Property News
All the latest news.
Government opens consultation on minimum EPC rating
The Government is seeking views on their proposal to raise the minimum energy efficiency standards required for privately rented homes in England and Wales from (EPC) E to C by 2030.
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100% increase in council tax for second homes
From 1 April 2025, you can be charged up to 2 times your normal Council Tax. Your council will decide whether the property is a ‘second home’ and whether to charge this additional tax.
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An exemptions to this is:
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"Where individuals own multiple homes, but the homes are let out or occupied by someone as their main home, it will not be considered as a “second home” for the purposes of the premiums and as such will not be liable for the premium. It is for councils to determine whether a dwelling is a “second home” in accordance with the legislation and their local statutory determination to apply the premium."
​Awaab’s Law to force landlords to fix dangerous homes
Awaab’s Law will come into force from October 2025, ensuring social landlords have to investigate and fix dangerous damp and mould within a set amount of time as well as repair all emergency hazards within 24 hours. Landlords who fail to comply face being taken to court, with social tenants able to use the full powers of the law to hold them to account.
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"In the coming months we will bring forward further reforms designed to drive up standards across social housing and to build greater trust and transparency between landlords and tenants. This government will:
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Introduce powers through the Renters’ Rights Bill to extend Awaab’s Law to the private rented sector. We will consult on how to apply Awaab’s Law to privately rented homes in a way that works for the sector and is fair and proportionate for tenants and landlords."
How to spot if your tenant has set up a grow house
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Signs for letting agents and landlords to look for with a tenant are:
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Poor or no references from a previous letting agent
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Offering to pay several months in advance
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Preference to pay rent in cash without reasonable cause
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Wanting to keep the utility bills in a landlord’s name
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Asking for complete privacy, requesting no periodic inspections or preventing the inspection of the property even when given reasonable notice
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Changing locks to keep landlords and agents away from a property.
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