Data, i.e. information about people, is important, which is why we have regulations to tell us how to look after it. These regulations are enforced by the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO).  To fund their work, most businesses need to register with the ICO and pay an annual fee.  But does this include landlords? Most landlords […]

A new specialist buy to let mortgage lender has officially launched, bringing a focus on ‘smarter, faster, simpler’ lending to the UK market. ModaMortgages, a subsidiary of Chetwood Bank, is working exclusively through intermediaries and will cater to a diverse range of landlords. These will include small and large portfolio landlords, limited company landlords, HMO/MUFB, […]

Landlords in Northern Ireland face new regulations for the electrical safety of their rental properties. The Electrical Safety Standards for Private Tenancies Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2024 was approved by the Northern Ireland Assembly in November. The law introduces mandatory electrical safety checks for all private tenancies. Now, Propertymark has published a new fact sheet to […]

Hi, I had served a S21 notice to my tenant who then contacted me to say they have viewed and accepted an offer of a Housing Association property and that they would be picking up the keys sometime over the Christmas/New Year period. Having not heard from them since, I sent an email asking whether […]

Landlords are set to benefit from a wave of competitive rate reductions as buy to let lenders CHL Mortgages and Landbay announce improved limited edition product ranges. CHL Mortgages has launched a range of two- and five-year fixed-rate BTL mortgages, including options for standard and HMO/MUFB properties. Rates start from 4.03% for two-year fixes and […]

The average UK tenant spent 35.7% of their take-home pay on rent last year which underscores the growing financial strain facing many households, one firm says. The research from tenant and landlord services provider Canopy is based on data from more than 60,000 renters. It found that one in five renters (20%) spent more than […]

A new landlord pet damage policy, called ‘Not for Lions’, has been unveiled to protect landlords’ rental properties. The provider, Alps, says the move is in response to the upcoming Renters’ Rights Bill. The Bill returns to Parliament next week and could be law by the summer and will give tenants the right to keep […]

Propertymark is warning the Welsh government against plans to require electric vehicle (EV) charging points in properties. Under the proposals, all new residential and non-residential buildings, as well as properties undergoing major renovations, would need to include an electric vehicle charging point. Propertymark has responded to the Welsh government’s consultation, arguing that mandatory requirements could […]

More investment not legislation is needed for the private rented sector, says Propertymark. The industry body says the private rented sector remains challenging and the Renters’ Rights Bill must strike “a workable and fair balance” for landlords and tenants. The Bill will abolish Section 21 and introduce Awaab’s Law to the PRS, with the law […]

Hi, I have owned two flats for 19 years, with tenants, and have been paying a maintenance charge to a company who takes care of all communal areas in this development. A large area of this communal land has been put up for sale, with a proposal to build 12 flats, in order to raise […]

House prices in the UK ended 2024 with a year-on-year increase of 3.3%, despite a slight 0.2% dip in December, Halifax reports. It says that the average property value now stands at £297,166. Northern Ireland maintained the strongest property price growth with an annual increase of 7.4%. House prices in Wales rose 4.6%, while Scotland […]

Paragon Bank has introduced a range of limited-edition five-year fixed rate buy to let mortgages featuring attractive rates and flexible fee options. The products offer landlords a choice between nil, 3% and £3,995 arrangement fees. Landlords can also benefit from £750 cashback on selected options. The mortgages are available for both purchase and remortgage up […]

Rents in England dipped again in December, marking the fifth consecutive month of rental cost reductions, according to the Goodlord rental index. This follows a record-breaking summer of price rises. It says that December’s rents were down by nearly 2% month-on-month – that’s much lower than the peak averages recorded in July. However, despite the […]

Scotland’s housing emergency will worsen in 2025 without rent controls, the Green Party says. Along with ‘robust’ rent controls, the Greens also demanded last month that tenants should be protected ‘permanently’ from eviction in the winter months. Also, rent controls would protect tenants from ‘skyrocketing rents’. The party says that homes are ‘not for profiteering’ […]

Hi, I applied for a selective licence back in September, and only now has the council sent the invoice for Part A (£375), which I understand legally covers the ‘admin’ costs for the pre-draft licence assessment. Over Christmas, the tenant has decided to move on so will be gone in 10 days time – the […]

Plans to ban new gas boilers by 2035 will be scrapped, but nearly all homes must install a heat pump. According to the i newspaper, a ban on gas boilers being installed in newly built homes will be confirmed later this year, taking effect before the end of the decade. However, the rule that would […]

Hi, I have been a landlord for nearly two decades and it has been more demanding than my corporate job. For much of my working life, I worked for corporates ending my career at one of the world’s top insurance companies and was credited with their highest internal awards for making savings of tens of […]

The recent rise in annual house price growth which saw prices reach their highest point since November 2022, stands in stark contrast with news of the fastest decline in manufacturing output in 11 months, Knight Frank says. The firm’s head of UK residential research, Tom Bill, says the situation underscores the current economic complexity. Manufacturing […]

There’s a lesson for private sector landlords in England with data showing that Scotland’s buy to let market is collapsing after rent controls were implemented. According to the Daily Telegraph, the number of Scotland’s landlords investing in property has plummeted to a 15-year low. It says data shows that just 5.7% of all homes purchased […]

London’s private rented sector is experiencing a period of moderation, with Chestertons forecasting rent increases of just 1.5% – that’s slightly lower than predicted inflation – in 2025. This follows a year of slower rent growth due to increased supply and mounting financial pressures on tenants. Chestertons says: “With average rents now close to 40% […]

Research reveals that 60% of all homes reaching the market over the past year held an EPC rating of C or above – an increase of 1.6% compared to the previous year. The findings from epIMS, the energy efficiency platform developed for landlords, point to a growing focus on energy performance by buyers, tenants and […]