Andy Burnham beside graphics highlighting frozen Local Housing Allowance rates and rising temporary accommodation costs

Andy Burnham warns LHA freeze is driving up temporary accommodation costs

3rd September 2026

The Prime Minister has admitted Local Housing Allowance (LHA) rates being frozen are contributing to councils’ temporary accommodation costs. Answering questions in Parliament, Andy Burnham hinted at changes to LHA could form part of his plan to tackle the housing crisis. Mr Burnham’s comments come as he has unveiled plans to offer every rough sleeper […]

Scottish Parliament with signs highlighting Scotland’s housing emergency and lack of housing focus

Propertymark criticises Scottish government over lack of focus on housing

3rd September 2026

An industry body has slammed the Scottish government for barely mentioning housing despite the country’s ongoing housing emergency. Propertymark says First Minister John Swinney’s first speech in the Scottish Parliament since the summer recess failed to mention reducing tax burdens for landlords. The criticism comes as the Scottish government proposes giving renters a period of […]

Letting agents overwhelmed by Renters’ Rights Act compliance, reporting and tenancy administration

Renters’ Rights Act piles work on letting agents

3rd September 2026

Landlords using letting agents may face slower communication and decisions as the Renters’ Rights Act adds to their administrative workloads. Research from Propoly found that 73% of letting agents have seen their workload rise since the legislation came into force on 1 May. One in four respondents said the increase had been significant. Compliance and […]

Rent tribunal claim documents outside the Royal Courts of Justice illustrating tenant challenges to rent increases

Rent tribunal cases surge following Renters’ Rights Act

2nd September 2026

Industry experts have warned that the Renters’ Rights Act has shifted the balance of power towards tenants, as new data shows a surge in landlords being taken to tribunal over rent increases. Data from Hamptons, reported by The Times, shows that property tribunals made 166 market rent decisions in July, almost four times the 44 […]

Could your rent increase survive a tribunal challenge?

2nd September 2026

As we all know, the Renters Rights Act 2025 has created major problems for landlords, and some are already showing up. In particular, landlords are facing issues with setting and increasing the property rent. The problems with rent Prior to 1 May 2026, landlords were able to increase rent by: Agreement (normally by getting the […]

Croydon landlord licensing uncertainty as applications open on the day new schemes begin

Croydon’s landlord licensing delay creates legal uncertainty

2nd September 2026

Landlords in Croydon will be unable to apply for two new property licences until the day the schemes come into force, prompting warnings about confusion and possible legal exposure. Croydon Council has postponed the start of its additional HMO and selective licensing schemes from 1 September to 25 September 2026. However, the council’s application system […]

Renter weighed against a guarantor as rising rents increase reliance on financial backing

Guarantor reliance surges as renters face growing affordability pressures

2nd September 2026

Guarantor reliance for tenants has doubled in the last 18 months as landlords look for greater financial security. Data from HomeLet reveals the share of accepted applications requiring a guarantor has risen from around 9% in January 2025 to 18.4% in July 2026, with almost one in five lets now agreed with a guarantor in […]

Buy-to-let homes with falling BTL percentage symbols representing lower landlord mortgage rates

Landlord mortgage rates fall across lenders

2nd September 2026

Landlords looking to fix their borrowing costs are being offered lower mortgage pricing across standard, specialist and large portfolio products. Paragon Bank has cut fixed rates by 15 basis points across its Core and Tailored ranges, with pricing starting from 3.40%. United Trust Bank (UTB) has reduced two-year fixed rates by up to 50 basis […]

UK homes for sale with pound symbols illustrating subdued house price growth and higher mortgage costs

UK house price growth remains subdued

2nd September 2026

Landlords considering their next property purchase or sale face a housing market where weak house price growth and higher mortgage costs continue to restrict activity. Nationwide said UK house prices increased by 1.6% in the year to August, compared with 1.4% in July. Prices rose by 0.2% month on month after seasonal adjustments, following a […]

Welsh homes with house keys, lease documents and a calendar marking the end of Leasing Scheme Wales.

Welsh landlord leasing scheme to end

2nd September 2026

A Welsh government scheme that guarantees landlords an income while councils manage their properties is set to close to new homes at the end of this year, the National Residential Landlords’ Association says. Launched in January 2022, the programme allows landlords to lease properties to local authorities for between five and 20 years, with councils […]

The Building Safety Act and the smaller landlord

The Building Safety Act and the smaller landlord

2nd September 2026

The Building Safety Act 2022 has a reputation as tower-block law, and most landlords with a couple of houses or a handful of flats have filed it under someone else’s problem. That instinct is half right. The Act’s heaviest machinery really is aimed at high-rises and the people who run them. But parts of the […]

Terraced UK rental homes with well-kept gardens and To Let signs

Garden shortage gives landlords an edge

2nd September 2026

Landlords offering a home to rent with a well-kept garden could have an advantage when attracting tenants, as outdoor space is absent from almost two-thirds of advertised rentals in major UK cities. Research by CIA Landlords found that only 36.2% of the 72,930 homes examined included a garden. Leeds recorded the lowest proportion at 25.7%, […]

Landlord choosing between more reward and less risk when selling a property.

Giving Up Equity Can Feel Like a Risk. Our Repeat Landlords Tell a Different Story.

1st September 2026

When landlords first speak to us about selling, one of the biggest questions is understandably price. Landlord Sales Agency doesn’t promise every seller the highest possible theoretical value for their property. Instead, we agree the amount they are happy to receive and use the equity above that figure to create a sale: finding the right […]

Landlord balancing against rising tax, finance and property costs as rental income remains flat

Landlord costs surge as income stalls – HMRC

1st September 2026

The declared expenses of the UK’s individual landlords and partnerships jumped 11% in a year while their total property income barely moved, new HMRC figures reveal. Allowable property expenses reached £34.75 billion in 2024/25, compared with declared income of £58.99 billion. The income figure was virtually unchanged from £59 billion in the previous tax year. […]

PRS Database linking landlord rent and eviction data to support tenant rights

Government urged to expand PRS Database to include rent and eviction data

1st September 2026

The Private Rented Sector (PRS) Database “must not be viewed as an administrative register” but as a tool to empower tenants, a group of organisations has claimed. In a letter to Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook, the Renters’ Reform Coalition and 30 other organisations have urged the government to expand the PRS Database to include more […]

Landlord tax reform plan with UK homes, tax calculator and energy efficiency rating.

NRLA calls for landlord tax reform to boost the PRS

1st September 2026

Landlord tax reform should be used to encourage investment and increase the supply of homes to rent, according to new proposals for the private rented sector from the National Residential Landlords’ Association (NRLA). The 17-page plan calls for changes to Capital Gains Tax rules, energy efficiency incentives and the restoration of Local Housing Allowance rates. […]

HMRC Making Tax Digital sign-up displayed on a laptop beside a model house and landlord MTD checklist.

HMRC starts automatic landlord Making Tax Digital sign-ups

1st September 2026

Landlords who have not signed up for Making Tax Digital (MTD) may soon find that HMRC has done it for them. The tax authority is beginning automatic registration from this month, in stages, for people it believes should already be using MTD for Income Tax. The rules have applied since 6 April to sole traders […]

Students relaxing in shared accommodation with Renters’ Rights Act sign highlighting housing changes

Student rental market hit by Renters’ Rights Act

1st September 2026

As the start of the academic year approaches, industry experts are warning the Renters’ Rights Act has disrupted the student rental market. Speaking to the Financial Times (FT), lettings experts warn that restrictions on requiring rent upfront have created barriers for international students. As previously reported by Property118, the Renters’ Rights Act replaced most private […]

American renter with luggage in London, reflecting growing US demand for cheaper UK rents

US renters flock to Britain in search of cheaper rents

1st September 2026

More American renters are moving to the UK for cheaper rents since President Trump took office, according to new research. Goodlord analysed more than 300,000 tenancy agreements signed over the past two years, comparing the findings with data from 2023 and 2024. Goodlord claims a combination of President Trump’s controversial political agenda and the opportunity […]

Is your property strategy still right for today’s market?

1st September 2026

One of the most dangerous phrases in property investing is: “It’s always worked for me.” After more than 30 years investing in property, I’ve learnt that the market never stands still. Interest rates and finance change, legislation and tax evolve, tenant expectations shift and, as a result, the opportunities available to investors change too. Yet […]

Green upward and red downward arrows illustrate contrasting house price trends in UK commuter towns.

Revealed: Commuter towns with strongest asking price growth

1st September 2026

The strongest growth in asking prices is in commuter towns around Glasgow and Manchester, according to Rightmove. Data from the property portal reveals that ten of the 15 fastest-growing hotspots are located around the two cities. However, asking prices in London have fallen year-on-year. Asking prices are rising strongly According to the data, 11 of […]