March 2017

An online budgeting tool for people who claim Universal Credit has been launched by the Department for Work and Pensions. Universal Credit bundles all benefits – including housing – into a single payment, giving claimants greater freedom to control their own finances. However the new system has caused headaches for landlords, with 25% of those […]

The post Money manager tool for Universal Credit claimants appeared first on RLA Campaigns and News Centre.

The government has rejected calls to halt the roll out of Universal Credit. During oral questions to Ministers at the Department for Work and Pensions yesterday, Dr Eilidh Whiteford MP SNP, Banff and Buchan demanded the programme be stopped, claiming it was ‘simply not working’. She said: “Rent arrears are soaring, claimants are waiting up […]

The post Government rejects calls to halt Universal Credit roll out appeared first on RLA Campaigns and News Centre.

Last week it was reported that the government is planning ‘further sanctions’ for landlords who knowingly let to tenants without permission to live and work in the UK – with the new plans to be revealed in a White Paper this summer. Landlords already face up to five years in prison and unlimited fines for […]

The post Letter to minister calls for clarity on immigration plans appeared first on RLA Campaigns and News Centre.

The RLA is welcoming the new Rugg Review into the state of the PRS announced today by the Nationwide Foundation. Since the last review was released in 2008 the private rented sector has changed almost beyond recognition, with more and more people living in rented homes. The foundation, an independent charity, is now funding the […]

The post New Rugg Review welcomed appeared first on RLA Campaigns and News Centre.

Tenants and landlords rightly want to ensure that rents are paid in full and on time. Universal Credit is failing to provide this, and preventing rent arrears must be crucial to determining the success of this flagship Government programme. Research by the Residential Landlords Association (RLA) last year found that 25 per cent of landlords […]

The post Private landlords need a better deal from Universal Credit appeared first on RLA Campaigns and News Centre.

To make renting better we are conducting extensive research into the different issues affecting landlords, tenants and the sector. As part of our long term research strategy we are conducting regular quarterly surveys with landlords, agents and members to understand how recent changes (including tax changes) are impacting on their letting business and also trends […]

The post Launch of “State of the PRS” Quarterly Survey appeared first on RLA Campaigns and News Centre.

Compulsory Client Money Protection (CMP) schemes are set to be introduced for agents under recommendations from a government working group. Under the new plans announced today agents found to be handling client money without having CMP will be fined or shut down. Those who receive fines for non- compliance should not be allowed to continue […]

The post BREAKING: Client Money Protection set to become compulsory appeared first on RLA Campaigns and News Centre.

The Supreme Court has refused Leeds City Council permission to appeal a decision ruling in favour of landlords, following a protracted battle over council tax payments. The case of Leeds City Council v Broadley centred around the question of who is responsible for paying the council tax on a property if the tenant moves out, but a […]

The post Council refused permission to appeal Broadley case appeared first on RLA Campaigns and News Centre.

An MP is calling for greater policing of short-term lets such as Airbnb rentals, quoting RLA research in the House of Commons. Labour MP Karen Buck yesterday introduced a 10-minute Rule Bill in the House of Commons to highlight the dangers of Airbnb and similar lettings sites to neighbourhoods and the wider rental sector. The bill […]

The post MP targeting Airbnb quotes RLA research in Commons appeared first on RLA Campaigns and News Centre.

On 6 April provisions of the Housing and Planning Act that directly affect landlords will start to come into force under a recent commencement order, click here. These only apply in England as most of the Act has no application in Wales. The two key areas which will come into effect in April are: the […]

The post The Housing and Planning Act Starts to Bite appeared first on RLA Campaigns and News Centre.