Propertymark wants Northern Ireland’s Department for Communities to regulate property agents via professional bodies such as itself. The Department for Communities is...
Archive
Propertymark has come out in support of the National Trading Standards Estate and Lettings Agency Team’s probe into Rent-to-Rent. NTSELAT has...
17 May 2024
From: Breaking News
Half of all private renters would not know where to turn to if a letting agent failed to address a problem...
30 April 2024
From: Breaking News
Housing minister Lee Rowley will be taking centre stage at the largest property agency conference in the UK this summer, Propertymark...
30 April 2024
From: Breaking News
A new guide from Propertymark explains the rights which private rental tenants have - and sets out how they can challenge...
23 April 2024
From: Breaking News
Political parties should stop bickering and instead work together to improve the private rental sector. That’s the view of the Lettings industry...
17 April 2024
From: Breaking News
A representative of the National Trading Standards Estate and Letting Agents team has told agents to accept new rules about material...
11 April 2024
From: Breaking News
Propertymark is urging agents to get ahead of the curve and be ready for the next big initiative - Regulation. Propertymark has...
02 April 2024
From: Breaking News
A lettings agency has been expelled from The Property Ombudsman scheme following itsfailure to pay £1,100 out of an adjudicated award...
26 March 2024
From: Breaking News
The all-party House of Lords Industry and Regulators Committee has urged the government to get on with establishing a regulator of...
22 March 2024
From: Breaking News
Propertymark has urged the Sunak government to press ahead with leasehold reform ahead of the Second Reading of the Leasehold and...
19 March 2024
From: Breaking News
There’s been a large rise in complaints and a huge increase in compensation according to figures out today from the Property...
18 March 2024
From: Breaking News
Propertymark has emphasised the importance of retaining fixed term tenancies under the Renters Reform Bill. Propertymark chief executive Nathan Emerson met Housing...
18 March 2024
From: Breaking News
Propertymark will appear in front of the House of Lords’ Industry and Regulators Committee tomorrow morning, urging the regulation of lettings...
05 March 2024
From: Breaking News
One of the highest profile groups in the private rental sector supplier space - Hamilton Fraser - is restructuring. In future the...
13 February 2024
From: Breaking News
The long-awaited Third Reading of the controversial Renters Reform Bill will not happen this week according to the Leader of the...
29 January 2024
From: Breaking News
Propertymark's latest research report suggests some letting agents want radical changes to the Renters Reform Bill now going through Parliament. The aim...
25 January 2024
From: Breaking News
Labour is using a Bill currently going through Parliament as a backdoor method to introduce the regulation of lettings, estate and...
19 January 2024
From: Breaking News
Summer looks like it’s going to be a hectic period for lettings agents and the private rental sector according to TV...
17 January 2024
From: Breaking News
A prominent housing market commentator says Labour would introduce a tougher version of the Renters Reform Bill if it forms the...
27 December 2023
From: Breaking News
Former housing minister Rachel Maclean - the victim of a shock sacking by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak last month - has...
15 December 2023
From: Breaking News
Propertymark has set out its pro-agency position on a range of issues contained in the Renters Reform Bill, currently trundling through...
07 December 2023
From: Breaking News
Leaders Romans Group is calling for a Landlords Reform Bill to balance the challenges and apparent disincentives now deterring landlords from...
30 November 2023
From: Breaking News
A webinar is being held tomorrow, aimed to urging agents to get ahead of changes to the industry likely to be...
27 November 2023
From: Breaking News
Propertymark has called on the government to retain the option of fixed-term tenancies in the private rental sector where it is...
15 November 2023
From: Breaking News
The UK Association of Letting Agents says it now has a record membership of 1,200. UKALA describes itself as “a professional association...
09 August 2023
From: Breaking News
PropTech platform Goodlord has launched a one hour online course explaining the controversial Renters Reform Bill. The aim is to equip letting...
04 August 2023
From: Breaking News
The Property Redress Scheme has released its latest list of expelled agents - mostly for rental misdemeanours and/or failure to pay...
24 July 2023
From: Breaking News
It appears almost certain that the Second Reading of the Renters Reform Bill - expected some weeks ago - will not...
14 July 2023
From: Breaking News
We compare traditional methods of client money account inspections by an accountant to the alternative Client Money HealthCheck. But first, let’s clarify...
04 July 2023
From: Sponsored Content
A webinar says the Renters Reform Bill is the biggest challenge facing lettings agents - and it’s prompted calls to a...
31 May 2023
From: Breaking News
Consumer champion Martin Lewis - the man behind the Money Saving Expert website and TV shows - has backed the Renters...
17 May 2023
From: Breaking News
A £5,000 fine has been upheld against a landlord who failed to declare himself as a property agent and did not join a mandatory...
16 May 2023
From: Breaking News
The Property Redress Scheme, one of two government-approved redress services, has produced a list of recently-expelled agencies. All agencies must be a...
26 April 2023
From: Breaking News
Several lettings agents have been expelled from The Property Ombudsman scheme; they are amongst eight named as having been kicked out...
06 April 2023
From: Breaking News
The government has taken the first step to introducing a mandatory ombudsman scheme which private landlords must join. This is effectively the...
29 March 2023
From: Breaking News
Introduce yourself A: My name is Sean Hooker. I have worked for the HFIS group for sixteen years, originally helping set...
23 March 2023
From: 60 Second Interview
There’s been a big rise in the number of complaints about agents lodged with the Property Redress Scheme, which says it’s...
09 March 2023
From: Breaking News
A combination of regular inspections and pro-active installation of ventilation can help to reduce the risk of dangerous damp and mould...
03 March 2023
From: Breaking News
Trading Standards officers check for agents’ compliance by scrutinising their websites, it’s being claimed. Agents are being warned to ensure their websites...
20 February 2023
From: Breaking News
Propertymark has hit out at a proposal from a group of MPs that there should be a single Ombudsman covering the...
13 February 2023
From: Breaking News
The political party propping up the Scottish Government says higher taxes on buy to lets will help the housing market be...
31 January 2023
From: Breaking News
It’s been revealed that agents have been kicked out of The Property Ombudsman in recent months for failing to pay compensatory...
27 January 2023
From: Breaking News
The Property Redress Service claims to be the largest lettings redress service now, with over 13,250 letting agency branches on board. In...
12 January 2023
From: Breaking News
UK banks are closing client accounts held by established letting agents and refusing to open accounts for new businesses. The Problem A growing...
19 December 2022
From: Sponsored Content
A council’s Trading Standards team is warning letting agents of a new clampdown on compliance failures. Stoke-on-Trent Trading Standards says it’s received...
09 November 2022
From: Breaking News
Trading Standards is describing a penalty imposed on a London letting agent as “a landmark” after the company failed to comply...
02 November 2022
From: Breaking News
The Property Ombudsman has reported a big rise in enquiries over last year and a huge rise since the pre-Covid year,...
02 November 2022
From: Breaking News
One of the two official redress bodies, the Property Redress Scheme, has announced a beefed up advisory panel with a substantial...
25 October 2022
From: Breaking News
Jeremy Hunt’s firm grasp of fiscal policy after the market turmoil of recent weeks won’t stop what one housing expert calls...
20 October 2022
From: Breaking News
The head of the Property Redress Scheme will give agents the lowdown on the recent Fairer Private Rented Sector White Paper...
19 October 2022
From: Breaking News
The latest update from industry discussions about allowing more pets in private rental properties suggests there’s not been a solution yet...
05 October 2022
From: Breaking News
As the new academic year gets underway, demand continues to far outweigh supply in the lettings market in London and the...
15 September 2022
From: Breaking News
Agents are being invited to comment on the government’s Fairer Private Rented Sector White Paper. And unusually the invitation comes not from any...
03 August 2022
From: Breaking News
Fourteen Trading Standards authorities across a swathe of England are embarking on an enforcement project to check lettings agency compliance. The Central England...
15 July 2022
From: Breaking News
Senior figures in the agency industry have backed new guidance from the National Trading Standards Estate and Lettings Agent Team regarding...
13 July 2022
From: Breaking News
One of Britain’s largest cities wants to regulate Airbnb and other short let platforms. The proposed scheme in Glasgow follows legal changes...
27 June 2022
From: Breaking News
Today’s proposed changes to the private rental sector are the most radical for a generation. The first industry debate on this hot...
16 June 2022
From: Breaking News
A prominent lettings industry supplier has asked whether the earlier-than-expected arrival of the rental reform white paper was a distraction from...
16 June 2022
From: Breaking News
What looks suspiciously like a government leak to the Daily Mail says the long-awaited Rental Reform White Paper will be unveiled...
15 June 2022
From: Breaking News
A collection of rental experts in a body called The Lettings Industry Council have set out what they want to see...
25 May 2022
From: Breaking News
Sean Hooker, head of redress at the Property Redress Scheme, will discuss the latest rental reform proposals and answer letting agents'...
19 May 2022
From: Breaking News
Propertymark says one lasting legacy of the Grenfell Tower tragedy is that agents letting properties in high rise blocks must engage...
06 May 2022
From: Breaking News
PRS, one of the two official redress services for the lettings and sales agency sectors, says it’s seen an increase in...
28 April 2022
From: Breaking News
Private rental property conditions and the enforcement of regulations by councils and government have all been in the firing line from...
13 April 2022
From: Breaking News
Propertymark has stepped up its call for a dedicated Housing Tribunal to improve mediation and enhanced dispute resolution. The trade body also...
08 April 2022
From: Breaking News
Hamilton Fraser, well known as a provider of insurance products and services to letting agents and landlords, has been acquired by...
22 February 2022
From: Breaking News
A radical shake up of the private rental sector is expected to be announced tomorrow by Housing Secretary Michael Gove. The main...
01 February 2022
From: Breaking News
Two agencies have been expelled from The Property Ombudsman scheme for failing to pay compensation awards. Thamlet Estates, based in east London,...
20 January 2022
From: Breaking News
A Trading Standards team is to carry out what it calls “unannounced inspections” of lettings agencies in one part of London...
13 January 2022
From: Breaking News
A report from the House of Lords has condemned the private rental sector as being ”increasingly unaffordable” as well as being...
11 January 2022
From: Breaking News
A leading expert on the private rental sector predicts it will take three years for the government to scrap Section 21 evictions...
30 December 2021
From: Breaking News
ARLA Propertymark has launched a radical programme of reform for the private rental sector - getting in before the government’s own...
15 December 2021
From: Breaking News
A report by the National Audit Office claims that the way private renting is regulated makes the sector unfair to renters. It...
10 December 2021
From: Breaking News
A letting agency has been issued with penalty notices worth £3,000 for operating illegally. Back in 2014 it became a legal requirement...
03 December 2021
From: Breaking News
A checklist for agents to help ensure they steer clear of unwanted fines or claims has been provided by the Guild...
20 October 2021
From: Breaking News
The Property Redress Scheme has expelled an agent operating a guaranteed rent scheme which failed to pay £150,000 to a former landlord client. The agent...
12 October 2021
From: Breaking News
Six agencies have been expelled from The Property Ombudsman for failing to pay compensatory awards - five of them for offences...
11 October 2021
From: Breaking News
A senior Conservative in Wales wants the Welsh Government to consider creating a housing tribunal in the light of rising tenant arrears. Janet Finch-Saunders,...
08 October 2021
From: Breaking News
Lettings once again dominated the complaints received by The Property Ombudsman according to its latest annual report - out today but...
24 August 2021
From: Breaking News
There has still been no formal response to a government consultation on the database of rogue agents and landlords, 25 months...
11 August 2021
From: Breaking News
Complaints referred to the Property Redress Scheme against its members grew by more than a quarter during 2020. In its annual report...
13 July 2021
From: Breaking News
London’s Labour Mayor, Sadiq Khan, has made a new call for power to cap private rents. He’s claimed that rents in the...
08 July 2021
From: Breaking News
Propertymark has accused the Scottish Government of rushing through the latest eviction ban extension without proper consultation. At the end of last...
28 June 2021
From: Breaking News
A lettings agent who wants tenants to take out policies to fund complaints against agencies and landlords has branded the social...
28 June 2021
From: Breaking News
There have been just 17 First Tier Tribunal cases involving allegations of fees charged to tenants in contravention of the Tenants...
17 June 2021
From: Breaking News
A lettings agency which markets private rental properties and units operated by a housing association has apologised for its ‘No DSS’...
27 May 2021
From: Breaking News
Some lettings industry figures are beginning to express doubt as to whether the government’s broad commitment to reform the private rental...
13 May 2021
From: Breaking News
The Association of Residential Letting Agents says the government is willing to listen to agents and other industry players ahead of...
12 May 2021
From: Breaking News
Today’s Queen’s Speech, setting out the government’s legislative programme for the next year, is expected to include rental reform. It’s thought one...
11 May 2021
From: Breaking News
A rival trade body to the Association of Residential Letting Agents has announced what it calls “a robust membership result.” The UK...
30 April 2021
From: Breaking News
After years of deliberation there still appears to many to be little progress on the recommendations of the Regulation of Property...
19 March 2021
From: Breaking News
A clampdown on letting agents who fail to safeguard landlords’ and tenants’ money is now underway. A statement from the National Trading Standards...
24 February 2021
From: Breaking News
The National Trading Standards Estate and Letting Agents Team is appealing to the industry to be eagle-eyed for scams. This follows the...
22 February 2021
From: Breaking News
The Daily Mail says it has informed Trading Standards of a lettings agent which is claims is “illegally working” despite not...
17 February 2021
From: Breaking News
A new property identification system which has won the backing of ARLA Propertymark and substantial parts of the industry has said...
15 January 2021
From: Breaking News
The UK Association of Lettings Agents is recommending transparency in relation to the disclosure of referral fees to landlord clients. Last month...
09 December 2020
From: Breaking News
One of the government’s approved client money protection schemes claims over 10 lettings agencies a week are closing. Client Money Protect makes the...
03 December 2020
From: Breaking News
An overwhelming 98 per cent of agents who are members of The Property Ombudsman scheme pay compensation when an investigation is...