Councils in England have collected only a quarter of the civil penalties issued to landlords for housing offences over the past two years, research reveals. The National Residential Landlords Association says its data was obtained through Freedom of Information requests to English councils responsible for PRS enforcement. Across 2023/24 and 2024/25, 285 councils imposed almost […]

House prices edged higher again in February, pushing the average UK property value to £301,151 after a monthly rise of 0.3%, according to Halifax. That followed a stronger 0.8% increase in January for average prices to be boosted by roughly £3,000 since the start of the year. Annual growth saw house prices being 1.3% above […]

The government insists private landlords must not wait until the Decent Homes Standard 2035 deadline to improve rental properties. Under the Decent Homes Standard, landlords will need to meet certain criteria, including that homes must be in a reasonable state of repair and provide core facilities and services, including a kitchen with adequate space and […]

An industry body has warned the Decent Homes Standard must raise standards without reducing housing supply. Propertymark has cautioned that any reforms to the Decent Homes Standard must “incentivise landlords to invest in improvements rather than create further uncertainty.” The warning comes after the government’s Decent Homes Standard impact assessment was criticised as “not fit […]

Many investors never ask themselves an important question. What if this year ends up looking exactly like the last one financially? Not terrible. Not amazing. Just the same. You worked hard, stayed busy and maybe even made investments. Yet when you step back and look at the results, progress often feels slower than it should. […]

London is experiencing intense demand and high rent prices, according to a new survey. Data by SpareRoom shows that inner London postcodes have recorded the highest rental costs, with Bethnal Green (E2) seeing the largest five-year rent increase in all of inner London, up 56%. The findings come as the number of rental homes in […]

Rent control has an obvious political appeal. If rents are rising faster than wages, the solution can appear straightforward. Limit how much landlords are allowed to charge and tenants will immediately benefit. Campaign groups often present the idea in exactly those terms. Cap rents and affordability will improve. Yet the international evidence tells a far […]

The government claims energy performance certificate (EPC) standards are “proportional” to landlords and tenants. In a written question, Plaid Cymru MP Llinos Medi, asked whether the government would consider the impact of proposed changes to the landlord cost cap and exemptions for Welsh private renters The news comes as the government announced all private landlords […]

A charity has urged the government to guarantee that EPC targets deliver benefits for older renters. Research from Independent Age reveals that 63% of older tenants would be worried about a rent increase, while 35% would fear eviction if their landlord carried out work to improve the condition and energy efficiency of their home. The […]

The Association for Rental Living (ARL) is urging the government to take prompt action to support the UK’s Build-to-Rent (BtR) sector and address the increasing issue of viability that is deterring investment in new rental homes. It warns that rising costs, regulatory change and weaker investment returns are discouraging investors from backing new BtR developments. […]

A city council has unveiled a huge cash injection to deal with ‘rogue’ landlords ahead of the Renters’ Rights Act being implemented in May. It says that landlords will face increased scrutiny as the council prepares for new enforcement duties tied to the rental reforms. City of Wolverhampton Council has confirmed it will commit an […]

In response to a petition calling for faster evictions and a tenant database, the government said it does not support the proposals. The government claim “it is not proportionate” to introduce a tenant database and argues that the Renters’ Rights Act will provide landlords with sufficient grounds for possession. The petition reached more than 15,000 […]

The average value of rent arrears fell to £1,980 in 2025, down from £2,143 in 2024, according to new data from Reposit. It also says that claim values also declined over the same period, dropping from £1,207 to £1,178, a reduction of just over 2%. However, while the monetary value of arrears and claims fell, […]

Landlords who defer repairs or step back from day-to-day management risk shaving tens of thousands of pounds off the value of their investments over a decade. According to property management experts Rushbrook & Rathbone, failing to maintain an asset could see a landlord in England losing up to £36,429 over 10 years. That bill soars […]

If you own a let property in a flood area or have suffered flooding previously, then you know how hard it is to get insurance covering floods. In partnership with The Home Insurer, there are now solutions available that will help protect you in the event of a flood. As let properties are deemed commercial, […]

Claims that evictions are “surging” have become a familiar feature of the housing debate. Campaign groups repeat them in press releases, journalists reproduce them in headlines, and the figures quickly take on a life of their own. The problem is that eviction statistics are often presented in a way that sounds dramatic but does not […]

Over the past few months, I have been speaking to landlords across the UK about the Renters Rights Act, which comes into force on 1st May 2026. Most know it is happening. Many assume it is simply another regulatory adjustment to add to the long list of changes landlords have already navigated. It is not. […]

A peer in the House of Lords has pressed the government to explain whether exemptions for EPCs are slowing down progress in the private rented sector (PRS). In a written question, Lord Carrington asked about the impact of energy-efficiency exemptions relating to leaseholder and third-party consent exemptions. The news comes as the government announced all […]

Property industry experts have warned that the Chancellor’s Spring Statement lacked ambition, as new figures suggest housing supply is set to fall. Chancellor Rachel Reeves delivered the government’s Spring Statement to Parliament, claiming the government’s economic plan was working. However, forecasts from the Office for Budget Responsibility indicate that house prices are expected to rise […]

Landlords using limited companies now control portfolios that are more than three times larger than those holding rented property in their own name, research reveals. According to Pegasus Insight, this highlights a widening structural split across the private rented sector. The data shows that 21% of landlords operate at least part of their portfolio through […]

Two former housing secretaries have slammed the “vested interests of freeholders” over their response to the Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill. Speaking to the Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee, Angela Rayner and Lord Michael Gove welcomed the bill but warned it would be a balancing act to get the reforms through Parliament. The government […]