Rachel Reeves’s plan to overhaul landfill tax has been branded “insane” by construction leaders, who warn it could add £24,000 to the cost of building a new home and cripple the government’s pledge to deliver 300,000 homes a year. At present, landfill tax has two...
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Treasury Considers Stamp Duty Shake-Up, Sparking Uncertainty in Property Market
Writing in LandlordToday, Louisa Sedgwick, Managing Director of Mortgages at Paragon Bank, reports that speculation is mounting over potential changes to Stamp Duty ahead of the upcoming Autumn Budget, with reports suggesting the Treasury is considering a new tax on...
Mortgage Rates Creep Up Despite Base Rate Drop
The UK mortgage market is experiencing a new bout of uncertainty, as several major lenders, including Santander and NatWest, have begun to increase their mortgage rates. This move is causing concern among brokers and borrowers, as it comes despite a recent drop in the...
Deputy Prime Minister Accused of Avoiding £40,000 Stamp Duty
The Telegraph is reporting that the Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner is facing intense scrutiny over her property transactions, with accusations that she has "deliberately conducted her property affairs to pay less stamp duty and council tax." The article can be...
New Tax Threat: National Insurance on Rental Profits?
Landlords face yet another potential tax squeeze, with reports suggesting the government may introduce National Insurance contributions (NICs) on rental income profits. According to The Times, a leak indicates the measure could raise £2 billion for the Treasury if...
Westminster City Council launches consultation on renewal of Additional Licensing Scheme
Westminster City Council has launched an 11-week public consultation on the renewal of its borough-wide Additional Licensing Scheme for smaller Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs). The consultation invites feedback from residents, tenants, landlords, letting agents,...
Renters’ Rights Bill Linked to Rising Rents, Claims Go.Compare
More than half of tenants in England (53%) have seen rent increases since the Renters’ Rights Bill was announced, according to new research by comparison website Go.Compare. The report suggests that around 2.5 million households have faced higher rents since the Bill...
Council Seizes Control of 18 Properties After Landlord Failures
Merton Council has taken over the long-term management of 18 rented homes after the landlord repeatedly failed to meet safety and licensing obligations. The council first used its powers last August to impose an Interim Management Order, following tenant complaints...
Professionalisation of the investor market opens opportunities for specialist lenders
The UK property market is shifting. According to property expert Jamie Williams, the days of casual, part-time buy-to-let landlords are coming to an end – and that’s not a bad thing. As tighter regulation, reduced tax relief, and rising compliance requirements push...
The Lowdown on Pets and Rentals
It’s International Dog Day and a new report by John D Wood, an estate agency, shows that while half of UK renters now own a pet, a mere 8% of rental listings are pet-friendly. This big gap means a lot of landlords are missing a trick. With the new Renters Rights Bill...
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Landlord Repossession Times Hit New High: Calls for Urgent Court Investment
Figures from the Ministry of Justice reveal that the median time for landlords to achieve repossession has risen to...
UK Economic Snapshot: Debt Eases, Insolvencies Rise
The House of Commons Library has released its monthly summary of household debt. It can be seen here, and in summary...
Rightmove: Largest November Asking Price Drop Since 2012
Rightmove reports a sharper-than-usual fall in UK asking prices this November, with the national average down 1.8% to...