Worcester City Council says, despite the “majority of HMO landlords”, following the rules an additional licensing scheme could be introduced. Worcester landlords are being asked for their views on whether a licensing scheme designed to improve standards in shared rented housing should continue for another five years, as the current scheme is due to end […]

More than 73% of tenants claim to feel more financial strain during Christmas, as they struggle with the cost-of-living crisis. According to Zero Deposit, expectations to spend more during Christmas and New Year on outgoings such as social occasions and leisure activities mean many tenants are tightening their belts. However, Zero Deposit claims more investment […]

Only 5% of landlords know about the numerical points system when it comes to EPC ratings, according to epIMS. An EPC rating is graded alphabetically from A to G. However, a point system determines the rating. For example, a score of 92-100 SAP points gives a rating of A, 81-91 points gives a rating of […]

London’s private rented sector has shown signs of cooling in recent months, despite increased tenant budgets, Foxtons reveals. While tenants have been willing to spend more, the anticipated surge in competition and shortage of rental properties has not materialised. The agency says that average rents in November were £541 per week, a 5% drop compared […]

With thousands of insurance providers to choose from it can be tricky to decide which one to go with.   While many insurance providers may offer cheap prices, they may not offer the best service and may have essential add-on policies missing. Here at Property118, we’ve teamed up with The Home Insurer which helps provide […]

In an unfair loophole, purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) providers will be exempt from the Decent Homes Standard, whilst landlords will still have to follow the rules. Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook has confirmed that the Renters’ Rights Bill will require PRS landlords to comply with the Decent Homes Standard. If landlords fail to follow the rules, […]

If you’re planning on growing an investment property portfolio, understanding your mortgage options is essential. Choosing the right product can significantly impact your profitability and overall investment strategy. So, what are the common types of mortgages available to property investors? Let’s break them down. Buy-to-Let Mortgages This is the go-to option for most landlords and […]

A licensing expert has slammed the government’s new selective licensing rules as “not improving standards but lining councils’ coffers.” Phil Turtle, a director of Landlord Licensing & Defence, says the new selective licensing the new rules will ultimately hurt tenants as landlords raise rents to cover the costs of licensing fees. From today, all councils […]

Shelter Scotland has criticised the Scottish government for falling short on housebuilding targets. According to Scottish government figures, there was a 12% decrease in all sector housebuilding starts and a 10% decrease in completions between 2023 and 2024. The Scottish government aim to build 110,000 affordable homes by 2032 with the commitment that 70% will […]

The property market saw sales reaching record highs in 2024, with house prices expected to rise in 2025. According to Zoopla’s House Price Index, buyers and sellers returned to the market throughout 2024, building a sales pipeline 30% larger than the previous year. More sales helped house prices return to growth with a 1.9% rise […]

Nearly half of landlords believe that the upcoming changes to the stamp duty threshold could boost the private rented sector, a survey reveals. The findings from buy to let lender Landbay show that 49% of landlords surveyed anticipate that tenants will be more likely to stay put or rent for longer. Also, 35% of landlords […]

Since this is the time for reflection on what has happened this year and thinking about New Year resolutions, I think that since no-one else is going to put our side of what tenants should be expected to do, I think we should put together a Landlords’ Rights Bill. Obviously, most of what follows is […]

Angela Rayner has announced a £1 billion plan to prevent evictions and tackle homelessness. In the largest-ever investment in homelessness prevention, the government has unveiled plans to allocate nearly £1 billion to council budgets to address the homeless crisis. The funding will support mediation with landlords and families to avoid evictions, assist individuals in securing […]

Despite positive news regarding the Leasehold Reform Act, more work needs to be done in 2025, claims one firm. The Association of Leasehold Enfranchisement Practitioners (ALEP) is calling on the government to end the uncertainty for more than five million leasehold flat owners in England. The LLeasehold and Freehold Reform Act became law in May […]

Budget uncertainty and the stamp duty hike are set to cast a shadow over the housing market in 2025, says Knight Frank. The estate agents say the stamp duty hike from April next year will mean more people will face higher bills when purchasing properties above the new thresholds. From April 2025, stamp duty thresholds […]

Students are facing a double whammy of rising tuition fees and exorbitant rent costs, according to research. Zero Deposit says that students are paying significant premiums to live near their universities, with some facing rents up to 88% higher than the wider area. The average rent for homes near the top 100 UK universities is […]

I know we will need professional legal help very soon but just in case anyone has come up against this. We are an RTM (Right to Manage). We used the existing managing agent for the first year (long story), changed agents, and now everything is working well. Our porter has use of a flat owned […]

The UK’s private rented sector remains competitive, with demand for rental properties outpacing supply, Rightmove says. Its research reveals that the average number of enquiries per available property is nearly double pre-pandemic levels. That’s despite a 7% rise in available properties and a 19% drop in prospective tenants compared to last year. Each available property […]

With inflation now running above the 2% target rate at 2.6%, the Bank of England Monetary Policy Committee (MPC), voted by a surprisingly large split of 6 – 3 to hold the Base Rate at 4.75%. This is counter to the Federal Reserve yesterday announcing a third reduction this year of 0.25% with a range […]

Avoid £10,000+ in stamp duty hikes on investment properties in 2025! Discover three expert strategies to navigate the upcoming changes in UK property taxes. Learn how to leverage commercial and mixed-use properties, identify uninhabitable properties, and explore property trader relief to minimise your stamp duty costs. This video breaks down:  The new 5% additional stamp […]

In an unprecedented move, Shelter Scotland has urged Scottish Ministers and the Scottish Housing Regulator to intervene and remove the leadership of Edinburgh City Council, accusing them of “stripping homeless households of their basic rights.” The row centres on a council meeting in December, where Shelter Scotland claims councillors voted six to five in favour […]