Industry News

The Home Office has published updated guidance for landlords carrying out right to rent checks. The adjustments to right to rent checks introduced on 30 March 2020 as part of the response to COVID-19 ended on 30 September 2022. From 1 October 2022, landlords must...

The Local Government Association has launched the Housing Advisers Programme 2022/23. The programme is designed to support councils seeking to innovate in meeting the housing needs of their communities. The 2022/23 programme will accept applications until 24 November 2022. This year the programme will continue to fund the provision of bespoke expert support to councils […]

The Housing Ombudsman has published an Insight report covering April to June 2022. It shows that complaint volumes remain high, with the service receiving 6,009 enquiries and complaints over the three-month period. The Ombudsman found maladministration in 48 per cent of cases and made 1,370 orders and recommendations to put things right. Property conditions accounted […]

The National Housing Federation has moved to reassure residents that where they engage with their landlord they will not be evicted as a result of financial hardship. In light of the cost of living crisis, the sector is reconfirming its pledge of supporting residents who are struggling with money worries. The announcement first made at […]

On 28 September 2022 the Regulator of Social Housing announced that the London Borough of Redbridge has been issued with a regulatory notice following a breach of the consumer standards. Following a self-referral, RSH concluded that the council failed to meet statutory health and safety requirements across thousands of its homes. This included checks for […]

On 27 September 2022 Sheffield Hallam University published research into the impact of anti-social behaviour tools and powers on people experiencing street homelessness within a Public Spaces Protection Order area. People experiencing street homelessness said they felt constantly policed within a PSPO area, fuelled by the high volume of informal interactions with the policing bodies […]

Shares in the London-based student accommodation developer and manager, Watkin Jones PLC, were down 33% on Tuesday morning after it said it expects to miss full-year profit expectations. Watkin Jones said that in the first half of its financial year to September 30 cost inflation was mitigated by increasing asset values, however in the second half it […]

An actor who has been evicted from the flat he has lived in for seven years has spoken of his dismay at finding new accommodation. Oscar Heron, 45, was issued an eviction notice for his two-bed flat in Highbury on September 14, giving him until December 3 to move out. Oscar has told MyLondon that […]

Labour has laid out plans for sweeping housing reforms that would reduce landlord powers to kick out tenants or stop them keeping pets. Shadow Levelling Up secretary Lisa Nandy said the party’s Private Renters’ Charter would end no-fault evictions, give renters rights to make home alterations and stop bans on animals in rental properties. It […]

A controversial database which will allow widespread access to the identities of rogue letting agents and landlords has been backed by trade body Propertymark. Its head of policy and campaigns, Timothy Douglas, says: “Propertymark has long called for the Database of Rogue Landlords and Property Agents to be made public so the UK Government outlining […]