RLA E-News | HMO licensing | Criminal landlords | Tax rises | Research | Wales

RLA opposes HMO licensing extension 
The RLA has objected to the Government’s plans to extend its mandatory HMO licensing scheme.The consultation, which closed this week, asked PRS landlords to respond to plans including proposals to set minimum room sizes of 6.52sqm, extend mandatory licensing to flats above shops and remove the storey rule – so that any home with five or more people from two or more households is considered a HMO, regardless of the number of floors.
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What makes a criminal landlord?

New rules which will see landlords banned for criminal behaviour come into force next April, with Government now consulting on which offences merit the punishment.

Landlords and tenants are being asked what should constitute a ‘banning order offence’ as defined by section 14 of the Housing and Planning Act 2016. They can also provide feedback by answering a survey.
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Families to lose homes due to tax rises
A leading housing expert has warned of families losing their homes as a result of extra tax burdens on landlords.Dame Kate Barker, a former member of the Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee issued the warning to the Treasury Select Committee.

She warned that because changes to mortgage interest relief will affect existing housing stock, there is a danger that families living in homes long-term will be forced to leave as landlords sell up.
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RLA research in Lords debate
Airbnb research produced by the RLA has been cited in a Lords debate on holiday lettings and their impact.Baroness Gardner of Parkes (Conservative) asked questions in the House of Lords about whether the Government intends to give powers to councils to prevent the loss of long-term homes due to increases in holiday lets.
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Possession claims down by more than a quarter in Wales

Possession claims by PRS landlords in Wales have fallen by 26% over the past two years.

An analysis of Government statistics by the RLA found the number of possession claims made to county courts in Wales has fallen from a high of 203 in the first quarter of 2014 to 150 between July and September 2016.
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RLA scoops gold
As 2016 comes to close the RLA Wales team has been richly rewarded for its campaigning work as part of the Homes for Wales coalition.The team scooped Gold at the Charted Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) awards for the best public affairs campaign and was also nominated for five other awards.
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