government Archives » PRSupdate Private Rented Sector Update

Newham council fine landlord as part of its licensing scheme crackdown

May 22, 2013 by Michael Oakes Leave a Comment

Image: Borough of Newham

As we reported last year in our September issue of PRSupdate, where Sir Robin Wales discussed the scheme, Newham became the first local authority in England and Wales to introduce a mandatory licensing scheme for every Private Rented Sector property within the borough.

Recently the repercussions of this scheme were put into practice when a Newham landlord was charged with offences relating to letting out properties without a licence.
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Filed under Government Tagged with blog, england, government, housing, landlord, law, lettings, licence, licensing scheme, london, Private Rented Sector, property, property maintenance, regulation

Are Housing Associations ready to tackle the Private Rented Sector?

May 20, 2013 by Guest Author Leave a Comment

Gavin Smart

One of the most striking trends in the British housing market over the last decade has been the growth of the Private Rented Sector (PRS). The sector accounts for around 4.8 million (17%) of the 21.5 million households in England, having risen from 3.4 million in 2005.

It’s a trend that shows no sign of slowing down with some in the sector estimating that the country will need an additional 1.1 million rented homes by 2016. Rising house prices are, of course, a key driving force behind this. While many people are choosing to rent there are others that will have no choice in the matter as the dream of home ownership becomes increasingly unrealistic, especially in London and the South East.

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Filed under Guest Posts Tagged with blog, government, home, housing, Housing associations, lettings, london, Private Rented Sector, property, prs, real estate, regeneration, Social Housing

Private Rented Sector inquiry oral evidence session

May 13, 2013 by Christopher Hann Leave a Comment

Image: Department for Communities and Local Government

On Wednesday 15 May 2013 The Wilson Room, Portcullis House will host the eighth evidence session of the Communities and Local Government Committee inquiry examining the Private Rented Sector.

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Christopher Hann on Google+

Filed under Government Tagged with blog, DCLG, government, law, Private Rented Sector, property, regulation

Landlords told to vet immigrant tenants

May 9, 2013 by Kelly Smith Leave a Comment

Queens Speech

Under new Immigration laws, that were announced in the Queens Speech, private landlords will now be held legally responsible for vetting tenants and checking their immigration status. Landlords will need to seek copies of passports and appropriate visas before they should let their property to a prospective tenant.

Those that are found to have broken the law will find themselves facing fines that could run into thousands of pounds.

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Filed under Government, Legal Tagged with blog, england, government, landlord, law, Private Rented Sector, prs, regulation, UK, young group, young london

The Mayor’s London Rental Standard puts landlords and tenants in the driving seat

May 7, 2013 by Guest Author Leave a Comment

Richard Blakeway – Deputy Mayor for Housing, Land and Property

There has been considerable comment on the phenomenal growth in private renting. Yet this isn’t news to Londoners. Ten years ago, when the housing market was more buoyant and banks were falling over each other to issue 100% mortgages, private renting doubled. Today a quarter of all Londoners are private renters.

It is not just the overall number that has changed. London’s private renters now include over 200,000 families with children, the average age of renters is rising, and the level of mobility in to, out of and within the sector is declining rapidly. What we are witnessing is a fundamental shift in demographics in a tenure that was once dominated by young, single, mobile people.

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Filed under Guest Posts Tagged with blog, business, england, government, home, housing, investment, landlord, law, lettings, life, local, london, Private Rented Sector, property, prs, regulation, rent, research

Meeting housing need through the Private Rented Sector

May 2, 2013 by Guest Author Leave a Comment

Jack Dromey – Shadow Housing Minister

Labour believes that the Private Rented Sector (PRS) has an important role to play in meeting housing need. There are now 8.5 million people, including more than 1 million families with children, renting privately.

As a result of the biggest housing crisis in a generation it has been predicted that more and more people will be locked out of home ownership and, either through circumstance or choice, live in the PRS; potentially up to 1 in 5 households by 2016.

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Filed under Guest Posts Tagged with blog, england, government, home, housing, investment, Labour, Private Rented Sector, property, prs, real estate

The government is unlocking growth in the Private Rented Sector

April 30, 2013 by Guest Author Leave a Comment

Mark Prisk – Housing Minister

For at least fifteen years this country has been building roughly half the homes it needs – whether for sale or rent. The situation got so bad under the previous administration that we saw the rate of housebuilding drop to its lowest peacetime level since the 1920’s. It’s why this Government is prioritising reform of the planning system and channelling new investment into housebuilding.

That means £19.5bn of public and private investment to deliver 170,000 new affordable homes by 2015, and spending over £1.5bn to unlock housing delivery on sites across the country. Read more of this post

Filed under Guest Posts Tagged with blog, business, england, government, home, housing, investment, Private Rented Sector, property, prs, regeneration

Spring/Summer PRSupdate is here!

April 22, 2013 by Neil Young Leave a Comment

Spring/Summer 2013 Issue

The Spring/Summer edition of PRSupdate is here!

This edition is our biggest and best yet and is packed full of quality content provided by a high profile authors.

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Filed under PRSupdate Tagged with blog, city, england, government, housing, investment, london, Private Rented Sector, property, prs, real estate, regeneration, regulation, rent

Up to 10,000 new homes will improve the rental market

April 19, 2013 by Neil Young Leave a Comment

Mark Prisk – Housing Minister

Housing Minister, Mark Prisk MP has said that up to 10,000 new homes for the Private Rented Sector (PRS) will be underway by 2015.

The minister announced the first 45 projects to be taken forward using the £1 billion Build to Rent Fund.

Mr Prisk said that the innovative new projects, a quarter of which are for London, will be the first step toward creating a more balanced rental market, driven by quality instead of demand.

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Filed under Government Tagged with city, england, finance, government, housing, investment, Private Rented Sector, property, prs, regeneration, UK

Canada Water development deal moves forward

April 15, 2013 by David Mackenzie Leave a Comment

Canada Water

Southwark Council has approved a deal between the Daily Mail General Trust and British Land that will free up the 5.8ha Harmsworth Quay near Canada Water for redevelopment.

The quay is currently home to the Daily Mail’s printworks, but Southwark’s consent means the paper can assign its leasehold interest to real estate investment trust British Land.

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Filed under Regeneration Tagged with business, city, england, government, real estate, regeneration, southwark