January 2019

The Tenancy Deposit Scheme has reassured customers all staff are safe and all data secure, following a blaze at its Hemel Hempstead offices. Crews were called to the block which houses TDS and other firms yesterday afternoon and evacuated all staff. The firm, which provides the RLA’s Depositguard service has reassured customers all key website […]

The post TDS reassures members after office blaze appeared first on RLA Campaigns and News Centre.

Julie James AM has been named as the new Minister for Housing and Local Government in Wales. The appointment was made just before Christmas, with Hannah Blythyn AM being named the new Deputy Minister for Housing and Local Government. Julie is the Assembly Member for Swansea West, and prior to taking up her new Ministerial […]

The post Julie James AM named new Welsh Housing Minister appeared first on RLA Campaigns and News Centre.

Landlords in Redbridge are being encouraged to respond to a consultation that is being run by the Council on proposals to introduce an Article 4 direction for HMOs. Currently landlords in Redbridge can convert a family home into a small HMO with up to six occupants WITHOUT planning permission. If a HMO will have seven […]

The post Redbridge Council announces HMO article 4 direction consultation appeared first on RLA Campaigns and News Centre.

There is not long left for you to have your say in the Government’s consultation on proposals to introduce a Housing Court in England. The Government launched the call for evidence last month, and it closes on 22nd January 2019. You can read a recent blog post from our Policy Manager John Stewart, What would […]

The post Make sure you have your say in Government’s Housing Court consultation appeared first on RLA Campaigns and News Centre.

In this week’s #DepositDoctor, TDS address the aftermath of a New Year’s Eve party and answer a landlord’s question: “Can I claim for damage caused at a New Year’s Eve party?” After Christmas, many tenants will be ringing in the New Year with a celebration at home joined by friends and family. Festive drinks, fireworks […]

The post #DepositDoctor: Can I claim for damage caused at a New Year’s Eve party? appeared first on RLA Campaigns and News Centre.

The RLA first promoted its proposals for a new housing court ahead of the 2017 General Election, with the Government launching a consultation into the plans last month. Here, Policy Manager John Stewart blogs about what a housing court could do for landlords. The court system as we know it is broken. Slow, complex, underfunded. A landlord seeking possession against a tenant who does not pay their rent has to […]

The post BLOG: What would a new housing court do for me? appeared first on RLA Campaigns and News Centre.

Landlords are being reminded that they have until 31st January 2019 to file their self-assessment tax returns online. Here, we have compiled together some useful resources if you want to learn more about tax. And with HMRC recently warning of scam doing the rounds, we look at how you can spot, avoid and report internet […]

The post Self -assessment tax deadline fast approaching appeared first on RLA Campaigns and News Centre.

Membership of the Residential Landlords Association (RLA) has hit 35,000. Set up by landlords, for landlords back in 1998, the not-for-profit association – Britain’s leading landlord body – has seen huge growth in recent years, reaching the milestone less than two years after hitting the 30,000 mark. Answering more than 66,000 calls to its helpline […]

The post RLA membership hits 35,000 appeared first on RLA Campaigns and News Centre.

The Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Bill has passed through Parliament and received Royal Assent, making it law. The Bill, tabled by Karen Buck MP, means that it will be a requirement for all social and private landlords (or agents acting on their behalf) in England to ensure that a property is fit for human […]

The post Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Bill becomes law appeared first on RLA Campaigns and News Centre.

Landlords and letting agents in several towns and and cities in England, including Newcastle and Slough, are being invited to have their say on licensing proposals currently under consultation. Newcastle City Council is consulting on plans to introduce both selective and additional licensing in the city. The proposed schemes look set to bring in over […]

The post Landlords views sought in several selective licensing consultations appeared first on RLA Campaigns and News Centre.