Buy to let investors in England can enjoy 12% price discounts when purchasing unmodernised properties, a study reveals. Lettings and estate agents Benham and Reeves say these homes, which are in need of renovation, are priced on average 7.4% below the national market average. And that, it says, offers a prime opportunity for landlords seeking […]

Leaseholders have the right to require the Freeholder to provide reasonable facilities to inspect the accounts, receipts and other documents that justify the landlord’s service charges. My question is: how can the leaseholder synchronise these accounts, receipts, invoices, etc, with a particular service charge item? Does the landlord have to charge them to the leaseholder […]

The government announces the biggest boost to investment in social housing in 50 years but critics warn more needs to be done to support the private rented sector. The Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, announced in the spending review a £39bn funding boost for social housing. However, critics argue the Spending Review fails tenants and lacks incentives […]

The UK’s housing sector, while still facing challenges, is displaying early indications of stabilisation, according to the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS). Its May 2025 Residential Market Survey shows the lettings market is witnessing robust growth in tenant interest. Alongside tenant demand surging to a net balance of +22%, the strongest figure since September […]

The Scottish Conservatives accuse the SNP of making token changes instead of real solutions as they appoint Màiri McAllan as the new Scottish Housing Minister. Her predecessor, Paul McLennan, who denied that rent controls fuelled Scotland’s housing crisis, has quit the government with immediate effect. Ms McAllan, who previously served as Minister for Environment, Biodiversity […]

Several leading buy to let lenders have announced updates to their mortgage offerings, aiming to enhance affordability and accessibility for landlords, including international investors. Landbay has trimmed rates by up to 0.15% across its non-portfolio range, tailored for landlords with three or fewer mortgaged properties. The lender has introduced a new five-year fixed rate product […]

Alarming new findings from Inventory Base reveal a potential ‘risk of death’ in one in 10 PRS homes in England. It found that 10.7% of homes contain severe safety risks classified as Category 1 hazards for tenants. These dangers, which include fire risks, structural failures, extreme cold and electrical faults, pose ‘immediate threats’ to tenants’ […]

A charity is urging the public to write to Scottish MSPs demanding more stronger protections for tenants with pets. Dogs Trust has welcomed the news of the Scottish Housing Bill passing stage two of scrutiny by a cross-party committee of MSPs. However, the charity is urging MSPs to go further and support amendments to the […]

A 74% surge in UK house prices over the past two decades, from £113,900 to £268,200, has made returning to childhood hometowns a distant dream for many Brits, research reveals. According to Zoopla, despite 52% of people expressing a desire to relocate to their roots, affordability barriers, particularly in southern regions, are proving insurmountable. In […]

A new wave of eco-conscious tenants is transforming the UK’s PRS, with 92% of landlords noting a willingness among renters to pay a premium for environmentally friendly homes, research reveals. According to Handelsbanken’s Property Investor Report 2025, which surveyed 200 professional landlords and property investors, there’s a surge in demand for sustainable upgrades. These include […]

With Chancellor Rachel Reeves set to unveil the 2025 Spending Review today (11 June), a leading north London estate agent has urged the government to tackle the escalating housing crisis gripping the nation. Jeremy Leaf, a former residential chairman of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), warned that persistent shortages in both private and […]

Hello, one of the challenges landlords face is that credit references do not automatically capture the non-payment of rental arrears / costs following the S21 process. This invariably means that the credit referencing process is flawed and if anything exposes landlords to serial defaulters. While this challenge is well known (I have even seen videos […]

The surge in UK rent prices has lost momentum, with annual growth dropping to 2.8% in April, the slowest pace since July 2021, Zoopla reveals. Its latest rental market report highlights a sharp decline from the 6.4% rise recorded a year ago, bringing the average monthly rent to £1,432. However, a shortage of available properties […]

In October 2025, a new chapter in UK property legislation begins. Awaab’s Law, a component of The Renters Rights Bill, will come into force, requiring social housing landlords to investigate damp and mould complaints within 14 days, provide written outcomes within 48 hours, and begin repairs within a week. Emergency hazards must be resolved within […]

A new trend is reshaping the HMO landscape as 11.5% of housemates are now aged 40 or older, according to research. The findings from COHO, a HMO management platform, show that far from being just for students or young professionals, shared accommodation is attracting a more diverse group. It has also found that Southampton has […]

A third of UK adults are keen on becoming buy to let landlords, defying perceptions of a waning market, research reveals. The findings from Market Financial Solutions of 2,000 adults found strong enthusiasm for property investment. The poll found that 33% of respondents aspire to own a BTL property, with the figure soaring to 54% […]

A London council will ensure all of its social housing tenants receive lifetime tenancies in an initiative which replaces fixed-term agreements with secure, indefinite tenancies following introductory periods. The council aims to foster enduring community ties and provide residents with unparalleled stability. The policy shift by Westminster City Council was announced after a public consultation […]

The abolition of fixed-term tenancy agreements and replacing them with open-ended, periodic arrangements will redefine the dynamics between landlords and tenants, one PRS expert says. The change is part of the Renters’ Rights Bill which will allow renters to exit tenancies with just two months’ notice. Now, Allison Thompson, the national lettings managing director at […]

A London council claims it will fine landlords more than £30,000 and allow tenants to reclaim up to 12 months’ rent if landlords fail to obtain the correct property licences. Wandsworth Council has announced a new selective licensing scheme and an additional licensing scheme for HMOs, with landlords able to apply for the required licences […]

The number of new House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) licences approved across Great Britain fell by 6% in 2024, research reveals. According to Searchland’s latest data, local planning authorities issued 25,445 licences in 2023, but this figure dropped to 23,947 last year, a reduction of 1,498. Despite the national downturn, certain regions bucked the trend. […]

Private landlords in Scotland face a big overhaul of energy efficiency requirements, with new proposals mandating that all privately rented homes achieve a minimum standard based on a revised Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) by the end of 2033. The Scottish Government’s consultation, released recently, outlines a phased approach, requiring new tenancies to comply from April […]