local council policy News
02/03/2026
The council has launched a public consultation — including input from tenants — on how high fines should be for landlords who break the rules.
Renters and landlords in Bristol are being asked for their views on the penalties that wi…
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02/03/2026
A long-running scheme to tackle rogue landlords and reduce anti-social behaviour in parts of Newcastle has been renewed for another five years.
Newcastle City Council has confirmed that selective licensing will continue in Byker Old…
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27/01/2026
A Labour-run council is appealing to private landlords who have homes sitting empty, urging them to come forward and help ease local housing pressures.
Exeter City Council says its Housing Access Together (HAT) sc…
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19/01/2026
The public is being consulted on HMO restrictions in several Bristol neighbourhoods in a bid to stop the tide of family homes becoming shared houses. The potential extra rules for landlords would make converting homes into houses in multiple occup…
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23/12/2025
London’s Labour Mayor, Sadiq Khan, has revived his long-standing — and so far failing — push for the power to introduce rent controls in the capital’s private rented sector.
Khan told the London Assembly that he will now write to Ho…
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22/12/2025
Sir Stephen Timms states that after a pilot involving three councils, a further 38 local authorities will now adopt new powers allowing them to reclaim rent from landlords who have housed benefit-claiming tenants in unlicensed properties.
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16/12/2025
From December 27, local housing authorities will gain sweeping investigatory powers in advance of the Renters’ Rights Act’s full rollout in May 2026.
Under the new rules, councils can enter offices or premises where tenancy records are sto…
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09/12/2025
A landlords’ group has welcomed changes to Great Yarmouth’s selective licensing scheme but warned tenants will still bear the cost.
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The association had opposed the council’s original plan, which set fees at &p…
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05/12/2025
Serious doubts remain over whether local authorities can effectively enforce the new Renters’ Rights Act, with enforcement teams already stretched thin and most councils failing to act against rogue landlords.
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05/12/2025
The initiative forms part of the council’s wider strategy to tackle homelessness by reducing pressure on the housing waiting list. Over the next three years, £7.3 million in funding will be distributed to private sector owners, with the aim …
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27/10/2025
Another call for help from a council to private landlords.
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Enfield Council is introducing a new rental scheme aimed at securing long-term leases from private landlords to ease reliance on costly short-term eme…
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07/10/2025
And yet another council is now tightening restrictions for potential HMOs.
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Chorley Council has enacted an Article 4 Direction, requiring planning permission for converting standard homes into small HMOs. …
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07/10/2025
A leading figure at Gateshead Council has urged action on rent controls as part of a broader push to combat poverty and protect vulnerable tenants.
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Councillor Catherine Donovan, cabinet member for childr…
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24/09/2025
Croydon Council has rolled out a no-cost early-intervention programme targeting eviction prevention in the private rental sector.
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The service is intended to assist landlords in managing tenancy challenge…
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19/09/2025
A long-standing Nottingham landlord has raised alarm over delays in accessing one of his properties, claiming the city council’s handling of the keys could leave his tenants in a difficult position.
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Mick Rober…
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10/09/2025
According to figures compiled by Generation Rent, Enfield Council directed more funding than any other London borough toward landlord incentives in the past year.
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Enfield Council spent more than any other Lond…
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08/09/2025
Merton Council has taken control of 18 rental properties in south-west London following repeated licensing failures and safety concerns.
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The homes are operating as houses in multiple occupation (HMOs), w…
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04/09/2025
Westminster council is launching a public consultation to renew its borough-wide Additional Licensing Scheme for smaller HMOs – with landlords expected to pay £1,540 for a licence to operate.
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The t…
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03/09/2025
The BBC has uncovered a regulatory report that has identified “significant failures” in Arun District Council’s performance as a social housing landlord.
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The Regulator of Social Housing described the iss…
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25/08/2025
Birmingham City Council is urging private landlords to ensure their properties are properly licensed, warning that failure to comply could result in penalties of up to £30,000 per unlicensed home.
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The co…
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Older News
Fit for Habitation|March 2019 The ACT is intended to define minimum standards a rental property MUST
be and makes a clearer pathway way for Tenants to be compensated|https://www.pims.co.uk/fit_for_habitation_act_march_2019/
Guarantor|The person who provides a guarantee and promises to make payment good should the person responsible for the agreement fail|http://www.pims.co.uk/guarantors/
MEES|The Minimum Energy Efficiency Standard (MEES) Landlords are charged with the requirement to bring their rental property to a minimum EPC rating of E. Property with F and G rating will effectively be banned from the rental market April 2018 |http://www.pims.co.uk/epc/
Section 11|Section 11 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 places an obligation on the landlord to maintain the structure and exterior of the property, including installations for the supply of water, gas and electricity, heating systems, drainage and sanitary appliances|http://www.pims.co.uk/landlord-section-11-repairs/
serving date|This date is the date deemed received at the property - as an example if posted allow for posting days|/serving-notice-on-a-tenant-delivery-days/
Tenancy Application|The objective of vetting is to empower yourself so you can make an informed decision as to the calibre of the prospective person. Making your decision on facts and figures is invaluable and this is why you should always take references. The application form also provides you with permission to perform credits. This form details all the information you should ever require deal with most eventualities including absconding tenants|http://www.pims.co.uk/doc/57/
Tenant Fees|From June 2019 where renting properties in England gone are the days of charging for admin, letting fees, vetting, references,
inventory, check in, check out, cleaning, pet insurance or ANY other fee
that is not explicitly permitted within the legislation. |https://www.pims.co.uk/ban_letting_fees_act_2019/