Two Letting Agents Banned by Property Ombudsman
The Property Ombudsman has booted two letting agents out of the redress scheme. Bower & Bower, based in Exeter, Devon, was expelled after the ombudsman found against the firm over complaints from two landlords. Both claimed the letting agent had failed to pass on...
How Much Are Students Paying to Rent?
Britain has five university cities in the global top 20 listing as the most expensive places to live for students. London tops the UK list with an average weekly rent of £257. Oxford comes in eighth with a rent of £205 a week, followed by Cambridge in 10thplace, with...
Scrap Tax Relief for Buy to Let Landlords, Demands Think-Tank
A new study by a Tory think-tank is demanding the government scraps tax reliefs for buy to let landlords to stop growth of the sector. The report came from Conservative MP Neil O’Brien - who was a special adviser to former Chancellor George Osborne and Prime Minister...
Housing Minister Wants 3-Year Buy to Let Tenancies
Housing Minister James Brokenshire has finally announced the government’s planned policy to offer buy to let tenants a mandatory three-year tenancy. Speaking to an audience at think-tank The Policy Exchange, released some scant details of the move that was outlined in...
Government Concerns Trigger Selective Licensing Review
The government has put selective licensing of shared houses under the microscope with a review as landlord and letting agent groups slam the system. Selective licensing is a tool for local councils to exert strict controls over landlords and rented property standards....
Government Finally Reveals New HMO Guidance
The government has finally revealed to landlords how health and safety rules for shared houses will impact their property businesses. From October 1, private landlords renting out homes to five or more tenants from two or more separate households must have a local...
Important Changes to Our Helpline Numbers and System
As from 2 July 2018, we will have a new helpline system with new telephone numbers. Over the last few months, we’ve not been happy with the number of calls that go to our overflow system. The numbers have steadily grown as the Guild has naturally grown. The system...
New How to Rent Guide and Other ‘How to’ guides Published
The Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government has published new ‘how to’ guides including the How to Rent Guide which must be provided to all new or renewing tenants in England. Four ‘how to’ guides have been published: How to rent How to rent a safe...
Buy to Let Improvements Can Be a Waste of Money
Landlords wanting to upgrade their rentals properties often make the wrong decisions about how to spend their cash because some improvements are more cost effective than others. Around one in four home owners make improvements to increase the value of their homes or...
London Buy to Let Rents Fall for First Time in 8 Years
Buy to let rents across the country nudged up by 1% in the year to the end of May, according to the latest official figures. The rate of increase remained the same for two months in a row. In London, rents were down 0.2% year-on-year, the first-time landlords in the...
Buy to Let Growth Throttled by Tax Reform and Regulation
Landlords have a lack of confidence in the future of buy to let after a flurry of blows from the government and regulators, according to a new survey. The study revealed 59% of landlords have a negative outlook for their property businesses even though only 3% are...
Tenants Reveal What They Want From Buy to Let Homes
Renters have a checklist in mind when they hunt for a buy to let home, according to a new report. And landlords who know what their prospective tenants are looking for have the edge in the market. The Tenant Survey 2018, which asked nearly 3,800 renters of all ages...
Treasury Defends Tax Hike for Landlords After Petition Protest
Protestors campaigning against a tax hike for landlords have forced the government to defend the policy. A petition started by property investor Mark Homer gathered 14,000 supporters - enough to force the government to make a written response to the protest. Homer was...
It’s Official! Landlords Are Fleeing Buy to Let
The number of private rented homes has dropped by 46,000 as landlords flee the buy to let market, according to official figures. Private rented homes still comprise a significant sector of the market, says the Office of National Statics’ Dwelling Stock Estimates for...
Housing Charity Wants More Protection for Tenants
Moves seem under way to cap charges tenants might have to pay while living in a private rented home. The Tenants and Fees Bill before Parliament allows landlords to charge an uncapped fee for events that might happen during a tenancy, like damage to the home or having...
London’s Landlord and Agent Checker Goes Live Across 33 Councils
London mayor Sadiq Khan has vowed bad landlords have no hiding place in the capital now every borough council has signed up to his ‘Rogue Landlord and Agent Checker'. Although the database was opened in December 2017, only 10 councils displayed information about...
Councils Issue Four Fines a Week Under Right to Rent
Four landlords and letting agents are fined every week under the government’s controversial Right to Rent laws, according to official statistics. In the first two years of operation - from March 2016 until the end of March 2018 - the Home Office has revealed civil...
Letting Agent Complaints Up by 11%, Says Ombudsman
Complaints resolved against letting agents to the Property Ombudsman soared by 11% to 2,212 last year. And two out of three were supported by the ombudsman. The top causes of complaints were bad management; poor communication and record-keeping; arguments over the...
New Prescribed Section 21 Form
New Prescribed Section 21 Form In this part of our '1 October 2015 changes' series we look at a new "prescribed form" which must be used for serving a section 21 notice in England. The Assured Shorthold Tenancy Notices and Prescribed Requirements (England) Regulations...
Prescribed Legal Requirements Before Serving A Section 21 Notice
Prescribed Legal Requirements Before Serving A Section 21 Notice In this part of our series we look at "prescribed legal requirements" which must have been completed before a section 21 notice can be served in England. The Assured Shorthold Tenancy Notices and...
Coronavirus Guidance
Landlords Building Insurance
Guild subscribers can get preferential rates for landlords buildings insurance especially designed for landlords
