The higher stamp duty rates that came into effect this month will threaten landlord investment strategies, a survey reveals. The lender Together found that 13% of the 11% of landlords who say they are planning to abandon the PRS this year, point to increased stamp duty rates as the main reason. They say they feel […]

Hi all, I had a situation about a year ago where the tenant refused to pay rent for a period of six months. I had to go through the court to get an order for possession which also stated that the defendant needs to pay the rent arrears for six months along with the court […]

Just 2.5% of the private rented properties in England are within reach for tenants relying on housing benefit, research from Crisis reveals. The charity says the figure, drawn from data between April and October 2024, paints a grim picture of affordability. It says the proportion has dropped significantly from 12% in 2021-22, even after a […]

Senior figures within the Conservative Party have allegedly engaged in confidential discussions with landlords to derail the government’s Renters’ Rights Bill, The Guardian reveals. The meeting, which was arranged by shadow housing minister Baroness Jane Scott, explored options such as initiating a court battle under human rights legislation. There was also a discussion about stalling […]

Hi, I attended a possession hearing on 20th March, where the judge stated that the possession order would be issued within 24 hours and I should receive it within 48 hours. However, that has not happened. I’m now away for two weeks, and if the order arrives in my absence, I effectively lose that time. […]

The government’s announcement that 900,000 sole traders and landlords must adopt the Making Tax Digital (MTD) initiative is a ‘step too far’ for many. That’s the belief of ARLA Propertymark president Angharad Trueman who says that small landlords, especially those who are older and less tech-savvy, will struggle. This step also comes on top of […]

My goal is to get an income to replace my rental income. I have funds to cover the next few years but need to plan ahead. The choice is between a one-bed small freehold terrace vs a 3-bed leasehold flat I was planning to sell my remaining BTL, a very small one-bed freehold house (£280K […]

Almost half of landlords have no plans to offload their rental assets within the next year, a study reveals. The findings from buy to let lender Landbay found that 47% of landlords expressed no desire to part with any holdings. The lender’s comprehensive poll indicates that those managing between four and 10 rented homes form […]

Property taxes across Scotland have climbed to £686.5m over the past year, marking a huge 17.6% jump from the previous 12 months, research revels. DJ Alexander Ltd, a lettings and property firm, highlights that revenues from the Land and Buildings Transaction Tax (LBTT) soared by £102.8m compared to the £583.7m collected between March 2023 and […]

The Property Ombudsman (TPO) has revealed that it has expelled four property businesses for neglecting to compensate consumers. The action involves three letting agencies and one residential leasehold management (RLM) firm, underscoring the regulator’s commitment to protecting tenants and landlords alike. The TPO, known for providing an unbiased dispute resolution service, saw a reduction in […]

Shawbrook has introduced a fresh approach to fixed-rate renewals with its new product transfers, designed to benefit existing customers holding buy to let and commercial mortgages. The service enables clients to adjust their fixed rate without needing extra funds or extended terms, streamlining the process in four steps. Brokers and their landlord clients can now […]

My partner owns the freehold of a flat. He lived in the flat himself for about 2 years and has since moved out and now it is rented out to tenants. There are 10 flats in the block and each flat owner also owns 10% of the freehold management company. Two of the other flats […]

The surge in landlords and property investors opting to use a limited company for their operations is down to shifting regulations and long-term wealth planning, one bank says. Arbuthnot Latham, a private and commercial bank, has analysed Companies House records to find a 46% annual increase in new property enterprises in 2024. That was the […]

The government’s ambition to tackle the housing shortage is facing a setback, as fresh statistics highlight that it will fail to deliver the number of homes needed to meet its ambitious target in England. Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner has championed a scheme to build 1.5 million homes by 2029 in a bid to address […]

Private landlords in one city say they are grappling with an unnecessarily arduous system for renewing their House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) licences. The group warns that, unlike other councils, Portsmouth City Council has failed to simplify the procedure, leaving landlords frustrated by lengthy forms, higher costs and a process that might flout legal guidelines. […]

To help private rented sector landlords meet the upcoming tightening energy performance certificate changes, the Energy Saving Trust has published a guide. By 2030, ‘it is proposed, but not yet passed into law and under consultation,’ that all rental properties in England and Wales must achieve an EPC rating of C or higher, a move […]

A survey has found that 56% of people in Britain have doubts about the safety of high-rise homes that they live in. The findings from SFG20, the industry standard for building maintenance, also found that another 42% believe local councils must urgently address these issues. The anxiety follows attention on the government after the Grenfell […]

For many of us, the private rented sector has turned into a battlefield, and at the heart of the latest skirmish is the issue of guarantors – or rather, the call for no tenant to need one. We have seen 28 organisations, including Shelter, Generation Rent, the Joseph Rowntree Foundation and the renters’ union Acorn, […]

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) could deduct money from benefit claimants’ payments if they owe money to their landlords. In a committee meeting on the Public Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery Bill), Labour Minister Andrew Western reveals that up to 40% of benefits could be deducted to settle arrears owed to landlords, utility […]

The Labour government will force landlords to use the Making Tax Digital (MTD) scheme for income tax self-assessment or face fines if they fail to pay on time. The controversial scheme will lower the qualifying income threshold for MTD to £20,000 from April 2028, forcing more landlords with modest rental income to keep digital records […]

Letting agents and landlords could unlock annual savings of £3.4 billion by carrying out inspections every THREE months, one firm says. The study from Inventory Base says this strategy will act as a vital shield, catching small problems before they balloon into hefty bills or regulatory violations. It will also, they claim, boost an agent’s […]