Ealing Council is inviting landlords and tenants to a free workshop on how HMOs affect local communities and neighbourhoods. The event runs alongside a consultation on whether to extend additional licensing for smaller HMOs for a further five years from April 2027.
The government has announced a new supported scheme intended to help consumers identify trusted builders and reduce losses from rogue operators. The measures include an Approved Code for higher standards of service, transparency and dispute resolution, plus milestone-based payment protections during building projects.
A Lewisham landlord and her husband have been fined and ordered to pay compensation after a court found they illegally evicted and harassed a tenant. The case followed a council prosecution and involved removal of locks, threats, and loss of the tenant’s belongings, with the tenant later requiring hospital treatment.
Tribunal activity over market rent disputes has risen sharply since the Renters’ Rights Act came into force, with tenants bringing a growing share of cases. Legal commentators say the change is shifting the balance of power towards tenants and increasing the importance of evidence-based rent setting and strict procedural compliance.
The article reports rising losses from impersonation scams, with criminals increasingly using sophisticated tactics and AI-enabled methods to bypass verification checks. An AML expert argues that current identity and compliance controls are not keeping pace, creating both financial harm and legal exposure for regulated firms.
A landlord company and its directors have been fined after pleading guilty to breaching an enforcement notice for failing to repair a neglected historic building in Stoke-on-Trent. The case forms part of a wider council heritage enforcement programme targeting more than 100 buildings in the city.
The article reports claims that some landlords and letting agents are attempting to work around the Renters Rights Act by seeking one-off payments or by advertising rents above market levels and then inviting lower offers. It argues these practices may be designed to offset restrictions on fixed-term tenancies and bidding wars under the new regime.
The article warns that property fraud remains a significant risk for buyers, sellers, landlords and owner occupiers, with HM Land Registry reporting 97 attempted title fraud cases in a year involving properties worth £58 million. It highlights that landlords, overseas owners and owners of empty or mortgage-free properties may be especially vulnerable, while buyers also face payment diversion fraud during conveyancing.
HMRC valuation agents are reported to be preparing in-person inspections of homes to determine whether they meet the £2 million threshold for the High Value Council Tax Surcharge, due to start in April 2028. The article says the assessments will consider both market value and property characteristics such as rooms, storeys, bedrooms and bathrooms, with refusal to cooperate potentially attracting a criminal penalty.
The article warns landlords to carry out robust tenant due diligence and respond quickly if illegal tobacco activity is suspected at commercial premises. It highlights Oxfordshire County Council trading standards investigations into counterfeit and smuggled tobacco sales linked to organised criminality, tax evasion and money laundering.
