Landlords with periodic tenancies would still be able to issue a Section 21 eviction once the Renters (Reform) Bill is implemented, according to analysis from letting platform Goodlord and Dutton Gregory Solicitors. As detailed in the Bill, those with periodic tenancies will be able to serve a Section 21 until the government reviews the court system, reports on it to parliament, and then sets an ‘extended implementation date’, at which date the new rules all apply to all tenancies. Ryan Heaven, associate solicitor at Dutton Gregory, said: “A lot of people place emphasis on Michael Gove stating that section 21…

Mortgage costs across the capital are now 42% more than average rents in the city, meaning it’s becoming increasingly hard to buy in London. Costs are especially high in the more affluent boroughs of inner London, where mortgage payments are roughly 66% or £1,232 more per month than rental costs. Greenwich, a popular borough for investors and first-time buyers, has mortgage costs averaging at a more reasonable rate of 34% or £563 more per month than rent. Tim Darwall-Smith, director at SBA Property Management, said: “London’s property market has always been challenging for prospective buyers, however in recent years rising…

Less than half the fines levied against rogue landlords have actually been collected by local authorities, a report from the National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA) has revealed. Between 2021 and 2023 £13 million worth of civil penalties were issued by councils. However, just £6 million has so far been collected, FOI data shows. In the wake of the findings the NRLA called for the creation of a new national chief environmental health officer to lead the charge for improved enforcement against rogue and criminal landlords. It added that government should also establish a recruitment and training fund to boost capacity…

By Samantha Kempe, co-founder and chief investment officer at IMMO The current housing crisis in the UK cannot be understated. According to government’s Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, 25% of the UK housing stock is substandard, with 12% of housing conditions representing a category 1 hazard. It’s clear current strategies aren’t working. In hopes of easing this rental crisis within the next seven years, it’s estimated the UK must invest a notable £250 billion into the housing sector. It’s not just about financial injection, addressing this challenge requires the deployment of innovative strategies beyond the mere construction of…

One in 10 (9%) people admit they would keep quiet when selling a property with knotweed, despite the legal risks, a YouGov poll commissioned by Environet has revealed. This means that as 4,500 homebuyers could be duped into buying a home with the invasive plant. There are approximately one million residential transactions that took place during 2023, with an estimated 5% of properties in the UK being affected by knotweed Nic Seal, founder of Environet, said: “Discovering knotweed growing in the garden after you’ve bought a property is a very unpleasant and worrying situation to be in. If it can…

Housebuilder Homes by Esh is on course to nearly double its number of live developments before the end of 2024 – and it’s set to have seven live sites by next year. The developer currently has four developments comprising of more than 600 new build homes. Colin Willetts, deputy managing director of Homes by Esh, said: “With planning applications in for multiple sites across County Durham, our portfolio is expanding at a steady pace. “While we have four live housing developments ongoing, we are strengthening our pipeline further through strategic land acquisition across the North East and anticipate that we…

Fewer aspiring first-time buyers are buying dilapidated properties in need of substantial renovations, according to Scotland-based property portal TSPC. The portal described a “noticeable pivot” away from such properties, as first-time buyers are now overwhelmingly gravitating towards new builds with garden space instead. According to a spokeswoman from TSPC the high cost of materials, as well as tradespeople being booked far in advance and at a premium price, is behind this shift. This is even more troublesome for first-time buyers, as they lack the experience in planning and co-ordinating such projects. Lisa Mannion, associate solicitor at Thorntons, said: “Coupled with…

PropertyWire speaks to Anthony Kyriacou, founder and chief executive of property portal krispyhouse There’s a new challenger on the block for Rightmove and Zoopla, as krispyhouse has been looking to make a splash in the lettings sector since launching its website in October 2023. Agents advertise their properties on the platform, while tenants can punch in the area where they want to live and communicate with them. Its CEO Anthony Kyriacou compares the process to using WhatsApp, as he says: “Our main USP is providing a much faster communication channel between a tenant responding to an advertisement and an agent.”…

Victorian homes are the most searched for period property style, underlining the appeal of Victorian architecture. Rightmove, which conducted the research, felt period dramas such as Downton Abbey, Bridgerton and The Tudors have helped boost the allure of Victorian homes, which commonly have spacious interiors, ornate facades, and intricate details. Georgian properties are the second most searched-for style, while the third most popular home style is Edwardian, followed by Tudor in forth, and Regency homes in fifth. Tim Bannister, Rightmove’s property expert, said: “Home hunters continue to be captivated by the character and charm of properties that we see in…

The Bank of England has held the base rate at 5.25% but two members voted for a cut – signalling that we’re getting closer to a rate cut. The base rate has been kept at its relatively high level in a bid to curb the inflation rate, which is expected to dip to 2% shortly, before rising again to 2.5% in the second half of the year. Jeremy Leaf, north London estate agent and a former RICS residential chairman, said: “The comments and voting pattern around the decision are sometimes more interesting than the decision itself and clearly the direction…