Gove

Housing Secretary Michael Gove has this morning announced wholesale changes to planning and regulations surrounding short lets. His proposals include: - planning permission...

19 February 2024

From: Breaking News

Airbnb backs Gove’s mandatory short lets landlord register

Airbnb has given its backing to a proposal from Housing Secretary Michael Gove to introduce a mandatory register of short let...

19 February 2024

From: Breaking News

Generation Rent activists link Brownfield Homes with Section 21

Generation Rent has given a qualified thumbs up to Housing Secretary Michael Gove’s ideas for homes on brownfield land. This week Gove...

15 February 2024

From: Breaking News

Record number of new rental licensing schemes set for 2024

A survey of local council private rental licensing schemes says 19 selective and additional licensing schemes and consultations will be taking...

13 February 2024

From: Breaking News

Labour claims link between Section 21 and homelessness

Labour says there’s a link between Section 21 powers granted to landlords and what it claims is a total of 4,400...

02 February 2024

From: Breaking News

Generation Rent wades into issue of visas for fleeing Ukrainians

The Generation Rent activist group says the government must “make it clear that landlords and letting agents can let homes to...

01 February 2024

From: Breaking News

MPs want landlord experiences of disabled people in rental sector

The all-party Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Committee of MPs is looking into housing for disabled people.  It’s considering how the government, local...

30 January 2024

From: Breaking News

Huge rise in councils using bailiffs to recover unpaid rent

Some local authorities are quick to criticise private landlords for trying to avoid rent arrears but it appears councils themselves have...

24 January 2024

From: Breaking News

Amendments to Renters Reform Bill backed by senior industry figure

Amendments to the Renters Reform Bill, designed to give landlords more protection, have won the backing of a prominent industry figure. Neil Cobbold,...

23 January 2024

From: Breaking News

NRLA accepts S21 abolition but wants “pragmatic” amendments to Bill

The National Residential Landlords Association is urging MPs to back what it describes as “pragmatic” changes to the Renters Reform Bill...

19 January 2024

From: Breaking News

Housing Crisis Solved - parties, government, councils and BoE work together

A building society is calling upon politicians, government, the Bank of England and local councils and other bodies to cooperate on...

13 January 2024

From: The Big Issues

No new law planned for private landlords and mould

There is to be no comparable law for private landlords, following the introduction of Awaab’s Law. Earlier this week the Department of...

12 January 2024

From: Breaking News

Building Society warns it may stop lending on holiday lets

A building society says it is considering ending its policy of lending to buyers of holiday lets. Martese Carton, the director of...

09 January 2024

From: Breaking News

Has your tenant been told to wait for the bailiff to arrive?

The National Residential Landlords Association wants to show the government that some local councils still advise tenants served with a valid...

08 January 2024

From: Breaking News

Labour plan to give tenants a right to demand Property Checks

Labour’s Mayor of Greater Manchester and former Cabinet minister Andy Burnham says this year is when he will ”get serious” about...

05 January 2024

From: Breaking News

Warning to landlords and tenants over fake energy schemes

Letting agents’ trade body Propertymark has issued a warning to the rental sector about scams based on energy efficiency measures.  An increase...

05 January 2024

From: Breaking News

Emergency law demanded to regulate Airbnbs and Short Lets

A local authority is calling for emergency legislation to help it and other councils stop the spread of Airbnbs and other...

27 December 2023

From: Breaking News

Unknown Energy Costs could hurt tenants this winter

A lack of Energy Performance Certificate enforcement is putting tenants at risk from high energy costs or cold homes, according to...

23 December 2023

From: The Big Issues

Landlords intimidate tenants into not reporting faults, says Generation Rent

Christmas goodwill towards landlords seems in short supply from activist group Generation Rent.  It has this week issued a statement saying the...

21 December 2023

From: Breaking News

Gove slams council that boasts of clampdowns on private landlords

Michael Gove has written to 10 social housing providers - housing associations and councils - slamming them after findings of severe...

13 December 2023

From: Breaking News

Councils charge landlords thousands of pounds for “officer time”

Councils in Greater Manchester admit to charging landlords over £14,000 for “officer time” involved in licensing schemes. There are currently eight selective...

11 December 2023

From: Breaking News

Tax - Eight Reasons You Could Pay More in 2024

After the Autumn Statement unveiled a major tax cut for January, you’d be forgiven for thinking you’ll pay less tax in...

09 December 2023

From: Tax & Finance

Labour Mayor and Generation Rent buddy up for anti-mould campaign

London Labour Mayor Sadiq Khan and the leader of activist group Generation Rent have teamed up for an anti-damp and mouldy...

01 December 2023

From: Breaking News

Clampdown on Airbnb is diversion to hide government failures - claim

A trade body representing short lets operators has slammed government housing failures. The Short Term Accommodation Association says it’s analysed local authority...

27 November 2023

From: Breaking News

Hunt’s dramatic Local Housing Allowance move not enough for activists

Many have welcomed the move by Chancellor Jeremy Hunt to unfreeze the Local Housing Allowance - but some tenant activists say...

23 November 2023

From: Breaking News

Councils claim one-in-50 Londoners are now homeless

The rising cost of living - especially housing - remains the top issue on Londoners’ minds for the second year in...

22 November 2023

From: Breaking News

Sadiq Khan to buy 10,000 private homes to become social rent properties

London’s Labour mayor Sadiq Khan wants 10,000 private homes in the capital to be brought into the social rental sector within...

20 November 2023

From: Breaking News

Confiscate private homes from bad landlords says senior Labour MP

A senior Labour MP associated with the moderate wing of the party says private rental properties should be confiscated from serial...

17 November 2023

From: Breaking News

Government announces changes to Renters Reform Bill

Changes put forward to the Renters Reform Bill to crack down on rogue landlords, protect vulnerable residents and improve the safety of...

15 November 2023

From: Breaking News

Desperate plea for private landlords to help social housing shortfall

Help2Rent, a social housing platform that matches housing list tenants with available homes, has made a desperate plea to private landlords. An...

14 November 2023

From: Breaking News

London Renters at risk of homelessness without government action - claim

Almost 60,000 Londoners in the private rented sector are likely to become homeless over the next six years if the government...

10 November 2023

From: Breaking News

Will the Renters Reform Bill REALLY reduce homelessness?

Recent data from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities show that 24,260 households served a valid Section 21 notice...

04 November 2023

From: Rental Reform

Devastating impact of Renters Reform Bill revealed by legal expert

The Renters Reform Bill could end up with landlords going bankrupt, a housing law specialist is warning. Des Taylor, director of compliance...

26 October 2023

From: Breaking News

Council slammed for eviction blunder after   “Own goal” banning order

A council has been slammed for its “absolutely outrageous” failure to stop the eviction of up to 80 tenants - a...

12 October 2023

From: Breaking News

Nationalise private rental homes, demands new manifesto

A collection of pressure groups, fronted by Generation Rent, wants all private rental homes going on sale to be offered first...

06 October 2023

From: Breaking News

Vast numbers of homes lie empty despite demand for properties

New research shows that 676,000 homes in England are sitting empty. The research comes from property purchasing firm House Buyer Bureau which...

06 October 2023

From: Breaking News

Councils should buy landlords’ homes to ease housing crisis - new call

More councils should be encouraged to buy homes from landlords, an industry expert says. This follows reports last week which revealed that...

13 September 2023

From: Breaking News

Strict New Guidelines for landlords over Damp and Mould

New directives issued by the government put the emphasis firmly on private landlords to take responsibility for issues of damp and...

08 September 2023

From: Breaking News

Tenancy Agreement Clinic teach-in at free landlord and agent forum

Landlords and managing agents operating in South Warwickshire are being encouraged to take part in the next industry forum on Wednesday...

08 September 2023

From: Breaking News

Rent Controls Here To Stay says Scottish Government

The Scottish Government says rent controls - already existing as a so-called emergency measure - will become permanent. Scottish First Minister Humza...

07 September 2023

From: Breaking News

Generation Rent Petition calls for holiday lets to be licensed by councils

The Generation Rent campaign has launched a petition on its website to give councils power to license holiday lets.  The campaign claims...

01 September 2023

From: Breaking News

I Quit! Landlords exit the temporary accommodation sector

London local authorities say there’s been a surge in landlords withdrawing from the sector providing temporary accommodation for homeless households. A survey by the...

31 August 2023

From: Breaking News

Council to spend £17m of public funds on two licensing schemes

Bristol’s Labour-controlled council says it wants to spend some £17m of local council tax payers’ money on two new licensing schemes...

31 August 2023

From: Breaking News

Airbnb Regulation - Last-ditch bid to stop “laughing stock” rules

Trade bodies and short let landlords have made a last-ditch appeal to politicians to stop new rules which could see the...

29 August 2023

From: Breaking News

Landlord Banning Orders not used because of council cuts - claim

A website claims that Banning Orders on private landlords have not been served because of local government funding shortfalls. Open Democracy says...

24 August 2023

From: Breaking News

Higher Taxes for Second Homes - landlords urged to have a say

There are only a few days left for landlords to have input to a government consultation on council tax hikes for...

22 August 2023

From: Breaking News

Don’t cut corners on mandatory EICR reports - warning

Landlords are unwittingly exposing their tenants to the serious danger of fire because they opt for the cheaper option when hiring...

16 August 2023

From: Breaking News

MP blames Tories for spread of ‘scary’ HMOs

An MP says owner occupiers are “scared, unable to sleep at night, worried about their safety and even concerned about whether...

14 August 2023

From: Breaking News

Give councils cash to buy homes off private landlords - call

A group of local authorities is asking the government to give individual councils the cash to buy properties off private landlords. London...

09 August 2023

From: Breaking News

Short Lets Licensing - landlords have only two months to apply

Owners of short-term let properties are being urged to apply for a licence under Scotland’s short-term licensing scheme before the October...

03 August 2023

From: Breaking News

Airbnb refutes Sadiq Khan’s analysis of ‘out of control’ short lets

Airbnb has issued a statement responding to the call for a clampdown on short lets demanded by Labour’s outspoken London Mayor,...

01 August 2023

From: Breaking News

Council pays landlord fees and rent in bid to avert S21 eviction

Labour controlled Brent council in London has taken the possibly-unique step of paying a landlord’s legal fees and rent to avert...

27 July 2023

From: Breaking News

Sadiq Khan wants Airbnb and short-let licensing for London

London Mayor Sadiq Khan, who wants the government to give him the powers to impose rent controls, is now demanding licensing...

21 July 2023

From: Breaking News

HMRC to use Renters Reform Bill to hammer landlords - claim

A prominent accountant is warning that the upcoming Renters Reform Bill, when it becomes law, will be used by HMRC to...

18 July 2023

From: Breaking News

Letting agents ask landlords to help Afghan refugees

There have been several examples of local councils asking private landlords to help find accommodation for refugees - but now the...

18 July 2023

From: Breaking News

Labour councillor accuses landlords of ‘blighting city with rubbish’

A prominent Labour councillor in Liverpool has told the local media: “Parts of Liverpool are blighted by landlords who treat the...

14 July 2023

From: Breaking News

Airbnb regulation hugely unpopular - government consultation results

An attempt to introducing statutory licensing for Airbnbs and some other tourist accommodation has got a frosty reception. The Welsh Government -...

14 July 2023

From: Breaking News

Landlords hit with record licensing fines says PropTech firm

London landlords and letting agents have so far been hit with more than £900,000 in fines in the first half of...

10 July 2023

From: Breaking News

The NRLA Demands Change in the Private Rental Sector

Across the country landlords and renters are struggling as mortgage costs soar, tax hikes bite and uncertainty remains about the impact...

08 July 2023

From: Tax & Finance

Tax Shock - property firm wants landlords to pay even more

A long-standing and respected property firm has slammed the government for presiding over the “mess” of taxes applied to holiday lets...

07 July 2023

From: Breaking News

London’s private rental sector slashed - new figures

New research shows a 41 per cent reduction in the number of London properties available for private rent since the Covid-19...

05 July 2023

From: Breaking News

Labour plan to seize unsafe or poor homes from rogue landlords

The Labour Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, says he is demanding the powers to seize usage or poor quality homes...

28 June 2023

From: Breaking News

Larger lateral apartments tipped as good investment potential

A leading buying agent says changing planning priorities amongst London councils are likely to mean that large lateral apartments will maintain...

21 June 2023

From: Breaking News

Labour MP wants action against “Ill-intentioned...bad faith” landlords

A Labour MP has spoken of loopholes in the Renters Reform Bill - a narrative now being pursued by some activists...

21 June 2023

From: Breaking News

Courts embarrassing, slow and make odd decisions says top lawyer

An experienced property lawyer who has specialised in residential landlord and tenant law for 22 years says she is embarrassed at...

20 June 2023

From: Breaking News

Council Tax shows “relentless climb” says pressure group

Households are being hammered by higher council tax rates year after year with no sign of local authorities moderating the burden,...

15 June 2023

From: Breaking News

Unfair! Landlords say they’re wrongly portrayed by the media

Unsurprisingly an overwhelming 81 per cent of landlords in a survey feel they are badly portrayed by the media Landlords say they...

09 June 2023

From: Breaking News

Nationwide-funded group demands tougher Renters Reform Bill

The Nationwide Foundation - a charitable foundation founded by the Nationwide Building Society - says the Renters Reform Bill should be...

08 June 2023

From: Breaking News

Activists take aim at holiday home owners in tourist areas

The Generation Rent activist group claims holiday homes are eroding the supply of available properties in key tourist areas.  It claims 80...

06 June 2023

From: Breaking News

Tory MP wants “locals first” policy against short lets

A Tory MP representing a popular tourist area has attacked the proliferation of short lets, and wants a “locals first” policy...

26 May 2023

From: Breaking News

Activists back Labour Mayor’s demand for power to seize homes

The Generation Rent campaign has given its support to a call by London Mayor Sadiq Khan to be given powers to...

26 May 2023

From: Breaking News

Eco-activist wants Renters Reform Bill to be tougher on landlords

The co-leader of the Green Party wants the Renters Reform Bill to go further in restricting the powers of private landlords. Carla...

25 May 2023

From: Breaking News

Pilot study into Airbnb and second homes effect on communities

An area has been identified for a two-year study of the impact which second homes, Airbnbs, other holiday lets and empty...

25 May 2023

From: Breaking News

Labour Mayor wants powers to seize empty properties

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, wants new powers to impose higher tax on empty homes - and even seize them...

24 May 2023

From: Breaking News

Airbnb Clampdown - Labour MP steps up campaign against short lets

A Labour MP who wants a licensing system to be introduced for Airbnb-style short lets and holiday accommodation is holding a...

24 May 2023

From: Breaking News

Labour local politicians back Michael Gove’s Rental Reform Bill

The body representing local councils is backing the government’s Renters Reform Bill - even though Labour dominates most local authorities. Councillor Darren...

18 May 2023

From: Breaking News

Rental Reform - Phil Spencer demands radical simplification of regulations

TV property expert Phil Spencer has called for a radical simplification of the rules surrounding landlord licensing, fees and other regulations. In...

15 May 2023

From: Breaking News

Renters Reform Bill - 12 major policies it's likely to contain

Housing Secretary Michael Gove says the long-awaited Renters Reform Bill, first promised in 2019, will finally be introduced into Parliament next...

05 May 2023

From: Breaking News

Asylum Seekers in HMOs - government to slash red tape for landlords

The government is proposing to slash the regulations on HMOs used to house asylum seekers.  Part 2 of the Housing Act 2004...

02 May 2023

From: Breaking News

Local Elections: a chance to influence the future of the private rented sector

Next Thursday voters up and down the country will be casting their votes in a series of local elections which are...

29 April 2023

From: The Big Issues

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