Property118
Stressed renter reviewing costs beside a house purchase concept illustrating affordability barriers to homeownership.

Affordability crisis deepens for renters – Barclays

25th June 2026

Renters are still facing affordability concerns, as the cost of deposits and high property prices continue to block many from achieving home ownership, according to new research. Data from Barclays’ Property Insight report shows that price is the top priority for Gen Z when looking for a home (24%), while location is the aspect most […]

Illustration showing the UK housing market divide ten years after Brexit, with stronger price growth outside London.

Brexit drives sharp regional divide in house prices

25th June 2026

Ten years on from the Brexit referendum, house prices across the UK show a stark regional divide, according to new research. Data from Yopa reveals that although average UK house prices have risen by 37.7% since June 2016, growth has been far from evenly distributed, with many traditionally more affordable markets outperforming southern England over […]

Data protection compliance warning for landlords and letting agents managing tenant information and complaints.

Landlords and agents warned over new data protection obligations

25th June 2026

Landlords and letting agents are being urged to remain compliant with new data protection requirements. Under the Data (Use and Access) Act, those handling personal data must have a policy in place for dealing with complaints about the use of personal information. While such complaints are rare in the private rented sector, landlords are being […]

Scotland rent growth slows to 1% as average monthly rents rise modestly across the private rental market

Scotland’s annual rent growth falls to 1%

25th June 2026

Rent growth in Scotland has slowed to its lowest annual rate for a decade, with the average monthly cost rising by £10. The increase came in well below inflation, though tenants in several areas still faced rises of nearly 5%. The average private rent reached £1,009 a month in May, up 1% from June 2025, […]

AI-powered property search concept showing renters discovering homes based on lifestyle and neighbourhood preferences.

AI property search firm targets renters wanting homes

25th June 2026

Landlords could secure more exposure for homes in areas that renters miss when searching by postcode alone, a new AI firm claims. The AI-powered property platform nHabit has been launched to take on Rightmove and Zoopla. It will do so by allowing tenants to describe the kind of place they want to live in ordinary, […]

Buying six properties? The Stamp Duty bill depends on where they are

24th June 2026

For many years, landlords have referred to “Stamp Duty” as though it were a single UK tax. In reality, that is no longer the case. Today, there are three separate property transaction taxes operating across the United Kingdom, each with its own legislation, rates and reliefs. The differences can be significant, particularly for portfolio landlords […]

Leaflet about a proposed land value tax held in front of homes with a for sale sign, illustrating housing tax reforms.

Could Andy Burnham’s proposed land tax force landlords to sell?

24th June 2026

Hello, Andy Burnham has been reported to be considering replacing council tax and stamp duty with a new tax based on property values. Under the proposal, the tax would be paid by property owners rather than tenants. Owner-occupiers would reportedly pay 0.48% of the property’s value each year, while landlords, overseas owners and second-home owners […]

Buy to let mortgage updates with residential properties and BTL lettering in the foreground

Buy to let lenders widen landlord options

24th June 2026

Paragon Bank, ModaMortgages and Darlington Building Society have announced changes to their buy to let ranges, covering tracker mortgages, upfront fees and application requirements. Paragon has expanded its Bank Base Rate (BBR) tracker range by introducing switch and further advance products for existing customers. The switch range is available at up to 80% loan-to-value, while […]

Broken chain labelled “Discrimination” on a rental property door, symbolising action against unfair letting practices.

Government vows to tackle rental discrimination in PRS

24th June 2026

The government claims the Renters’ Rights Act provides councils with strong enforcement powers to crack down on rental discrimination. Under the act, it is illegal for landlords and letting agents to discriminate against prospective tenants who receive benefits or have children, with fines of up to £7,000 for those who break the rules. The news […]

Energy efficiency upgrades and £11,713 retrofit costs for landlords aiming to achieve EPC C ratings.

EPC upgrades could cost landlords £11,713

24th June 2026

Landlords expect to spend an average of £11,713 on each property that needs to reach an EPC C rating, leaving many with a bill they already regard as financially unviable. Research from Pegasus Insight found that 60% of landlords own at least one property rated below EPC C, creating a potentially substantial demand for finance […]

Confused landlord reviewing a missed rent renewal with calendar, property model and unanswered questions.

Letting agent missed rent renewal and then gave me conflicting advice?

24th June 2026

Hello, I would appreciate other landlords’ views on a dispute I am having with my letting agent – a well-known national chain. I have used them to manage my property for about four years and currently pay approximately £350 a month in management charges. There have been several previous service issues, but the handling of […]

Illustration of renters and landlords navigating a maze, symbolising shifting power and housing shortages in the rental market.

Tenants struggle to find homes as lettings market shifts

24th June 2026

Nine in 10 landlords believe the balance of power in the private rented sector has moved in favour of tenants during the past two years, according to research from LRG. However, 25% of tenants still believe landlords have the upper hand. The firm’s Spring 2026 Lettings Report, based on responses from 650 landlords and tenants […]

Football-themed illustration showing Landlord Sales Agency scoring a winning goal with a house for sale in the net.

What the World Cup teaches landlords about selling property

23rd June 2026

As football fever sweeps the nation once again, fans across England are dreaming of that one unforgettable moment: the ball hitting the back of the net in the dying seconds of a World Cup final. We are dreaming of the trophy, the glory, and the clinical strikes that write history. But while England’s stars battle […]

Energy efficiency rating scale inside a house outline, illustrating EPC upgrades for rental properties.

The Mortgage Works to pilot landlord EPC support package

23rd June 2026

The Mortgage Works is offering free property assessments and cut-price borrowing to help landlords prepare for the proposed Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) standards from 2030. For many of them, the first job may simply be working out what needs fixing. The buy to let lender, which is part of Nationwide, will fund 1,000 assessments through […]

Two cats in a rental property beneath a no-pets sign, illustrating an unauthorised pet tenancy issue.

Unauthorised pets in rental property?

23rd June 2026

I have found myself in an interesting situation and would appreciate your thoughts. In April this year, new tenants moved into one of our rental properties. At the time of application, they advised the letting agent that they expected to remain at the property for one to two years, that they did not have any […]

Judge’s gavel and UK government papers beside protected homes, illustrating oversight of social housing landlords.

Government rules out enforcement powers for Housing Ombudsman

23rd June 2026

The government has confirmed the Housing Ombudsman can not take enforcement action against social housing landlords. In a written Parliamentary question, Labour MP Neil Coyle asked whether the government would consider allowing the Housing Ombudsman to issue fines for maladministration by housing providers. He suggested this could compensate tenants, require implementation of recommendations, and help […]

Compensation claim over mould issues after a landlord sold the flat, with house model, cash and paperwork.

Can a tenant claim compensation for mould after the flat has been sold?

23rd June 2026

Hi, I wrote a while ago about the tenant wanting compensation for mould. >> https://www.property118.com/tenant-wants-compensation-for-mould/  I have since sold the flat, but have been informed by the letting agent who were managing the flat that the tenant has been into the office with his mother. They said they are likely to take matters further if […]

Falling buy-to-let mortgage rates illustrated with a downward percentage symbol outside rental homes.

Landbay, Kensington and Dudley cut landlord BTL mortgage rates

23rd June 2026

Landlords buying, refinancing or reviewing existing borrowing have been offered lower BTL mortgage rates across standard, HMO, limited company and expat products. Landbay, Kensington Mortgages and Dudley Building Society have all cut pricing, with the largest reduction reaching 110bps. Landbay has reduced its rates by up to 17bps across its Premier range, the second round […]

Illustration of a tidal wave labelled Renters Rights Act crashing over UK rental homes and letting boards, symbolising market disruption.

Why the Renters’ Rights Act is causing a tsunami?

23rd June 2026

Landlords are the life blood and custodians of a fragile ecosystem, who left alone, largely solve and don’t create problems. Nobody likes admitting they are wrong, but housing minister Matthew Pennycook’s claim that the Renters’ Rights Act (RRA) has maintained stability in the rental market is delusional and dangerous. Here is why I think so. […]