Page 118 – Property118
engineer installing heat pumps

NRLA calls for more funding to boost Boiler Upgrade Scheme for landlords

16th June 2025

The National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA) is calling for extra funding to help landlords install heat pumps. Responding to the government consultation on the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, the NRLA says landlords need long-term support and funding to meet energy-efficiency targets. The Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) offers financial grants to landlords and homeowners to replace gas […]

giant businessman with office

Councils step up enforcement against commercial landlords

16th June 2025

The government has handed councils new powers to crack down on long-term empty commercial properties. Under new powers, councils can now take action against commercial landlords by auctioning leases of shops or offices left empty for more than 12 months through the High Street Rental Auctions scheme. Bassetlaw District Council warns on their website that […]

Damp and mould on a wall with green text reading 'Awaab's Law

Awaab’s Law: What Every Private Landlord Should Know Now

16th June 2025

The world of property law is no stranger to reform, but Awaab’s Law is different. The legislation marks a turning point in how landlords are expected to respond to damp, mould, and housing health hazards. Prompted by the tragic death of two-year-old Awaab Ishak in a social housing flat in Rochdale, this legislation doesn’t just […]

Epc house on a hand with a question mark

Government committee warns landlords don’t value EPCs

16th June 2025

Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) have become devalued by landlords and are not an effective tool for decarbonising homes, claims new report. The Energy Security and Net Zero Committee (ESNZC) report reveals EPCs are deterring people from making the switch to low-carbon heating. The report also reveals the UK is far off track for meeting its […]

House with a pound sign on dice with a down arrow

House prices dip as sellers lower prices to find buyers

16th June 2025

The average asking price for homes entering the market has fallen by 0.3% (£1,277) this month, reaching £378,240, according to Rightmove. This unexpected June decline, contrasting with a typical 0.4% rise for the month over the past decade, reflects sellers adapting to a highly competitive environment and recent stamp duty increases in England. The drop […]

london parliament

Best city in England for HMO yield revealed

16th June 2025

Bradford has claimed the title of England’s top location for House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) yields, with six-bedroom properties delivering an impressive 15.2% return, research reveals. According to COHO, an HMO management platform, its analysis highlights that larger HMOs consistently outperform their smaller counterparts, despite requiring greater initial investment. COHO’s research shows that three-bedroom HMOs […]

First time buyers

Rental market cools as first-time buyer numbers surge

16th June 2025

The private rented sector is experiencing a slowdown, with tenant registrations plummeting 17% in May compared to 2024, research reveals. According to the Hamptons monthly lettings index, this marks the twelfth consecutive month of declining demand, with registrations now 28% below 2019 levels. The main reason for the drop is that more tenants are becoming […]

House sold sign with houses in the background

New fund launch: “We can buy your HMOs and PBSAs within an hour”

13th June 2025

You may have heard the news last week of a fund purchaser that’s looking to make quick acquisitions and if you didn’t, you’ll want to read this because with the amount of enquiries flooding in, it won’t be open for long. The fund, set up by our partners at Landlord Sales Agency, is actively seeking […]

Knight-themed Landlord Crusader logo symbolizing landlord advocacy

Will Labour ever turn to PRS landlords to help them out?

13th June 2025

It was comforting to read the words of Nigel Terrington, the chief executive of Paragon Bank, who recently highlighted a stark reality: we need more landlords! He was talking about the UK’s population being projected to surge by 4 million by 2032 – has anyone voted for this? – and most newcomers, particularly immigrants, will […]

Map of England on black background with arrows pointing north and south and a sold sign

Housing market stagnates as northern regions outpace struggling south

13th June 2025

The housing market showed no price movement in April, with average home prices in England and Wales holding steady at £359,200, according to the e.surv Acadata house price index. Despite this stagnation, a stark regional divide has emerged, with northern areas displaying resilience while southern regions, particularly London, face challenges. The capital saw a monthly […]

Uk cash and a green house with a tick against an EPC report in the background

Tenant group claims landlords can easily afford EPC upgrades

13th June 2025

Generation Rent claims the majority of landlords CAN afford energy-efficiency upgrades because they are mortgage-free.  Despite the tenant group’s claim, as previously reported on Property118, energy-efficiency upgrades are hugely expensive and cost thousands of pounds, which are often then passed down onto tenants. The tenant group welcomes the government’s commitment to improving energy-efficiency standards in […]

Wooden percentage symbol with downward arrow beside small house model, symbolizing reduced mortgage rates.

BTL mortgage market sees new products and rate cuts

13th June 2025

Several buy to let lenders have unveiled new mortgage products and have reduced rates to meet landlords’ needs. Fleet Mortgages has unveiled new two-year fixed-rate options and trimmed rates on its existing two-year deals. For standard and limited company borrowers, a £1,999 fixed-fee product at 5.19% and a zero-fee alternative at 5.69% are now available, […]

A house in need of repair, set against a background of a housing estate, with the word 'Special Price' displayed.

BTL investors can find bargains in unmodernised homes

13th June 2025

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 […]

A black question mark over invoices

When is the invoice charged to the leaseholder?

13th June 2025

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 […]

Rachel Reeves, an England flag, UK coins and a piggy money box

Spending Review boosts social housing but landlords left out

12th June 2025

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 […]

two houses balancing on scales and RICS logo

PRS and housing market show signs of recovery in May – RICS

12th June 2025

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 […]

SNP Màiri McAllan next to a house with SNP logo on a dark blue background

Scottish Conservatives say new Housing Minister won’t fix SNP failures

12th June 2025

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 […]

Multiple red dice showing percentage signs coming out of a mobile phone with the text NEW and a image of a red house

BTL lenders cut rates and expand landlord access

12th June 2025

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 […]

Skull ontop of bones in a X shape with a warning logo

One in 10 PRS homes have hazards that present a ‘risk of death’

12th June 2025

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’ […]