Sold sign outside a former rental home alongside occupied houses, illustrating landlords leaving the private rented sector.

One in five homes lost from PRS as small landlords struggle

16th July 2026

More than 850,000 properties have left the private rented sector in the last decade as small landlords struggle with the Renters’ Rights Act, according to new data. Findings by TwentyEA reveal one in five homes that were rented at some point in the last 10 years have since been sold and not returned to the […]

Rising UK rental prices illustrated by a green rent arrow with a pound symbol in front of rental homes

Rents hit record high as property supply falls

16th July 2026

Advertised rents have reached record highs in London and the rest of Great Britain after the number of available homes fell below last year’s level for the first time since 2022. Rightmove says the average advertised rent outside the capital rose by 1.9% during the second quarter to £1,397 a month, the first quarterly record […]

£7,000 housing disrepair fines and Renters' Rights Act highlighted alongside rental property in England

Barrister doubts Renters’ Rights Act disrepair fines impact

16th July 2026

A barrister has warned that England’s new £7,000 disrepair fines may do little to reduce the number of housing claims brought against landlords. Jeffrey Zitron says limited council resources and continued reliance on existing complaints routes mean the legal landscape is unlikely to change much. The government estimates that around one in 10 privately rented […]

Landlords and sole traders transitioning to Making Tax Digital before the HMRC quarterly filing deadline.

216,000 landlords and traders haven’t signed up for Making Tax Digital

16th July 2026

More than 200,000 landlords and sole traders have yet to sign up for Making Tax Digital (MTD), with the first quarterly deadline now less than a month away. Research commissioned by business management platform Tide found that 25% of landlords and sole traders earning more than £50,000 had not registered with HMRC for the new […]

Fire risk assessment warning showing detached smoke alarm, fire extinguisher and communal hallway in a converted two-flat property.

Issues with my fire risk assessor?

16th July 2026

Hello, I commissioned a London-based fire risk assessor to undertake an assessment of the communal area of my terraced property in North London. There are 2 self contained flats. The ground floor has 2 bedrooms, and the first floor has 3 bedrooms which includes a loft conversion. The ground floor tenants were out when he […]

Gold “Service Charge Appeal” concept with keyhole and residential apartment buildings, illustrating the Notting Hill Genesis tribunal ruling.

Shared owners win service charge appeal

16th July 2026

Social housing landlord Notting Hill Genesis has lost an appeal over its attempt to charge shared owners at a Battersea block for facilities serving private flats elsewhere on the estate. The dispute turned on the wording of the leases, and that wording proved decisive. The Upper Tribunal ruled that shared owners in block V1 at […]

Compensation culture concept with cash and bold lettering illustrating proposed PRS Ombudsman compensation awards.

Is compensation culture coming to the PRS?

15th July 2026

Landlords have grown used to bad news under the Renters’ Rights Act, but the suggestion that tenants could be awarded up to £25,000 through the new Private Rented Sector Ombudsman scheme appears to have touched a particular nerve. It is not just the size of the potential award that has caused alarm. It is what […]

Wrecking ball labelled TAX smashing a model house beside an HMRC monthly tax calendar, illustrating proposed monthly tax payments for landlords.

Landlords could face monthly HMRC tax bills

15th July 2026

Landlords could be required to pay tax every month under Treasury proposals that would calculate deductions using income declared in the previous year, the Daily Telegraph reports. The move comes after the controversial Making Tax Digital (MTD) is already forcing thousands of property owners into a new quarterly reporting regime. The government is consulting on […]

Scottish housing tribunal delays leave landlords waiting up to a year to regain possession of rental properties.

Housing tribunal delays deepen Scottish housing emergency

15th July 2026

Scottish landlords are having to wait up to a year to regain possession of their properties as housing tribunal delays cause chaos in the rental market. Data from the Scottish Association of Landlords (SAL) reveals the average time between an eviction application being lodged and a tribunal decision has more than doubled, from around three […]

Welsh tenant rights legislation concept showing Wales flag, legal documents, family protection shield and housing justice.

Welsh government plans stronger tenant rights

15th July 2026

The Welsh government is preparing legislation to strengthen the rights of private tenants, with further restrictions on no-fault evictions expected later in the Senedd term. First Minister Rhun ap Iorwerth included the proposed bill in the first phase of the government’s new legislative programme, outlined in a statement to the Senedd. The initial legislation will […]

Buy-to-let mortgage rates cut as percentage symbols fall above UK homes, highlighting new landlord mortgage deals.

More landlord mortgage rates cut by lenders

15th July 2026

Landlords have a fresh round of mortgage rate cuts to explore, with Dudley Building Society reducing selected buy to let and holiday let deals by as much as one percentage point. InterBay, Aldermore and Coventry Building Society have also changed their landlord mortgage ranges, cutting rates or adding new options for specialist and larger loans. […]

Illustration of Awaab’s Law highlighting stricter housing safety rules for social landlords and rental property standards.

Government expands Awaab’s law for social housing landlords

15th July 2026

The government has announced stricter rules for social landlords under phase two of Awaab’s Law. Coming into force on 30 November 2026, social housing landlords will now be required to fix more dangers like electrical faults, pest infestations and unsafe stairs to quicker timeframes. Under the Renters’ Rights Act, Awaab’s law will be extended to […]

Flat entrance fire door with inspection checklist highlighting common FD30 compliance issues after a fire door survey.

Fire door survey, how reliable are they?

15th July 2026

Hello, I am looking for advice on how to proceed regarding my flat’s main fire door. Our managing agent recently arranged for fire door surveys to be completed by an agency for all flats in our building. ​The report requested that I complete the following repairs: replace the hinges and letterbox, ensure the gaps around […]

Housing crisis concept showing homes trapped in a large pit beside stalled new-build developments.

Housing crisis deepens as new build developments drop

15th July 2026

Despite the government’s pledge to deliver 1.5 million homes, the number of new-build housing developments coming to market is at its lowest level since January 2017. Findings by Rightmove reveal that not enough affordable homes are being built, while high mortgage rates are adding to the challenges facing buyers and developers. The property platform is […]

Court fees increase notice on gates outside a UK court building, highlighting higher landlord possession claim costs.

Landlords face higher court costs as possession claim fees increase

14th July 2026

The government has announced that court fees for landlords will rise this week. However, fees for tenants to challenge a rent increase will remain frozen at £47. The news comes as the government claims the justice system “is well prepared” to handle the Renters’ Rights Act. Rise due to inflation Annual price rises linked to […]

HMO rental property with target board and bullseye graphic illustrating landlords targeting specific tenant groups.

Landlords target HMO investment at specific tenant groups

14th July 2026

Students remain the main target for HMO landlords, but they are far from the only group in landlords’ sights, research reveals. Paragon Bank found that 92% of landlords actively prepare or present their rental properties to attract a particular type of tenant. It adds that 36% of landlords operating houses in multiple occupation target students, […]

Jar with a model house and pound notes illustrating rent controls reducing housing costs for private tenants in England.

Greens welcome claim that rent controls could save tenants £2,400 a year

14th July 2026

Rent controls could save the average private tenant in England £2,400 a year, according to a report welcomed by Green Party leader Zack Polanski. The report, published by the UCL Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose, argues that controlling rents could reduce housing benefit spending while improving affordability for lower-income households. It was written by […]

Paper fish representing UK housing legislation consuming smaller regulations, illustrating unintended consequences of tenant law reform.

Survival of the fittest?

14th July 2026

We have seen tenant bodies jumping up and down, demanding, lobbying and creating over grievances with landlords. They have achieved major reform but it appears the results are so detrimental to tenants, they are already calling for more major reform. When you try and put a fire out by pouring liquid on it, if you […]

Temporary accommodation modular home lifted by balloons with rising cost tag, illustrating soaring council housing costs.

Temporary accommodation costs soar as councils warn of mounting pressure

14th July 2026

An association has warned the use of temporary accommodation is becoming “financially unsustainable” as they call on the next Prime Minister to offer long-term solutions. Data by the Local Government Association (LGA) reveals council spending on housing homeless families in temporary accommodation has surged by more than 1,000% over 13 years. Councils have spent more […]

Exterior of a terraced house illustrating an unlicensed HMO targeted by Coventry City Council enforcement action.

City’s HMO inspections uncover unlicensed properties

14th July 2026

Landlords operating HMOs in one city are being warned that unlicensed properties and safety breaches are now firmly in the sights of council enforcement teams. Coventry City Council’s Safer Housing and Communities team carried out a series of targeted visits across the city, alongside police and immigration officers. They uncovered multiple suspected unlicensed houses in […]

Signposts pointing to commercial and residential property, illustrating investors shifting towards commercial real estate.

Investors shift from residential to commercial property amid regulatory burden

14th July 2026

Investors are turning to commercial property rather than residential property due to government regulation, claims an industry body. According to NAEA Commercial Propertymark’s Advisory Panel, increasing taxes and regulations are prompting investors to consider commercial property. The news comes as the Renters’ Rights Act came into force in the private rented sector on 1 May […]