Landlords have until October to ensure smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms are fitted in their rental properties or risk a £5,000 fine. Smoke alarms should be fitted on every floor. It is hoped the new law will prevent up to 26 deaths and 670 injuries each year. Housing Minister, Brandon Lewis, says “In 1988 just eight per cent of homes had a smoke alarm installed – ...

Berlin has introduced a rent cap, the first city in Germany to do so. The cap prevents landlords charging new tenants more than 10% above the local average. Berlin has seen property prices rise steeply since 2003 with rents increasing significantly since 2013. The managing director of the Berlin Tenants’ Association, Reiner Wild, says “The rent ceiling is very important in ...

Labour leadership hopeful Jeremy Corbyn has called for Right to Buy to be extended to people living in privately rented accommodation, enabling them to buy the home they are living in at a discounted rate.