25th Nov 2024

Half of councils don't take action against bad landlords

Over half of councils in England and Wales have taken no court action against bad landlords in five years, Renters Reform Coalition research shows. Councils make one prosecution for every 335 complaints from concerned tenants, suggesting that only the very worst are prosecuted. Since the introduction... more

25th Nov 2024

Up They Go: Buy to let yields continue upwards momentum, new data reveals

Yields achieved by landlords increased in the third quarter of the year, continuing their strong performance from mid-2022, data from buy-to-let mortgage specialist Paragon Bank has revealed. Based on mortgage offer data for buy-to-let purchase and remortgage, the average yield hit 6.72% in September,... more

18th Nov 2024

Council unveils "collaborative approach" to work with private landlords

Great Yarmouth council wants landlords to attend a forum and witness its “collaborative approach” to renting. Councillor Paul Wells, Great Yarmouth Borough Council’s portfolio holder for Environment and Sustainability, Licensing and Waste, says: ”We want to provide a really... more

13th Nov 2024

Making identity proofing easier, cheaper and more secure

The Data (Use and Access) Bill was introduced to Parliament on 23 October 2024. It lays out the legal framework for Digital Verification Services (DVS) in the UK, which are long-awaited tools to speed up property purchases, reduce fraud and improve the experience of home buying and selling. The Bill... more

11th Nov 2024

Labour pledges stricter clampdown on Airbnb-style short lets

Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook says the government is considering a tighter clampdown on Airbnb-style short lets than that proposed by the last Conservative administration. The Tories said they would abolish the furnished holiday lets tax regime – which some see as giving a financial advantage... more

11th Nov 2024

The Rise of Corporate Landlords: Are We Heading Toward a Rent Monopoly?

There’s a new player in the UK’s private rented sector—one that’s threatening to fundamentally reshape the way tenants experience renting. As small landlords leave the market, driven out by crippling taxes and increasing regulations , corporate landlords are stepping in... more

6th Nov 2024

Most Facebook Marketplace rental listings appear to be scams - Generation Rent

The latest research by Generation Rent finds that 56% of rental listings on Facebook Marketplace were properties found to be lifted from other sites, including Booking.com and Rightmove, with variations in price, location or credibility that make it likely they are not legitimate. Comparing 300 rental... more