September property market bounce with UK homes for sale as landlords consider selling before the Autumn Budget

The September bounce – what it is and why it matters

4th September 2026

Zoopla says buyer searches are now 7% higher than a year ago, their strongest annual increase for 12 months, with searches increasing across every region and country of the UK for the first time since August 2025. That makes September potentially one of the best opportunities landlords have had this year to sell. It’s called […]

Knight in crusader armour holding a sword, symbolising landlords battling rising PRS pressures and regulation.

It’s official: Britain is dismantling its private rented sector

4th September 2026

Well, who could have predicted that small landlords are leaving the private rented sector? Thirty thousand small landlords in the UK apparently walked away from buy to let in the year to April 2025. And that’s BEFORE the Renters’ Rights Act had even taken effect in England, while landlords in Wales and Scotland have also […]

To let signs above rental homes illustrating shrinking supply under the Renters’ Rights Act

Renters’ Rights Act blamed for shrinking rental supply

4th September 2026

The Renters’ Rights Act has caused unintended consequences, with tenants struggling to find affordable places to live as landlords sell up. The Daily Mail reports a growing imbalance between supply and demand as rents keep rising. Propertymark urges the government to invest in the private rented sector to keep good landlords in the market. Market […]

Renters’ Rights Act shown pushing rents higher as landlords sell homes

New Tory housing secretary: Renters’ Rights Act drives up rents

4th September 2026

The Conservatives’ new Shadow Housing Secretary has claimed the Renters’ Rights Act has driven rents up and led landlords to sell their properties. Writing in Conservative Home, Katie Lam has warned the government’s red tape has resulted in fewer homes being built. Ms Lam was appointed Shadow Housing Secretary in a recent Conservative reshuffle, replacing […]

Reform tax-free buy-to-let proposal for qualifying new-build homes on brownfield sites

Reform pledges tax-free buy to let homes

4th September 2026

Reform has promised landlords a decade without tax on rent from qualifying new-build homes as part of a plan to revive buy to let and increase housebuilding. The proposal would also remove stamp duty and capital gains tax from new homes built on brownfield sites, with the party preparing to consult on the policy. Deputy […]

UK rental properties rising beneath £88,454, representing average annual landlord gross rent income

Average landlord portfolio income hits £88,454

4th September 2026

The average landlord portfolio is claimed to be generating £88,454 a year in gross rent income, up £16,476 from £71,978, according to analysis by property management firm Rushbrook. That comes from an average of 7.3 properties with an estimated combined value of £1.7m, with both figures unchanged over the year. Estimated annual rent income per […]

Bailiffs face tougher professional standards, independent oversight and complaints rules in England and Wales.

Private bailiffs to face tougher rules under new reforms

4th September 2026

The government has announced tougher enforcement regulations for bailiffs. Under government proposals, private bailiffs will be held to professional standards, while those facing enforcement action will have access to an independent complaints process. The news comes as the government is exploring measures to improve bailiff recruitment and retention. Responsibility must come high standards Under the […]

Homes wrapped in regulation as toxic smoke rises, illustrating the growing burden of leasehold responsibility.

The regulatory wrapper — why some freeholds are becoming toxic liabilities

4th September 2026

Recent reforms focus on correcting perceived failures in leasehold ownership. Less attention has been paid to how these changes alter incentives, redistribute costs and reshape the economics of responsibility. This article examines how the removal of freehold value is transforming ownership from an income asset into a regulatory wrapper and some of the consequences that […]

Rooms to let with fewer rooms available, illustrating the decline in UK lodger accommodation supply.

Lodger supply declines as scheme could free up millions of empty rooms

4th September 2026

Lodger landlords continue to drop as organisation calls for Autumn Budget to raise Rent a Room Scheme threshold to £11,000. Data from SpareRoom reveals that UK lodger room supply has fallen by 1.7% in the year to Q2 and has remained flat for two years. Under the Rent a Room Scheme, homeowners and landlords can […]

Warning sign highlights electrical, fire and insurance risks from plug-in solar panels at rented homes.

Plug-in solar panel warning for landlords

3rd September 2026

Landlords could face new electrical, fire and insurance risks as plug-in solar panels begin to appear at rented homes. Risk assessment specialist Riskstop says property owners must understand how the technology is installed and whether existing electrical systems can support it. Plug-in photovoltaic (PV) solar panel systems have been legal to buy and use in […]

HMO landlord reviews compliance and improvement plans while contractors upgrade a rental property

HMO landlords are planning £10,000 upgrades

3rd September 2026

HMO landlords are preparing to spend thousands of pounds on improvements as compliance requirements and running costs increase. Paragon Bank found that 28% of HMO landlords plan to spend more than £10,000 on their properties over the next 12 months. Another 15% have budgeted between £5,001 and £10,000, while three-quarters of those surveyed have been […]

HM Land Registry sales data tool linking UK properties with accurate price and property identifiers

HM Land Registry launches tool for accurate sales data

3rd September 2026

HM Land Registry has launched new property identifiers designed to improve the accuracy of property sales data. Unique Property Reference Numbers (UPRNs) and INSPIRE IDs are now available alongside the monthly Price Paid Data. The government says Price Paid Data provides information on residential property sales in England and Wales. It is used by property […]

Mother and child in temporary accommodation, highlighting new council duties to notify schools and GPs.

Government unveils new rules for children in temporary accommodation

3rd September 2026

Councils will now be required to inform schools and GP practices when a child is placed in temporary accommodation. Councils across England will also receive a share of £1 million in funding to help cover the operational costs of implementing the changes. The news comes as Prime Minister Andy Burnham has unveiled plans to offer […]

Andy Burnham beside graphics highlighting frozen Local Housing Allowance rates and rising temporary accommodation costs

Andy Burnham warns LHA freeze is driving up temporary accommodation costs

3rd September 2026

The Prime Minister has admitted Local Housing Allowance (LHA) rates being frozen are contributing to councils’ temporary accommodation costs. Answering questions in Parliament, Andy Burnham hinted at changes to LHA could form part of his plan to tackle the housing crisis. Mr Burnham’s comments come as he has unveiled plans to offer every rough sleeper […]

Scottish Parliament with signs highlighting Scotland’s housing emergency and lack of housing focus

Propertymark criticises Scottish government over lack of focus on housing

3rd September 2026

An industry body has slammed the Scottish government for barely mentioning housing despite the country’s ongoing housing emergency. Propertymark says First Minister John Swinney’s first speech in the Scottish Parliament since the summer recess failed to mention reducing tax burdens for landlords. The criticism comes as the Scottish government proposes giving renters a period of […]

Letting agents overwhelmed by Renters’ Rights Act compliance, reporting and tenancy administration

Renters’ Rights Act piles work on letting agents

3rd September 2026

Landlords using letting agents may face slower communication and decisions as the Renters’ Rights Act adds to their administrative workloads. Research from Propoly found that 73% of letting agents have seen their workload rise since the legislation came into force on 1 May. One in four respondents said the increase had been significant. Compliance and […]

Rent tribunal claim documents outside the Royal Courts of Justice illustrating tenant challenges to rent increases

Rent tribunal cases surge following Renters’ Rights Act

2nd September 2026

Industry experts have warned that the Renters’ Rights Act has shifted the balance of power towards tenants, as new data shows a surge in landlords being taken to tribunal over rent increases. Data from Hamptons, reported by The Times, shows that property tribunals made 166 market rent decisions in July, almost four times the 44 […]

Could your rent increase survive a tribunal challenge?

2nd September 2026

As we all know, the Renters Rights Act 2025 has created major problems for landlords, and some are already showing up. In particular, landlords are facing issues with setting and increasing the property rent. The problems with rent Prior to 1 May 2026, landlords were able to increase rent by: Agreement (normally by getting the […]

Croydon landlord licensing uncertainty as applications open on the day new schemes begin

Croydon’s landlord licensing delay creates legal uncertainty

2nd September 2026

Landlords in Croydon will be unable to apply for two new property licences until the day the schemes come into force, prompting warnings about confusion and possible legal exposure. Croydon Council has postponed the start of its additional HMO and selective licensing schemes from 1 September to 25 September 2026. However, the council’s application system […]

Renter weighed against a guarantor as rising rents increase reliance on financial backing

Guarantor reliance surges as renters face growing affordability pressures

2nd September 2026

Guarantor reliance for tenants has doubled in the last 18 months as landlords look for greater financial security. Data from HomeLet reveals the share of accepted applications requiring a guarantor has risen from around 9% in January 2025 to 18.4% in July 2026, with almost one in five lets now agreed with a guarantor in […]

Buy-to-let homes with falling BTL percentage symbols representing lower landlord mortgage rates

Landlord mortgage rates fall across lenders

2nd September 2026

Landlords looking to fix their borrowing costs are being offered lower mortgage pricing across standard, specialist and large portfolio products. Paragon Bank has cut fixed rates by 15 basis points across its Core and Tailored ranges, with pricing starting from 3.40%. United Trust Bank (UTB) has reduced two-year fixed rates by up to 50 basis […]