January 2017

The London Boroughs of Newham and Bexley have become the most recent London authorities to start licensing consultations. Both authorities have cited supply and demand problems and increased anti-social behaviour as the need for a change in licensing. The licensing options planned for Bexley would take the form of an ‘additional’ licensing scheme for smaller HMOs […]

The post Two More London Authorities Open Licensing Consultations appeared first on RLA Campaigns and News Centre.

Durham County Council are allowing members of the public, landlords, tenants, and estate agents the opportunity to have their say on how letting boards are displayed in the city center. In 2009 Durham Council introduced the non-compulsory Voluntary Code on Letting Boards, which encouraged agents and landlords to be more considerate to the conservation areas […]

The post Durham City Starts Consultation On Letting Boards appeared first on RLA Campaigns and News Centre.

More properties will almost certainly have to be compulsorily licensed from next year. Changes to the current mandatory licensing of Houses in Multiple Occupation are set to be brought in next year. The Government has been consulting on proposals which include removing the current three-storey rule. Also among its proposals, which apply in England only, […]

The post RPI: Mandatory licensing of HMOs appeared first on RLA Campaigns and News Centre.

Buy-to-let landlords are being warned about property scams in which empty homes are being targeted by criminals fraudulently applying for mortgages and loans. The National Fraud Intelligence Bureau’s Proactive Intelligence Team, part of the City of London Police has warned homeowners that criminal networks are identifying empty properties by using the names, then carrying out […]

The post New housing scam warning issued by police appeared first on RLA Campaigns and News Centre.

As a veteran landlord, what would you say to a prospective investor as he or she apprehensively eyes the precarious trail to the summit of the UK property market? Being a landlord anywhere, but particularly in the UK, is nothing short of an extraordinary experience. HMO licences, inventories, gas safety checks, deposit protection, prescribed information, […]

The post Becoming a PRS landlord? RLA provides essential landlord help appeared first on RLA Campaigns and News Centre.

A total of 31 people have been deported as a result of the Government’s right to rent scheme – with 75 landlords fined. According to new Government figures 7,806 calls were made to the Home Office’s helpline for landlords between July 1st 2015 and June 30th last year. And although the Home Office says it […]

The post Right to rent sees 31 deported appeared first on RLA Campaigns and News Centre.

There are now just around 3 weeks to go until tax return deadline day. It was reported that around 8,000 taxpayers took a break from festivities to file their tax return on either Christmas Day or Boxing Day! But if you have yet to complete your self assessment tax return, you will need to move […]

The post Tax Return deadline day fast approaches appeared first on RLA Campaigns and News Centre.

The RLA is asking the Welsh Assembly members to amend tax plans that could make it harder for vulnerable people to rent a home. The call is being made as members of the Assembly will today consider the principles of a proposed law to scrap Stamp Duty in Wales in favour of a new Land […]

The post Assembly urged to amend tax plan appeared first on RLA Campaigns and News Centre.

The first tranche of tougher lending criteria for buy-to-let mortgages, set by the Bank of England’s Prudential Regulation Authority, took effect from 1st January. The new guidance requires lenders to set a more stringent Interest Cover Ratio (ICR) on new borrowing and also apply a stress test, taking into account future interest rate increases. It […]

The post New Year Sees Tougher Standards for Buy-to-Let Borrowers appeared first on RLA Campaigns and News Centre.

A new licensing schemes has been launched in the London borough of Ealing. Since January 1st, landlords who let homes in five wards across the borough must now have licences, in addition to any landlords who rent out houses in multiple occupation (HMO) anywhere in the borough. The new additional licensing scheme applies to all […]

The post Ealing Licensing comes into force appeared first on RLA Campaigns and News Centre.