A landlord has won a rare tribunal hearing and escaped being hit with a £29,000 rent repayment order (RRO). It comes after tenants launched an unsuccessful challenge with support from Justice for Tenants, a tenant advocacy and advice service. The ruling at the First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber), dismissed the tenants’ accusations entirely. The tribunal highlighted […]

If you’re a landlord, you’d be forgiven for not wanting to read the current headlines. From landlords rushing to exit the market, to the dreaded Renters’ Rights Bill, landlords seem to be getting hit left, right and centre. But it isn’t all bad news. Landlords will always find a way, and this year it’s no […]

We all know that the private rented sector across England, Wales and Scotland is under siege. Landlords, the backbone of this market, are being punished for factors beyond their control, what with draconian legislation, council overreach and a political narrative that paints us as villains. But here’s the kicker: as landlords exit in droves, tenants […]

A London council has unveiled plans to reinstate licensing targeting ‘rogue landlords’ operating houses in multiple occupancy (HMOs). The local authority is cracking down on properties deemed ‘substandard and potentially dangerous’. The online consultation follows news this week that Haringey council will be targeting landlords who breach regulations with £30,000 fines per violation. Now Brent […]

The Scottish Greens have issued an urgent plea to the SNP-led Scottish government to preserve the temporary rent cap because ‘landlords are counting down the days’ to it ending. Green MSP Maggie Chapman says that when the cap is removed on 1 April, tenants will be vulnerable to soaring rents. Earlier this week the MSP […]

Landlords in Mansfield will need a selective licence for each of their properties from 13 September, costing £800. Following a public consultation last year, Mansfield District Council has greenlit its selective licensing proposals. The council says it wants to work with landlords to improve the area and will use enforcement powers to do so. Mansfield’s […]

My tenant has blocked my phone number and is not responding to my emails, letters, WhatsApp calls or messages from other mobiles. He’s 2 months behind in his part of the rent, as the council pays the other half, arranged by him. At first, I was concerned something serious had happened as his car had […]

Landlords are surprisingly optimistic about the private rented sector this year, with many looking to invest in boosting their portfolios, research reveals. According to Market Financial Solutions, despite the upbeat outlook, there are doubts over financial stability and new laws which are tempering their enthusiasm. The views of 300 landlords reveal that 36% aim to […]

Demand continues to outstrip supply as older landlords leave the market, warns one industry body. According to Propertymark’s Housing Insight report, demand continues to rise with new tenant registrations per member branch surging from 79 to 115 in 2025. The industry body says without government support, many landlords will simply decide to sell up. Pushing […]

Who would like to drive a Ferrari, crash it, get another one, and still pay the same insurance cost as a Fiat 500? I’m sure the Labour party can sort that for you. Who can remember the days when landlords took tenants with pets no problem. Tenants paid a bit of extra deposit, and when […]

With commercial property investment growing in the final quarter of 2024 by 28% year-on-year, the investment hotspots have been revealed. According to Alan Boswell Group, investment levels saw the biggest rise since mid-2021. This boom followed a second consecutive bank rate reduction which led investors to investigate where to invest. Now the insurance firm’s experts […]

A London council has launched a tougher stance against landlords in the private rented sector by introducing stringent financial penalties to uphold housing quality. It has updated its Civil Penalty Notice (CPN) policy for dishing out financial fines under the Housing Act 2004. Haringey council says it will be targeting landlords who flout regulations with […]

Hello, I have been using an agent to let out a property as a four bed HMO so not needing a licence. However, last September my agent said it could be a five bed HMO and would need little or no work to comply but I would need to get a licence. I agreed to […]

House prices rose slightly last month but buyer demand is slipping, the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) says. Its Residential Property Survey highlights a market grappling with the prospect of looming stamp duty rises and wider economic concerns. Also, enquiries from prospective home buyers have slipped. RICS says the latest data, which measures sentiment […]

Tenants in the private rented sector can access new energy efficiency funding to improve their homes. It’s part of the government’s accelerated rollout of the Warm Homes Plan to benefit up to 170,000 residences across England. The plan promises to bolster household finances by reducing energy bills and improving living conditions. The cash is aimed […]

Hello, As a landlord I have always believed it safe to allow one tenant on a weaker income as they are joint and separately liable. Sadly for many this is no longer true. Both tenants must be strong enough to pick up the rent alone. I received notice for the end of a tenancy and […]

Hello, here’s a salutary lesson. Having missed out on a property sold at auction at the beginning of February, I saw another house, less than a mile away on Rightmove. It was being marketed by a different auction house and was lot 1 in their auction. I contacted the auctioneers by email and registered for […]

Two leading buy to let lenders have unveiled updates to their BTL offerings, enhancing flexibility and affordability for property investors. Fleet Mortgages and YBS Commercial Mortgages have introduced changes aimed at supporting advisers, streamlining processes and delivering competitive financing for landlords. Fleet is offering a series of adjustments designed to ease landlord borrowing. Among them […]

Just 8% of rental homes in England are currently advertised as welcoming to pets, even with forthcoming legislation set to shake up the sector which will see see more pets being accepted by landlords, research reveals. According to Zero Deposit, out of 101,908 available listings, only 7,788 properties are flagged as suitable for animal residents. […]

One leading professional body is demanding a sharper focus from the Scottish government on tackling anti-social behaviour within the housing sector. It follows a comprehensive assessment by the Independent Working Group on Anti-Social Behaviour in Scotland. Propertymark is voicing its concerns over the group’s attention to the First-tier Tribunal for Scotland (Housing and Property Chamber). […]

The average cost of a home across England and Wales grew by £2,500, equivalent to a 0.7% rise to reach £357,300 in February, one index reveals. The analysis from the chartered surveyors e.surv, shows that the price rise marks the second consecutive month of growth. And that, the firm says, hints at a strengthening housing […]