Landlords ‘battered and bruised’ by regs

TSLE2020: Landlords have been ‘battered and bruised’ by regulatory changes – Parker - https://t.co/eMI0fieGkl Buy-to-let landlords are remaining “resilient” d...

— Mortgage Solutions (@mortgagesols) February 6, 2020

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Proposals to extend regs on CO alarms

Proposals to extend regulations concerning carbon monoxide alarms are being considered by the government https://t.co/MdrkdIqcF0

— RLA Landlord News (@RLA_News) January 27, 2020

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Rental properties face clampdown

Rented properties face clampdown – but tiny flats escape ban https://t.co/93fsGlDwRy

— Property Hawk (@landlordnews) October 1, 2018

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New blow for landlords

New blow for landlords: 177,000 homes face new test https://t.co/XmdTUyeOil

— Telegraph Money (@MoneyTelegraph) September 17, 2018

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The new housing regulations - CIEH

New #housing regulations are coming into effect at the beginning of April. Read our latest #blog on these new powers and how they will enable LAs to combat rogue landlords, excess cold and homelessness #ukhousing #localgov #housingcrisis https://t.co/TflAFqUSZe pic.twitter.com/k15TyahdDe

— Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (@The_CIEH) April 4, 2018

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Letting agent regulation in England becomes reality

Industry Regulation to becomes a reality in England following Government announcements on Easter Sunday https://t.co/FkJqH1fvZN pic.twitter.com/HGg0SEzQyU

— ARLA Propertymark (@arla_uk) April 4, 2018

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Call for regulation of letting agents

‘Urgent regulation needed’ to stop abusive practices by letting agents https://t.co/FFrYIOamCX

— Property Hawk (@landlordnews) March 19, 2018

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Portfolio landlords not put off by regulations

Portfolio landlords haven’t been put off by regulation https://t.co/rKR4I694ji pic.twitter.com/3m8zExyAM3

— Mortgage Introducer (@MortgageChat) January 9, 2018

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Energy Efficiency Regulations published

The Government has published the Energy Efficiency (Private Rented Property)(England and Wales) Regulations 2015.

The regulations come into play from April 2018, from when, both landlords of privately rented domestic and non-domestic property in England or Wales must ensure that their properties reach at least an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of E before granting a new tenancy to new or existing tenants. 

Subsequently, from 1 April 2020 for domestic properties, and from 1 April 2023 for non-domestic properties these same requirements will need to be met by all private rented properties in England and Wales – even where there has been no change in tenancy arrangements 

The documents provide guidance and advice on:

• Scope of regulations 
• Relevant improvements 
• Funding sources 
• Cost effectiveness 
• Exemptions 
• Enforcement 
• Appeals 
• National PRS Exemption Register

Go here to download  -The Private Rented Property minimum standard – landlord guidance documents




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Reaction to IDS's BTL tax changes

IDS calls for review of BTL tax changes – reaction https://t.co/K94ycWX4Lk pic.twitter.com/kOY6QXRJ6X

— Mortgage Introducer (@MortgageChat) July 24, 2017

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New PRS Regulations up in the air

Theresa Maybe – PRS Regulations left up in the air? https://t.co/itl1NLUTYz pic.twitter.com/6mSmYH0TWu

— NLA (@nationalandlord) July 13, 2017

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West of England - Rental Standard

Rent with confidence in #Bristol when you see the #RentwithConfidence logo https://t.co/1rw2VYh5Uq pic.twitter.com/ckr7N8KvRx

— Bristol City Council (@BristolCouncil) July 6, 2017

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Labour pledges tougher rental standards

Labour pledges 'tougher' standards for rented houses https://t.co/pXGUTHKWPq

— BBC Business (@BBCBusiness) May 1, 2017

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JRF report - PRS regulations

Read our report: Regulation of the private rented sector in England using lessons from Ireland. https://t.co/kH0gTccOpH

— Joseph Rowntree Fdn. (@jrf_uk) April 24, 2017

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Rent Smart Wales Public Register

Rent Smart Wales have published a Public Register of their registered landlords and letting agents.

Searchable by a rental property address, the database will show if that property is managed by a registered letting agent or landlord.

Search the Rent Smart Wales Public Register

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Call to stop the 'landlord bashing'

With 1.8 million new homes for rent needed by 2025, solving the housing crisis means backing private landlords https://t.co/WtbFwLh3dr #uk

— Dorian - Belvoir! (@Dorian_Belvoir) January 11, 2017

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A changing BTL market - PRA regulations

Jane Simpson at Property Hawk Mortgages says:

The finalised PRA regulations for buy-to-let mortgages were published at the end of September and there are concerns amongst some in the industry about how the prescribed changes to underwriting standards are going to affect the market and how much more complex arranging finance for landlords will become.

For shorter-term buy-to-let rates, the PRA has stipulated a minimum interest coverage ratio (ICR) of 125% and have a minimum stress test interest rate of 5.5%. Also, when assessing customer affordability, lenders are now expected to take account of the likely interest rate increases during the first five years of the mortgage contract. However, for fixed rate buy-to-let mortgages of five years or longer, these requirements do not apply and there are already some lenders, for example Newcastle Building Society, offering different rental calculations for five-year fixed rate products.

The PRA has set 1st January 2017 as the deadline for lenders to implement these new measures for ICR tests, so over the next couple of months we can expect a raft of changes to lenders’ rental calculations. One of the common concerns raised is that landlords in certain areas of the country where rental yields are lower, for example London and the South East, will find it difficult to meet the new stress tests.

It has also been suggested that as the overall yield for buy-to-let properties varies so greatly around the UK, we may see some lenders having geographical ICRs for different areas of the country, which will add another layer of complexity to the already challenging task of sourcing the most suitable buy-to-let mortgage for landlords.

The PRA underwriting standards policy has confirmed that “lenders can use personal income as a means for the borrower to supplement the rent within their affordability test”. This is likely to result

in a wide range of approaches by lenders when assessing customer affordability, which may affect the choice of products available to clients and further increase the complexity of lending criteria.


With reduced buy-to-let tax relief coming into effect in 2017, lender’s may also offer different rental calculations depending on the client’s tax status, with higher rate tax payers being subject to more stringent affordability tests.

Alongside the PRA’s expectation for ICRs and interest rate affordability stress tests, the underwriting policy also makes a special case for portfolio landlords, who are defined as having “four or more distinct mortgaged buy-to-let properties.” It is indicated that as lending to portfolio landlords is “inherently more complex”, lenders should take a specialist (presumably more lengthy and in-depth) underwriting approach to these borrowers.

It is possible therefore, that we will begin to see a distinct split between lenders in the buy-to-let mortgage market, with large specialist lenders dealing with portfolio landlords on one side and lenders who opt to deal only with smaller landlords with 3 or less properties on the other side.

Without doubt, the buy-to-let mortgage market will undergo significant change over the next 12 months and sourcing finance for landlords will become increasingly complex.

Search the whole BTL mortgage market free 

Email:info@propertyhawkbtlmortgages.co.uk

Tel: 029 2069 5446

Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgages.  

The Financial Services Authority does not regulate some forms of mortgage.

Rogue landlord crackdown to include minimum bedroom sizes

Crackdown on rogue landlords to include new minimum bedroom size https://t.co/iDx38WAtZt #ukhousing

— Guardian Housing (@GuardianHousing) October 17, 2016

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Over-regulation of BTL - warns CML

Regulator warned about overloading buy-to-let sector https://t.co/nEkqLOJkVb

— FTAdviser (@FTAdviser) June 30, 2016

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The non-resident landlord scheme

Advice | Ten things you should know about the non-resident #landlord scheme: https://t.co/mCMGEJXvpQ #RICSresi pic.twitter.com/NLQIIbmO7s

— RICS (@RICSnews) June 20, 2016

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