An agent's take on the future of the PRS

Unpacking the year's top property stories 2023

In our final episode of 2023, we unpack the year’s top property stories. Our special guest, award-winning property journalist Nigel Lewis, has for the past three years been providing hot off the press property news and insights for the rental sector as LandlordZONE’s Head of Content.

A ‘perfect storm’ of factors led to 2023 being the year we reached a real tipping point in the private rented sector, with tenant demand far outstripping the supply of rented property in most of the UK. But what were the top property stories that most piqued peoples’ interests this year?

Listen to Eddie, Paul and Nigel’s lively and insightful discussion to find out the top topics that captured landlords’ attention in 2023, and hear their top tips for 2024 and beyond.

Renters (Reform) Bill: How will the changes to evictions affect landlords?

In this episode of The Property Cast, Eddie and Paul are joined by special guest Paul Sowerbutts, Head of Legal at Landlord Action, to discuss how the proposed changes to evictions will affect landlords.

How will scrapping Section 21 really impact tenancies and, given the delay in implementing the changes proposed under the Renters (Reform) Bill, what are Paul’s tips for navigating current and future tenancies?

From a potted summary on how Section 21 works as it stands and how landlords can avoid the pitfalls of getting it wrong, to retaliatory evictions, the implications of changes to Section 8, and insights from the experts on what is happening on the ground with the courts, the bailiff shortage and the wider private rented sector, this episode is packed with advice from the coalface.

The Renters (Reform) Bill – what do the experts think?

In this bonus episode of The Property Cast, Sean Hooker, Head of Redress at the Property Redress Scheme and Kate Faulkner OBE, one of the UK's leading property experts, explore their thoughts on the much anticipated Renters (Reform) Bill.

Is it the game changer it is being billed as, and how will it make a difference to redressing the balance between landlords and tenants in the private rented sector?

Sean and Kate explore some of the key components of the Bill, from the implications of scrapping Section 21 to whether the introduction of rolling tenancies will actually make tenants more or less secure.

What do Kate and Sean think are the best bits of the Bill, and what are the biggest issues that will need to be addressed before it becomes law? Tune in to hear what the experts think and what landlords should do now.

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Propertymark's perspective on lettings

In this episode of The Property Cast, Eddie is joined by Sean Hooker, Head of Redress at the Property Redress Scheme and special guest - a big hitter in the property market - Nathan Emerson, CEO of Propertymark, the leading membership body for property agents.

With the private rented sector about to go through the biggest reform in 20 years, we explore Propertymark’s perspective on the impact of the proposed legislation on lettings, landlords and agents. We often talk about what makes a good agent, but what in Nathan’s view makes a bad agent? How do landlords avoid the bad ones? How can agents make sure they are a good one? And what are the most common errors and serious issues Propertymark comes across?

Tune in to hear Nathan’s tips for landlords and agents and to hear more insights - from what one thing Nathan would change to keep landlords in the sector to whether landlord redress is the right way to raise standards, how market conditions are affecting agents, and much more.

The latest lettings legislation for landlords

In this in-depth private rented sector legislation special, Eddie and Paul are joined by David Smith, head of property litigation at JMW Solicitors. The discussion kicks off with the recent landmark Rakusen v Jepsen rent repayment order case, where David represented the NRLA and which, he explains, highlights how the interpretation of legislation changes over time. In the light of the Supreme Court case and with an increasing number of ‘property gurus’ damaging the reputation of the sector, should the Government be looking to reform rent to rent rules as part of the Renters’ Reform Bill?

Property condition is already a major focus for reform through the proposed application of the Decent Homes Standard to the private rented sector, but will the tragic death of Awaab Ishak be a game changer? And how will regulatory change be matched by enforcement? With so many legislative changes to contend with, is it time for landlords to take on a professional to manage their property, or should landlord education be compulsory, as it now is in Wales? What might the proposed new property portal for landlords in England look like – the ‘light touch’ version adopted by Northern Ireland, or the ‘harder touch’ Welsh approach? What are David’s concerns about the Renters’ Reform Bill from a lawyer’s perspective? 

They may not have all the answers, but this podcast is jam-packed with expert insights and challenge around the often-overlooked details of private rented sector legislation.