January 2018

Dominic Raab MP has been named as the new Minister responsible for Housing in the Cabinet reshuffle this week, replacing Alok Sharma. Mr Raab’s appointment makes him the sixteenth Housing Minister since 1997. But who is he? And what does his appointment suggest for the PRS? Prior to taking up his new role, Dominic Raab […]

The post Dominic Raab: Who is the new housing minister? appeared first on RLA Campaigns and News Centre.

A member posted on our Forum recently with a query about whether he is responsible for changing the bulbs in several non-standard light fittings in a property that he lets out. The property has flush fitting lights rather than standard bulb holders. The issue was that two bulbs had gone, and the tenant at the […]

The post Forum Spotlight: Responsibility for changing non-standard light fittings appeared first on RLA Campaigns and News Centre.

From April 1st 2018, landlords will no longer be able to give a tenancy or renew and existing one for a property with an EPC rating of less than E. As this date is fast approaching, some landlords are concerned that their properties will not quite reach these minimum standards and have started looking to […]

The post Call of the Week: Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards appeared first on RLA Campaigns and News Centre.

The RLA’s research into Universal Credit and its impact on the PRS was quoted extensively in a Westminster debate today. Several Ministers cited data from the RLA’s research arm PEARL during discussions on the effect of Universal Credit on the private rented sector. Leading the debate, Stephen Lloyd MP referred to research by the RLA, which found […]

The post RLA’s Universal Credit research used in Westminster debate appeared first on RLA Campaigns and News Centre.

Sajid Javid has kept his job as head of Communities and Local Government and today seen housing added to his ministerial title – but what does this actually mean? Number 10 has announced the minister is now Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government (HCLG). Housing already fell under the department’s remit, but […]

The post Cabinet reshuffle: What does it mean for housing? appeared first on RLA Campaigns and News Centre.

AS Members of Parliament prepare to debate the impact of Universal Credit on the private rented sector, research finds that 73 per cent of landlords still lack confidence in renting to tenants on the Credit due to uncertainty that they will be able to recover rent arrears. The Residential Landlords Association (RLA) today reveals the […]

The post Revealed: The true impact of Universal Credit on the rental market appeared first on RLA Campaigns and News Centre.

Changes to Universal Credit will make it easier for direct payments to be made to landlords. Following extensive campaigning by the RLA, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has confirmed to it that landlords will no longer need tenants’ consent when applying for Alternative Payment Arrangements (APAs). APAs allow the housing element of Universal […]

The post RLA work secures Universal Credit win appeared first on RLA Campaigns and News Centre.

RLA trainer, housing benefit and Universal Credit expert Bill Irvine returns with news that the DWP will no longer need tenant’s consent when applying for Alternative Payment Arrangements (APAs) – and how the RLA helped secure this win. He said: “Good morning, and a happy and prosperous New Year to you. I’m delighted to start […]

The post Big win as ‘explicit consent’ no longer required for APAs appeared first on RLA Campaigns and News Centre.

Winds of 90mph have seen tens of thousands of homes left without power, ripped off roof tiles and felled trees and fences as Storm Eleanor wreaked havoc across the country overnight. The Environment Agency has issued 65 flood warnings and dozens of alerts across the country. And the UK Met Office said flying debris could lead […]

The post Storm Eleanor: Make sure your tenants and their homes are safe appeared first on RLA Campaigns and News Centre.

January is here, and while most people associate September with the month that students start University, hundreds of students across the country are preparing to start University courses this month. The weeks Forum Spotlight focuses on a landlord who rents a property to students. Each student is given a ‘Welcome pack’ on their arrival date, […]

The post Forum Spotlight: What should I include in a welcome pack? appeared first on RLA Campaigns and News Centre.