Enforcement teams from a London council’s private housing services have carried out door-to-door inspections in targeted areas. Their mission was to identify unlicensed properties, offer waste management guidance and address residents’ concerns about anti-social behaviour. The team also checked homes were free from serious health or safety risks. The operation was carried out by Brent […]

Scottish Greens are aiming to make it easier for tenants in private rentals to keep pets and assistance animals – and if landlords don’t reply to a tenant’s request, approval will be given automatically. The party’s amendments to the forthcoming Housing (Scotland) Bill, would also see a tenant wanting a service or assistance pet NOT […]

We have received two Notices of Enforcement for unpaid council tax, which came as a complete shock, as at no point did we receive any bills or a court summons, so we had no knowledge of the debt as they have been sending documents to the wrong address. The notices of enforcement state that a […]

Hi, I am hoping to get some advice following the purchase of a flat. I bought my flat last year, and the day after the exchange, I went in and noticed a load of damp which wasn’t there during visits. I ended up completing the purchase as I couldn’t afford to lose my deposit. I […]

A new proposal could compel landlords in Wales to submit detailed rent information to Rent Smart Wales (RSW), as part of an effort to enhance transparency in the private rented sector. The recommendation has emerged from the Welsh government’s final evaluation of RSW, the licensing and registration authority tasked with elevating housing standards. The evaluation […]

Social housing landlords are still failing to carry out emergency repairs, despite new legislation coming into force. Starting in October, Awaab’s Law will require all social housing landlords to fix dangerous damp and mould within set timeframes, and to complete emergency repairs within 24 hours. However, a report by the Housing Ombudsman reveals that many […]

Peterborough and Mansfield councils are the latest councils to either unveil plans to introduce licensing schemes targeting private rented properties or are implementing them. In Peterborough, a city-wide additional licensing scheme is under consideration to improve conditions in HMOs. A public consultation is running until 31 July with the aim of seeking input from tenants, […]

Are you a landlord who’s finding it harder to stay in the market? The Sunday Times is working on a piece about how new rules and tax hikes are making it trickier for landlords to manage, and whether now is the time to “stick or twist.” The Sunday Times is looking to speak with landlords […]

More buy to let lenders are rolling out changes to their BTL and commercial mortgage offerings, increasing loan sizes, reducing rates and introducing tailored products. Together has expanded its commercial loan offerings, boosting maximum loan sizes to £5 million for commercial term products, with loan-to-value (LTV) ratios set at 70% for purchases and 65% for […]

Propertymark is warning the government to scrap the proposed £15,000 cost cap for exemptions on energy-efficiency upgrades, saying it will push many landlords out of the market. The industry body says the government must not avoid “a one-size fits all approach” for EPC targets due to the number of older properties in the private rented […]

Rumours are swirling about Angela Rayner losing her job as Housing Secretary. In the Sky News podcast Politics at Sam and Anne’s, political commentator Sam Coates claims there is talk within the government of stripping Ms Rayner of her housing brief. The news comes after a leaked memo, seen by The Telegraph, revealed Ms Rayner […]

Westminster council claims a new selective licensing scheme will help “support responsible landlords”. The council has confirmed the selective licensing scheme will cover all private rented properties in 15 of the city’s 18 wards. Despite the council claiming this will create a “fairer and safer rental environment”, numerous articles on Property118 reveal selective licensing schemes […]

Despite global uncertainties and economic turbulence, the UK’s property investors with larger portfolios are displaying resilience, with more than half aiming to boost their holdings this year. That’s the message from Handelsbanken’s fourth annual Property Investor Report, based on insights from real estate investors and property management professionals. It highlights a sector adapting to change […]

Hi, I run a management company that needs to install fire-resistant doors. There are 12 flats, and each owner is a shareholder in the company that owns the freehold. There are 6 outside front doors and 6 doors opening onto a communal lobby/staircase. The internal lobby doors need to be upgraded to fire-resistant and their […]

In 1999, my tenant’s Mother signed a tenancy agreement which requires 2 months notice either side, and allows for RPI rent increases. The Mother has died, and her son, who lived with her, has carried on paying the rent. He is a trouble free tenant and pays the annual RPI rent increase. The property is […]

As the saying goes: one step forward, two steps back. Just as we thought we were getting out of the danger zone, this week’s shot to the jugular kicked off with the resurfacing of videos referencing Prime Minister Keir Starmer claiming that landlords “do not qualify as working people.” It was the scandal of last […]

All private landlords know the PRS is under siege, and Labour’s latest madcap tax proposals are pouring fuel on an already smouldering housing crisis. Chancellor Rachel Reeves, backed by Prime Minister Keir Starmer, is reportedly gearing up for a tax raid on landlords, targeting rental income and capital gains to plug a growing budget deficit. […]

HMRC has revealed that 24% of UK landlords plan to sell part of their rental property holdings within the next year, with this figure rising to 33% over the next five years. In its study, HMRC also found that 53% of landlords have no intention of selling their properties in the same period. The research […]

First-time buyers have significantly increased their presence, capturing a larger slice of mortgage applications in 2024, research reveals. According to Alexander Hall, a mortgage adviser, new entrants to the property market are capitalising on a more supportive economic landscape. Its data reveals that first-time buyer mortgage applications accounted for 28.7% of its total activity last […]

The housing market in Britain is grappling with a complex landscape as asking rents see an annualised decline of 1.8%, largely driven by a sharp downturn in London. According to Home.co.uk’s latest Asking Prices Index which reveals that the capital’s rental market is under strain. Only nine of its 33 boroughs are showing any growth […]

Is it me, or is there a sudden flood of companies touting for business under the ECO4 flag? I have been approached by a Midlands based company (listed as Trustmark approved) stating they can get more insulation fitted in a house currently occupied by a benefit family (EPC E). Loft and internal wall insulation, plus […]