rent

Dogs Trust and Cats Protection join forces to call for new laws to protect pet-owning tenants

The UK is a nation of animal lovers, but with under half of the nation’s landlords advertising their properties as pet friendly*, it can be difficult for renters to share in the joy pets bring.

Further to this, animal charities across the UK are experiencing an increase in the number of animals needing their support, with many owners citing housing issues as a reason for rehoming...

Trading Standards urges renters not to be caught out by banned tenancy fees

Devon, Plymouth, Somerset and Torbay Trading Standards Service has launched a new campaign to help prevent renters in the region being caught out by fees that have now been banned.

The law on what landlords and letting agents can charge tenants when beginning, ending or changing their contracts has changed.

It means renters can no longer be asked to pay extra for things like...

Social housing tenants face £1,000 a year average rent rise

The Local Government Association is urging new ministers to rethink the Pay to Stay policy which will require councils to charge some of their tenants higher rents from April 2017.

It comes as new analysis reveals today that more than 70,000 social housing tenants could face rent rise bills of an average £1,000 a year from next year under government plans to increase rents for those...

SW renters could fall foul of rogue landlords

New research has today revealed the shocking numbers of private renters in the South West suffering at the hands of a rogue landlord, with approximately 80,000 experiencing an act by their landlord that could have resulted in legal action.

The survey by Shelter and YouGov revealed alarming reports from renters including landlords threatening, harassing or assaulting them, cutting off...

Warning to landlords over immigration checks

Landlords in Devon will need to carry out thorough immigration status checks on their prospective tenants before granting tenancies in the future – or face stiff penalties including the possibility of imprisonment, warns leading law firm Stephens Scown LLP.

The government is expected to include a new penalty of up to five years in prison for landlords who fail to carry out the...

Landlords struggle to keep up with new laws

Two in five (41%) landlords in the South West* admit that they struggle to keep up with changes in law relating to letting property a week before a new deadline that could leave them with heavy fines for missing.

There are already over 50 Acts of Parliament and more than 70 sets of regulations that govern the private-rented sector (PRS).

The new deadline – 23rd June – imposed...

Landlords urged to have their say

A new website will give landlords in Devon a unique chance to have their say during the General Election campaign.

Developed by the Residential Landlords Association, the site is a hub for all information landlords will need including the policies of all the main parties; exclusive articles from them on their plans for the private rented sector; and key facts about the market.

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One in nine people fear missing rent or mortgage payments

Thousands of rent or mortgage payers across the South West might be facing a not-so-happy new year, as new research reveals one in nine are worried they will be unable to make payments this January.

Research from Shelter and YouGov paints a bleak picture for many this winter, with 65% of rent or mortgage payers in the South West revealing they are already struggling to keep up with...

SW landlords least at risk of rent arrears

Landlords in the South West are least at risk of rent arrears, according to research from the UK’s leading landlord association*.

Those in the South West were found to be less at risk with a quarter (25 per cent) of landlords experiencing rent arrears in the last 12 months, compared to 29 per cent of landlords in the South East.

The research shows that a typical landlord in the...

Queen should open palace to raise funds

MPs today said that Buckingham Palace should be opened to more paying visitors when the Queen is not in residence to fund improvements to the royal estate.

The influential Public Accounts Committee criticised the Royal Household for mismanaging its finances.

Chairwoman Margaret Hodge said there was "huge scope for savings" on the annual £31m of taxpayer funds given to the Queen...

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