Outstanding council tax arrears have soared according to new government figures. Data from he Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities shows...
Archive
![Housing Minister to address agents ahead of General Election](/upload/images/Shutterstock-only%20images/Property%20Market/PropertyNews3-400x310.png)
Housing minister Lee Rowley will be taking centre stage at the largest property agency conference in the UK this summer, Propertymark...
30 April 2024
From: Breaking News
![Government to double council tax on empty homes after one year](/upload/images/Shutterstock-only%20images/Property%20Market/TaxCoins-400x310.png)
Sharpened rules to double council tax on long term empty properties will come into force from April 1, says the government. A...
13 March 2024
From: Breaking News
![Tory MP reported to bring Renters Reform Bill “to brink of collapse”](/upload/images/Shutterstock-only%20images/Property%20Market/PropertyNews-400x310.png)
A national newspaper says the Renters Reform Bill is “on the brink of collapse” as Tory MPs are divided on their...
08 March 2024
From: Breaking News
Labour has waded into the increasingly-fractious debate over the Renters Reform Bill. Activists in groups such as the Renters Reform Coalition and...
29 February 2024
From: Breaking News
![Agents demand ground rent reform progress while consultation goes on](/upload/images/Shutterstock-only%20images/Rental%20Market/LearningAgents-400x310.png)
Propertymark wants Housing Secretary Michael Gove to continue with ground rent reforms for leaseholders following the launch of a consultation into this...
14 November 2023
From: Breaking News
![New Housing Minister is ... a former housing minister](/upload/images/Shutterstock-only%20images/Property%20Market/PropertyNews-400x310.png)
The new Housing Minister is Lee Rowley - who was a former housing minister during the short lived premiership of Liz Truss. Rowley...
13 November 2023
From: Breaking News
![Renters Reform Bill will slash homelessness, claims charity](/upload/images/shutterstock_629082041.jpg)
A charity claims the Renters Reform Bill, which gets its Second Reading in the Commons next week, will help reduce homelessness. New...
19 October 2023
From: Breaking News
![Buy To Let has grown massively in recent years - new statistics](/upload/images/Shutterstock-only%20images/Property%20Market/PropertyStats-400x310.png)
Government data shows that as of 2022 some 15.29 per cent of homes in England are privately rented, with 14.9 per...
13 October 2023
From: Breaking News
![Gove tells agents to identify and remedy damp and mould issues](/upload/images/shutterstock_2135683647.jpg)
New directives issued by the government put the emphasis firmly on private landlords and their letting agents to take responsibility for...
11 September 2023
From: Breaking News
![Charity slams government over gap between rents and benefits](/upload/images/shutterstock_1563288097.jpg)
Crisis, the homelessness charity, has slammed the government over the growing gap between housing benefit levels and even the lower end...
28 July 2023
From: Breaking News
![Agents told to lobby MPs over Renters Reform Bill](/upload/images/Shutterstock-only%20images/Property%20Market/PropertyNews1-400x310.png)
It appears almost certain that the Second Reading of the Renters Reform Bill - expected some weeks ago - will not...
14 July 2023
From: Breaking News
![This is how agents will have to use the new Landlords Database](/upload/images/Shutterstock-only%20images/PropTech/AgentOnline-400x310.png)
Propertymark has given an insight into how letting agents are likely to be expected to use a new Landlords Database. The database...
23 May 2023
From: Breaking News
![Renters Reform Bill - just a delay or a major rethink?](/upload/images/Shutterstock-only%20images/Rental%20Market/BuildToRent-400x310.png)
The government has back-tracked on its decision to publish the long-awaited Renters Reform Bill this week. The Mirror newspaper reports that “procedural issues”...
10 May 2023
From: Breaking News
![Agents back compulsory national registration for short lets](/upload/images/Shutterstock-only%20images/Property%20Market/shutterstock_2198282283.jpg)
Propertymark has thrown its weight behind the idea of a compulsory national register of landlords and hosts operating Airbnb and other...
26 April 2023
From: Breaking News
![Short Lets Clampdown: Airbnb warns against over the top measures](/upload/images/Shutterstock-only%20images/Misc/airbnb400x310.jpg)
Airbnb is warning the UK government not to be heavy handed in its planning controls restricting the short lets sector. At the...
17 April 2023
From: Breaking News
![Anger over Airbnbs and holiday lets needing planning consent](/upload/images/Shutterstock-only%20images/Misc/airbnb400x310.jpg)
The new trade body for short lets has reacted angrily to a government plan for AirBnb and other short let hosts...
13 April 2023
From: Breaking News
![Reform process underway with new Ombudsman scheme](/upload/images/Shutterstock-only%20images/Rental%20Market/HappyLandlord-400x310.png)
The government has taken the first step to introducing a mandatory ombudsman scheme which private landlords must join. This is effectively the...
29 March 2023
From: Breaking News
![How To Rent update - new date set for publication](/upload/images/Shutterstock-only%20images/Rental%20Market/RentalMarketUK-400x310.png)
The government has indicated that the delayed publication of the latest How To Rent document is to be Friday March 24. The...
20 March 2023
From: Breaking News
![Government rental mediation scheme flops - change needed](/upload/images/Shutterstock-only%20images/Rental%20Market/Tenant_Dispute-400x310.png)
A much-hyped government proposal to introduce a Rental Mediation Service to resolve disputes, sustain tenancies and reduce pressure on the courts...
07 March 2023
From: Breaking News
![Agents’ message to government - boost supply to end housing shortage](/upload/images/Shutterstock-only%20images/Developments/Construction-400x310.png)
Agents’ body Propertymark wants more government action to boost housing supply - and it wants the views of the industry on...
01 February 2023
From: Breaking News
![Take That, Gove! Agents and landlords deliver warning letter](/upload/images/Shutterstock-only%20images/Property%20Market/PropertyNews2-400x310.png)
A warning letter signed by 330 major players in the private rental sector has been delivered to Housing Secretary Michael Gove. The...
03 January 2023
From: Breaking News
![Government consultation launches to improve safety post-Grenfell](/upload/images/Shutterstock-only%20images/Rental%20Market/HouseInspection_400x310.png)
The government claims buildings will be made safer under new proposals including compulsory second staircases for new tower blocks. It says this...
28 December 2022
From: Breaking News
![Tenants renting longer and paying more - new survey’s findings](/upload/images/Shutterstock-only%20images/Rental%20Market/Tenant_Dispute-400x310.png)
Over the last decade, the proportion of people aged 24 to 64 living in their own home has fallen and the...
19 December 2022
From: Breaking News
![Councils given public cash to tackle poor rental housing standards](/upload/images/Shutterstock-only%20images/Rental%20Market/AgentHouseInHand_400x310.png)
Three councils will be sharing £1.21m in public cash over the next two years to tackle poor quality properties in the...
06 December 2022
From: Breaking News
![Ethical lettings service links with PropTech maintenance platform](/upload/images/Shutterstock-only%20images/PropTech/PropertyFind-400x310.png)
A not-for-profit company that matches rental properties with vulnerable tenants in need of accommodation has partnered with a maintenance firm to...
30 November 2022
From: Breaking News
![Pets In Lets - no answer yet to issues of damage and costs](/upload/images/Shutterstock-only%20images/Pets/DogsandCats-400x310.png)
The latest update from industry discussions about allowing more pets in private rental properties suggests there’s not been a solution yet...
05 October 2022
From: Breaking News
![Immediate Eviction ban must be introduced says government adviser](/upload/images/Housing%20Market%20%26%20Property%20Images/agent_and_homes_360x280.png)
The cost of living crisis could have a ‘catastrophic’ impact on homelessness unless an immediate eviction ban is introduced. That’s the view...
22 September 2022
From: Breaking News
![Agency warns government - don’t forget small scale landlords](/upload/images/Rental%20Market/Visit-400x310.png)
A leading lettings agency has warned the government not to forget the importance of small-scale landlords in its plans for the...
07 September 2022
From: Breaking News
![Tory duo warned not to delay rental reform - key supplier speaks out](/upload/images/Politics%20(MPs%2C%20party%20logos%2C%20etc)/SunakvsTruss_400x310.png)
A prominent trade body is warning Tory leadership candidates not to put rental reform on the back burner and add to...
03 August 2022
From: Breaking News
![Question mark over rental reform as housing ministers quit](/upload/images/Housing%20Market%20%26%20Property%20Images/house-prices400x310.png)
If housing really is seen by Prime Minister Boris Johnson as one of his key policy goals, there must be uncertainty...
07 July 2022
From: Breaking News
![New build house sizes shrinking, claims new survey](/upload/images/Housing%20Market%20%26%20Property%20Images/Interiors/EmptyRoom-400x310.png)
A fresh analysis of house sizes for new build homes shows they are getting smaller. A study by Tiger Sheds looked at...
28 June 2022
From: Breaking News
![Build To Rent advocate want special treatment for growing niche](/upload/images/BTR%2C%20PBSA%2C%20Co-living/BTL400x310.png)
A property investment company says Build To Rent is key to helping Britain meet its current housing and climate change challenges...
20 June 2022
From: Breaking News
![Agent regulation needed on top of rental sector reforms - Propertymark](/upload/images/Housing%20Market%20%26%20Property%20Images/House-MagnifyingGlass-1-400x310.jpg)
Greater regulation of lettings agents, and all other property professionals, is required to ‘finish the job’ of reforming the industry which...
26 May 2022
From: Breaking News
![Don’t delay Renters Reform Bill again - agents warn government](/upload/images/Housing%20Market%20%26%20Property%20Images/Property-Newspaper-400x310.jpg)
ARLA Propertymark is warning the government that it should not delay further on its long-awaited Renters Reform Bill, because of the...
17 May 2022
From: Breaking News
![Rent controls ineffective as tool to reduce homelessness](/upload/images/Housing%20Market%20%26%20Property%20Images/Homeless-1-400x310.jpg)
Propertymark has dismissed suggestions from critics of the lettings industry that higher rents are leading to more homelessness. The trade body says...
03 May 2022
From: Breaking News
![Agents fight back in row over quality of private rental stock and repairs](/upload/images/Rental%20Market/Handcuffs400x310.png)
ARLA Propertymark has hit back in this week’s debate on the quality of private rental property, following sharp criticism in a...
14 April 2022
From: Breaking News
![Minister Madness! Industry supplier hits out at politicians](/upload/images/Politics%20(MPs%2C%20party%20logos%2C%20etc)/HousesofParliament-3-400x310.jpg)
A prominent industry supplier has hit out at what he calls “the merry go round of housing ministers” following yet another...
22 March 2022
From: Breaking News
![What future for rental reform under new housing minister?](/upload/images/Politics%20(MPs%2C%20party%20logos%2C%20etc)/Parliament-Night-400x310.jpg)
Housing ministers come and go with brutal frequency in UK governments of all colours, so yesterday’s departure of Chris Pincher -...
09 February 2022
From: Breaking News
![Government failing to protect private renters, says watchdog](/upload/images/Politics%20(MPs%2C%20party%20logos%2C%20etc)/MichaelGove-400x310.jpg)
A report by the National Audit Office claims that the way private renting is regulated makes the sector unfair to renters. It...
10 December 2021
From: Breaking News
![Agent Alert: government survey on documents handed to tenants](/upload/images/Rental%20Market/landlord-licencing400x310.png)
A new government survey of private renters is checking whether they received the correct documentation from their agent when they begin...
10 November 2021
From: Breaking News
![Labour joins call for faster scrapping of S21 evictions](/upload/images/Politics%20(MPs%2C%20party%20logos%2C%20etc)/Labour-logo400x310.png)
Labour has joined with campaign groups Generation Rent and Shelter in calling for the speediest possible ending of Section 21 eviction...
03 November 2021
From: Breaking News
![Government reveals rent arrears package for tenants in England](/upload/images/Politics%20(MPs%2C%20party%20logos%2C%20etc)/HousesofParliament-3-400x310.jpg)
Letting agents in England with tenants in rent arrears because of Covid are to be helped via a council-run £65m rent fund. Although...