Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) remains one of the most significant transactional costs for landlords in England and Northern Ireland. In 2025 the landscape is shaped by three realities: Additional Dwelling Rate (ADR) at 5% for purchases of additional residential properties. 2% Non-Resident Surcharge for overseas buyers on residential transactions. Multiple Dwellings Relief (MDR) abolished […]

Landlords are facing the prospect of the Renters’ Right Bill enabling a surge in pet ownership with up to one million PRS households welcoming furry friends. An analysis by Go.Compare examines how the Bill will reshape living arrangements for private tenants in England. Its data reveals there’s a huge amount of pent-up demand among renters […]

Our tenant (AST) in London gave us a valid break notice on June 20th, 20205, to leave our flat on August 20th, 2025. However, he didn’t leave, doesn’t provide timing estimates on when he will vacate, hardly communicates, and hardly even uses the property! My 19-year-old son and a flatmate were supposed to move into […]

Two leading buy to let lenders have unveiled rate cuts across their ranges, while a major industry initiative seeks to tackle delays in property transactions. CHL Mortgages for Intermediaries has launched its most extensive portfolio to date, unveiling a broad mix of new options alongside reductions of up to 44 basis points. The lender’s refreshed […]

Britain’s private rented sector is facing mounting pressure as landlords continue leaving, driving rents up while the broader housing market experiences continued weakness, the latest RICS research reveals. The organisation’s August residential survey of surveyors shows that landlord instructions have plummeted by 37% – the sharpest drop since April 2020. The fall coincides with sustained […]

Researchers have found that a shocking 93,000 buy to let landlords are set to abandon the PRS this year. The findings from Black & White Bridging show that brokers are predicting a 6% drop in landlord numbers. HMRC data shows 2.84 million unincorporated property owners operating in the UK during 2023, with 57% of them […]

This piece is part of our International Bizarre Landlord Stories series. Today’s story was first reported in Canada. A landlord attending a flat in Ontario for what should have been a routine inspection was met with the sound of meows echoing through the corridor. On opening the door, it became clear why. The tenant had […]

A letting agency has warned of challenges under new rent increase rules, which will affect landlord income. Under the Renters’ Rights Bill, landlords will only be able to raise rent once every 12 months using a Section 13 notice and must give two months’ notice before an increase. Leaders Roman Group (LRG) says that rent […]

The average rental yield for landlords has bounced back to equal a 10-year high, research reveals. According to market analyst Pegasus Insight, the average return on a rental property has climbed to 6.5% – equalling the previous high recorded in late 2024. Data from this year’s second quarter shows a big regional divide in yields […]

Government tax policies targeting private landlords have enabled 1.1 million households to secure their first property purchases, research claims. A study by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation found that taxes on individual landlords and higher stamp duty charges for additional properties, implemented from 2016 onwards, have fundamentally altered Britain’s housing landscape. The foundation’s policy adviser Darren […]

Mystic Mortar’s Landlord Horoscope Edition: Friday 12 September 2025 Welcome, star-gazers and key-holders, to another week where the heavens whisper through rent rolls and the constellations shimmer above your properties. Step closer, for the stars have tales to tell of charm, caution, and cosmic opportunity in your landlord life. This week, Mercury in Libra squares […]

Landlord repossessions across England and Wales have rocketed in the past year, ahead of the Renters’ Rights Bill becoming law and scrapping Section 21 ‘no-fault’ evictions. An analysis by letting agency acquisition firm Dwelly shows a 6.8% national increase in repossessions compared to the previous year, while some towns recorded far sharper rises. Thurrock leads […]

A waste disposal expert claims HMO landlords could face £50,000 fines and a prison sentence if they fail to deal with fly-tipping at the end of a tenancy. Commercial waste firm BusinessWaste.co.uk says HMO landlords have a legal duty to provide the correct bins and keep communal areas hygienic, while tenants remain responsible for disposing […]

The official methods for assessing household EPC emissions may be overstating the environmental impact of British homes by as much as half, a study reveals. According to Atom bank, its findings raise concerns about whether current tools can genuinely support the UK’s ambition to reach ‘Net Zero’. Working with Experian and Durham University, Atom compared […]

What To Do In The First 30 Days After A Landlord’s Death This guide gives you a clear first month plan so lenders stay calm, tenants see continuity, and the family keeps control. It is written for company directors, LLP members and executors who need to act now without creating problems later. Companion guides If […]

Two specialist landlord finance providers have revealed enhancements to their mortgage ranges to offer landlords more choice and flexibility. YBS Commercial Mortgages has announced a series of changes to its semi-commercial and buy to let offerings. The organisation is lifting the loan-to-value (LTV) threshold on its range for part-residential, part-commercial assets, with financing now available […]

Landlords investing in rental property has shifted decisively towards the Midlands and northern regions, according to Paragon Bank. Data from the lender shows that landlords secured nearly half of new buy to let purchases with mortgages in the East and West Midlands, North West, North East and Yorkshire and Humber. That’s for the first half […]

The 5-year EICR (Electrical Installation Condition Report) is about to run out on my rental property The tenant is in major debt and is unable to pay to get the debt cleared from the electricity meter (it’s a prepayment meter and showing £135 of debt). He is vulnerable and has bipolar issues. I have tried […]

This piece is part of our International Bizarre Landlord Stories series. Today’s story was first reported in Nigeria. In Lagos, a landlord was left speechless when he arrived to inspect a property after an eviction notice. The house was still standing but the corrugated iron roof was gone. According to reports, the departing tenant had […]

House prices in England and Wales showed no shift from July to August, with a 0% rise between July and August, research reveals. That’s according to the latest e.surv chartered surveyors index which does reveal a 2.8% drop in values from 12 months previously. The stagnant monthly figures suggest recent downward pressure may be stabilising, […]

Hi all, I’ve phoned the HMRC CGT tax office and spoken to the Probate court, and I am still stuck on what’s best to do. When my mum passed, 2 months ago, I stupidly used the valuation which the mortgage company had provided in a drive-by valuation prior to death (unsure how “prior” to death […]