General

Government Facing More Criticism Over PRS Oversight

As the UK Government battles growing criticism on various fronts, watchdogs and industry bodies are sharing their dissatisfaction. A recent report from the National Audit Office (NAO) suggests government regulation of the Private Rental Sector (PRS) makes it unfair towards renters. That's a view that lettings professionals and even some MPs have shared in the past week or so.

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Rent Guarantor Dec 21, 2021

General

Luton and Norwich Enter the Top 10 BTL Investment Cities Across the UK

As we near the end of a whirlwind 2021, many people are considering their plans for the coming year, including potential investment options. If Buy-to-Let (BTL) investment is on your wish list for 2022 - as a new landlord or expanding your existing portfolio - then some recent research might be helpful. An annual BTL city tracker details some key elements property investors look for, giving you a good idea of what kind of price you can expect to pay and also the potential yield you could secure.

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Rent Guarantor Dec 14, 2021

General

Welsh Government Launches PRS Leasing Scheme

Public sector tenants in Wales should be given the opportunity to agree long-term tenancies on properties leased from the private rental sector following the announcement of new government scheme. The news comes in addition to a previous commitment from the Welsh government to build 20,000 affordable homes for rent in the next five years.

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Rent Guarantor Dec 07, 2021

General

Updates to smoke and carbon monoxide alarm regulations

New rules on smoke and carbon monoxide alarms in rented properties have recently been announced, as the government continues to push forward safety standards in the private and social rented sectors. While the rule changes have come out of a 2020 white paper on social housing, the amended regulations will affect private rented accommodation too.

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Rent Guarantor Dec 01, 2021

General

Are councils still too soft on rogue landlords?

A new report suggests that local authorities are still failing to tackle criminal landlords, despite having extensive powers to do so. Coming at a time when many councils have implemented additional/selective licensing schemes for landlords, this does seem to cast some doubt on the value of these schemes, and poses some interesting questions in the context of upcoming rental reform.

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Rent Guarantor Nov 24, 2021

General

Rental Supply Falls as Demand remains Upbeat

The UK's supply of rental homes is once again coming under pressure as demand from tenants across most regions continue to recover from the lows seen during the height of the pandemic. Two separate surveys report that demand from tenants is rising across the country with London in particular experiencing a sustained period of increased interest.

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Rent Guarantor Nov 23, 2021