Latest news with #RentersRightsBill
Telegraph
18-07-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
Labour hands councils powers to secretly inspect landlords' properties
'Powers of entry are intrusive by their nature. If they are to be exercised without prior warning, there must be rigorous justification, robust checks and balances and explicit limits to prevent overreach. That bar has not been met. 'These amendments risk tipping the balance too far, undermining transparency and weakening the very safeguards that protect landlords and tenants alike,' he added. It means landlords may be hit with fines from inspections they didn't know were happening. It could leave them footing the bill for tenants' negligence, such as failing to properly ventilate a property to prevent mould. The maximum penalty that a council can issue to a landlord without needing to go to court is £30,000. If the Renters' Rights Bill becomes law, this will increase to £40,000. The British Landlords' Association welcomed the changes as 'in everyone's best interests'. But Sajjad Ahmad, its chief executive, warned against 'sneaky inspections'. He said: 'Inspections should not be done without landlords present. Everyone should be there, as well as the tenants and council officers. This means you can more easily get a solution, rather than issues going on and on.' When the bill passes, Awaab's law will also be applied to the private rental sector. The law forces landlords to take immediate action to remove mould and damp, after two-year-old Awaab Ishak died from respiratory issues caused by exposure to black mould. Baroness Taylor of Stevenage, parliamentary under-secretary of state for housing, told members of the House of Lords that giving notice can lead to 'unscrupulous landlords hiding evidence of breaches'. The Chartered Institute of Environmental Health, which called for the removal of the 24-hour period, has welcomed the news. Mark Elliott, the institute's president said: 'We are delighted that the Government has recognised the need to remove this requirement, which has long been a barrier to effective enforcement of housing legislation. 'The current requirement provides an opportunity for the landlord to appear at the inspection, which can be an intimidating experience for the tenant making the complaint. 'Local authorities should be able to conduct such visits without giving the landlord 24 hours' notice, permitting private conversations with the tenant before the local authority contacts the landlord to notify them if works are required.' Changes for landlords The renters' rights amendments also need to be passed in the House of Commons. The bill – due to come into force this autumn – will also abolish so-called 'no fault' evictions, introduce an ombudsman for the private rental sector and make enforcement against rogue landlords stronger. It also means landlords will be forced to wait three months before taking action against non-paying tenants. Rentals that fall short of energy efficiency standards will be banned by 2030, costing landlords an average bill of £10,000 to bring their properties up to code. The increasingly hostile business environment under Labour is forcing landlords to sell up. The number of UK properties available to let has hit an all-time low of 284,000, falling 18pc in the year to March, according to analytics firm TwentyCi. The National Residential Landlords' Association (NRLA) said that 'the majority of responsible landlords must not be treated as though they are part of the problem'. A spokesman said: 'The amendment passed in the House of Lords raises concerns. The NRLA is supportive of effective enforcement, but it is important that actions taken by enforcement bodies are proportionate to the issue being investigated and seek to work with all involved to achieve the best possible outcome. 'We urge the Government to ensure that any new enforcement measures are applied in a targeted and proportionate way.'
Times
17-07-2025
- Politics
- Times
Renters' Rights Bill eviction cases set to overwhelm courts
Courts and tribunals will be overwhelmed with cases as a result of government plans to shake up the private rental sector, lawyers for tenants and landlords warn. The Renters' Rights Bill, which is going through the House of Lords, is the first significant legislative reform of private renting since the Housing Act 1988. Ministers have said that it will improve the system for England's 11 million private renters and 2.3 million landlords — giving tenants greater power to challenge poor practice and unfair rent increases, while helping those letting property who are 'undercut by the rogues and chancers'. Building on the Conservative's Renters (Reform) Bill, key changes include ending 'no-fault', or section 21, evictions, reforming the grounds for possession and ending fixed-term tenancies in favour of periodic tenancies. The law will end the practice of rental bidding wars by landlords and agents, make it illegal to discriminate against prospective tenants in receipt of benefits or with children and apply Awaab's law to require landlords to fix hazards within a certain timeframe.
Daily Mail
11-07-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Homes for sale at seven year high as landlords flood the market
The number of homes for sale is at a seven-year high, according to the latest figures. Almost half a million properties were put on the market between April and June this year, according to data firm TwentyCi. The 493,500 total was 26,000 more than during the same period last year, and the highest number in any three-month window since 2018. The glut of homes for sale is being caused in part by landlords looking to sell up. The latest market survey by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (Rics) suggests landlords are heading for the exit amid higher interest rates, increasing regulation and the upcoming Renters' Rights Bill. The closely-watched monthly survey takes the temperature of Rics members - estate agents and chartered surveyors - and gives a snapshot of what is happening on the ground in the property market across the country. 'We're certainly seeing a big upturn in landlords looking to exit the market before the Renter's Rights Act comes into force, said Will Ravenhill, a Rics member in Leicester. Meanwhile, Howard Davis, a Rics member based in Bristol said this would 'in time make rental properties more expensive for tenants' because of 'less supply and increased demand.' Are homes on the market selling? Despite the glut of homes on the market, there has been an 8.7 per cent drop in the number of confirmed sales compared to the same period last year according to TwentyCi. This could be attributed to the first three months of 2025 seeing a frenzied rush from buyers aiming to complete before 31 March, which marked the end of the temporary stamp duty tax relief introduced in September 2022. 'The stamp duty changes in April cast a shadow over the market as brought-forward demand evaporated,' said Alex Bannister, independent board advisor at TwentyCi. 'Nevertheless, peering through the fog of data, you can make out a market which remains buoyant, with mortgage approvals for house purchases up in May. 'While house prices have flattened in the last few months, they are still up over 2 per cent on a year ago. 'Prospective homebuyers remain largely employed, getting pay rises and renting remains an unattractive alternative. Steady as she goes appears to be the order of the day for the UK housing market.' Where are the hottest housing markets? Manchester recorded the highest increase in demand of any major city between April and June, compared with the same period in 2024, according to TwentyCi. It found the number of sold subject to contract listings rose by 15 per cent in the city, followed by Cardiff at 11 and Edinburgh at 11 per cent respectively. Birmingham has also seen the number of listing showing as sold jump by 10 per cent year-on-year while Nottingham has seen sold listings rise 8 per cent. Demand rose across all major cities throughout April to June except for inner London, where demand dropped by 3.6 per cent. According to TwentyCi, the capital is becoming 'decoupled' from the rest of the UK housing market. Colin Bradshaw, chief executive of TwentyCi, said: 'Inner London properties are typically more expensive and tend to be financed through larger mortgages. Despite recent reductions, borrowing costs remain high, making affordability an issue. 'Demographically, many inner London homeowners are wealthier and less pressured to sell. If they can't achieve their desired price, they're choosing to withdraw from the market, reducing transaction volumes. 'Furthermore, the March 2025 reversal of temporary stamp duty reliefs has cooled demand, especially for high-value properties, which now incur significantly higher taxes.' How to find a new mortgage Borrowers who need a mortgage because their current fixed rate deal is ending, or they are buying a home, should explore their options as soon as possible. Buy-to-let landlords should also act as soon as they can. Quick mortgage finder links with This is Money's partner L&C > Mortgage rates calculator > Find the right mortgage for you What if I need to remortgage? Borrowers should compare rates, speak to a mortgage broker and be prepared to act. Homeowners can lock in to a new deal six to nine months in advance, often with no obligation to take it. Most mortgage deals allow fees to be added to the loan and only be charged when it is taken out. This means borrowers can secure a rate without paying expensive arrangement fees. Keep in mind that by doing this and not clearing the fee on completion, interest will be paid on the fee amount over the entire term of the loan, so this may not be the best option for everyone. What if I am buying a home? Those with home purchases agreed should also aim to secure rates as soon as possible, so they know exactly what their monthly payments will be. Buyers should avoid overstretching and be aware that house prices may fall, as higher mortgage rates limit people's borrowing ability and buying power. What about buy-to-let landlords Buy-to-let landlords with interest-only mortgages will see a greater jump in monthly costs than homeowners on residential mortgages. This makes remortgaging in plenty of time essential and our partner L&C can help with buy-to-let mortgages too. How to compare mortgage costs The best way to compare mortgage costs and find the right deal for you is to speak to a broker. This is Money has a long-standing partnership with fee-free broker L&C, to provide you with fee-free expert mortgage advice. Interested in seeing today's best mortgage rates? Use This is Money and L&Cs best mortgage rates calculator to show deals matching your home value, mortgage size, term and fixed rate needs. If you're ready to find your next mortgage, why not use L&C's online Mortgage Finder. It will search 1,000's of deals from more than 90 different lenders to discover the best deal for you. > Find your best mortgage deal with This is Money and L&C Be aware that rates can change quickly, however, and so if you need a mortgage or want to compare rates, speak to L&C as soon as possible, so they can help you find the right mortgage for you.
The Independent
22-06-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Almost a quarter of privately rented homes in UK fail to meet basic living standards
New analysis reveals almost a quarter of privately rented Homes in the UK, over a million properties, fail to meet basic living standards. This includes nearly half a million Homes with Category 1 hazards, posing serious and immediate risks to health and safety, alongside issues like poor thermal comfort and disrepair. The findings are highlighted as the UK experiences high temperatures, raising concerns about the safety and liveability of these substandard Homes. The Liberal Democrats, who commissioned the research, are advocating for a new insulation program and an immediate ban on no-fault evictions. The government is addressing the issue through a new Renters' Rights Bill, aiming to end no-fault evictions and enforce the Decent Homes Standard in the private rental sector.
Times
13-06-2025
- General
- Times
My tenant has got two dogs without permission — what should I do?
My tenant has got two dogs without asking permission, which my letting agent discovered during a routine inspection. The tenancy agreement clearly states no pets, but my agent says there's not much we can do about it now. The flat is quite small with no garden, so I don't think it's suitable for dogs. What are my options with the present tenant, and will I be forced to allow pets when the Renters' Rights Bill comes in and I next look for new tenants? Helen, Brighton Your agent is right that while your tenant has clearly breached the tenancy agreement, the practical options for dealing with it are quite limited. Technically, you could attempt to end the tenancy by serving a section 8 notice using ground 12 for breach of tenancy terms. But this is a discretionary ground, and a judge would be unlikely to grant possession just for failing to obtain permission for pets when there's no evidence of serious damage or nuisance.
