October 2019

Plans to renew and extend a selective licensing scheme in Wirral have been opposed by the RLA. Wirral Council has put forward plans to re-designate four existing selective licensing areas that are due to expire at the end of June 2020. These areas include Birkenhead South, Egerton North, Egremont Promenade South and Seacombe Library. In […]

The post RLA opposes plans to renew Wirral selective licensing scheme appeared first on RLA Campaigns and News Centre.

The RLA has launched its Quarter 3 survey, and we want to hear from landlords and letting agents about their views and experiences! The research this quarter focuses on the impact on the private rented sector of changes to taxation and tax reliefs. There is also a special section on possible tax breaks to promote […]

The post Share your views on tax changes and energy efficiency appeared first on RLA Campaigns and News Centre.

Tuesday 15th October 2019 Number of New Buy-to-Let Mortgages Completed Continues to Fall Says UK Finance UK Finance has published the latest data on mortgage trends for August 2019. It can be accessed at here. Of note: There were 35,010 new first-time buyer mortgages completed in August 2019, 0.7% more than in the same month […]

The post Housing latest: Your daily update on politics and the private rented sector appeared first on RLA Campaigns and News Centre.

Online letting agent Upad is closing with immediate effect. The shock news was announced on the company’s website this weekend, in a statement reading: “We regret to inform you that Upad is no longer accepting new business. We would like to thank all our customers for their support over the last ten years.” No reason […]

The post Online agent Upad to close: what happens next? appeared first on RLA Campaigns and News Centre.

New guidance has been published by the Home Office on carrying out right to rent checks on nationals of Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea and the USA who have entered the UK through eGates as visitors. The factsheet, which can be read online here, says that nationals from the countries above may […]

The post New Right to Rent guidance for landlords published appeared first on RLA Campaigns and News Centre.

Plans to reduce the number of empty properties in Wales have been put forward by a cross-party group of Assembly-Members. Some the proposals, outlined in a new report by the Equality, Local Government and Communities Committee which frequently cites the RLA, include: The Welsh Government should work with local authorities to develop a national action […]

The post Empty properties in Wales report: AMs back RLA suggestions appeared first on RLA Campaigns and News Centre.

Tenants face an ‘acceleration’ in rent increases over the next five years, because the demand for private rented housing is outstripping supply, according to the Royal Institute for Chartered Surveys (RICS). New figures published in the September 2019: UK Residential Market Survey show that in the lettings market, demand from prospective tenants is rising firmly […]

The post Tenants will be hit by supply crisis in rental market appeared first on RLA Campaigns and News Centre.

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) have updated guidance on consumer protection law for letting professionals with specific consideration for contractual terms that affect benefit recipients. The guidance confirms that if a landlord’s mortgage, lease or other contract includes a clause preventing the landlord from letting to people claiming benefits, then this is material information […]

The post CMA guidance on ‘No DSS’ clauses updated appeared first on RLA Campaigns and News Centre.

Landlords are being advised to check that blinds used by tenants in their rental homes are safe for young children. Older blinds with looped cords or chains may pose a threat to children – but you can make them safer. Changes to standards for blinds in 2014 led to improved product safety, and new blinds with […]

The post Blind cords – is your rental home safe? appeared first on RLA Campaigns and News Centre.

Government proposals to reform the way landlords can repossess properties will not work and threatens the supply of homes for rent, says the RLA. In its response to the Government’s consultation on ending Section 21 repossessions, which closes on Saturday, the RLA argues that what is being proposed fails to give any guarantee that landlords […]

The post Possession reforms dead on arrival say landlords appeared first on RLA Campaigns and News Centre.