Our friend Keir has been having lunch with Larry Fink of Blackrock. Keir wants to improve housing, and Blackrock and Blackstone have lots of other people’s money to invest He wants to build lots of houses, and Larry has lots of other people’s money. Interestingly the Donald, in his State of the Union address, wants […]

Landlords with leasehold flats are now facing average service charge bills above £200 a month for the first time, research reveals. The findings from Hamptons highlight the fresh pressure to margins and selling prospects of these properties. The agency says flat leaseholders in England and Wales paid an average £2,405 a year in 2025, or […]

It sounds too good to be true, yet despite the recent headlines and barrages of bad news, landlords are selling, and more than that, they’re selling fast for the right prices. We’ve all seen the way the market is heading: properties stuck, unable to sell, landlords wanting unrealistic listing prices, which all compounds to a […]

The government admits it has not carried out an impact assessment on how the abolition of fixed-term tenancies will affect rental supply. In a written question, Liberal Democrat MP Dr Roz Savage asked what assessment had been made of removing fixed-term tenancies under the Renters’ Rights Act, including the impact on certainty for landlords seeking […]

Reform UK’s pledge to repeal the Renters’ Rights Act and John Lewis exiting its much-trumpeted build to rent fiasco shows what happens when housing policy fantasy meets harsh market reality. But then we are run by politicians and civil servants without any real-world experience. So, every bonkers idea they dream up will be a huge […]

A council has been accused of setting a “worrying precedent” over plans to propose large fines for rule-breaking landlords housing vulnerable tenants, a story in The Telegraph claims. Bristol City Council has proposed in a consultation that landlords who breach safety standards when housing vulnerable tenants would face a 20% premium added to the financial […]

A Labour-run council is hiring extra staff to tackle selective licensing and the Renters’ Rights Act. Liverpool City Council has announced plans to expand its enforcement team, with seven new staff joining immediately and a further 27 officers set to be appointed over the coming financial year. The council says this means there will be […]

Landlords are very aware of the upcoming Renters’ Rights Act, but uncertainty persists around how the framework will operate once in force. The survey by Paragon Bank found awareness of the new law at 98%. However, 73% of landlords said they remain unsure about parts of the legislation, or most of it. Only 26% consider […]

I am planning on making use of an approaching void period in one of my properties to work on improving ‘u-values’, by applying internal wall insulation systems (IWI) – along with some other easy EPC wins, such as swapping GLS lights for LEDs & switching to Smart TRVs. As I possess the necessary skill sets […]

John Lewis is shutting down its housebuilding arm and abandoning plans to deliver 1,000 rental homes across three sites. The firm is blaming higher borrowing and construction costs since the venture was launched in 2020. The employee-owned retailer said the decision also covers an exit from property management when four residential building contracts expire. Resources […]

Landlords and tenants will be able to access hundreds of pounds in grant funding for electric vehicle (EV) charging points under new government plans. Until March 2027, renters and landlords can claim up to half the cost of installing a charger, worth up to £500, as the scheme is extended for a final year. The […]

Potentially exempt transfer insurance (gift inter vivos policies), protect your family during the seven-year inheritance tax risk period following a gift. Most landlords have some understanding of the seven-year rule for IHT purposes. What far fewer appreciate is the financial exposure their family faces during those seven years. This exposure is not theoretical; it arises […]

More landlords than ever are stopping to take stock. The days of constant expansion are giving way to careful evaluation, because the cost of standing still has started to feel as risky as the cost of growth. Legislation, regulation, and taxation now shape almost every decision. A single oversight can turn a profitable portfolio into […]

Nearly one in three private renters in Scotland has struggled to pay their rent over the past year, research reveals. According to the SafeDeposits Scotland Charitable Trust’s latest tenant survey, 29% had difficulty paying. However, 35% said their rent was easy to afford. Pressure on household finances is feeding into spending decisions with 47% of […]

The government has confirmed floor coverings will not be mandatory under the Decent Homes Standard due to cost pressures. Many social homes do not come with floor coverings, with research by End Furniture Poverty showing more than 1.2 million people in the UK live without floor coverings, with 66% of those affected living in social […]

The UK’s longest-running tenancy deposit protection scheme claims it has resolved more than 33,000 disputes and protected £2.45 billion in deposits. Tenancy Deposit Scheme (TDS) Social Impact report 2024/25 claims it has supported tenants and landlords by resolving disputes and reducing court demand by diverting disputes from the courts. The news comes as the government says […]

In a victory for student landlords, the government has confirmed changes to the student possession ground under the Renters’ Rights Act. The government has introduced a new ground for possession to ensure properties rented to students are available for new tenants from one academic year to the next. Under the new ground, landlords must provide […]

A coalition of 25 housing bodies has written to Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook, calling for a national plan to return more than 300,000 empty homes in England to use. The alliance, brought together by social impact fund manager Resonance, spans charities, investors and council leadership. Among the signatories are Shelter, Big Issue, Refuge, Women’s Aid […]

Several buy to let (BTL) lenders have introduced a fresh round of pricing reductions, cutting fixed rates across standard and specialist ranges as product repricing continues. Landbay has lowered rates by up to 20bps across its Premier, Core and Specialist lines, covering purchases, remortgages and product transfers. Within Premier, two- and five-year fixes have fallen […]

When Martin Lewis recently described marriage as the “ultimate inheritance tax hack”, he was making a technical point rather than a romantic one. The same principle applies equally to civil partnerships. If you are legally married or in a registered civil partnership, you can leave your entire estate to your spouse or civil partner free […]

Reform UK will pledge to scrap the Renters’ Rights Act if it wins the next general election, with deputy leader Richard Tice arguing the law is already reducing supply and pushing up rents. The Act secured Royal Assent in October after it was introduced by former housing secretary Angela Rayner and builds on the earlier […]