Landlords with rented properties in the designated Selective Licensing area of Grimsby are being warned to apply for licences by 8 October 2026 or face a £200 late fee. The article also notes that operating without a licence may trigger enforcement action and significant financial penalties.
A survey by The Letting Partnership suggests letting agents expect the Renters Rights Act to increase their compliance and administrative workload. Despite this, seven in 10 respondents believe the added complexity will make professional agents more important to landlords.
A survey by The Letting Partnership suggests letting agents expect the Renters Rights Act to increase compliance and administrative demands across the private rented sector. Most respondents believe this added complexity will make professional agents more valuable to landlords.
The article reports a call for government action on an estimated £750m in unclaimed tenancy deposits held within the deposit protection system. It argues that England and Wales lack a clear legal framework for dormant deposits, unlike Scotland, and that this creates a transparency and governance gap in the sector.
LRG reports that most tenants are unaware of professional guarantor services, despite these becoming more relevant in the rental application process. The research also suggests landlords are increasingly likely to ask for guarantors where affordability is marginal, with rent guarantee insurance emerging as a growing alternative.
The article reports that Purplebricks has been ordered to pay £47,000 in relation to a discrimination case involving an employee who was on maternity leave when a restructuring took place. The extract indicates the issue arose during organisational change and relates to treatment of staff on maternity leave.
Haringey Council publicised a Rent Repayment Order after a First-tier Tribunal found a landlord had operated an unlicensed HMO and ordered repayment of £7,884.84 plus fees. The case arose from reports of mould, fire hazards and a collapsed ceiling, and the Tribunal noted a previous RRO involving another property, suggesting repeated non-compliance.
New research based on HMRC rental income statistics suggests that costs for unincorporated landlords have risen much faster than rental income over the past five years. The largest expense remains finance costs, with repairs and maintenance also a significant and growing burden, while the article argues that current tax treatment disadvantages individual landlords compared with company ownership.
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.
HMRC data analysed by Hello Neighbour suggests that landlords’ allowable expenses have risen much faster than rental income over the past five years, with costs now consuming a larger share of receipts. The article highlights finance costs as the largest expense category and links rising outgoings to upcoming statutory obligations such as EPC C requirements and the future Decent Homes Standard.
Paragon Bank reports that many HMO landlords are continuing to invest heavily in their properties despite higher costs, tax pressures and increasing regulation. The article says planned spending is focused on upgrades, compliance, fire safety and energy efficiency, with landlords taking a long-term view of the sector.
Haringey Council has highlighted a successful Rent Repayment Order after a tenant recovered nearly £8,000 from a landlord who operated an unlicensed HMO in Muswell Hill. The case involved reported mould, disrepair, and fire safety failings, and the tribunal found the property required a licence throughout the tenancy.
