x
By using this website, you agree to our use of cookies to enhance your experience.
KEYWORD "Government" - 100 RESULTS
Phil Spencer asks: Should Agents Manage Short Let Properties?

It’s not easy for anyone - even professionals like lettings and estate agents - to keep up with the blizzard of...

19 March 2024

From: Breaking News

Energy Efficiency - new RICS standard for agents to launch this year

The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors has launched a new Residential Retrofit Standard in a bid to help the housing industry...

19 March 2024

From: Breaking News

Leasehold Reform Bill wins a big thumbs-up from agents’ body

Propertymark has urged the Sunak government to press ahead with leasehold reform ahead of the Second Reading of the Leasehold and...

19 March 2024

From: Breaking News

Warning to Labour leader - no rent controls, yes to lower taxes

The new Labour leader in Wales, Vaughan Gething, has received an early shot across the bows from Propertymark. Gething was elected Welsh...

18 March 2024

From: Breaking News

No scrapping fixed term tenancies - new appeal over Renters Reform Bill

Propertymark has emphasised the importance of retaining fixed term tenancies under the Renters Reform Bill. Propertymark chief executive Nathan Emerson met Housing...

18 March 2024

From: Breaking News

Crunch Week ahead for interest rates and inflation

Latest inflation figures are announced on Wednesday and the Bank of England makes its next base rate decision on Thursday. The Office...

15 March 2024

From: Breaking News

RICS Warning: rents still rising as landlords quit lettings sector

Today’s new market snapshot from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors shows tenant demand rising but at a rather more modest...

14 March 2024

From: Breaking News

Banks Closing Pooled Client Accounts - agents urge government action

Propertymark is urging the government to tackle the problem of banks closing down undesignated or pooled client accounts of letting agents. HM...

13 March 2024

From: Breaking News

Right To Buy cash ‘stolen’ by government will worsen rental crisis

An umbrella group called London Councils has expressed “extreme concern” at the government’s decision to stop letting local authorities keep money...

13 March 2024

From: Breaking News

Government to double council tax on empty homes after one year

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

Powers to evict anti-social tenants set to be beefed up

Propertymark has welcomed proposed reforms to evict tenants who show persistent anti-social behaviour.   In 2018, a Northern Ireland Department of Justice consultation...

12 March 2024

From: Breaking News

Airbnb sharing short lets data with another government department

Airbnb - which recently announced it’s sharing some information about its landlord hosts with HMRC - is now sharing data with...

12 March 2024

From: Breaking News

New Banking Scandal as thousands of agency accounts are closed

A Parliamentary committee has heard that thousands of small and medium-sized letting agencies were debanked in 2023, with financial institutions forcibly...

11 March 2024

From: Breaking News

Tory MP reported to bring Renters Reform Bill “to brink of collapse”

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

Build To Rent set to suffer from Hunt’s stamp duty changes

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt’s Budget is set to hit Build To Rent. The British Property Foundation is reacting to news that Multiple dwellings...

08 March 2024

From: Breaking News

E-bike Fires cause new tenancy and insurance concerns

Despite several fires in rented properties, the government is proposing to double the maximum legal power of e-bikes. A Department of Transport...

08 March 2024

From: Breaking News

PropTech sector gives a thumbs down to lacklustre Budget

The PropTech sector has mostly agreed with the rest of the industry in its view on yesterday’s Budget - that it...

07 March 2024

From: Breaking News

Regulation of lettings agents imminent, suggests Propertymark

Propertymark says the regulation of agents has come a step closer.   The trade body gave evidence at a House of Lords Industry...

07 March 2024

From: Breaking News

Business Rates - Agency warns Hunt he has last chance to get them right

The Chancellor has one last chance to come good on the election promise of lowering the burden of business rates –...

06 March 2024

From: Breaking News

Renters Reform Bill threat to student accommodation, say experts

New research suggests that a majority of the British public believe the government should be doing more to support students find...

06 March 2024

From: Breaking News

Rental Sector Tax Grab - leading agency boss speaks out

A figure in one of the country’s highest profile lettings companies has hit out at a government proposal to penalise the...

05 March 2024

From: Breaking News

Renters Reform Bill should include regulating letting agents, says Propertymark

Propertymark will appear in front of the House of Lords’ Industry and Regulators Committee tomorrow morning, urging the regulation of lettings...

05 March 2024

From: Breaking News

Nationwide demands four tax changes to help the private rental sector

Nationwide has taken the unusual step of using its buy to let lending arm - The Mortgage Works - to make...

05 March 2024

From: Breaking News

Companies House clampdown on dodgy agents’ data and information

Companies House has new powers from this week to combat fraud. These are measures under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act...

05 March 2024

From: Breaking News

Older Persons charity hits out over Renters Reform Bill rumours

A charity providing support for older people facing financial hardship has hit out at the government over rumours concerning the Renters...

05 March 2024

From: Breaking News

Tax Grab - rental sector may not be viable warns Propertymark

The chief executive of Propertymark has made an outspoken attack on the government in response to its latest attempt to extract...

04 March 2024

From: Breaking News

Tax Raid planned on rental sector in Budget - report

The Budget on Wednesday will contain a £300m tax raid on the rental sector according to a report this morning -...

03 March 2024

From: Breaking News

Council buys private homes to let to families on waiting list

Caerphilly council in Wales has bought privately owned properties to provide housing for families who would otherwise find themselves in temporary...

01 March 2024

From: Breaking News

Letting agents demand mortgage lenders cut rates to help market

The letting agents’ trade body Propertymark has made the unexpected move of calling on banks to cut mortgage rates. Rates are typically...

01 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

HMRC reminds agents to update email and instant messaging contacts

Email and instant messaging contact details must be kept up to date for HMRC to contact agents about Anti-Money Laundering supervision. Propertymark...

28 February 2024

From: Breaking News

Shelter lobbies politicians with ‘rental plan to end homelessness’

Shelter is calling for the construction of 90,000 rental properties each year for a decade - and it claims this would...

27 February 2024

From: Breaking News

Building society bans mortgages on holiday let properties

A building society has launched a pilot project banning mortgage lending on holiday lets in two tourist areas for 12 months. Leeds...

26 February 2024

From: Breaking News

Shelter demands radical changes to Renters Reform Bill

Shelter is asking for public support for radical changes to the Renters Reform Bill, now going through Parliament. The campaigning charity is...

26 February 2024

From: Breaking News

Mould and Damp: Agents should act now, says Propertymark

Propertymark has used its website and link with a property inspection service to urge letting agents to work with private tenants...

26 February 2024

From: Breaking News

Rental activist to tell lawmakers about regulating letting agents

A prominent rental activist is tomorrow going to tell a House of Lords committee about the need to regulate letting agents. Conor...

26 February 2024

From: Breaking News

Build More Homes! Agents in new desperate plea to government

Propertymark has again urged the UK government to continue with its target of building 300,000 new homes in England a year...

26 February 2024

From: Breaking News

Short Lets Clampdown - More campaigners back Gove

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

23 February 2024

From: Breaking News

Beware 1% Deposits - Knight Frank lays into government

Knight Frank has taken the unusual step of suggesting a government proposal for the housing market is high-risk and could even...

23 February 2024

From: Breaking News

HMRC rakes in hundreds of millions more in property-related tax

HM Treasury raked in £6.3 billion in inheritance tax receipts in the 10 months from April 2023 to January 2024 according...

23 February 2024

From: Breaking News

One in nine renters using foodbanks - industry supplier’s claim

A lettings industry supplier claims one in nine renters use foodbanks. A survey of tenants, commissioned by Zero Deposit, found that just...

22 February 2024

From: Breaking News

Gove’s Airbnb Crackdown - Criticism building

There’s growing anger over restrictions on private homeowners using their properties via Airbnb and other short let platforms. Earlier this week Housing...

21 February 2024

From: Breaking News

Radical changes to short let laws proposed 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

Short Lets Shake Up - Gove slammed for “political posturing”

The trade body representing short lets providers and support companies has reacted angrily to government proposals for a radical shake up. Housing...

19 February 2024

From: Breaking News

Ukrainians given visa extension - likely impact on private rental sector

Ukrainians who came to the UK following the Russian invasion will be able to apply for 18-month extensions to their visas,...

19 February 2024

From: Breaking News

Housing Courts the best way to counter threat of S21 removal - claim

Propertymark is urging the Sunak government to introduce specialist housing courts with expert Judges who can expedite cases and create a...

15 February 2024

From: Breaking News

Regulating agents will make property ownership more transparent - claim

Propertymark says the regulation of property agents and the creation of a statutory Code of Practice can improve the transparency of...

14 February 2024

From: Breaking News

Agents’ desperate plea to prevent exodus of student landlords

Propertymark has called on the UK Government to prevent a mass exodus of student landlords.   The news comes as a poll conducted...

14 February 2024

From: Breaking News

Starmer insists Awaab’s Law will be extended to private rental sector

Labour leader Sir Kier Starmer has confirmed that Awaab’s Law - putting a strict timescale on urgent repairs being done -...

13 February 2024

From: Breaking News

Purplebricks boss slams Tories in unexpected attack

While most agents remain relatively tight lipped about party politics, the chief executive of Purplebricks has said the Tories should take...

13 February 2024

From: Breaking News

Renters Reform Bill - MPs set to be bombarded by emails

A pressure group unhappy about lack of progress on the Renters Reform Bill wants MPs to be bombarded with complaint emails.  Over...

12 February 2024

From: Breaking News

Private rental demand to soar if bankrupt council ends social housing

Birmingham’s Labour council is considering closing its social housing waiting list to new applicants - and this is likely to trigger...

12 February 2024

From: Breaking News

Shelter threatens government after big rise in Section 21 evictions

Shelter is warning that the government’s failure to abolish Section 21 evictions will backfire and that “renters will remember who stood...

09 February 2024

From: Breaking News

Ministers warned not to backtrack on disability housing

According to the BBC, the Government is no longer committed to increase the amount disabled people in England can claim to...

09 February 2024

From: Breaking News

Last-minute government U-turn on HMO regulation changes

The government has done a U-turn on its original policy to relax HMO regulations on private rental properties used by asylum...

08 February 2024

From: Breaking News

MPs turn on Airbnb and other short lets

Prominent MPs from the Conservative and Liberal Democrat parties have renewed their onslaught on Airbnb and other short let platforms.  Former Lib...

06 February 2024

From: Breaking News

Government rules out council tax reform - no matter how unfair it is

The government has ruled out any reform to the council tax system. There has been long standing criticism of council tax because...

06 February 2024

From: Breaking News

Rents Shock - they’ve fallen for the past three months

New data released by insurance firm HomeLet claims that average rents have fallen now for three months on the bounce. The past...

05 February 2024

From: Breaking News

Political uncertainty suggests ongoing landlord exodus, says Knight Frank

Prime London rental values fell closer to their longer-term average in January, as supply continued to increase - but worries about...

05 February 2024

From: Breaking News

Agent says rents set to fall as economy returns to near-normal

A buying agent claims that rents could finally be tailing off despite some indices showing rises still taking place. According to Rightmove,...

05 February 2024

From: Breaking News

Union slams Bank decision as workers face high rents

A trades union has slammed the Bank of England over its decision to keep base rate at 5.25 per cent, saying...

02 February 2024

From: Breaking News

Experts want major reforms of EPCs and better trained assessors

The Building Research Establishment - which undertakes research, advice, training, testing, certification and standards-setting for the housing sector - is calling...

01 February 2024

From: Breaking News

Stamp Duty slump is a pre-Budget blow for Chancellor

Stamp duty receipts dipped four per cent to £2.4 billion in Q3 of last year - no less than 25 per...

01 February 2024

From: Breaking News

Build To Rent investment rockets, focussed on major cities

The latest Build To Rent report prepared by lettings agency Savills claims 2023 saw a total of £4.5 billion of investment...

01 February 2024

From: Breaking News

Soaring population likely to trigger much higher rental demand

Government figures suggest the UK population could reach nearly 74m as soon as 2036, largely attributed to rising net migration. This is...

31 January 2024

From: Breaking News

Agents slam government for failing to win industry support for reform

The Renters Reform Bill cannot succeed without proper engagement with letting agents and landlords, Propertymark argues.    According to a Freedom of Information...

31 January 2024

From: Breaking News

Rent controls and EPC laws must be discussed with agents - Propertymark

Scottish councils must engage with letting agents and landlords if radical rental reforms have any chance of working. Propertymark argues that the...

31 January 2024

From: Breaking News

Third of agents seeing rent rises even at weakest time of year

Over a third of ARLA Propertymark members reported in December that rental prices have increased, according to their latest Housing Insight...

31 January 2024

From: Breaking News

British Homes for British Workers - Experts, activists unite in opposition

Seventeen housing organisations have sent an open letter to the government rejecting its idea of prioritising British families when it comes...

30 January 2024

From: Breaking News

Agent’s unique insight into “no end in sight” rental crisis

A managing partner at a letting agency has given an insight into the unique forces which he says is “strangling” the...

30 January 2024

From: Breaking News

Labour call for agents’ qualifications is “laughable and silly”

A law professor has dismissed a Labour call for agents to have qualifications as “eye poppingly silly” and “snobby.” Labour’s shadow housing...

30 January 2024

From: Breaking News

House builders overwhelmingly want Labour to win General Election

A Knight Frank survey of 50 house builders shows a staggering 70 per cent support for Labour to win the next...

29 January 2024

From: Breaking News

Is the government deliberately delaying the Renters Reform Bill?

The long-awaited Third Reading of the controversial Renters Reform Bill will not happen this week according to the Leader of the...

29 January 2024

From: Breaking News

Problem properties hit two thirds of renters, claim lettings group

Two thirds of private renters have experienced a problem with the quality or condition of their property in the past six...

26 January 2024

From: Breaking News

Glut of long-term empty homes slammed as rental shortage continues

New research shows there are 36,210 long-term vacant homes across London - that’s around one in every 100 properties. The borough in...

26 January 2024

From: Breaking News

Agents List Radical Changes needed to Renters Reform Bill

Propertymark's latest research report suggests some letting agents want radical changes to the Renters Reform Bill now going through Parliament.  The aim...

25 January 2024

From: Breaking News

Labour bid to regulate agents welcomed by major industry body

The Property Institute has welcomed a Labour Party move to introduce the regulation of property agents across much of the sector. Tabled...

25 January 2024

From: Breaking News

Government takes stake in property investment PropTech platform

The UK government has taken an equity stake in the rental investment platform Shojin through the conversion of a pandemic-era loan...

24 January 2024

From: Breaking News

Tory ex-housing ministers at war over Rishi Sunak’s premiership

Two former housing ministers are at war with each other after an attack on Rishi Sunak’s premiership in today’s Daily Telegraph. Sir...

24 January 2024

From: Breaking News

Huge rise in property tax for HMRC ahead of possible Budget change

Figures released by HMRC show that the Treasury raked in £5.7 billion in inheritance tax receipts in the nine months from...

24 January 2024

From: Breaking News

Mortgage experts predict boost in buy to let lending this year

Just under half of mortgage brokers expect to place more limited company buy-to-let business throughout the next 12 months, Paragon Bank...

24 January 2024

From: Breaking News

Row over government bid to turn renters into first time buyers

Controversy surrounds a government idea - floated over the weekend - to allow renters to secure mortgages with just one per...

22 January 2024

From: Breaking News

Election Year political updates for agents from Propertymark

Propertymark’s monthly political and government update webinars are set to continue in 2024 - General Election year. A statement from the trade...

22 January 2024

From: Breaking News

Propertymark backs extending agency regulation and decent homes standard

Qualifications for property managers in the social housing sector should be extended to the private rental sector too. That’s the view of...

22 January 2024

From: Breaking News

Labour’s backdoor bid to regulate lettings and estate agents at last

Labour is using a Bill currently going through Parliament as a backdoor method to introduce the regulation of lettings, estate and...

19 January 2024

From: Breaking News

Budget 2024 - Just days left for agents to send ideas to Jeremy Hunt

Agents who want to put their arguments for lettings fiscal reform to the Chancellor have until 5pm next Wednesday to submit...

19 January 2024

From: Breaking News

Shock figures put interest rate cut on the back burner

There are growing fears that the hoped-for Bank of England base rate cut this spring - the first off possibly several...

18 January 2024

From: Breaking News

Phil Spencer warns that Summer will be hectic for lettings sector

Summer looks like it’s going to be a hectic period for lettings agents and the private rental sector according to TV...

17 January 2024

From: Breaking News

Shock figure reveals tax burden paid by private rental sector

Property taxes in Scotland exceeded £600m over the last year according to analysis of the latest statistics by the country’s largest...

17 January 2024

From: Breaking News

Propertymark wants additional health and safety cladding measures

The letting agents’ trade body Propertymark says one of the UK governments should go further in ensuring the safety of tenants...

17 January 2024

From: Breaking News

Sadiq Khan’s rent controls dismissed as “well-meaning but naive”

Rents across the UK continue to retreat from their 2023 highs, falling by 2.9 per cent over the last three months,...

16 January 2024

From: Breaking News

Propertymark backs controversial Airbnb registration scheme

Letting agents’ body Propertymark is throwing its weight behind a mandatory licensing and registration scheme for short let landlords. Anyone who lets...

12 January 2024

From: Breaking News

Top agent slams latest rent control move as costly and complex

New rent control proposals put forward by politicians are unnecessary and too costly according to a leading property expert.  David Alexander -...

12 January 2024

From: Breaking News

Mandatory Short Lets registration scheme to be introduced

A mandatory short lets registration and licensing scheme is to be introduced in part of the UK, described as a system...

11 January 2024

From: Breaking News

No Rent Controls! Agents pledge to continue campaign

Propertymark has urged its members who feel frustrated by the changes to the Scottish Government’s so-called Cost of Living regulations ending...

11 January 2024

From: Breaking News

Lettings agency was front for multi million pound drugs gang

An organised crime group involved in producing and distributing an estimated £2.4m of cannabis has been found to have e used...

10 January 2024

From: Breaking News

Propertymark sits on the fence over first time buyer controversy

Propertymark has stepped into the row over a bank chief’s comments on first time buyers. Sir Howard Davies, chairman of NatWest, responded...

08 January 2024

From: Breaking News

Details emerge of permanent rent control proposal

The controversial minister who steered rent controls through the Scottish Parliament has contacted Propertymark to reveal details of the next stage. Patrick...

05 January 2024

From: Breaking News

Build To Rent trade body beefs up its top team

The UK Apartment Association - effectively a trade body for the Build To Rent sector - is beefing up its top...

05 January 2024

From: Breaking News

Tenants Scammed - new guidelines for agents to give renters

Propertymark is telling member agents to be aware of potential risks and help educate tenants to lookout for common scams, especially...

04 January 2024

From: Breaking News

MovePal MovePal MovePal