London’s rental sector is displaying resilience with consistent tenant demand, robust supply and a notable increase in tenants securing homes, according to fresh insights from Foxtons and Chestertons. With average weekly rents climbing slightly to £557 and a 30% surge in renters moving in February, the capital’s lettings landscape remains a dynamic hub for both […]

Ah, the joys of the British legal system — a place where logic takes a back seat, and bureaucratic chaos reigns supreme. If you thought following the law would lead to a smooth resolution, allow me to disabuse you of such optimism. Let me walk you through my latest adventure in the court system, where […]

The Flat Rate VAT Scheme (FRS) is a simplified option for paying VAT for businesses with lower turnover. At an annual turnover of £90k of vatable supplies, a business must become VAT registered and pay VAT on sales. Businesses with a gross turnover of less than £180k can opt for the FRS. The FRS rate […]

Landbay, United Trust Bank (UTB) Mortgages, Molo Finance, and CHL Mortgages for Intermediaries are rolling out reductions and partnerships to bolster affordability and choice for landlords. Landbay has trimmed rates by 0.10% on its limited edition small HMO (Houses in Multiple Occupation) and MUFB (Multi-Unit Freehold Block) offerings. Five-year fixed rates now begin at 4.99% […]

The Scottish Conservatives blast the SNP for failing to remove dangerous cladding from buildings in Scotland. The SNP recently announced a £10 million fund to assess cladding on buildings, with funding available regardless of whether the property is privately owned or social housing. An extension of this scheme is also planned to support mitigation and […]

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is calling on landlords to join its HSE residents panel to improve safety in high-rise buildings. The HSE say landlords play a key role in helping residents feel safe and improve communication around building safety. The HSE are seeking applications from private landlords who currently let units in high-rise […]

The cost of renting in the UK grew by 8.1%, reaching an average of £1,326 in the 12 months to the end of February, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) reveals. However, that’s a slowdown from the 8.7% increase recorded in the 12 months to January. Meanwhile, house prices have also risen, climbing 4.9% to […]

The Scottish Greens claim that 82% of people in Scotland support rent controls, as they try to prevent the removal of the temporary rent cap. From 1 April, the rent adjudication scheme, which allowed tenants to challenge excessive rent hikes and capped increases at 12% if they appealed to a rent officer, will be scrapped. […]

A recent debate between well-known property trainer Samuel Leeds and investor-commentator Adam Lawrence has sparked renewed interest—and controversy—across the landlord community. In a wide-ranging and candid exchange, the two clash on everything from the ethics of property training to the role of social media in shaping public perception of the sector. The discussion covers some […]

Chancellor Rachel Reeves’s under pressure (definitely not an emergency budget) Spring Statement alleviated concerns among private landlords by avoiding an increase in Stamp Duty rates for second-home purchases. Despite pre-statement criticism labelling it an ‘Emergency Budget’, the address largely echoed prior announcements, offering little in the way of surprises. Reeves opened her speech with confidence, […]

Although I’ve been a landlord for over twenty years, I only recently came across luften, the German way of dealing with mould. Briefly, the householder opens all the doors and windows in the morning. They are left open for five minutes in the winter, ten minutes in spring and autumn, and fifteen minutes in summer. […]

The Scottish government could impose fines on landlords for failing to have a valid EPC. A technical consultation is underway on proposed changes to lodgement fees and penalty charges as part of its ongoing reform of the EPC system in Scotland. However, Propertymark warns that increased fees and penalties could harm remote areas in Scotland, […]

A council is encouraging landlords to participate in a final digital session concerning its selective licensing consultation. The new scheme will cover East Marsh in Lincolnshire and the event is on Tuesday, 1 April between 5:30pm and 7:00pm. The event is not only for landlords but also tenants, local enterprises and others who will be […]

Despite London Mayor Sadiq Khan praising ULEZ, new research suggests it is damaging property prices in London. According to estate agents Benham and Reeves, houses in ULEZ boroughs have been hardest hit. London Mayor Sadiq Khan introduced the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) to improve air quality in London. It was first introduced to cover […]

UK house price growth is cooling, dropping to 1.8% in February from 1.9% in January after a year of steady recovery, Zoopla reveals. Its latest house price index found that the average home is now worth £267,500 — up £4,750 from last year. There was also an 11% rise in homes listed for sale compared […]

There are fears that Chancellor Rachel Reeves might unveil an additional increase to the stamp duty surcharge for second home purchases during her Spring Statement tomorrow (26 March). Property specialists, including television icon Phil Spencer, are bracing for what could be another blow to the buy to let sector. During last year’s Autumn Budget, Ms […]

A new report on the Scottish private rented sector urges the Scottish government to support smaller private landlords to avoid them selling up. The report by the UK Collaborative Centre for Housing Evidence (CaCHE) reveals the Scottish private rented sector is dominated by “small-scale, part-time investor landlords”. A survey by the Scottish Association of Landlords […]

Despite the media coverage and calls from tenant activist groups, research reveals that 43% of tenants admit to being ‘slightly aware’ or completely in the dark about the Renters’ Rights Bill. And 5% of renters say they haven’t heard of it. The findings from Pegasus Insight reveal that just 32% of renters are ‘fully aware’ […]

The Renters’ Rights Bill will return to the House of Lords on 22 April. After the Easter recess, peers will scrutinise the Bill and then debate and finalise adjustments to the legislation over several days. While sessions are confirmed for 22 and 24 April, additional dates will probably emerge nearer the time. Landlords can reclaim […]

Eight years after the tragic Grenfell Tower blaze, the cladding crisis nightmare continues, leaving countless residents in limbo, a Parliamentary committee reports. A scathing report from the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has slammed the Government for failing to grasp the full scope of hazardous buildings, the staggering costs involved, or a realistic timeline for resolution. […]

Landlords could face an eye-watering £28k to upgrade their properties to meet EPC C targets with student landlords being hardest hit. Analysis by The Telegraph using public EPC and census data revals that university towns and cities have the highest concentration of inefficient homes, where many properties have an EPC score of D or lower. […]