Page 13 – Property118
Houses of Parliament during Spring Statement 2026 debate on UK housing supply

Property industry reaction to the Spring Statement 2026

4th March 2026

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 […]

Two landlords holding model houses with “To Let” signs, one representing a limited company structure

Limited company landlords hold three times more properties

4th March 2026

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 […]

Angela Rayner and Michael Gove discuss leasehold reform against a backdrop of the Houses of Parliament

Rayner and Gove attack ‘vested interests’ over leasehold reform

4th March 2026

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 […]

Wheelchair in a sunlit living room symbolising Disabled Facilities Grant home adaptations

Calls to streamline disabled facilities grant access for landlords

4th March 2026

Disabled facilities grants (DFG) should be streamlined for private landlords and the government should raise more awareness of the support available, claims Propertymark. The Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) provides funding to councils to pay for home adaptations that enable disabled people to live independently. A government consultation on the DFG has revealed plans for a […]

After 30 Years in Property, One Strategy Still Leads for Cashflow

4th March 2026

Over three decades of investing have taught Simon Zutshi one clear lesson. If your goal is strong, consistent monthly income, not all strategies are equal. Buy-to-lets can work. Flips can create chunks of cash. But when it comes to reliable cashflow, HMOs continue to stand out. As the founder of property investors network, Simon has […]

Map highlighting UK areas where average monthly rents exceed £1,000 alongside suburban homes with To Let signs

Rents now top £1,000 in half of Britain

4th March 2026

Average monthly rents now exceed £1,000 in more than half of local authority areas across Great Britain. Zoopla’s latest figures show 52% of councils recorded average rents above that threshold in November 2025, compared with 23% in 2020. In the South East, councils above £1,000 have increased from 32 to 63, lifting the regional share […]

Businessperson holding “I’m Sorry” sign highlighting need for stronger apologies in social housing complaints

Ombudsman calls for stronger apologies from social housing landlords

4th March 2026

Social housing landlords are being urged to apologise for mistakes after a report revealed that residents suffered due to failures. A report by the Housing Ombudsman found that one resident felt unable to leave their home due to anti-social behaviour, while another experienced a failure to replace windows for more than three years. The Housing […]

UK, Ireland and Portugal flags illustrating diverging rental policy directions in Europe

Why are comparable housing markets moving in opposite directions on rental policy?

3rd March 2026

Across Europe, governments facing similar housing pressures are making markedly different choices about how to regulate and tax private rental supply. Some are tightening fiscal treatment and strengthening regulatory controls. Others are recalibrating incentives to retain or attract private rental investment. The divergence is no longer subtle. It is structural, and it is becoming impossible […]

Scales of justice on a digital circuit board symbolising court system digitisation

Court digitalisation will improve access to justice claims government

3rd March 2026

The government claim they will spend more than £50 million to digitise the county courts to handle the court backlog. Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Secretary David Lammy spoke following a report by Sir Brian Leveson, who warned the justice system is in crisis. The news comes as Landlord Action figures reveal that landlords are […]

Pound symbols flowing from a limited company office towards buy-to-let homes with To Let signs

Limited company buy to let purchases hit record share

3rd March 2026

Limited company borrowing now accounts for a record share of buy to let purchases, reshaping how many landlords structure new acquisitions, research reveals. The analysis by Paragon Bank shows 43% of mortgaged BTL house purchases in 2025 were completed through limited companies, up from 35% the previous year. That proportion has climbed steadily since 2018, […]

Downward rent trend graph with houses in background illustrating UK rental market slowdown

UK rents dip in February – led by London falls

3rd March 2026

Landlords are seeing rents level off as tenants take longer to commit and affordability pressures shape new deals, HomeLet says. Its latest rental index shows average UK rents fell to £1,301 in February, a 0.1% month-on-month fall from £1,302 in January. That leaves rents 2% higher than a year earlier, when the average stood at […]

Model house on £20 notes with 1% symbol illustrating modest UK house price growth

UK house prices hold steady in February

3rd March 2026

The UK’s annual house price growth held at 1% in February, with a modest rise at the start of the year, Nationwide reports. It says there was a 0.3% month-on-month increase to lift the average price to £273,176, from £270,873 the previous month. The lender’s chief economist, Robert Gardner, said: “This reinforces the view of […]

Sad face emoji balls with upward arrows illustrating rising property complaint enquiries

Property Redress reports 47% rise in agent complaints

3rd March 2026

Property Redress says it has seen agent complaint enquiries rocket, even as disputes are being settled more quickly. It says there was a 47% increase in overall complaint enquiries last year, though resolution times are shorter. The scheme, which also covers sales and sales leasehold management, received 4,220 complaint enquiries during 2025, compared with 2,863 […]

Letting agent completing HHSRS property inspection checklist ahead of Renters' Rights Act changes

Landlord HHSRS inspection template launched

3rd March 2026

Landlords and agents can bring inspection standards into line with the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS) as the Renters’ Rights Act moves closer. That’s because the Act adopts the HHSRS to define statutory hazards in rented properties and how they should be evidenced. Property management software platform Inventory Base has now launched an […]

To Let signs and landlord registration forms against Northern Ireland flag backdrop

Landlords in Northern Ireland could face tougher registration rules

3rd March 2026

The Northern Ireland Executive has launched a consultation on strengthening its Landlord Registration Scheme. In Northern Ireland, all private landlords are required to register before letting out a property or face thousands of pounds in fines. The Northern Ireland Executive now wants to change the scheme to include collecting information on property standards at the […]

Tenant gives thumbs down while holding house keys under “Failed” stamp, symbolising rogue landlord crackdown row

Tenant group slams council for failing to crack down on rogue landlords

3rd March 2026

A tenant group has claimed a council has “failed to put its money where its mouth is” by not doing enough to tackle rogue landlords. A story by Edinburgh Live says Living Rent has hit out at Edinburgh council for not allocating funding in its latest budget for enforcement in the private rented sector (PRS). […]

Graphic linking Shelter’s campaigning to Renters’ Rights Act and landlord exit concerns

Property118 founder slams Shelter for causing landlord exodus

2nd March 2026

Property118 is publishing this analysis because the private rented sector is shrinking in plain sight, and the people who pay the price first are tenants. Property118 has long argued that landlord confidence is not an abstract concept; it is the fuel that keeps rental supply flowing. Remove confidence and participation falls. When participation falls, supply […]

Section 8 eviction notice with £3,000 costs highlighted against UK rental homes backdrop

Landlords face £3,000 eviction bills under Section 8 possession claims

2nd March 2026

Landlords are facing eviction costs that could reach £3,000 when Section 21 is abolished with May’s Renters’ Rights Act, the Daily Telegraph has revealed. Estate agency Martyn Gerrard said the move to Section 8 claims will expose landlords to court fees, solicitor bills and lost rent during delays. The Act will remove ‘no-fault’ notices and […]

The head of the Scottish Association of Landlords commenting on the Scottish Budget and its impact on the private rented sector

Scottish parties must support private rented sector

2nd March 2026

Party conference season is in full swing. At the time of writing, the Scottish Tories and Liberal Democrats have both had theirs, as have the Greens, and Scottish Labour are currently in progress in Paisley. This being an election year, the conferences are of more importance than usual, as they are key events at which […]

Councillor overlooking Worcester rooftops as rent control debate dominates city housing discussion.

Green councillor calls for local rent control powers

2nd March 2026

A councillor has claimed rent controls must be introduced to stop renters from “being plunged into economic hardship.” Green councillor Alex Mace put forward a motion to Worcester City Council calling for rent controls to be introduced in the city. Cllr Mace said that while the Renters’ Rights Act will strengthen renters’ rights, it does […]

Digital tax form interface on laptop highlighting Making Tax Digital readiness for landlords

Four in five landlords ready for Making Tax Digital

2nd March 2026

With only a month to go until Making Tax Digital, landlords are feeling more prepared than sole traders, claims a new report. A report by accounting firm Wolters Kluwer Tax & Accounting reveals four in five landlords (80%) feel prepared for Making Tax Digital compared to 64% of sole traders. Under the controversial scheme, from […]