Hi all, The tenant moved in during 2023 and paid rent without issue for 20 months. However, as the property is a one-bedroom and their family grew, it became overcrowded, so I issued a Section 21 notice. The tenant has not paid rent since February. I submitted a direct payment request to DWP in May, […]

A push to boost the energy efficiency of British homes is at risk of collapse due to insufficient funding and systemic flaws in the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) framework. That’s the verdict of Mark Bailey, a partner at chartered surveyors and auctioneers Landwood Group who also wants cash help for landlords. He said: “Without financial […]

London’s prime lettings market is experiencing an upswing, driven by tax uncertainty and shifting investor behaviour, according to Knight Frank’s latest findings. While the number of tenancies started in prime central London above £1,000 per week rose by 7% in the year to May, sales of properties above £2 million saw a 4% decline over […]

The government has intervened to delay a planned mass switch-off of the Radio Teleswitch Service (RTS) meters which are used by 314,000 households. The signal was due to be switched off on 30 June but with thousands of homes, including lots of rented properties, still waiting for conversion meant they would not be able to […]

Making Tax Digital (MTD) could cost landlords hundreds of pounds and add nothing more than “an extra layer of bureaucracy,” experts warn. According to The Telegraph, nearly one million landlords and freelancers may face up to £480 in additional costs just to comply with the new rules. The controversial scheme, which applies to Income Tax […]

The Renters’ Rights Bill is unlikely to secure Royal Assent before Parliament’s summer recess on 22 July, the National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA) says. With the House of Lords set to scrutinise the legislation over three sittings from 1 to 15 July, the NRLA is intensifying efforts to address significant flaws that could render the […]

A fresh brand dedicated to buy to let financing and empowering property investors across the UK has been launched by OSB Group called Rely. The firm says the new offering will strengthen the private rented sector by combining industry know-how, enthusiasm and adaptability to assist landlords. Rely will be helping novice landlords with a single […]

A city is claiming that its selective licensing scheme has led to ‘significant improvements’ in its private rented sector in the 15 months since it was launched. And another council has unveiled a new selective licence scheme in its borough for private landlords. Peterborough City Council says it processed more than 7,000 licence applications and […]

A shocking 474% increase in complaints about substandard living conditions in social housing has sparked urgent calls for a stronger private rented sector. Industry body Propertymark points to the alarming figure in the Housing Ombudsman’s ‘Spotlight Report: Repairing Trust’, which compares data from 2024/25 to 2019/20 to expose deep-rooted issues in the maintenance of social […]

We’re pleased to announce that FG Connect, a respected market research company, has engaged Property118 to assist in their latest market research project. They’re looking to speak with UK-based commercial landlords who own retail or office premises. This is a great opportunity to share your experience, shape future property insurance services, and get £200 compensation […]

Are there any other landlords who are fed up with the narrative that we are swimming in wealth, ready to splash out thousands on energy performance certificate (EPC) upgrades? This is a tired trope that needs debunking especially since tenant advocacy groups like Generation Rent claim landlords can ‘easily afford’ the costly upgrades required to […]

Nottingham City Council claims it has spent more than £2.4 million on damp and mould repairs to its social homes, but there are still questions about how the council can afford other repairs ahead of new legislation. A news report by the Nottingham Post reveals that councillors are questioning whether the council has enough funds […]

WHATEVER your politics, the option of letting your rental property to a government agency or charity to house asylum seekers is now front and centre in the news. Briefly, the background to this is news stories about the government and its agencies looking to move asylum seekers from hotels to rental properties. They are reportedly […]

Students face lower financial penalties at the end of their tenancies compared to other private renters – though the cleaning bill is higher, research reveals. Data from Reposit shows that in 2024, the average cost for students was £788, which is much less than the £1,131 paid by tenants in the wider private rented sector […]

Several organisations have united in raising serious concerns about the Renters’ Rights Bill, branding the proposed reforms to the PRS as unworkable without clearer government guidance. As the House of Lords gears up to review the legislation from 1 July, groups representing private landlords, build-to-rent providers and letting agents are pressing ministers for answers to […]

Rents across Britain have rocketed by as much as 17.4% in some regions since the Labour government introduced its Renters’ Rights Bill, research reveals. The Bill looks set to become law this summer following its House of Lords’ Report Stage on July 1st. Now, London-based lettings and estate agents Benham and Reeves has examined data […]

The Scottish Housing Secretary was left looking clueless after admitting she didn’t know how many people are stuck on social housing waiting lists in Scotland. Despite Màiri McAllan becoming Housing Secretary following the SNP reshuffle last week, she failed to say how many people are currently waiting for a social home and had to be […]

The Bank of England has decided to keep interest rates at 4.25% in a move anticipated by financial experts due to ongoing economic challenges. With inflation holding at 3.4%, significantly above the target of 2%, the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) opted for caution, despite earlier hints of potential rate cuts following a reduction in May. […]

A councillor has criticised selective licensing schemes, describing them as a “supplementary tax” on landlords. Speaking at a Wirral Council meeting of the Economy, Regeneration and Housing Committee, Councillor Tony Cox argued that many landlords are unable to avoid the financial burden imposed by the schemes. Cllr Cox also warned of the number of landlords […]

A combination of costs, legislation and a lack of confidence are driving a huge amount of landlords away from the private rented sector, claims a new report. Propertymark’s latest Housing Insight report raises serious concerns about the housing crisis and its impact, not just on landlords and tenants, but also on those trying to enter […]

The controversial Renters’ Rights Bill may inadvertently exclude some of the rented sector’s most vulnerable tenants, one firm reveals. According to Leaders Romans Group (LRG), the Bill’s restriction on limiting advance rent payments to one month could hinder access to housing for vulnerable groups of people. These include overseas applicants, self-employed people and those lacking […]