Archive

TrustMark, the government-backed quality kite mark scheme for tradespeople, is launching a pilot with Trading Standards to improve the quality and...

Sub-standard homes remain a key weakness in the private rental sector, which needs to get its house in order in the...

The Association of Residential Letting Agents is demanding 'property MOTs' to help landlords trying to meet new energy efficiency targets. The government’s...

An angry lettings agent has emailed Cabinet minister James Brokenshire to show his disgust at the government’s U-turn over deposit caps. In...

It should perhaps come as no surprise that this week’s tightening up of the energy efficiency regulations for the private rental...

The countryside lettings sector will be badly hit by new energy efficiency rules being introduced by the government next year. That’s the...

Buy to let investors in England and Wales who own particularly cold homes are being targeted by new regulations. Since April this...

The agency industry has reacted in a broadly downbeat way at the relatively few housing-related proposals that were announced in yesterday’s...

The government should be more ambitious when it comes to ensuring the private rented sector becomes increasingly energy efficient. That’s the message...

A specialist buy to let mortgage lender says buy to let investors should act now - even if it means borrowing...

Landlords are most likely to have invested in a boiler upgrade in the last 12 months to boost the energy efficiency...

An experienced agent claims that forgoing the services of a letting agent to save money is a false economy for landlords. In...

Spicerhaart says that with the lettings agency industry under attack there is a danger of some within the sector focussing too...

The National Federation of Builders is linking up with a lettings trade body to make it easier for reputable craftspeople to...

Some 42 per cent of tenants regard the eco-friendliness of a property as key when choosing whether or not to rent...

A leading property law specialist has warned that many buy to let investors remain unaware of the new Minimum Energy Efficiency...

The buy to let sector still requires £400m spending on improving the energy efficiency of its stock in order to conform...

The Association of Residential Letting Agents is warning that “thousands” of landlords simply are not ready for energy efficiency changes coming...

The consumer group Which? says the new Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards starting next weekend could affect 300,000 buy to let properties.  From...

A specialist buy to let lender is making changes to its lending conditions to ensure its residential and commercial borrowers conform...

The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy has selected a software supplier to handle some of the exceptions to the...

Andy Burnham, the mayor of Greater Manchester, will is to reveal his vision for the private rental sector to a Residential...

A new survey suggests that only four per cent of tenants and landlords are aware of the new Minimum Energy Efficiency...

With only three weeks to go to the introduction of the first phase of Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards, a specialist mortgage...

The Association of Residential Letting Agents is reminding its members to tell landlord clients that they have only a month to...

An ‘instant EPC ratings check’ has been created on the website of Mortgages for Business allowing agents to check the ratings...

Trade bodies including ARLA, RICS, NALS and landlord organisations have met with the government to send a clear message - think...

The government is being criticised for its latest consultation exercise on the new Minimum Energy Efficient Standards - because it ends...

The Residential Landlords Association says it welcomes the government’s decision to reduce the likely maximum payment by landlords for energy improvements...

A local authority currently consulting on private rental licensing is using improved energy efficiency as one of the criteria for landlords...

The government has published long-awaited guidelines for the implementation of Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards in the private rental sector.   The hefty 95-page...

The CLA says the energy efficiency regulations for the lettings sector coming into effect in April are “fundamentally flawed” when it...

One in 20 lettings properties breach minimum standards set to come into force next April, according to a survey for an insurance...

A trade body says the expanding Build To Rent sector will never be large enough to meet tenant demand and as...

The Residential Landlords Association has secured a £1.5m funding pot from energy company E.ON - the only such funding dedicated solely...

An energy efficiency lobbying group says it backs new government energy efficiency guidelines to improve 300,000 private rented homes - but...

Training organisation Solvo Vir is inviting letting agents and landlords to attend courses to bring them up to date with new...

The Residential Landlords’ Association has been told in no uncertain terms by the government that changes to Energy Performance Certificate scheduled...

Proposals in Scotland for a minimum energy efficiency standard for privately let homes could damage the sector, especially in rural communities.   That’s...

An investment company says agents and landlords should start taking measures to ensure their properties comply with the new Minimum Energy...

A group of rural landlords has called on the government to clarify Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) legislation being introduced next...

Agents and landlords are being warned by a property management agency to prepare for the next round of energy-efficiency regulation changes...

The Scottish Government has opened formal consultation on its attempts to introduce minimum standards of energy efficiency for the private rented...

This weekend marks one year to go before the introduction of new Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards - which are expected to...

As the introduction of new energy efficiency regulations moves closer, landlords are being urged to check the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC)...

Analysis of the government’s respected English Housing Survey suggests that the reality of the private rental sector is far from the...

The National Landlords Association is making only three demands on the government for its next Budget, because it recognises further reforms...

  An attempt is underway to resuscitate the Green Deal which many buy to let and other residential property investors used to...

Now Northern Ireland appears to be in the frame for substantial changes to the private rental sector according to the Association...

Around one in 12 properties currently available on the rental market could become un-rentable by 2018 if government energy efficiency plans...

Tenants are becoming increasingly eco-conscious according to a new survey.   Some 80 per cent of those questioned agree that landlords or their...

Lettings expert Kate Faulkner says yields - a traditional long-standing measure of success for buy to let landlords - are becoming...

Three quarters of a million private renters are stuck in the coldest and draughtiest homes, claims the Citizens Advice organisation -...

One of Britain’s most senior letting agents says landlords should take the 10th anniversary of the introduction of the Energy Performance...

The chairman of the Residential Landlords’ Association has restated how he sees the private rental sector could help solve the country’s...

Government policy to improve the energy efficiency of the UK’s housing stock will increase rents for tenants. New laws mean that from...

There is growing concern over a predicted £5,000 cost to make some buy to let properties energy-efficient under new government plans.   An...

An online lettings agency claims that 58 per cent of tenants who have requested energy improvements to their properties have been...

Letting agents will be pleased to hear that landlords who manage all aspects of tenancies on their own are being warned...

The government is being urged to delay the introduction of new energy efficiency targets in the private rental sector, with a...

The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors is urging landlords and agents acting on their behalf to bring themselves up to date...

A leading chartered surveying firm is stressing the differences that exist between new English and Scottish energy efficiency rules hitting the...

Today sees the first step of a long-term government drive to improve energy efficiency in the private rental sector through the...

This week sees the first step in a long series of reforms - the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards - aimed at...

MPs and members of the House of Lords want private sector tenants to be given clearer up-front information on the cost...

A legal expert is claiming that changes to S21 eviction procedures introduced back in October are not being adhered to by...

The government has announced new dates for energy efficiency compliance in rental properties. The Residential Landlords’ Association says they are as follows: April...

A new survey conducted for an online lettings agency shows four fifths of tenants wanting double glazing as a ‘must’ in...

A senior Conservative MP is urging the government to give councils the power to issue rogue landlords with on-the-spot fines. Oliver Colville,...

The All Party Parliamentary Group for the Private Rented Sector has launched an inquiry into the energy efficiency of private rented...

Franchise agency Belvoir is urging landlords to budget and plan for mandatory changes to the energy efficiency of rental properties, coming...

Some 60% of landlords have no intention of investing in their property to make it more efficient, despite new energy efficiency...

Lettings chiefs have responded with disappointment to the government’s announcement that it is scrapping the Green Deal.  The scheme offered cashbacks and...

A kit explaining how homes to let can be made more secure and legally-compliant has been launched by the Residential Landlords...

Letting agency GFW Lettings says new Green Deal targets to improve energy efficiency will have a challenging impact on private sector...