Taxing Tenants – RLA backs report demanding change

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A damning new report showing how taxing landlords is actually penalising tenants has been welcomed by the Residential Landlords Association.
‘Taxing tenants: how taxes on landlords end up hitting tenants’, published by the Taxpayers’ Alliance, says the Government’s new tax grabs will inevitably force up rents – having a massive impact on the country’s PRS tenants.
View Full Article: Taxing Tenants – RLA backs report demanding change

What version of the 'How to Rent' booklet do you need to serve?

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This post comes from a discussion I had with Tom Entwistle (LandlordZONE® editor) about a question he had been asked regarding the correct version of the How to Rent Booklet that needs to be served on tenants under the new rules. If you remember, under the Deregulation Act 2015, landlords (or their agents) have to serve […]

… LandlordZONE.

View Full Article: What version of the 'How to Rent' booklet do you need to serve?

Bank of Mum and Dad gives £1bn a year

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The Bank of Mum and Dad is now subsidising their offspring’s housing renting costs to the tune of £1bn a year, that’s the claim of Shelter, the homelessness charity. Shelter claim their research shows that in the UK some 450,000 adults are being helped out with rent payments by their parents. The findings are from […]

… LandlordZONE.

View Full Article: Bank of Mum and Dad gives £1bn a year

Government making it harder for vulnerable to rent PRS homes

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Government policy is making it harder than ever for benefits claimants and the homeless to rent homes, according to a new report based on RLA data.
The Residential Landlords Association has been working with Sheffield Hallam University as part of an investigation into access to the PRS by the homeless and those on benefits.
View Full Article: Government making it harder for vulnerable to rent PRS homes

More middle class renting

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Research carried out by the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) shows that 50% of middle-class children are now caught up in rental accommodation. They are being brought up in rented housing because rising property prices mean couples are being forced to start families before they can afford to buy their first home. The research shows […]

… LandlordZONE.

View Full Article: More middle class renting

Licensing critic Gavin Barwell appointed Housing Minister

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Gavin Barwell was this week named Housing and Planning Minister by new Prime Minister Theresa May. But what is this likely to mean for PRS landlords?
Barwell, MP for Croydon Central said he was keen to work with landlords, councils, housing authorities and developers to tackle the UK housing crisis – and has been a vocal critic of the controversial licensing schemes being introduced throughout the country.
View Full Article: Licensing critic Gavin Barwell appointed Housing Minister

Rents continue to rise…

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Rents continue to rise, though with a slight reduction in the growth rate experienced over the last couple of years. Rental data from the June HomeLet Rental Index shows that in June this year the average UK private rent stood at £773 per calendar month, which is up by 3.5% from the previous year. In […]

… LandlordZONE.

View Full Article: Rents continue to rise…

Home office clarification on Right to Rent for students

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The Government has addressed the confusion over rules regarding Right to Rent checks on foreign students coming to start courses in the UK.
The RLA approached the Home Office asking for clarification on whether checks must be carried out twice – when agreeing the tenancy, potentially months in advance, and again 28 days or less before students were due to move in.
View Full Article: Home office clarification on Right to Rent for students

New Housing Minister appointed

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Gavin Barwell will be taking over from Brandon Lewis as Minister for Housing, Planning and London.  MP for Croydon Central Barwell has joined the team at Department for Communities and Local Government led by Sajid Javid, who was appointed Communities Secretary last week. Brandon Lewis now becomes Minister of State for Policing and the Fire […]

… LandlordZONE.

View Full Article: New Housing Minister appointed

Welsh Assembly urged to scrap unfair landlord tax

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The Residential Landlords Association (RLA) Cymru is asking the Welsh Assembly to scrap the 3% stamp duty levy on buy-to-let properties to boost the number of homes to rent.
The Welsh Assembly is set to adopt the new Land Transaction Tax – the Welsh equivalent to stamp duty – and the RLA is now lobbying AMs to drop the surcharge which was brought in by George Osborne.
View Full Article: Welsh Assembly urged to scrap unfair landlord tax