Landlords’ confidence in buy-to-let has been bolstered by strong tenant demand – but concerns are growing about the difficulty in raising mortgages and their costs. 

Squatting in a residential property becomes a criminal offence from tomorrow in England and Wales. 

Fresh warnings have been sounded that ‘many’ Scottish letting agents will go bust as a result of the new tenancy deposit law, with a collective black hole in their accounts that could be as high as £50m – leaving landlords legally accountable. 

The Montague Report, which called for mass build-to-rent schemes backed by institutional investors, is a ground-breaker, according to housing minister Grant Shapps 

The Lib Dems are to debate the private rented sector, including high rents, at its party conference and are likely to call for the licensing of all letting agents and private landlords. 

There has been a mixed reaction to the Montague Report which yesterday called for a radical new model of British homes whereby institutional investors such as pension funds will be encouraged to fund the mass-scale building of private homes for rent. 

The average monthly rent per person in the UK is £706, or £8,472 a year, it has been claimed. 

Sequence Corporate Lettings, part of Connells, has expanded its operations into Scotland due to increasing demand for its services by lenders, insolvency practitioners, LPA receivers and institutional investors. 

Fast expanding lettings specialist Lomond Capital has launched a new business arm, Lomond Property Asset Management. 

Two Sheffield landlords have been handed suspended jail sentences after dangerous defects were found on every single gas appliance at a house they rented out to a young woman. 

There has been a 70% rise in court orders to evict private tenants over the past three years. 

Southampton city council is to vote this evening on whether to consult the public on plans to introduce a compulsory licensing scheme for all Houses in Multiple Occupation.