The Planning Inspectorate has updated guidance and templates for serving notice on other landowners and tenants in planning and listed building consent appeals. The notice must be served within the 21-day period before an appeal is submitted, and a copy of the notice used must be included with the appeal.
Goodlord’s early findings suggest the Renters’ Rights Act is already making agents and landlords more cautious about tenant selection, with many landlords more likely to reject applicants or leave homes vacant while seeking lower-risk tenants. The report also indicates a widening sentiment gap, with tenants becoming more optimistic while landlords remain largely pessimistic, though less so than last year.
The article reports that more than half of letting agents have become more cautious about recommending tenants since the Renters’ Rights Act came into force. Goodlord says this reflects landlord concerns around the end of Section 21, limits on rent in advance and restrictions on bidding above asking rent, with some landlords now more likely to reject applicants or leave properties vacant while waiting for lower-risk tenants.
New research from Thirdfort suggests compliance pressures are rising across conveyancers and legal firms, with most senior compliance leaders expecting anti-money laundering budgets and team sizes to increase over the next year. The survey also points to heavier workloads, fragmented systems and lower confidence in current compliance processes among larger firms.
Blinc-UK has launched a digital tenant referencing service priced at £8 per applicant, combining identity verification, Open Banking, HMRC income data and fraud screening in one report. The company says the product is designed to help letting agents respond to stronger tenant screening needs following the abolition of Section 21 under the Renters’ Rights Act.
Early findings from Goodlord’s State of the Industry Report suggest landlords and letting agents are becoming more selective about tenant applications following the Renters’ Rights Act. The article says this is linked to changes including the end of Section 21, restrictions on rent in advance and the ban on over-bidding, with some landlords preferring to leave properties vacant rather than accept higher-risk applicants.
Landmark Information Group’s research suggests that most recent home buyers and sellers wish they had more information about a property and its location before agreeing a deal. The report says information gaps, delays and poor communication continue to slow transactions, while the sector prepares for government home buying and selling reforms.
Manchester City Council’s planning committee has indicated it is minded to refuse a proposed 17-storey, 153-flat scheme off Rochdale Road. The main concerns were the absence of affordable housing, potential harm to the nearby grade II-listed Marble Arch public house, and the lack of parking.
The Solicitors Regulation Authority has paused its plans to separate compliance officer roles from those with unilateral decision-making powers and will instead work with stakeholders to explore alternatives. The regulator said the original approach may have had unintended consequences for smaller firms and sole practices, and any future implementation will be delayed to allow more review and consultation.
OnTheMarket’s latest Property Sentiment Index suggests that confidence in government housing policy is weak ahead of the Autumn Budget, with many movers and the wider public believing recent policy has harmed the property market. At the same time, expectations of higher borrowing costs have increased, although most active buyers still say they are confident they can fund a purchase.
New research cited by Yopa suggests that many first-time buyers are making significant personal and financial sacrifices to save for a deposit, with a majority reporting a negative impact on quality of life. The article also notes that the Government has announced a new first-time buyer scheme, with further details expected in the upcoming Budget.
SAM Conveyancing argues that the previous Help to Buy scheme inflated new-build prices and supported volume housebuilders more than it improved overall housing supply. Ahead of the expected launch of ‘Your First Home’, it is urging the government to allow the scheme to be used on existing homes as well as new-builds, citing price premiums, exchange constraints and market stagnation.
