Industry news
News relating to the private rented sector from both England and Wales, affecting landlords.
Section 21 consultation: Government reveals plans
The Government has published the consultation of abolishing Section 21, so called no fault repossessions in the private rented sector.
Housing market reopens in England
Landlords can now hold viewings and allow tenants to move in and out of rental homes, provided they follow social distancing measures.
Tenant Fees Act: One month to go until extension
The Tenant Fees Act came into force in England last year, and on 1st June 2020, it will be extended to cover all existing tenancies.
Possessions win as Housing Minster quotes NRLA in Commons debate
The NRLA was referenced several times by the Housing Minister Christopher Pincher MP in the Commons when discussing the end to the ban on repossessions next month.
Landlords publish new deal for rented housing
Private landlords are calling on the Government to establish a new landlord and tenant conciliation service as part of its planned changes to the private rented sector. The call, being made by the National Residential Landlords Association, comes as it publishes its proposals for the Renters' Reform Bill.
Plans to change tenancy agreements to allow 'well behaved pets'
The Housing Secretary has announced plans to revise the Government’s model tenancy agreement to allow for “well behaved pets” in properties. The Government says that the plan, announced at the weekend, will ensure that more landlords are catering for responsible pet owners wherever possible.
Boris to be PM, so what can we expect on housing?
Boris Johnson will become the UK’s next Prime Minister, so what does this mean for housing – and in particular the private rented sector? While both Johnson and Hunt have remained tight-lipped on plans regarding housing and the PRS, we can look to his record as London Mayor and to a lesser extent to his Telegraph column to find out more on his stance.
Landlords urged to fight for repossession rights
Landlords are being urged to back a legal case to protect their rights to repossess 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 that landlord was initially granted an order to repossess the property using Section 21 powers, the tenant successfully appealed on the grounds that they were not provided with a gas safety certificate prior to moving in.
Coronavirus: Landlords call for tax relief on empty homes
Landlords are calling on Ministers to tell local authorities that they should not charge council tax on rented homes left empty because of coronavirus. A significant number of rented homes have been left empty because tenants have been unable to take up tenancies, or have chosen to move out to be closer to family during the lockdown.
Success as Government rejects renewal of city-wide Liverpool licensing scheme
Plans to renew a city-wide selective licensing scheme in Liverpool have been rejected by the Government following campaigning by the RLA. Liverpool City Council had proposed to renew its city-wide selective licensing scheme for another five years, with the current scheme due to end on 31st March 2020.
