July 2017

Tenants are more satisfied with private rented accommodation than those in the social rented sector, according to figures published today from the 2015/16 English Housing Survey. It shows that 82 per cent of private sector tenants are satisfied with their current accommodation, ahead of the 81per cent who said the same about the social […]

The post Housing survey busts myths around PRS housing appeared first on RLA Campaigns and News Centre.

For most landlords, the only tenancy they will ever need is an assured shorthold tenancy. This is the standard, and it is rare to find yourself in a situation where you would have a different type of tenancy. So most landlords become familiar with notices under section 21 or section 8 but rarely need to […]

The post Call of the week – Notice to Quit from a landlord appeared first on RLA Campaigns and News Centre.

More than 4,700 people responded to the government’s consultation on banning fees paid by tenants to landlords and letting agents. The consultation, which closed on June 2 argued for a ban “clear and simple for all involved” and said the proposed measures will “stop hidden charges and end tenants being hit by costly upfront payments […]

The post More than 4,700 respond to Letting Agent Fee consultation appeared first on RLA Campaigns and News Centre.

This week Luton Council announced the start of a Selective Licensing Consultation. Luton has proposed this licensing scheme in five of its wards, the consultation ends Friday 15th September 2017. Selective Licensing was introduced under the Housing Act 2004. The Housing Act 2004 says that before introducing selective licensing to any area local Councils must consult […]

The post Licensing Considered by Luton Council appeared first on RLA Campaigns and News Centre.

The rollout of Universal Credit should be paused until significant problems with it are fixed, says Citizens Advice. In a new report – Delivering on Universal Credit – the charity said the requirement to wait for six weeks to receive any payment means people face serious financial insecurity, with many being forced into debt. The research also identifies […]

The post Pause roll out of Universal Credit says Citizens Advice appeared first on RLA Campaigns and News Centre.

The government has confirmed that changes to EPC rules preventing landlords from renting out inefficient homes WILL be brought in next April. In a high level meeting the department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) confirmed to the RLA there will be no movement on the implementation date – which is now just eight […]

The post Landlords MUST be ready for changes to EPC rules appeared first on RLA Campaigns and News Centre.

Prime Minister Theresa May said the government will concentrate on creating a letting agents fee ban that ‘actually works’ – however she would not be drawn on a timescale. During Prime Minister’s Questions yesterday, Alex Cunningham MP (Labour, Stockton North) asked about the plan. He told the House: “My young constituent paid a £300 house-reservation […]

The post May: We need a fee ban that works appeared first on RLA Campaigns and News Centre.

The work of the Residential Landlords Association has been name-checked in a House of Commons Library paper on tenancy deposit schemes. The paper, which explains the duty private landlords have to protect deposits and summarises how the schemes operate, talks about the helpful advice available from the association’s website, and the work it undertook in […]

The post RLA work quoted in Commons Library Paper appeared first on RLA Campaigns and News Centre.

Two thirds of individual landlords are only liable for the basic rate of income tax according to data released by the government. The Residential Landlords Association (RLA) says that it challenges the myth that landlords are wallowing in vast sums of money and so can cope with tax rises. According to the figures obtained in […]

The post Challenging the myth: Two thirds of landlords pay basic rate tax appeared first on RLA Campaigns and News Centre.

The government has explained the obligations for fire safety in PRS homes. The statement was made in response to a written question from Rachel Reeves MP (Labour, Leeds West) who asked what steps DCLG is taking to ensure that recommended fire safety standards are met in private sector housing. Communities and Local Government Minister, Marcus Jones MP […]

The post Government outlines fire safety obligations in PRS homes appeared first on RLA Campaigns and News Centre.