Archive

The sweeping reforms for the private rental sector announced by the government at the end of last week do not go...

Propertymark has made an uncharacteristically strong attack on the campaigning charity Shelter for its portrayal of letting agents. Ahead of yesterday’s Queen’s...

Just over 7,000 households in London have been threatened with homelessness in the past three years alone after being issued with...

Propertymark has dismissed suggestions from critics of the lettings industry that higher rents are leading to more homelessness.  The trade body says...

Lettings accreditation and training service Safeagent is calling on the government to make more public cash available for councils to exercise...

ARLA Propertymark has hit back in this week’s debate on the quality of private rental property, following sharp criticism in a...

Thousands of tenants have no choice but to accept “appalling conditions” according to the chief executive of campaigning charity Shelter. Polly Neate...

Private rental property conditions and the enforcement of regulations by councils and government have all been in the firing line from...

One of the country’s most outspoken advocates of rent controls has been told why agents and landlords oppose them. Propertymark has hosted...

The increasingly shrill anti-landlord rhetoric from some politicians is making it harder for tenants, claims a leading industry spokesman. John Blackwood, chief...

Politicians across the UK appear to be growing more vocal in their support for rent controls. The Welsh nationalist party Plaid Cymru...

The Mayor of London Sadiq Khan wants is introducing a new qualification and training for borough council housing enforcement officers to...

A senior Welsh politicians has urged anyone who has fallen behind in paying rent because of the pandemic to contact their...

Shelter claims that women are impacted by homelessness more than men, and says rising private rents are a contributory factor. In a...

Propertymark chief executive Nathan Emerson has given his prediction as to what the big issues will be in the 2022 lettings...

Shelter claims the end of the eviction ban has contributed to creating over 274,000 people who are homeless in England right now, including 126,000 children. Shelter’s interpretation of official...

A senior Labour politician in the capital claims that there’s been “a stark rise” in people losing their homes since the...

Shelter claims its helpline has received 1,000 callers a day since the eviction ban began easing at the start of summer. It says...

A local authority has launched a free service seeking to avoid evictions. New Forest council says its new 'Call Before You Serve' programme is a free service providing...

Campaigning charity Shelter says new official figures show evictions since the lifting of the ban have created a surge in homelessness. Shelter...

All sides of the industry have expressed anger and frustration that yesterday’s Budget effectively ignored the private rental sector. ARLA Propertymark’s policy...

Propertymark has taken the unusual step of thanking the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and the Communities for the...

The long-awaited White Paper on rental reform is some time away, with a minister at the centre of its preparation saying he and...

Councils across Scotland have been given £10m to provide grants to tenants who have Covid-related arrears and risk eviction. The grants will...

Campaign group Generation Rent, led by former Labour Baroness Alicia Kennedy, has renewed its call for the scrapping of Section 21...

Landlords in Wales have been told that rules giving tenants six months’ notice to vacate a property will remain in place...

A £360 million wall of rental debt built up during the pandemic, combined with cuts to Universal Credit, threatens to leave...

A council has just launched it own publicly-funded lettings agency and wants private landlords to sign up. The 'Your Choice' lettings agency,...

A housing market analyst is warning of "one heck of a dark cloud on the horizon for the lettings market” as...

A Labour council leader has hit after being attacked for his support for buy to let and property investment. Last week we...

A new £10m scheme to help renters with Covid-related arrears has been launched in Wales.  Called the Tenancy Hardship Grant, and introduced...

A prominent member of the House of Lords and a rental activist are calling for an immediate suspension of all Section...

The UK Association of Letting Agents trade body is warning of “widespread evictions” unless government support is offered to tenants. UKALA chairman...

A new £10m grant will be introduced in part of the UK to help private rented tenants struggling to pay rent...

Almost 40,000 people have signed a petition urging rent caps for private tenants and hefty tax rises for second home owners. The...

Propertymark has joined forces with the likes of Generation Rent and Shelter to step up the campaign for the provision of...

A property investment platform has taken the unusual approach of accusing the government of driving up homelessness through its policy of...

The president of the Law Society of England and Wales says tenants facing eviction as a result of the ban being...

An outspoken property investor has launched an online petition on the government website to oppose the threat of rent controls. YouTube influencer...

Campaign group Generation Rent has set out a 10-point plan for reform of the private rental sector in favour of tenants. Its...

Today’s Queen’s Speech, setting out the government’s legislative programme for the next year, is expected to include rental reform. It’s thought one...

Rent guarantees and upfront cash payments from local authorities are the most effective means of opening the private rented sector to...

Agents and other industry players have penned an open letter to government demanding a radical overhaul of targets for energy efficiency in the...

An influential group of MPs wants an end to repeated last minute extensions to the ban on evictions and instead wants financial support...

Labour’s shadow housing secretary claims that private renters have been “barely considered” during the past year of the pandemic. Thangam Debbonaire made...

Shelter has launched a fund-raising campaign because of what it calls a huge rise in demand for its emergency services, and in anticipation of what...

Many months on from its call for evidence, an influential committee of MPs has still to report on whether it considers...

The campaigning charity Shelter claims 14 per cent of adults in England - that’s six million people - are more worried...

The government has announced a further extension to the current ban on bailiff-enforced evictions in England until May 31. At that point...

Campaigning charity Shelter has criticised Chancellor Rishi Sunak for allegedly leaving “far more people on the brink of homelessness than homeownership.”  Chief...

Letting agents and landlords in a major city have been requested to see if there is a ‘spare’ four bedroom property that...

The Association of Residential Letting Agents says it’s disappointed the Budget failed to address the funding of the private rental sector.  “Extending...

A think tank says large scale intervention in the rental market via loans to tenants is the only way of addressing...

Another council wants an extension to the existing ban on bailiff-enforced evictions, which is scheduled to end on February 22.  Yesterday our...

The Law Society is raising concerns about the government’s mediation scheme announced at the time of the last eviction ban decision. The...

A charity claims that young people under 25 in full-time work across England are unable to afford privately rented accommodation anywhere in the...

The long-awaited Renters' Reform Bill, promised 14 months ago, is likely to be introduced to the House of Commons “very soon.” The...

A Labour MP and a newspaper have joined forces to campaign against so-called ‘exempted rental accommodation’. One of Birmingham’s MPs - Jack...

Letting agents are being offered a free consultation helpline during the pandemic.  Julie Condliffe, a lawyer and property investment expert, says the...

Campaign group Generation Rent says thousands of tenants in areas of the country under Tier 3 Coronavirus restrictions are in danger...

It’s a year today since the closure of the formal government consultation into scrapping Section 21 powers for agents and landlords. In last...

ARLA Propertymark has welcomed the creation of a financial lifeline for tenants in Wales in arrears because of Coronavirus.  The association has...

The Chartered Institute of Housing claims there may be a “massive increase” in evictions in the near future. In a briefing paper the...

Letting agencies and landlords are being invited by a local council to take part in what it describes as a “risk...

A definitive document has been published by the House of Commons library listing every eviction-related measure taken by UK governments during...

Labour’s housing spokeswoman has accused the government of wasting the last four weeks before the eviction ban ended by putting its...

The Citizens Advice charity claims that new figures suggest concern is building amongst renters about the possibility of losing their home.  It...

The government has made a last minute U-turn on the eviction ban - extending it for four weeks until September 20. Housing...

The Generation Rent pressure group has made a last-ditch argument in favour of keeping the evictions ban, which will lapse at the...

Belvoir is backing a call for a loans scheme in England - similar to one in Wales - to protect tenants...

Labour’s housing spokeswoman says “after the incompetent handling of the exams fiasco, the government must act now to avoid more chaos...

A group of Labour and Liberal Democrat MPs have together claimed that England could witness "a new wave of homelessness" when...

The Local Government Association, which represents almost all councils in England, is calling on the government to scrap section 21. The call comes...

The Citizens Advice charity is warning it has seen a huge surge in private renters worried about arrears.  And it says many...

The Welsh Government has temporarily increased the notice period landlords must provide from three months to six months to end Assured...

A £266m package of help to support vulnerable people into long term accommodation includes possible options to use the private rental...

London Mayor Sadiq Khan, has told the government of “illegal evictions by letting agents” - without specifying the incidents he refers...

Former Labour Baroness Alicia Kennedy, the new director of the campaign group Generation Rent, claims 500,000 renters are in arrears as...

A council with a large number of short let properties within its boundaries is urging owners to convert them to traditional...

A lettings sector trade body, acting with homelessness charities, is urging the government to do more as young people in rented...

Shelter has launched an email campaign to the Housing Secretary, Robert Jenrick, urging him to act to avoid “unfair evictions that...

Activists who praised the government for its eviction ban in recent months have now turned on it in a last-ditch attempt...

A pro-tenant campaign group has this morning kicked off its campaign to have the eviction ban - already extended until late...

One of the rental sector’s highest-profile trade bodies has accused pro-tenant group Generation Rent of needlessly scaring renters with the spectre...

A local authority is imploring private landlords and providers of short-term lets, including Airbnb hosts, to lease their properties and thus...

Campaigning organisations that demanded an extension to the evictions ban imposed because of the Coronavirus crisis have been quick to return...

The government is extending the eviction ban for a further two months. A tweet early this evening from Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick...

The campaigning charity Shelter says young adults are more in danger of homelessness than any other age group - and puts...

The Chartered Institute of Housing has published proposals aimed at avoiding a spike in private rental sector evictions when the current...

A group of activists in London claim as many as 2,500 tenants are on a rent-strike during the Coronavirus crisis. The number is...

A London council has sent an open letting to its buy to let landlords urging them to show understanding to tenants...

Labour’s proposal to extend the current ban on private rental sector evictions could end up with some landlords in financial ruin.  Landlord...

A group of private rental activists says Labour proposals to give tenants two years to repay arrears accrued during the virus...

Labour wants tenants running up arrears during the Coronavirus crisis to have two years to repay them, as part of a...

The Generation Rent pressure group, fiercely critical of agents and landlords in recent months, wants the government to implement a 12 month...

The Association of Independent Inventory Clerks says it has contacted the government to see whether its members are deemed ‘essential’ and...

The three month outright eviction ban pledged to renters last week appears to have been watered down in the Coronavirus Emergency...

A new service called Cornwall Housing Private Lets has been set up in the west country to try to lure private...

One of the country’s top law groups has backed government moves to scrap Section 21.  The call comes from the Law Society for...

New research claims that one in every 50 homes in the capital is let on a short-term platform like Airbnb or...

The national homelessness charity Crisis has unearthed shocking findings about a common but under-reported form of homelessness – sofa surfing. The report,...

Campaigning charity Shelter claims 135,000 children in Britain are homeless and living in temporary accommodation this Christmas - the highest number...

Generation Rent, a campaign group that is consistently critical of lettings agencies and landlords, says a priority of the new government...

Luton council has opened Lets Squared, a High Street lettings and estate agency using public funds - even though the town...

The pressure group Generation Rent, which in the past has been highly critical of letting agents and other aspects of the...

Another law firm has sharply criticised the government’s proposals to abolish Section 21 eviction powers for landlords. Devonshires says the government should...

A senior Labour housing spokesman is urging the government to press on with plans to outlaw the use of Section 21...

Two housing charities have called for the government to invest more in housing benefit so it rises in line with private...

Landlords have urged the authorities not to introduce rent controls in Manchester as they would 'choke off' supply of housing in...

Private landlords are to be given a month’s rent upfront and 12 months’ membership of a trade body if they sign...

The Liberal Democrat conference, which begins on Saturday, is to debate a resolution calling for the scrapping of Section 21 -...

There’s been a fierce outcry from Conservative MPs and the lettings industry in response to Labour’s threat to give private rental...

Claims that the use of Section 21 ‘no fault’ eviction notices is the leading cause of homelessness in the UK are...

An outspoken Conservative party figure says government policies such as the scrapping of Section 21 will play into the hands of...

The All-Party Parliamentary Group for Housing and Care for Older People has sharply criticised the PRS as being ill-equipped to cater...

Portsmouth council is the latest local authority to offer to rent properties from private landlords to let out to the homeless.  The...

Throughout April and May, we ran a high-profile campaign across our sites, Landlord Today, Estate Agent Today, Letting Agent Today and...

The Welsh Government has started a formal consultation on proposals that include extending the minimum notice period applicable to a section...

A council claims that its decision to set up its own lettings agency has prevented homelessness for almost 50 families and...

The government’s plan to scrap Section 21 is personally backed by the Prime Minister and will begin formal consultations today. If the...

There’s been general support for last week’s judgment by the High Court that the government’s Right To Rent policy breaches human...

The government has announced that over £19.5m is to be spent on paying deposits or paying the first month’s rent for...

A free-to-use ‘Housing Early Prevention Service’ runs by a council on the south coast has been deemed such a success it...

New rules are to be introduced to ensure mandatory electrical inspections on private rental properties are carried out by competent and...

A substantial study by university academics suggests that changes to the benefit system lie behind the long-term rise in homelessness from...

November 5 is the next key date for the passage of the Tenants’ Fees Bill, the measure which is likely to...

Trade bodies have welcomed a government initiative to get more homeless people, as well as those at risk of becoming homeless,...

Croydon council is reported to have become the first local authority to back the scrapping of Section 21 of the 1988...

Labour has outlined its proposals for the private rental sector if it gains power at the next General Election - and...

The campaign group Generation Rent is back on the warpath in opposition of Section 21, which it describes as “the leading...

A respected property lawyer says she wants a change in the law to prevent unscrupulous landlords from offering accommodation in return for sex.  Liz...

A local authority has started a one-year trial of a ‘social lettings agency’ which aims to match those at risk of...

The government has responded to a petition calling for it to abolish the 3% stamp duty surcharge and reintroduce full buy-to-let...

A statement from the government has repeated its determination to clean up the private rental sector through a series of measures,...

The government has pledged to begin a review of the selective licensing across the private rental sector once MPs return from...

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has used a holiday season interview to repeat his pledge to swing powers back towards private tenants...

One of the industry’s leading trade bodies wants the government to halt the Right To Rent programme after evidence shows some...

A senior housing official at Bristol city council says the increasing popularity of Airbnb has had the effect of taking “hundreds”...

A Welsh local authority is offering a cash payment of up to £1,200 to landlords who join a quasi-letting agency run...

MPs from the cross-party Parliamentary Group for Ending Homelessness have spoken out on the need to help homeless people into the...

The National Landlords’ Association appears to be first off the starting blocks with its submission to government ahead of the next...

The Association of Residential Letting Agents says the costs of tenant referencing must be exempt from the government’s proposed ban on...

Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon says she has been “horrified” to read allegations of some property owners offering rent-free accommodation in...

Half of England’s local authorities claim it is ‘very difficult’ to assist homeless applicants into privately rented accommodation, according to a...

A campaign group has been refocussed with the objective of making the government honour its Autumn Statement pledge to ban letting...

A Bill has received all-party support in the House of Commons despite one industry body's view that it contains significant dangers...

A new app created in partnership with a homelessness charity aims to give independent agencies the ability to push properties direct...

An industry group has analysed changes made to the Homelessness Bill and has concluded that far from being something it could...

Tenants who are advised by local councils and advice agencies to ignore eviction notices could cost the average landlord almost £7,000. The...

An industry body has backed a Conservative MP's anti-homelessness Bill, which has been published by the Communities and Local Government Select Committee.   The...

A landlord has been fined just £440 after he effectively left a tenant homeless.    Warrington Magistrates Court heard that Peter Lamont, the...

Government policy is making it harder than ever for benefits claimants and the homeless to rent homes, according to a new...

A trade body is warning that the government’s new Universal Credit payments could have a disastrous impact on private lettings with...

The Residential Landlords’ Association is standing up for the private rental sector in its response to the government’s inquiry into homelessness. The...

The charity Crisis is warning that an unintended consequence of the controversial Right To Rent legislation which became law this week...

Right To Rent checks will become mandatory in England from February 1st, the government has announced. Under the new rules, landlords who...

Bournemouth council has set up a private sector rental company which will see it buy properties and then let them.  The decision...