March 2019

The Fitness for Human Habitation Act 2018 came into force on Wednesday 20th March. This means that from now, landlords (or agents acting on their behalf) in England must ensure their rental property is fit for human habitation, both at the beginning and throughout the tenancy. The RLA has created a guide for landlords on […]

The post Fitness for Human Habitation Act now in force: what landlords need to know appeared first on RLA Campaigns and News Centre.

New research shows landlord licensing schemes to be a postcode lottery – with the most expensive schemes costing 21 times more than the cheapest. The figures were revealed after the RLA’s own research showed is NO clear link between a council having a licensing scheme in place and levels of enforcement. In Scotland and Wales […]

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The Welsh Assembly has considered amendments to the legislation that will ban most fees charged by letting agents and landlords to tenants this week. The Renting Homes (Fees etc) (Wales) Bill, as amended, was agreed by members. It will now progress to Stage 4 for a final debate in the plenary on Wednesday 27th March, […]

The post Welsh fee ban a step closer as Bill passes stage three appeared first on RLA Campaigns and News Centre.

Welcome to ‘Buy to Let Market’, a column aimed at providing you with recent criteria and product updates within the Buy to Let lending markets. Buy to Let Market Update: – Leeds Building Society – has cut rates on selected purchase and remortgage Buy to Let products. Targeted products include the lender’s 60% Loan to […]

The post March Buy to Let Market update appeared first on RLA Campaigns and News Centre.

Landlords who have properties in Scarborough which will fall into the scope of a new selective licensing scheme in the town will be able to apply for licences at the early-bird rate from 1st April. Scarborough Council is planning on introducing a selective licensing scheme on 1st June 2019. The designation will cover privately rented […]

The post Scarborough licensing scheme-early bird discounts on licences available from 1st April appeared first on RLA Campaigns and News Centre.

THE country’s leading landlord organisation is campaigning to protect the rights of landlords to repossess their properties. This follows a recent court case in which a landlord’s attempt to regain their property was deemed invalid due to a dispute over a gas safety certificate. After initially being granted an order to repossess the property using […]

The post Landlords fight for repossession rights appeared first on RLA Campaigns and News Centre.

Landlords are being warned that tenants – especially younger renters – are at risk when it comes to house fires. Overloading electrical sockets, leaving pans on the hob unattended and putting electrical heaters too close to laundry are among the hazards flagged in the Home Office’s revamped Fire Kills campaign – with landlords being advised […]

The post Fire kills – keeping your tenants safe appeared first on RLA Campaigns and News Centre.

RESPONDING to news that Zoopla will ban property owners advertising properties to rent as ‘No DSS’ on its website, Chris Town, Vice Chair of the Residential Landlords Association said: “We welcome today’s announcement from Zoopla which comes after extensive campaigning by the RLA. Landlords should not refuse someone solely because they are on benefits, and […]

The post Landlords respond to ban on ‘No DSS’ adverts by Zoopla appeared first on RLA Campaigns and News Centre.

The Ministry of housing, Communities and Local Government has published the March edition of its private rented sector newsletter. This month’s edition, which can be read online here, includes details of Government guidance that has recently been published relating to Client Money Protection and the Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018. Selective Licensing The […]

The post MHCLG publishes March newsletter on the private rented sector appeared first on RLA Campaigns and News Centre.

The RLA recently raised concerns with Rent Smart Wales, about a situation that a member found themselves in when it came to the registration process. The member had told the RLA that their agent had refused to ‘accept’ them during the Rent Smart Wales registration process-because the agent had failed to see the request to […]

The post Rent Smart Wales update: Has your agent accepted you? appeared first on RLA Campaigns and News Centre.