Middlesborough Council who issued the charges has defended it by saying each of the 52 flats in Linthorpe Hall 248 are eligible for the fee under their current selective licensing scheme, which began in 2019.

A property management and letting agency in Enfield received a £7,500 fine and was ordered to pay £1,299 in costs with an additional £2,000 victim surcharge (a total of £10,799), during a recent sentencing hearing at Highbury Corner Magistrates Court.

Responding to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) consultation on the registration options for a short-term lets (STLs) licensing scheme in England, Propertymark stated that any scheme should not be compulsory for local authorities if they can prove they are having no impact on private rented sector supply in their area.

Two separate investigations in Camden and Mansfield involving unlicensed Houses of Multiple Occupation (HMOs) led to sanctions for landlords and agents. West Northamptonshire is the latest council to announce a crackdown on unregulated and poorly managed properties.

Recognising the fact that some members in Wales operate for landlords of short-term holiday lets, Propertymark has responded to the Welsh Government’s consultation to establish a statutory licensing scheme for all visitor accommodation in Wales.

The Scottish Government has announced more time for hosts of short-term lets to apply for a licence. The deadline has now been postponed for six months from the original deadline of 31 March 2023 to 1 October 2023.

Responding to consultations across England, Propertymark is concerned that licensing schemes are not the best tool to drive up standards in the private rented sector (PRS), particularly during difficult financial times.

The Lettings Industry Council (TLIC) has published a report making practical and workable recommendations based on the expected changes to be introduced in the Renters' Reform Bill.

The Queen’s Speech on 10 May 2022, saw the UK Government announce that it would bring forward legislation to reform the private rented sector in England.

The House of Commons Public Accounts Committee’s report on the Regulation of Private Renting, published today, 13 April 2022, claims that better data is needed to understand issues within the private rented sector (PRS) in England and to evaluate the impact of legislative changes on landlords, tenants, the housing market as a whole and the effectiveness of regulation.

The UK Government plans to reform the private rented sector (PRS) in England and to help shape and influence the Renters’ Reforms, Propertymark has produced a paper outlining its position.

The Future of Renting features our recommendations to the UK Government and its plans to reform the private rented sector in England. We want to help shape and influence the UK Government’s Renters’ Reforms White Paper which is due to be released in 2022.

A new licensing scheme is being developed to help ensure that short term lets are safe and help address issues faced by local residents and communities. All Scottish councils will have to adopt a short-term lets licensing system by October 2022.

Propertymark has responded to a number of licensing scheme proposals from local authorities across England in recent months arguing that Councils who are pursuing the implementation of licensing schemes are being socially irresponsible. This is because in these unprecedented times landlords and agents are not able to comply with the requirements and Council resources are unlikely to be able to effectively enforce them.

Is a discretionary licensing scheme being consulted on in your area? We have created a Word template for you to submit to your local authority. The letter explains why discretionary licensing schemes are not an effective way of promoting higher quality accommodation.