Page 103 – Property118
Model house with key and discount tag symbolising new buy-to-let mortgage offers.

Landbay, Atom Bank and Buckinghamshire BS unveil new BTL offers

8th August 2025

Three buy to let lenders have unveiled fresh initiatives to attract landlords and commercial property investors, each bringing distinct offerings to a competitive market.  Landbay has boosted its Summer Special range by introducing five product transfer options and trimming rates by up to 0.10%. These deals, available for limited companies, cater to standard properties with […]

House keys being handed over symbolising home sale and property ownership issues

Right-to-Buy has worsened housing crisis claims think tank

8th August 2025

A think tank claims that Right-to-Buy has become “England’s biggest housing disaster”, costing taxpayers £200 billion. A report by the think tank Common Wealth reveals that since 1980, nearly two million (1.94 million) council homes in England have been sold under the Right-to-Buy scheme. The flagship policy, launched by Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in the […]

Family reviewing property valuation report as part of LLP succession and continuity planning.

Family LLP Secures £10m Portfolio with Valuations and Continuity Planning

7th August 2025

James and Sarah had never planned to become large-scale landlords. Their first buy-to-let was meant to be a side project to generate a little passive income alongside James’s consultancy work. One property became two, then three, and over two decades, the business grew quietly in the background until it had reached a scale neither of […]

Bank of England and Wellington statue with 4% rate cut graphic

Bank of England cuts base rate to 4% despite inflation concerns

7th August 2025

The Bank of England has announced an interest rate cut to the lowest level in two years, despite concerns about rising inflation and a weakening economy. The Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) voted by a majority of 5-4 to reduce the Bank Base Rate by 0.25% to a total rate of 4%. In […]

Homelessness minister criticized for evicting tenants and raising rent on London property

Labour’s homelessness minister faces hypocrisy claims after evicting tenants

7th August 2025

Labour’s Minister for homelessness, and a strong supporter of the Renters’ Rights Bill, is facing criticism after evicting tenants and then pushing the rent up on the property. The i Newspaper reports that Rushanara Ali, evicted four tenants from her east London townhouse and subsequently increased the rent by £700 a month. The Bow property, […]

Wooden figure crossing houses on wooden blocks symbolising government support for landlords.

Industry body urges government to offer incentives to landlords amid soaring demand

7th August 2025

An industry body is calling for incentives to support landlords as demand continues to outstrip supply. Propertymark’s housing insight report reveals available rental stock contracted further, averaging 9.75 properties per member branch, exacerbating supply shortages. Propertymark is now urging the government to support landlords and acknowledge the role they play in the housing market. Many […]

Rats on dirty kitchen dishes highlighting poor housing hygiene in Brent Council home

Family sues London council over rat-infested home

7th August 2025

While one London council launches ‘surprise’ visits on private landlords to catch them breaking laws, it’s not the same situation for them as one of its own tenant families is suing over a serious rat infestation. The mother alleges that her family’s council home is unfit for human habitation due to severe rat infestations, pervasive […]

Hands holding miniature houses symbolising buy-to-let brokers and landlord property investment.

Landlords boost limited company confidence when using BTL brokers

7th August 2025

There’s a growing reliance of landlords on buy to let mortgage brokers when navigating the complexities of limited company BTL arrangements, a survey reveals. The findings from Coventry for Intermediaries show that 55% of landlords engaging a broker for their limited company BTL feel ‘very confident’ in the process. That’s in stark contrast to the […]

Property118 and Property Investors Awards celebrate 2024 winners with gold trophies on display.

Property Investors Awards – Property Development of the Year

7th August 2025

From dealing with a global pandemic to overcoming unexpected challenges along the way, George Ball’s property journey is one of perseverance and determination. Through his hard work, he has now won Property Development of the Year at the Property Investors Awards. How George’s property career started George first entered the property market when he bought […]

Businessperson walking toward a bright exit symbolizing landlords leaving the rental market

Small landlords exit the PRS amid Renters’ Rights Bill fears

7th August 2025

Growing numbers of Britain’s small-scale landlords are exiting the private rented sector, driven by concerns over the government’s Renters’ Rights Bill, a survey reveals. According to data from Alto, a property management software provider, 34% of letting agents say they have seen a notable increase in independent landlords offloading their properties. The survey, which gathered […]

Paul Shamplina promoting a 2025 landlord webinar on navigating major property law changes

If You’re Still Letting Like It’s 2015, You’re on Borrowed Time

7th August 2025

After 30 years in this sector, I’ve never seen a time like this. The landscape for landlords is shifting fast and if you’re still managing your rentals like it’s a decade ago, you’re setting yourself up for a fall. The Renters’ Rights Bill is the biggest shake-up we’ve seen since the Housing Act 1988. It’s […]

Model house with rent symbol highlighting UK rental market trends

Landlord group challenges simplistic view of rent pricing

7th August 2025

A landlord group says a new report on the PRS shows “a 2D version of rent pricing” rather than the reality. Rodney Townson, from landlord organisation iHowz, tells Property118 that SpareRoom’s report on the UK rental market makes interesting observations but fails to capture the full picture, and instead focuses on a “too narrow view […]

Technician inspecting drain with CCTV camera to identify pipe damage during home-buyer survey

Home-buyer CCTV Surveys?

7th August 2025

Following the advice of their Home-buyer surveyor, my purchasers had a Home-buyer CCTV Pipe Survey done on the house I’m selling. The report has come back with the following recommendations: Lateral 3 / Inspection 1: This lateral, which leads downstream to the main line, has a displaced joint at the material change from PVC to […]

Landlord expressing concern over eviction notice and selective licensing rules.

Landlord claims selective licensing will force evictions of long-term tenants

6th August 2025

A Nottingham landlord says “the council’s hands are tied by homeless-inducing rules” because selective licensing fails to protect tenants. Mick Roberts, one of Nottingham’s largest landlords for housing benefit tenants over the past 28 years, is trying to sell 11 of his properties. However, Nottingham City Council is now demanding full selective licensing fees, despite […]

Digital tax on a laptop and a businessman

Making Tax Digital will be mandatory for some landlords from April 2026

6th August 2025

Landlords earning more than £50,000 will have to adopt Making Tax Digital (MTD) for paying their income tax from April 2026. HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) says it wants to modernise financial reporting by mandating digital record-keeping and quarterly submissions through compatible software. To help landlords, it has published an updated list of complaint software […]

London busy with a bus

London climbs to top spot in Collier’s residential investment rankings

6th August 2025

London has been crowned as the premier destination for residential property investment in the UK, real estate firm Colliers says. It’s the first time that London has been at the top since 2021, when the firm’s Top UK Residential Investment Cities Report was published. Manchester secures second place, lauded as ‘the regional city of choice […]

House keys and small model home on sunny beach representing summer property sales

There’s no such thing as a summer property slowdown – claim

6th August 2025

Contrary to popular belief that the property market stalls during the summer season, an analysis indicates that the warmer months are among the best for home buying and selling. The study from the estate agency Yopa examined four years of historical market data, focusing on monthly averages for mortgage approvals and completed property transactions across […]

3D houses spelling “RENT” on a rising property market graph showing rent growth trends.

England’s new rents hit a record £1,496 in July

6th August 2025

England’s rents hit a new high in July with the average monthly rent for new tenancies climbing to £1,496, surpassing the previous record of £1,470 set in July 2024. The data from the Goodlord Rental Index, reflects a staggering 18.3% month-on-month surge from June, driven by seasonal demand. The summer months typically see heightened activity […]

Couple looking at a modern house while reconsidering homeownership due to high costs

Fewer renters aim for homeownership amid rising costs

6th August 2025

A growing number of renters are turning away from the dream of homeownership, with 28% expressing no interest in buying a property, the highest level this year, according to Barclays Property Insights. It says that financial pressures are taking their toll, as only 17% of renters saved for a house deposit in July, down from […]

Illustration of house downsizing concept with green arrow and question mark.

Downsizing BTL portfolio and falling foul of non-qualifying lease conditions?

6th August 2025

I am in the process of downsizing my BTL portfolio (2 long leasehold flats and 1 freehold house), which I own alongside my other half (tenants-in-common 99% in their favour). We also have a house (principal private residence). Somewhat belatedly, I have discovered that I fall foul of the clause that prevents me from classifying […]

Contract papers with a question mark sticky note symbolizing tenancy agreement uncertainty.

New tenancy agreement or addendum to old one in Scotland?

6th August 2025

I am looking for advice, please. Bear with me – it’s a bit of a saga. I have one property I rent out – a two-bedroom flat in Scotland. In March 2025, the previous tenants, Man A and Woman A, moved out, and their friends Man B and Woman B moved in. A new tenancy […]