Landlord News

Landlord News from Property118 brings you the most important updates in UK private renting, from legislative changes and finance developments to market trends and regulatory guidance. Published daily by our editorial team, this archive is your go-to source for practical and authoritative insight into disrupting and emerging issues in the PRS.

Whether it’s a change in tax treatment, new lender criteria, or shifts in pricing and demand, the stories you’ll find here are carefully curated to keep landlords informed and ready to adapt. Bookmark this page to stay updated with fast, relevant, and reliable landlord news.

Hand reaching toward a house-shaped safe representing secure rental deposits

What can a tenant’s deposit be used for?

Author: Readers Question

12th August 2022, 4 years ago | 2

Hello everyone, I have had a housing benefit tenant, with the rent paid by Universal Credit, since April 2021 and...

guarantors for all tenants property118.com

Is it time for landlords to have guarantors for all tenants?

Author: Readers Question

12th August 2022, 4 years ago | 13

Hello everyone, In these difficult economic times, firms are regularly going bust and creating financial problems for their employees, and...

The average buy-to-let mortgage rates for some typical two-year fixed rate deals favoured by landlords have doubled since the start of the year, it has been revealed. According to Property Master's Mortgage Tracker, the average rate for a typical £160,000 BTL mortgage fixed for two years for a Loan to Value (LTV) of 60% had more than doubled since the start of this year – from 1.69% in January to 3.43% in August. This took the monthly cost, including fees, from £262 to £494, an increase of £232. The online buy-to-let mortgage broker also found that the same mortgage fixed for five years had also increased dramatically from 1.94% in January to 3.5% in August - an increase in monthly costs, including fees, from £273 in January to £481 in August, up £208. 'Cost of buy-to-let mortgages continues to rise inexorably' Angus Stewart, Property Master's chief executive, said: "The cost of buy-to-let mortgages continues to rise inexorably. "Obviously, much of this reflects the Bank of England's decision to hike interest rates for the sixth time earlier this month but there are other factors at play too. "We are seeing reduced competition in the buy-to-let mortgage market caused by a combination of factors with some lenders using higher rates to manage customer demand, whilst others are taking the opportunity to widen their margins." He added: "We have said for some years that increased regulation and higher costs were leading to the professionalisation of the private rented sector. "In reality, this will mean fewer but larger landlords. 'Unaffordable rises in mortgage costs' "For many of the smaller players in this market, unaffordable rises in mortgage costs will undoubtedly lead them to conclude buy-to-let no longer works for them. "Indeed, the latest figures from HMRC show a dramatic increase in takings from Capital Gains Tax suggesting many landlords are deciding this is the moment to sell-up." The Property Master Buy-to-let Mortgage Tracker follows 30 lenders who constitute around 75% of total BTL mortgage lending.

Some BTL mortgage rates have doubled this year – as rates rise ‘inexorably’

Author: Property118.com Landlord News Team

12th August 2022, 4 years ago | 2

The average buy-to-let mortgage rates for some typical two-year fixed rate deals favoured by landlords have doubled since the start...

rats in cages tenants reference property118.com

Unacceptable tenants – do I need to supply a reference?

Author: Readers Question

12th August 2022, 4 years ago | 6

Hello everyone, We had tenants for 4 years living in our 5 bed house next door. We got on very...

HMOs grow in value as tenants demand better amenities

Author: Property118.com Landlord News Team

12th August 2022, 4 years ago | 0

Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO) are moving up the value chain as tenants demand better amenities, research by Paragon Bank...

Shelter’s warning after landlord repossessions rise

Author: Property118.com Landlord News Team

12th August 2022, 4 years ago | 10

The number of landlord possession actions in England for all court stages has increased compared to the same quarter of...

Where UK property investors are bulk buying to boost their portfolios

Author: Property118.com Landlord News Team

12th August 2022, 4 years ago | 1

British investors are spending an average of £1.2 million to quickly bolster their property investments by buying full portfolios rather...

Can you help with research on new tenant referencing tools?

Author: Alison Wallace

11th August 2022, 4 years ago | 0

The University of York and the University of Bristol are undertaking work on new digital risk profiling tools in housing....

rents and house prices rise property supply falls property118.com

Rents and house prices to rise across the UK as property supply declines – RICS

Author: Property118.com Landlord News Team

11th August 2022, 4 years ago | 0

Rents and house prices will continue to rise across the UK even as demand drops because there is a severe...

tenant rent arrears cost of living crises property118.com

Landlords warned that renters will struggle to pay rent

Author: Property118.com Landlord News Team

11th August 2022, 4 years ago | 11

Tenants will struggle to pay their rent and bills as growing numbers of them are already cutting their food budget...

Short-term let over the winter to cover energy prices?

Author: Readers Question

11th August 2022, 4 years ago | 11

Hello, We have a holiday let and as the cost of living climbs… are considering putting our 5-bed holiday house...

smoke and co alarm landlords property118.com

What to do about CO alarms?

Author: Readers Question

10th August 2022, 4 years ago | 9

Hello everyone, If you have fixed gas appliances in residential premises you let, the Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (Amendment)...

landlord protected deposit numbers and disputes property118.com

Number of protected tenancy deposits in the UK grows

Author: Property118.com Landlord News Team

10th August 2022, 4 years ago | 0

The number of deposits being protected has increased across the UK, The Dispute Service (TDS) says. Steve Harriott, the chief...

Red double-decker bus passing through central London street with historic and modern buildings.

London landlords urged to sell homes to councils – not to other investors

Author: Property118.com Landlord News Team

10th August 2022, 4 years ago | 8

Sadiq Khan, the mayor of London, has urged landlords who have a former council house they want to sell to...

durham selective licensing property118.com

Selective licensing will hit landlords in the cost-of-living crisis

Author: Property118.com Landlord News Team

10th August 2022, 4 years ago | 1

A property expert says that the cost-of-living crisis calls into question the viability of selective private landlords licensing schemes. Selective...