According to government figures released in the department for Communities and Local Government’s English housing, the proportion of people living in the private rented sector rose again last year. The survey shows that 17% of households (3.62 million) lived in the private rented sector in 2010/11, an increase from 2.45 million in 2005. In contrast the number…

The Scottish Government has announced a private rent deposit scheme, which will become compulsory from November. The tenancy deposit scheme is free for landlords and letting agents, and tenants will have access to a free and independent dispute resolution service when the return of a deposit is in dispute, much like the Deposit Protection Scheme currently in…

The Communities and Local Government committee has recommended that the government simplify tax and regulatory structures that apply to private landlords. CLG has put forward proposals in an effort to create an environment in which small private landlords are encouraged to expand their portfolios and invest in new build housing. It said investment by large…

An influential government-commissioned review is set to recommend sweeping changes to planning and funding rules to favour the private rented sector over affordable homes. The proposals are likely to be included in Sir Adrian Montague’s review of the private rented sector, which is expected to be published next month. They include pushing councils to change…

The UK rental market saw a 6.34 % increase in the number of properties advertised between January and March 2012 compared with the same period last year, according to global information services company, Experian. It also found that the number of properties for sale dropped by 2.53 percent. Experian’s Movers Index shows that the number of properties…

The prime minister, David Cameron, has set out plans to scrap housing benefit for 380,000 young people under 25, which could save up to £1.8bn a year on the welfare bill. In a speech today he said working age welfare should principally be for people with no other means of support who have “fallen on hard times”, and that doesn’t neccesarily include under-25’s…

Buy-to-let landlords in East Anglia, London, Yorkshire and the North East are being targeted as HMRC has announced ‘tax forces’ in attempts to clamp down on tax evaders.  Geographic areas will be targeted as each tax force clamps down in order to recover an estimated £17 million. Exchequer Secretary, David Gauke, said: “We have made it clear…

A new taskforce to tackle tax evasion on property transactions and rented properties has been announced by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC). The taskforce covering East Anglia, London, Leeds, York, Leicester, Nottingham, Lincoln, Durham and Sunderland is expected to recover more than £17m from tax dodgers. Taskforces are specialist teams that undertake intensive bursts of activity…

A new webTV programme has been launched, specifically to offer advice to landlords. Tomorrow’s show, “Don’t get stung by your inventory”, offers advice on inventories, deposits and contracts. To submit any questions you may have for the speakers on the show, simply click here You can watch the programme live on Thursday 21st June 2012…

Global real estate service provider, Savills, has forecast that the total rental income received by private sector landlords could rise to £70 billion in the next 5 years. This shift away from home ownership towards renting creates a need for significant investment, say Savills. Lucian Cook, director of residential research at Savills, said “Rental growth…