Page 10 – Property118
Advisor reviewing buy to let mortgage deals on a laptop while researching landlord refinancing options.

Buy to let mortgage searches increase year on year

16th March 2026

Buy to let mortgage searches by advisors remained robust in February as landlords continued to review borrowing arrangements, even as purchase activity eased slightly. Figures from Twenty7tec’s latest Mortgage Market Snapshot show advisers carried out 291,468 buy to let searches during the month. That was 4% lower than January, although still 2% higher than the […]

Graphic announcing open letter to Shelter Scotland about housing policy evidence and landlord engagement

An open letter to Shelter Scotland

13th March 2026

An open letter to Shelter Scotland: if you want to work with landlords, let’s start with the evidence In a recent interview, Shelter’s new chief executive suggested the organisation is ready to work more closely with private landlords to address the housing crisis. LINK She said the housing sector would need to “work as a […]

Knight-themed Landlord Crusader logo symbolizing landlord advocacy

Why the abolition of Section 21 isn’t a cause for celebration

13th March 2026

I’m among the many landlords across England who are watching the clock tick down to May 1 with keen interest for when Section 21 ‘no-fault’ evictions end under the Renters’ Rights Act. And no, it’s not so I can gloat when tenant evictions, apparently the ‘main cause of homelessness’ schtick we are constantly bombarded with, […]

Global conflict impacting buy-to-let mortgage deals as rates rise and product availability falls

Iranian conflict sees buy to let mortgage deals fall and rates rise

13th March 2026

Landlords looking to refinance or arrange new buy to let borrowing are facing shrinking mortgage choice and higher rates as lenders respond to market volatility linked to the Iranian conflict. Figures from Moneyfactscompare.co.uk, produced for Property118.com, show the number of buy to let mortgage products fell from 5,660 on 1 March to 5,081 by 12 […]

Landlord handing house keys to tenant buyers outside property with a “Sold” sign during direct tenant purchase

Nottingham BS’s mortgage changes allow landlords to sell to tenants

13th March 2026

Landlords planning to sell a property directly to the tenant already living in it could find the process easier after new mortgage criteria were introduced to support discounted sales. Nottingham Building Society has updated its lending rules to allow concessionary purchases from landlords. This will enable a landlord to sell a home to the sitting […]

Scottish and Welsh flags revealing a housing manifesto document outlining housing policy proposals

Propertymark unveils Scottish and Welsh housing manifestos

13th March 2026

Propertymark has published housing manifestos for the Scottish and Welsh elections in May, setting out proposals it says are intended to address pressures affecting landlords, renters, buyers and sellers. The organisation says the plans draw on the experience of property professionals working across the market. The plans focus on issues including housing supply, affordability, environmental […]

Property inspector with clipboard assessing rental property condition as landlords prepare for Renters' Rights Act changes.

Renters’ Rights Act inspections warning for landlords

13th March 2026

Landlords preparing for the Renters’ Rights Act may need to rethink how they keep track of property condition once fixed-term tenancies disappear, research reveals. The findings from Inventory Base suggest many landlords plan only limited inspections after the shift to indefinite periodic tenancies. The survey of 800 landlords indicates that 46% expect to inspect their […]

Judge’s gavel beside stacks of cash symbolising legal costs for tenants challenging rent increases

Government under fire from tenant group over rent tribunal fees

13th March 2026

A tenant group has slammed the government over the fees tenants must pay to access rent tribunals. A story in the Mirror claims the Renters’ Reform Coalition has written to Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook, claiming tribunals will be the only way tenants can challenge rent rises and the fees will “undermine security for millions of […]

Rocket graphic over a UK map illustrating sharp rises in room rents across major cities

Room rents rocket in UK cities

13th March 2026

Sharp rises in room rents across major UK cities are affecting affordability for tenants and shaping demand as a result. Research from flatshare site SpareRoom shows Belfast recorded the steepest increase among the UK’s 20 largest cities over the past five years. Average room rents in the Northern Irish capital climbed 53.2% between Q4 2020 […]

Tenancy agreement labelled “Fair Rent” with house keys and rental signs, illustrating regulated tenancy rules for landlords

Registered Fair rents and the Renters Rights act?

13th March 2026

All tenants must have a new tenancy agreement and be given a copy of the ‘Information for tenants ‘ booklet. That’s fine, but my registered rents – Fair rents tenants have completely different rules. >> https://www.gov.uk/guidance/fair-rents I cannot put up the rent yearly. The rent is decided by the fair rent office and has to […]

Elderly man stressed by tax paperwork at computer, symbolising relief through HMRC MTD exemption

Exemption from MTD on age/other basis?

12th March 2026

Hello, As an informative. I’m 73 and (hand) wrote a letter (a bit scrawly on unlined paper!) to HMRC. I mentioned my age, that my memory was not so good, I’m a bit doddery on my feet and not au fait with software although I can manage a basic spread sheet. I also said I […]

Smiling couple holding house-shaped frame symbolising positive renting experience in England

Tenant retention driven by landlord relationships

12th March 2026

Landlords hoping to keep tenants in place for longer may need to focus less on rent levels and more on the relationship at the centre of the tenancy, research reveals. According to the Winter 2025/26 Lettings Report by LRG, it highlights that when asked what would most encourage them to stay long term, 68% of […]

Red house with a “for rent” sign among white homes symbolising UK rental market pressures

RICS warns rental supply is still falling

12th March 2026

The latest RICS survey shows that tenant demand is broadly stable over the three months to February, but landlord instructions are still in decline. The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors’ survey also shows more members are expecting to rise over the next three months. Its UK Residential Market Survey also reveals that the housing market […]

Tenant leaving a one-star review on a laptop screen, symbolising rising complaints about rental property services.

Renters’ Rights Act is already driving a surge in tenant complaints

12th March 2026

It’s not due to take effect until 1 May, but one organisation is claiming that the Renters’ Rights Act is already driving a surge in tenant complaints. Figures published by The Property Ombudsman show a big rise in enquiries and complaints from tenants increasingly wanting independent support when disagreements with agents and managers arise. It […]

UK rent prices rising and falling across regions shown on map with trend lines

Rent rises show regional split in February – ARLA Propertymark

12th March 2026

Average monthly rents moved in different directions across the country in February, with several regions recording increases while others registered short-term declines, Arla Propertymark reveals. Its latest rent and salary tracker shows the East Midlands recorded the strongest monthly rise with increases of 3.4% between January and February to £1,027. The North West followed with […]

Updated Energy Performance Certificate chart showing A–G building energy efficiency ratings

Government puts EPC reforms back to 2027

11th March 2026

The government has responded to a consultation to reform the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) system to announce that planned reforms will not now take place until late next year. It says the move follows ‘engagement with industry’. The changes to the Energy Performance of Buildings regime set out plans to redesign EPCs so certificates show […]

UK rental market competition falling as more homes become available to rent

Competition for rented homes falls to lowest in six years – Zoopla

11th March 2026

Competition for rented homes has fallen to its lowest level in six years as demand eases and more properties become available to let, Zoopla has revealed. The property platform says renters are now making an average of 4.8 enquiries per property, down from 6.5 a year earlier. The change follows a 14% drop in demand […]

Neon house with pound symbol and downward arrow illustrating falling UK private rented sector property values

PRS value falls by £48bn as small landlords sell

11th March 2026

The value of homes in the private rented sector (PRS) fell by £48bn in 2025, marking the largest annual contraction recorded this century, according to analysis from Savills. Over the past three years, the PRS has shrunk by £79bn, even as the wider housing market continued to grow. That’s down to smaller landlords selling to […]

Map of the UK highlighting Nottingham with letting agents office and numerous “to let” signs representing rental market demand.

City with the busiest letting agents revealed

11th March 2026

Letting agents in Nottingham are managing the largest number of homes to rent per office among Britain’s major cities, according to new research. Tenancy platform Propoly has crunched the numbers to find that the city has around 3,714 homes to rent handled by 106 letting agency branches. That works out at roughly 35 listings per […]