An industry body is calling for energy performance certificates (EPCs) to be abolished to measure fuel poverty. Currently, fuel poverty is defined by a property’s energy efficiency rather than a household’s ability to afford its energy bills. Propertymark argues the government should instead focus on affordability to define fuel poverty. One-size-fits-all approach does not work […]

A private landlord has had the management of his eight properties taken over by a council after they were described as ‘disgusting’. Property118 readers will be horrified by the photographs from the council published on this page – and they do little to promote the effort and work being done by good landlords. Newcastle City […]

Hi, I recently had a tenant who refused to handover the keys after the check out unless I agreed, in writing, to return the entire deposit (held in a government approved scheme). He insisted on an email confirmation before handing over the keys. There was damage to the property and appliances, other than normal wear […]

An industry body is warning over rent spikes in Scotland due to the end of rent control measures. The news comes after rules that allowed tenants to challenge rent hikes and capped increases at 12% if they appealed to a rent officer were ended this week. However, Propertymark members operating in Scotland warn that this […]

With the new warm home £30,000 grants it’s difficult to imagine a more inefficient way of improving energy efficiency,when so much can be done with much less. The government say they are looking for growth yet are implementing a policy of cash burn and waste? This new system may put huge amounts of money into […]

Foundation Home Loans, Market Financial Solutions and ModaMortgages have unveiled updates to their buy to let property finance offerings. The changes cater to a range of borrowers, from first-time landlords to those managing complex portfolios. Foundation Home Loans has boosted its BTL product line, raising the maximum loan amount to £3 million for most 65% […]

The National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA) has issued a stark warning to ministers, demanding clear communication on when the Renters’ Rights Bill measures will come into force. It says reassurance is needed since the delays continue to create worry for both landlords and tenants. Last year, the government committed to abolishing Section 21 ‘no explanation’ […]

A build-to-rent (BTR) developer is offering free mental health checks, as Generation Rent studies claim private renting negatively impacts tenants’ mental health. BTR developer Moda claims offering mental health services would mean “that tenants would not be as stressed as private renters who have to deal with absent landlords.” Despite claiming private renters are not […]

The average rental yield in England and Wales stands at 7.4%, reflecting an annual rise of 0.3% compared to the same period last year and matches the previous quarter’s figure, one index reveals. The data from Fleet Mortgages shows that nearly every region delivered positive annual growth, with only Yorkshire and Humber experiencing a minor […]

The number of renters challenging rent rises in Scotland when a temporary rent cap was in place rocketed, research reveals. Tenant campaign group Generation Rent says that the introduction of the cap saw 899 applications to a tribunal being lodged. Of those, 290 households (32%) had their rent rise capped at the highest allowable rate […]

Landlords in Northern Ireland are now subject to stringent new regulations aimed at enhancing electrical safety in private rented properties. Non-compliance could potentially lead to significant penalties. The measures, which are effective from 1 April, mandate that all rented homes undergo thorough electrical installation safety inspection. The initiative aims to safeguard more than 100,000 PRS […]

Buy to let lending flourished in the final quarter of 2024 with 52,648 new BTL loans worth £9.6 billion, UK Finance reveals. It says that the loans marked a substantial 39.2% increase in volume and a 47.2% rise in value compared to the same period in 2023. Interest rates for these loans averaged 5.09%, a […]

I am seeking to extend the lease on my flat (currently 91/92 years) by adding 90 years. Last year, I contacted the freeholder informally and negotiated a reasonable premium directly with him without involving any surveyors or solicitors. I then pressed paused on going ahead with it as I was concerned about risks associated with […]

When people think of commercial property, it’s often seen as the preserve of big institutions or seasoned investors with deep pockets and even deeper knowledge. But it doesn’t have to be that way. In fact, with the right approach, and the right structure in place, commercial property can be a simple and sustainable path to […]

A critical flaw may have been found in the Renters’ Rights Bill (RRB) which might allow landlords to circumvent the ban on no-fault evictions, one firm says. The analysis by Inventory Base reveals that while the legislation will abolish Section 21 ‘no-fault’ evictions, landlords could exploit the issue of carrying out major property repairs. Section […]

The monthly house prices rise in March was 0% from February, while the annual price rise was stable at 3.9% – also unchanged from February’s figure, Nationwide reports. The highest annual price rise was for homes in Northern Ireland at 13.5%, but London saw the weakest performance at 1.9%. The lender says that the average […]

A new funding scheme for energy-efficiency improvements has opened to landlords in England, but landlords will be forced not to raise rents during the EPC works. The Warm Homes: Local Grant scheme, which opens this week, will allow landlords with properties rated EPC D to E to receive up to £30,000 for improvements on their […]

So here it is, government projections show landlords are selling in their droves. It is now obvious a relatively small number of Bailiff Section 21 evictions has led to unhinged reform policy. This policy is a cull and harrying of landlords and disproportionate reduction in available rental homes. We are witnessing private rental sector availability […]

If 47% of PRS landlords are not selling ‘Nearly half of landlords won’t sell properties – survey‘ then 53% have either sold, are selling or will be selling = fewer PRS rental properties. If there are fewer PRS rental properties young people who have finished tertiary educations will have to move back home – unless […]

An industry body warns the Renters’ Rights Bill will have huge consequences for students and cause supply to plummet. Research by Propertymark reveals many student landlords are worried about the abolition of fixed-term tenancies. Propertymark also says banning rent in advance will discriminate against international students, as many rely on upfront payments to secure accommodation […]

Rents across England rose again in March, marking the third successive month of rises, Goodlord reveals. Its latest rental index which is based on actual tenancy costs rather than listed rates, points to a robust 4.6% annual increase in rents. Goodlord says that the typical rent reached £1,213 in March, a jump from the £1,160 […]