Harrow Landlord Licensing Scheme Proposals Could Force Landlords To Make Monthly Rental Property Visits
Harrow council’s decision to force private rental sector (PRS) landlords to make monthly inspections of their rental properties could be in breach of tenant rights, according to the National Landlord Association, (NLA).
Harrow Council’s Selective Landlord Licensing scheme comes into force […]
Harrow Selective Landlord Licensing Scheme Proposals Could Breach Tenants Rights
Harrow Landlord Licensing Scheme Proposals Could Force Landlords To Make Monthly Rental Property Visits
Harrow council’s decision to force private rental sector (PRS) landlords to make monthly inspections of their rental properties could be in breach of tenant rights, according to the National Landlord Association, (NLA).
Harrow Council’s Selective Landlord Licensing scheme comes into force on the 1st November 2015, and it is proposed that PRS landlords in Edgware will be required to make monthly inspections of their rental properties, disturbing the tenant’s right to quiet enjoyment of the property and creating extra work for landlords.
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New Measures Allow Londoners To Conduct Short Term Letting
Of Homes For Extra Cash
The UK Government have announced that they are set to introduce new measures that will bring to an end outdated rules from the 1970’s that prevented home owners in London from renting out their properties on a short-term basis to […]
Government End Outdated Law To Allow Short Term Letting In London
New Measures Allow Londoners To Conduct Short Term Letting
Of Homes For Extra Cash
The UK Government have announced that they are set to introduce new measures that will bring to an end outdated rules from the 1970’s that prevented home owners in London from renting out their properties on a short-term basis to visitors.
Communities and Local Government (CLG), Secretary Eric Pickles said that there were almost 5 million overseas visitors to the capital between July and September 2013, and thousands of properties were advertised as being available as holiday lets on travel accommodation websites such as Airbnb.
However, under laws dating back to the 1970’s, Londoners who want to rent out their properties for less than 3 months, technically still have to apply for planning permission from the council, which does not apply anywhere else in the UK.
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New Proposals Could Critically Damage The Private Rented Sector In Wales
New Proposals Could Be Costly For
Landlords With Properties In Wales
There Residential Landlords Association (RLA) have released alarming news that will cause major concern for landlords who own rental properties in Wales
Cardiff city council released two new consultations before Easter 2014,
- Considerable change in planning guidance
- The extension of additional licensing to Plasnewydd
Rent controls appear to be quite a crucial political issue and with another general election looming the RLA feel that it is imperative that the facts are understood by landlords with rental properties in Wales.
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Selective Licensing Of PRS Landlords Set For Liverpool
Liverpool City council are currently researching proposals to implement a city-wide selective licensing scheme on private rented sector (PRS) landlords and are seeking input and feedback from local landlords prior to taking the proposal further.
Licensing consultation responses are being collected by Liverpool city council as the […]
Selective Licensing Of PRS Landlords Set For Liverpool
Selective Licensing Of PRS Landlords Set For Liverpool
Liverpool City council are currently researching proposals to implement a city-wide selective licensing scheme on private rented sector (PRS) landlords and are seeking input and feedback from local landlords prior to taking the proposal further.
Licensing consultation responses are being collected by Liverpool city council as the consultation opened on 24th March 2014 and is expected to close on 16th June 2014.
The local authority insist that the licensing of all private rental sector landlords in the city will help improve the overall standard of accommodation in the borough’s private rented sector (PRS) and will also help to tackle low demand.
The city council’s consultation documents reference anti-social behaviour (ASB), but do not position anti-social behaviour as a primary reason for the scheme.
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R2R Company Owes Landlords £400,000 Housing Benefit Payments
Around £400,000 (GBP) in housing benefit payments have mysteriously disappeared after being paid to London Housing Solutions one of London’s biggest property agents, who specialise in letting property to tenants claiming benefits, Channel 4 News have revealed.
Channel 4 News attempted to trace both the present and […]
Mystery Of Missing £400,000 Housing Benefit Payments
R2R Company Owes Landlords £400,000 Housing Benefit Payments
Around £400,000 (GBP) in housing benefit payments have mysteriously disappeared after being paid to London Housing Solutions one of London’s biggest property agents, who specialise in letting property to tenants claiming benefits, Channel 4 News have revealed.
Channel 4 News attempted to trace both the present and former directors of the company, who admitted that the money had gone astray, but neither would accept responsibility for its disappearance.
Local Housing Solutions, an offshoot of London Housing Solutions, who until recently shared offices and staff in Catford also denied benefiting from the missing payments.
Channel 4 News understands at least 100 private rented sector landlords are owed rent by London Housing Solutions and the tenants spoken to by Channel 4, fear eviction as a result of the non payments.
The two rent 2 rent companies were originally set up by Keith MacGregor, who failed to respond to Channel 4 News’ accusations.
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Landlords Still Concerned About LHA Tenant Rent Arrears
LHA Tenant Rent Arrears
Are Landlords Worse Case Scenario
The UK private rented sector may be booming and tenant demand is certainly strong but 60% of landlords and letting agents are still concerned about ever receiving the rent if they choose to accept tenants in a rental property who are claiming Local Housing Allowance.
A survey of 500 landlords and letting agents by website Dssmove found that apart from the rent issue, 75% of landlords and agents would be more than happy to let to Local Housing Allowance tenants.
Over half of the landlords and letting agents surveyed believed that tenants claiming Local Housing Allowance are no more troublesome than working tenants, but 61% cite rent collection and rent arrears as a major concern.
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Planning Minister Slams Irresponsible Councils
Government Planning Minister Claims Planning Laws are sending UK housing back to the 19th Century
Planning Minister Nick Boles has stirred up a real hornets’ nest by claiming that local authorities that save green fields instead of building residential properties are irresponsible, and building new homes must be prioritised above preserving fields.
Nick Boles argued that homes create more human happiness than fields, whilst revealing the Government is determined to speed up the rate of residential house building, despite strong opposition.
Mr. Boles slammed local authorities in an interview with the Daily Mail stating:”Deeply irresponsible councils and communities that refuse to co-operate with the government’s expansion plans will risk losing their hospitals and high street shops as their populations shrink. I understand that rural campaigners are very worried when green-field land is replaced by the sheer ugliness and soullessness of housing estates. However, current planning laws are sending Britain back to the 19th century when only the well-off could afford their own home. The sum of human happiness that is created by the houses that are being built is vastly greater than the economic, social and environmental value of a field that was growing wheat or rape.”
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Empty Property Rates – £1.1 Billion Tax Bombshell
The taxpayers Alliance have reported that a massive £1.1 Billion (GBP) was paid last year in Business Rates on empty properties, a rise of 19% between 2009/10 and 2011/12
This is the first time that a figure has been calculated for the amount collected in empty property rates since exemptions for empty commercial and industrial properties were abolished at the 2007 Budget.
Before 2007, empty industrial properties were exempt from Business Rates and empty commercial properties were subject to extensive reliefs and reductions.
Apart from a short exemption period and extremely limited reliefs, full Business Rates are now payable on all empty commercial and industrial properties.
With the economic downturn making it increasingly difficult for commercial landlords to find new tenants, this tax has had some devastating effects:
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Council Tax Changes Costs Landlords
As of 1st April 2013, all UK local authorities will have the discretion to charge the full Council Tax due on any empty properties within their borough. This is bad news for landlords as this will include any empty private sector rental properties.
The changes are designed to increase local authority revenues and will affect properties that until now had been granted automatic exemption or discounts, including furnished and unfurnished properties in the private rented sector (PRS).
Properties that would previously have been exempt including those that are empty because of necessary building work also lose the automatic right to be let off Council Tax for up to a year.
Numerous local authorities have decided to charge the full amount of Council Tax from the outset. The important changes to Council Tax charges are detailed below:
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Yet another local authority has set its sights on compulsory landlord licensing for every privately owned rental property within its boundaries.
Liverpool City Council is the second local authority in the UK to launch a consultation for the introduction of a citywide landlord licensing scheme affecting over 50,000 properties.
The controversial move towards mandatory licensing […]
Yet another local authority has set its sights on compulsory landlord licensing for every privately owned rental property within its boundaries.
Liverpool City Council Want Landlord Licensing To Become Mandatory
Liverpool City Council is the second local authority in the UK to launch a consultation for the introduction of a citywide landlord licensing scheme affecting over 50,000 properties.
The controversial move towards mandatory licensing of all private landlords follows that of Newham, in London, which became the first council in England to introduce mandatory licensing of all private rental properties on January 1st.
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