Page 14 – Property118
Builder working indoors on property renovation as landlords urged to meet Decent Homes Standard

Government urges landlords to act on Decent Homes Standard

22nd April 2026

Landlords are being urged by the government to take action now to get their properties up to the upcoming Decent Homes Standard. In a written question, Labour MP Sharon Hodgson acknowledged that bringing homes up to standard will take time, but confirmed the direction of travel is clear. All private and social landlords will be […]

Two men pushing large “complaints” text in front of buy-to-let homes, symbolising housing complaints issues

Social housing landlords urged to overhaul complaint systems

22nd April 2026

The social housing sector needs to better handle complaints and run on “good infrastructure rather than goodwill”, new research claims. A story in Inside Housing reveals research by consultancy firm Campbell Tickell that found empathy in complaints handling emerged as the strongest predictor of tenant satisfaction. Social housing landlords with higher empathy scores also received fewer […]

Rent increase for long-term tenants - new S13 form 4a?

Insurance wording for tenancy agreements?

22nd April 2026

Hello, My insurance is up for renewal next month and the policy wording talks about shorthold tenancy agreements not periodic agreements. I have asked that post May 1st and the RRA coming into force, will this wording be updated and the answer was no ‘they have no plans to update the policy wording.’ Am I […]

One-third figure made of British pound notes symbolising rising rents in England

Rent rises affect one in three tenants since rental reforms

22nd April 2026

Nearly a third of tenants in England have experienced rent rises since the Renters’ Rights Act received Royal Assent six months ago, according to a new report. Data from SpareRoom shows that 30% of tenants who have stayed in the same rental property during that period have had their rent increased. The findings come as […]

Have any landlords here used part exchange or quick-sale property companies?

21st April 2026

I am a long-time reader of Property118 and would be grateful for the views of others who may have direct experience of something I have been thinking about recently. My perception is that many UK property developers seem to have tie-ups with companies that help facilitate part exchange deals. In other words, the developer promotes […]

Judge’s gavel beside house key symbolising landlord possession and eviction proceedings

Landlord possession cases surge ahead of PRS reforms

21st April 2026

Landlords are accelerating possession activity ahead of the Renters’ Rights Act being implemented on 1 May, with activity rising sharply as existing routes remain open. Figures released by Landlord Action show instructions rose by 60% in March compared with the same month last year. Enquiries climbed 75%, the largest monthly increase the firm has recorded. […]

Times square logo

The Times wants to speak to landlords about upcoming rental reforms

21st April 2026

The Times is looking to speak to landlords who are concerned about the upcoming Renters’ Rights Act, which will ban no-fault evictions. They are keen to hear from landlords about how the changes may impact them, or whether they are making them reconsider holding BTL properties. The Times are also keen to speak to anybody […]

Landlord carrying a model house walking toward an exit, symbolising leaving the rental market

Renters’ Rights Act sees ‘hobby landlords’ leave the sector

21st April 2026

Hobby landlords are increasingly leaving the PRS because of the Renters’ Rights Act, while other landlords will increase tenant checks and tighten letting criteria, raising questions about rental home access for some potential tenants. Those are the views of Louisa Sedgwick, the managing director of mortgages at Paragon Bank, who was speaking on a podcast […]

Eviction notice document crossed out with red X symbolising end of no-fault evictions

Minister denies eviction surge ahead of Renters’ Rights Act

21st April 2026

The housing minister has claimed the government does not expect a spike in Section 21 notices ahead of the Renters’ Rights Act. In a written question, housing minister Matthew Pennycook claimed the 1 May 2026 deadline is not expected to have an impact. This comes despite claims from tenant groups that landlords are rushing evictions […]

House with “Limited Company” sign and growing coin stacks symbolising landlord investment and rising yields

Limited company landlords target higher yields despite rising costs

21st April 2026

Limited company landlords are pressing ahead with expansion plans as most are expecting stronger yields over the next year, even as borrowing and compliance costs rise. The latest BTL Barometer from Kensington Mortgages shows 84% of residential limited company landlords expect yields to increase within 12 months. A further 89% say they are confident about […]

Why landlord sentiment may now matter more than policy announcements

21st April 2026

Policy changes often dominate headlines, but their real impact depends on how landlords respond. According to the Property118 Landlord Sentiment Survey Q1 2026, landlord sentiment may now be a more immediate indicator of market direction than policy announcements alone. Based on 2,380 completed responses, 57% of landlords plan to reduce their portfolios, while only 6.8% intend […]

Scottish house wrapped in flag with money flying around and rent sign, symbolising housing cost pressures

Social housing landlords in Scotland warned over rising financial pressures

21st April 2026

Scottish social housing landlords could face millions of pounds in lost rental income due to growing financial pressures on the sector. Analysis of the Scottish Housing Regulator’s (SHR) latest financial projections by Mobysoft shows the sector’s continued reliance on rent to cover rising costs. Social housing landlords in Scotland are also facing additional pressures, including […]

Illustration of tenant screening with one applicant singled out, symbolising discrimination in Right to Rent checks.

Government launches review to tackle discrimination in Right to Rent checks

21st April 2026

The government has set out plans to tighten Right to Rent checks as part of a new consultation. Under the proposals, it makes clear that prospective tenants must not be treated unfairly if they choose a method of completing the mandatory checks that differs from a landlord or letting agent’s preferred approach. Landlords and letting […]

Landlords’ next move will define the direction of the rental market

20th April 2026

The latest data does more than describe current sentiment, it points directly to what may happen next. According to the Property118 Landlord Sentiment Survey Q1 2026, the private rented sector is now at a point where landlord decisions will determine its future direction. Based on 2,380 completed responses, 57% of landlords plan to reduce their […]

Model homes and sold signs symbolising Crisis and Lloyds’ plan to buy affordable housing for homeless people

Crisis to buy homes in bid to become not-for-profit landlord

20th April 2026

A homeless charity has partnered with a bank to begin purchasing its own properties as it aims to become a not-for-profit landlord. Crisis plans to buy its first homes by summer 2026, with a target of acquiring at least 100 properties across London and Newcastle over the next three years. Working alongside Lloyds Banking Group, […]

Dog in Elizabethan costume holding “Consent” and “Not to Consent” signs illustrating tenant pet rights

Pets – to consent or not, that’s the question?

20th April 2026

From 1 May 2026, England’s rental market is set to undergo its most significant regulatory reform in decades. Alongside headline changes such as the abolition of Section 21 “no fault” evictions, the Renters’ Rights Act (RRA) introduces a new statutory right for tenants to request permission to keep a pet in the property. In this […]

Landlords are seeing rents rise again as tenant demand picks up amid tightening property supply tightens. Hamptons said the annual pace of rent growth on newly let homes across Great Britain doubled from 0.5% in February to 1% in March. Inner London drove much of that increase, with rents there climbing 4.1% year-on-year to March, reversing declines seen earlier in 2025. The recent rent rises follow a period where prices had been falling at the start of the year. Tenant demand is up The firm's head of research, Aneisha Beveridge, said: "While rents fell last year, early signs suggest the pace of rental growth is beginning to pick up as tenant demand rebounds and mortgage rates rise. "The falls recorded in 2025 have already been wiped out, while the 24% annual increase in tenants starting the search for a new home in March was the largest since our records began." Tenancy renewal prices have also increased with rents rising 3.1% annually in March, up from 2.2% the previous month. All regions saw demand rise Hamptons also says that tenant activity has also strengthened, and in March there was a 24% annual increase in people searching for a new home. That is the largest rise since records began, with every region posting double-digit growth in demand. At the same time, availability remains constrained. There were 1% fewer homes on the market than a year ago, while supply is down 33% compared with March 2019, limiting choice for renters across the country. Rents around Britain In the first quarter of 2026, 6% of homes were let above their advertised price, down from 56% during the same period in 2021. That dynamic may change again under new rules since March was the penultimate month landlords in England could accept offers above the listed price. The firm says that is altering how rents are set going forward rather than the level ultimately achieved. London recorded an average monthly rent of £2,305 for new lets, with inner areas reaching £2,733. In the Midlands, new agreements averaged £1,046, while in the North they stood at £955. Wales posted £879 and Scotland £1,014.

Rents rise as tenant demand rebounds

20th April 2026

Landlords are seeing rents rise again as tenant demand picks up amid tightening property supply tightens. Hamptons said the annual pace of rent growth on newly let homes across Great Britain doubled from 0.5% in February to 1% in March. Inner London drove much of that increase, with rents there climbing 4.1% year-on-year to March, […]

Falling interest rates highlight new buy-to-let mortgage deals for landlords

Buy to let mortgage rates shift across lenders

20th April 2026

Landlords looking for buy  to let mortgage deals are being offered lower rates, fresh fee structures and faster turnaround options across a wave of lender updates. Paragon Bank has launched a limited edition 60% LTV range spanning single lets, HMOs and multi-unit blocks, while several other lenders have cut pricing or introduced new deals. The […]

Model house with cash, coins and an interest-only tag illustrating rising buy-to-let borrowing costs

Borrowing landlords turn to interest-only BTL loans and cash injections

20th April 2026

Higher borrowing costs are forcing landlords to rethink how they finance portfolios, with interest-only loans and cash injections becoming more common, research reveals. The analysis from Hamptons, using Connells Group data, shows the average buy to let rate secured by a landlord has reached 4.84% in April. That’s up from 4.20% in January, with two-year […]

Rising UK house prices illustrated by increasing pound symbols and homes on stacked coins

House prices go up as buyer demand dips

20th April 2026

House prices rose by 0.8% in April to £373,971, adding £2,929 but falling short of the usual 1.2% increase normally seen for the month, Rightmove says. The platform says the slower rise reflects higher mortgage rates and increased competition among sellers, with the number of homes on the market at an eleven-year high. However, house […]

Man filing digital tax return on laptop showing Making Tax Digital updates for income over £50,000

Lettings expert offers Making Tax Digital advice for landlords

20th April 2026

Landlords and sole traders earning more than £50,000 a year must report every quarter to HMRC under Making Tax Digital rules. The changes replace a single annual submission with four updates to HMRC, covering income and expenditure across the year. These updates are not tax returns, but progress summaries filed through compatible software, one lettings […]