A legal firm has added its weight to calls for the regulation of letting agents – after a landlord client was left high and dry by an agent that went off with the rent money. 

Asking prices for properties new to the market have shot up to hit an all-time record high for March, boosted by buy-to-let investors “piling into the market”. 

Lloyds buy-to-let subsidiary BM Solutions is to start lending to landlords who let Houses in Multiple Occupation properties to students. 

Shelter is running a campaign for people to sign an online petition urging more lenders to lend to buy-to-let landlords who take benefits tenants. 

A new buy-to-let mortgage has been launched by Hinckley & Rugby Building Society. It is available exclusively through brokers. 

Rents nudged down across England and Wales by just 0.1% in February – but they were still 3.3% higher than the year before. 

Almost two-thirds of private tenants are struggling or falling behind with their rent, claims a new survey by Shelter. But the slant it has put on its findings has been called into question. 

The All Party Parliamentary Group for the Private Rented Sector is launching an inquiry into how to improve standards and how to regulate the private rented sector. 

Compulsory licensing of private landlords is not necessary, MPs have been told. 

A legal service for landlords who need to take back possession of their properties is publishing its prices online. 

Rent arrears among tenants of social landlords taking part in a trial of the Government’s flagship benefit reforms have soared. 

An amendment to regulate letting agents by bringing them under the scope of the Estate Agents Act only just scraped through in the House of Lords.