February 2020

We look at calls for changes to fuel poverty legislation, the continuing debate over who should pay for fire safety work on tower blocks, the latest landlord data and a call for new landlords to be subject to tax changes in a bid to boost home ownership. Government to consult on energy efficiency Peers have […]

The post Today in politics: Energy efficiency, fire safety and tax appeared first on RLA Campaigns and News Centre.

Twelve-month contracts are set to become mandatory in Wales under a new law announced today. Landlords will be unable to serve notice during the first six months of a new let under the Renting Homes (Amendment) (Wales) Bill, with the subsequent notice period extending from two to six months. The combined effect means it will […]

The post Year-long contracts to be made mandatory by the Welsh Government appeared first on RLA Campaigns and News Centre.

Today we look at calls from a Tory Peer for stamp duty reform, calls for an update on right to rent guidance and the latest benefit cap figures. Stamp duty reform Baroness Mone (Conservative) has received a response to her written questions asking: What plans the Government has to introduce new tax incentives in the next budget […]

The post Today in politics: Stamp duty, right to rent and the benefits cap appeared first on RLA Campaigns and News Centre.

We look at plans to extend the CMP deadline for letting agents yet again, debates on Universal Credit and Housing Benefit and research from the RLA and LGA. CMP regulations published The draft Client Money Protection Schemes for Property Agents (Approval and Designation of Schemes) (Amendment) Regulations 2020 and explanatory note have now been published. Rules were […]

The post Today in politics: CMP, RLA research, Universal Credit and housing benefit appeared first on RLA Campaigns and News Centre.

Camden Council is one of the latest in a long line of local authorities planning to ban all ‘to let’ boards from rented homes. The council is following in the footsteps of those in Newcastle, Lincoln and Durham to impose the bans, which have been in place in some towns and cities, including historic areas […]

The post The Big Question: Should ‘to let’ boards be banned? appeared first on RLA Campaigns and News Centre.

This week we were able to assist a member with a query about a tenant who had not paid the rent in more than two months. The tenant is a long standing tenant of the landlord but has started to have big problems with paying rent due to a change in their circumstances. They have now missed […]

The post Call of the Week: Rent arrears appeared first on RLA Campaigns and News Centre.

In the year ending June 2019, 215 people lost their lives due to house fires – including tenants in rented homes. In response to this the Home Office has re-launched its fire safety campaign – including information and advice for landlords and tenants. Landlords’ obligations As a landlord you must: make sure all gas and […]

The post Fire safety – making sure your tenants are safe appeared first on RLA Campaigns and News Centre.

We look at new research demonstrating the ways landlords are contributing to local economies and discuss all the latest news on Universal Credit. Local economy reliant on landlords New buy to let research, surveying 1,000 UK-based landlords, highlights the important contribution they make to their local economy, with eight in ten (81%) turning to a local […]

The post Today in politics: Research and Universal Credit appeared first on RLA Campaigns and News Centre.

A consultation on plans to renew an additional HMO licensing scheme in the city has been extended. The initial consultation period ran for only seven weeks and was due to close on 31st January, something the RLA raised concerns about in its response to the consultation. Specifically, because the consultation was short and ran over […]

The post Cardiff licensing consultation extended over RLA consultation period concerns appeared first on RLA Campaigns and News Centre.

We’re already into the second month of 2020 and it is fair to say the last month has been a busy one in terms of licensing-related news. Each month in our Licensing Update blog, we put together a list of ongoing licensing consultations, which is updated throughout the month and share important licensing news and […]

The post February licensing update for landlords appeared first on RLA Campaigns and News Centre.