Preston Council is consulting on a selective licensing scheme covering three wards, with a proposed fee of £1,050 per property if approved. The council says the scheme is targeted at areas with higher levels of poor housing conditions, including damp and mould, excess cold, disrepair and Category 1 hazards under the Housing Health and Safety Rating System.
Reigate and Banstead Council is consulting on an Article 4 Direction that would remove permitted development rights for future small HMO conversions, requiring full planning permission for homes converted to accommodate three to six residents. If approved, the restriction would not take effect until 30 July 2027, following consultation and government confirmation.
Liverpool City Council is consulting on a new citywide selective licensing scheme to replace the current arrangement when it ends next March. The proposal includes 12 different fee levels, with charges of up to £995 per property, alongside proposed licence conditions, fees and discounts.
Paragon Bank research suggests that HMO landlords are investing in energy efficiency at a faster pace than the wider private rented sector. The article says 66% of surveyed HMOs already achieve EPC A to C, with no respondents reporting F or G ratings, and many landlords are acting ahead of proposed Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards changes.
Erewash Council prosecuted a landlord after he failed to provide requested documentation during an investigation into a five-bed HMO in Long Eaton. Derby Magistrates’ Court found he had breached obligations under the Housing Act 2004, resulting in fines and costs totalling £1,145.
HMRC recovered £104m from voluntary landlord tax disclosures in 2025/26, the third straight year it has raised more than £100m through this route. The article says rising disclosure volumes, HMRC data-matching and recent tax rule changes are increasing compliance pressure on landlords, particularly those with modest or accidental rental income.
Two landlords operating in Norfolk have been fined more than £216,000 in total after council inspections found serious hazards in rented homes, including unsafe electrics, damp and mould, overcrowding and fire risks. Breckland Council said the action followed repeated non-compliance, including failures to carry out electrical safety checks and to comply with improvement notices.
A landlord in Clitheroe was fined after failing to comply with an improvement notice relating to serious disrepair, including damp and mould, a defective boiler, faulty electrics and no hot water. The case followed repeated complaints from tenants and council inspections that found the required remedial works had not been completed.
The Housing Secretary has said the government is not considering rent controls in England, arguing that recent rental reforms are already affecting the market. The article also notes that Scotland’s temporary rent controls have expired, with new powers expected to allow designated rent control areas from 2027.
Swindon Council is urging landlords and property owners in the town centre to improve the external condition of their buildings and surrounding areas ahead of a targeted clean-up effort in late August. The council says it may consider formal enforcement action where properties continue to negatively affect the local environment.
A survey of 1,000 UK landlords by LegalforLandlords suggests tenant fraud is perceived to be rising, with 77% saying it has worsened over the past three years. Reported incidents include rent non-payment after misleading applications, criminal use of properties, unauthorised subletting, and false income or occupancy information, often resulting in significant financial losses.
The National Residential Landlords Association has intensified its opposition to rent controls, arguing that they would reduce rental supply and harm tenants. It says government should instead prioritise enforcement against rogue landlords and ensure the Renters’ Rights Act can be implemented effectively through a functioning justice system.
