Page 120 – Property118
Clock with EPC energy rating scale and landlord under pressure of looming deadline.

Landlords need clarity and more time for EPC deadline

4th March 2025

The Energy Minister Miatta Fahnbulleh has been pressed for greater transparency and extended timelines to meet the government’s ambitious energy efficiency targets for the PRS. The call was made by the National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA) in the first of four planned discussions. The meetings are bringing together industry voices to scrutinise proposals demanding rented […]

Two men holding Landlord Registration Scheme sign in Northern Ireland.

NI councils take charge of landlord registration scheme

4th March 2025

Northern Ireland’s councils have taken control of the Landlord Registration Scheme which should boost housing oversight, the communities minister says. Launched in February 2014, the initiative established a central database capturing details of private landlords, ensuring access to current and precise property data. The communities minister, Gordon Lyons, said: “When I launched the Executive Housing […]

Tortoise climbing stairs with “3% Rent” text, symbolising slow rental growth in Zoopla’s UK rent report

Rents climb at slowest pace in three years – Zoopla

4th March 2025

The pace of the UK’s rent rises is at the slowest in three and a half years – while demand continues to increase, Zoopla reports. Its figures reveal that average rents for newly let properties have risen by a modest 3% in the past 12 months. That’s a big drop from the 7.4% surge recorded […]

Housing Minister speaking on leasehold and commonhold reforms

Labour pledges to end ‘feudal’ leasehold system with commonhold overhaul

4th March 2025

Labour has announced an initiative to dismantle the country’s leasehold system with its Commonhold White Paper. The landmark move aims to revolutionise property ownership across the UK by revitalising commonhold, a system set to replace leasehold as the standard for flat buyers. Under these sweeping changes, new leasehold flats will soon be prohibited, fulfilling a […]

Smiling commercial property expert in front of model houses with The Commercial Property Experts logo

New group sets out to “fix the broken” commercial property industry

4th March 2025

A new group for commercial property agents has launched to “fix the broken commercial property industry.” The Experts Group’s self-employed model, called The Commercial Property Experts, will provide agents with training, marketing, and technology. The group aims to build a network of 100 experienced commercial property experts across the country. Sector hasn’t changed in decades […]

Handing over keys in front of modern apartments, symbolizing 2025 leasehold reform changes

Leaseholders gain more power with RTM changes

3rd March 2025

Leaseholders in mixed-use developments will gain greater authority over their properties under the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024 which takes effect from today (Monday 3 March). One key change, outlined in Section 49, adjusts the non-residential threshold for Right to Manage (RTM) claims, broadening eligibility. Previously capped at 25%, the commercial portion of a […]

Illustration of houses with the word eviction, symbolising Section 21 rental evictions

Section 21 evictions rise as homelessness hits record highs

3rd March 2025

Government statistics reveal a rise in the number of tenants facing Section 21 evictions – though the number of households at risk of homelessness fell by 1.3%. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) data reveals that 6,800 households were threatened with homelessness due to a Section 21 eviction notice between July and […]

Man holding Big Issue magazine in front of Houses of Parliament with Renters Rights Bill text.

Renters’ Rights Bill amendments clash over Section 21

3rd March 2025

Members of the House of Lords have proposed several amendments to the Renters’ Rights Bill. Founder of the Big Issue, Lord John Bird, wants the Labour government to abolish Section 21 ‘no-fault evictions’ as soon as the Bill becomes law. However, other members of the House of Lords have tabled amendments which could allow smaller […]

Person completing Propertymark leasehold survey on a computer screen

Propertymark unveils leasehold survey ahead of reforms

3rd March 2025

Propertymark is carrying out a survey to understand the effects of recent leasehold changes on leaseholders and estate agents across England and Wales. Along with Leasehold Knowledge Partnership and the National Leasehold Campaign, it is highlighting the challenges facing the leasehold system. In 2018, Propertymark’s groundbreaking report, ‘Leasehold: A Life Sentence?‘, laid bare the struggles […]

Policy checklist graphic with Labour Party logo and question mark highlighting uncertainty

Flawed government policy fails tenants and landlords?

3rd March 2025

The current government is pushing ahead with policy that results in added complexity unfairness and higher costs for tenants, those it purports to champion. I will give three examples driving costs for tenants and reducing rental housing stock. 1. Having different rules around tax for company or personal ownership of property creates an unlevel playing […]

Tenant looking at severe mould and damp on a wall with a question mark overlay

How can I tackle a leak affecting my tenants from the property next door?

3rd March 2025

Hello any advice please on how to tackle a leak affecting my tenants which is coming from a tenanted property next door? We have noticed the leak because a wall needed replastering (what we now know to be because of this damp) and a section won’t dry. We got a damp expert in who said […]

House with a “Sold” sign emerging from a phone, symbolising fast property sales.

Is now the perfect time to sell a BTL porfolio?

28th February 2025

Demand for properties is at an all-time high, and with the property market booming, now could be the perfect time to sell. In the last month alone, demand for homes has increased by 13%, and we’ve had more than 200 landlords contact Landlord Sales Agency to sell their rental properties — you could be next! […]

Knight-themed Landlord Crusader logo symbolizing landlord advocacy

PRS landlords under siege: Misrepresented and unheard!

28th February 2025

The private rented sector is at a tipping point, and landlords are caught in the crosshairs of a perfect storm: we have a hostile Labour government, a media that’s easily swayed by tenant lobbying groups and landlord organisations struggling to make an impact. The debate following the story about the Eastern Landlords’ Association (ELA) calling […]

Person calculating mortgage costs with house model on desk.

Two more BTL lenders lower rates

28th February 2025

Two more leading buy to let mortgage providers, Fleet Mortgages and The Mortgage Works, have joined the rush of other lenders and unveiled reductions on their fixed-rate offerings. Fleet Mortgages has lowered interest levels on its two-year fixed-rate loans. For standard and limited company borrowers, rates have dropped by 30 basis points, shifting from 4.69% […]

Nationwide reports UK house prices up 3.9% with house-shaped plant in pot

UK house price growth steady at 3.9% – Nationwide

28th February 2025

The housing market showed continued strength in February, with the annual rate of price rises holding firm at 3.9%, a slight dip from January’s 4.1%, Nationwide reveals. On a monthly basis, prices edged up by 0.4%, marking the sixth straight month of gains after adjusting for seasonal trends, according to lender’s latest data. The resurgence […]

HMO property investment strategy 2025 with rising profits graph

2025’s HMO Strategy: Overcome Rising Costs

28th February 2025

Discover how to profit with 8+ room HMOs in 2025 and stay ahead in the ever-changing property market! In this video, Ranjan Bhattacharya, unpacks expert insights into why larger HMOs are the key to navigating rising mortgage rates, utility costs, licensing fees, and new council tax challenges. Find out why scaling up to 8+ room […]

Chancellor delivering a speech on Britain’s economic future

PRS housing shortage ‘threatens Chancellor’s economic vision’

28th February 2025

A coalition of property experts is highlighting the lack of homes to rent in the UK could derail ambitious government plans to lure top-tier international talent. Organisations representing landlords, individual property owners and letting agents have united in their call for swift measures to increase the availability of homes for tenants. The Chancellor Rachel Reeves, […]

Illustration of Ministry of Justice file with “No Disputes” message, symbolising missing rent rise data

Government admits no data exists on rent rise cases

28th February 2025

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has confessed it doesn’t have any records on the volume and nature of rent rise disputes adjudicated by the First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber). That lack of information leaves a gaping hole in preparations for the upcoming Renters’ Rights Bill, one firm says. The MoJ admission came in response to a […]

House price surge graphic with red arrow breaking £300,000 barrier.

Average house price set to break the £300,000 barrier

28th February 2025

The average price of a house in the UK will breach the £300,000 mark this year, driven by a wave of eager buyers flooding back into the market, research reveals. Specialist lender West One Loans says these buyers are invigorating the sector, enabling builders to unlock funds from current projects and kickstart fresh developments. Its […]

Hand holding a card reading “Know Your Rights” with Scottish flag symbolising tenant protections

Scotland launches campaign to boost tenants’ rights awareness

28th February 2025

The Scottish government’s Housing Minister, Paul McLennan, has kicked off a fresh initiative highlighting the entitlements of renters in Scotland. The drive aims to steer tenants towards vital support and guidance resources. Scotland boasts some of the UK’s strongest tenant protections including the ability to challenge rent rises with a formal review and for landlords […]

Zoopla housing market report shows UK house prices rising in 2025

House prices rise as buyers favour houses over flats

28th February 2025

The housing market has kicked off 2025 strongly with prices rising but there’s a clear divide between buyers increasingly opting for houses rather than flats, one index reveals. According to Zoopla, the divide between house and flat values has hit its widest in three decades. The average house is now £319,500 – which is 67% […]