North Devon Council will re-enter the social housing sector for the first time in 25 years, launching its own housing company to address local needs. The decision follows strong public support and a new housing plan. The council’s Strategy and Resources Committee greenlit the initiative after a six-week public consultation earlier this year, where 84% […]

Landlords who make a minor selective licensing mistake, such as missing a renewal notice, can be plunged into severe financial distress, with penalties reaching astronomical sums, one expert warns. Local councils, which are intensifying their enforcement of selective licensing schemes, are imposing hefty fines that threaten landlords’ economic stability. Phil Turtle, a property compliance specialist […]

It might not surprise many landlords in Scotland, but a poll organised by the Scottish Greens shows that most people support rent controls. The survey shows that 74% of respondents endorse restrictions on rent rises, while 83% view current rent rates as disproportionately high relative to earnings in Scotland. However, the Scottish Association of Landlords […]

As the Renters’ Rights Bill draws ever closer, more landlords are deciding whether to sell, according to an industry body. According to Propertymark’s Housing Insight report, a growing number of landlords have been leaving the market in recent years due to regulation and financial pressures. The Renters’ Rights Bill is currently going through the Lords’ […]

The government have announced plans to train more than 18,000 retrofit professionals to meet energy-efficiency targets. The National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA) has welcomed the news but says more work needs to be done to support landlords to meet those targets. Ed Miliband, Energy Security and Net-Zero Secretary, has proposed all private rented properties need […]

The Welsh government have announced a Welsh housing survey will take place next year. Propertymark and the National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA) have campaigned for a housing survey similar to the English Housing Survey to provide accurate data. The NRLA have welcomed the survey but says the Welsh government should introduce regular landlord surveys. Provide […]

A leading law firm has raised concerns about a sharp rise in landlord possession claims across London, pointing to a cost-of-living crisis facing renters – and not their behaviour. Higgs LLP says that despite falling property prices in the capital, tenants are struggling to cope with escalating rents, stagnant wages and persistent inflation. These factors […]

My wife and I have five rental flats in South London, zone 3/4. Each are worth approximately £300,000 (£280,000 to £350,000), and we charge £1,500 to £1,650 pcm. Our three outstanding mortgages were £145,000 and we had £105,000 invested in stocks and shares ISAs. We invest mainly in low cost tracker funds such as Fidelity […]

Labour peers will be forced to sit late into Wednesday night to push the Renters’ Rights Bill through the committee stage, according to The Telegraph. The final two committee stage debates are scheduled for this week, with one taking place today (Monday 12 May) and the other on Wednesday. The Conservative Party has criticised Labour […]

While London lays claim to the highest average rent being paid by tenants, it isn’t home to the priciest rental postcode, research reveals. That accolade goes to Buckinghamshire’s HP9 postcode where tenants face an average monthly rent of £5,920. According to a study by Cohab, a property management platform, this figure dwarfs the South East’s […]

The UK’s private rented sector is undergoing a major transformation with landlords increasingly adopting professional strategies and using limited companies, researchers say. According to Foundation Home Loans, there has been a big rise in limited company ownership, diversification into specialist properties and robust profitability despite regulatory challenges. Its Q1 2025 Landlord Trends study reveals that […]

Local Councils use Selective Licensing to make money, and Landlords are forced to pay when Councils find a reason to license an area. I have two concerns over this: Number one, the law allows them to use antisocial behaviour in the private sector as a reason for licensing. Where would Councils get that information from, […]

Hi all, I am in a very complicated situation where I have a tenant at my property, not paying rent for 10 years. The estate agency that put the tenant in went under administration. They did try the S21 route with no luck, as he kept on causing damage to all repairs that were carried […]

Properties in the South East of the UK face the steepest hurdles to sale, while Scotland emerges as the smoothest market for sellers, research reveals. According to TwentyCi’s latest Property & Homemover Report covering April 2024 to March 2025, the regional disparities show how easy or difficult it is to sell homes. It has evaluated […]

The average amount tenants owe landlords in unpaid rent has rocketed to £2,237 in the first quarter of 2025, a 23% jump from £1,818 the previous year, research reveals. According to deposit alternative provider Reposit, this figure reflects a 56% increase since Q1 2023, underscoring the financial strain facing the PRS. High interest rates and […]

Landlords are increasingly turning their attention to Northern areas, and if current trends continue, by 2033, most buy to let purchases will be in the Midlands and North, Hamptons says. The North offers more affordable properties, and better returns are offsetting the burden of higher stamp duty and mortgage rates. Hamptons says that in the […]

Building on green belt land will fix the housing crisis in the capital, claims London Mayor Sadiq Khan. London Mayor Sadiq Khan has announced a public consultation on plans to build more affordable homes, including on selected areas of green belt land. Generation Rent has welcomed the proposals, saying they “will help protect Londoners from […]

Landlords across England and Wales struggling to get their properties back because of months of delays and a ‘postcode lottery’ in the County Court system are being urged to enforce their judgments through the High Court. Landlords across England and Wales currently face significant delays in evicting problem tenants and reclaiming their properties caused by […]

A few weeks ago, I warned that the private rented sector (PRS) faces a far graver threat from the government’s Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) mandates than from the much-debated Renters’ Rights Bill. Now, two heavyweight voices – UK Finance and Paragon Bank – have echoed my fears, sounding the alarm on Labour’s reckless push to […]

Several UK specialist lenders have introduced innovative products to address the evolving needs of professional landlords and property investors, offering greater flexibility and competitive pricing. Hampshire Trust Bank (HTB) has rolled out Portfolio Edge, a structured lending solution designed for brokers helping landlords with complex portfolios. This product merges a two-year fixed-rate term mortgage at […]

I had a property which burnt down in a fire 4 years ago, and was a landlady to a lovely tenant whom I took on via the local council rent guarantee scheme. The insurance has paid for the alternative accommodation for the last 4 years. However, as the property is nearing completion in July (hopefully), […]