More buy to let mortgage providers have announced reductions in their buy to let rates. Kent Reliance for Intermediaries (KRFI), part of the OSB Group, has revealed lower rates across its range, including limited edition and standard products. Two-year fixed deals now begin at 3.69%, while five-year fixed options start at 4.39%. The reductions extend […]

A Welsh council has launched a programme to lease properties from PRS landlords so they can offer affordable homes to local people. Newport City Council says that landlords are leaving the sector ‘for different reasons’ and wants them to remain. To do that, it is offering landlords a range of initiatives through the Leasing Scheme […]

I have been renting a flat to a tenant who has occupied my property for 11 years. Over this period, I have only increased the rent twice, and each time I have done so, the tenant has responded with a series of disrepair complaints. The latest rent increase took effect in June 2024. In July […]

Despite the UK Climate Change Committee saying half of homes will need a heat pump by 2040 to meet net zero targets, an industry expert warns heat pumps are still “too expensive and not viable for many households.” According to epIMS, an energy-efficiency platform for landlords, 17.1 million heat pumps need to be installed in […]

In answer to a written question, Labour’s Treasury Minister Emma Reynolds has highlighted the pressures driving up rents – a lack of housing. Addressing a query from Bell Ribeiro-Addy who asked if the Chancellor of the Exchequer had assessed the potential impact on economic growth of rising rents. Ms Reynolds stated: “Rental prices are ultimately determined […]

Paragon Bank has launched an innovative buy to let mortgage application system, offering brokers a quicker, smarter and more adaptable service. It says the bespoke digital tool, which is now accessible to all intermediaries partnering with the lender, promises a top-tier experience through its clever design and seamless functionality. The nationwide rollout follows a trial […]

The Welsh government has rolled out its Final Budget and confirmation of the 1% rise in residential Land Transaction Tax (LTT) rates for additional property purchases. That rise took place in November and Propertymark has voiced its disappointment with the confirmation saying the tax rise could shrink the pool of homes in the private rented […]

Landlords are showing resilience in the face of recent stamp duty increases on additional investment homes, according to Landbay. Its research shows that despite the rise which was introduced in the last Budget, 27% of landlords expressed their intent to snap up more properties over the next year. The study highlights an even divide among […]

First-time buyers face tough market conditions as mortgage payments surge, according to new data. Research by Rightmove reveals first-time buyers are paying £350 more each month compared to five years ago. The average monthly mortgage payment on a typical first-time buyer property, a two-bedroom or fewer home, is now £940 compared to £590 in 2020, […]

Property values across Scotland have surged dramatically, climbing more than a quarter since 2020, research reveals. DJ Alexander Ltd, the nation’s largest lettings firm, reveals that there was a leap in average house prices from £147,731 in January 2020 to £188,807 in December 2024. That’s a rise of £41,076 or 27.8%. While that’s an average, […]

There has been an increase in smaller letting agencies looking to offload their businesses ahead of the upcoming Renters’ Rights Bill, one firm says. According to Spicerhaart, a leading national estate agency group, it says it has seen a flood of enquiries from smaller firms eager to sell amidst growing uncertainty. The upcoming legislation – […]

The Mortgage Lender (TML) and Fleet Mortgages have unveiled fresh buy to let offerings for landlords, including first-time landlord investor deals. TML has rolled out improved buy to let products with an 80% loan-to-value (LTV) option, alongside updates to its First-Time Landlord (FTL) guidelines and lower rates across various BTL deals. Meanwhile, Fleet Mortgages has […]

A surge in landlords offloading their properties has sparked alarm as data shows that the share of former rental homes hitting the market leaping nearly 50% compared to last year. According to ThisisMoney.co.uk, the sell-off is being driven by stricter regulations, soaring mortgage costs and rising taxes. The upcoming Renters’ Rights Bill is also predicted […]

North Herts Council has launched a Tenants’ Charter, designed as a resource for tenants and landlords, detailing their responsibilities and offering help with disputes. The charter aims to guarantee that all rented properties remain safe, liveable and up to standard. Under the charter, landlords must address tenant grievances within a fortnight — or faster in […]

Two industry bodies are calling for mandatory gas safety checks in rented properties to be upgraded. The Heating and Hotwater Industry Council (HHIC) and the Energy and Utilities Alliance (EUA) say gas safety checks should include a full service of appliances and check on the efficiency of heating systems. Currently, the annual gas safety checks […]

Rents in England climbed in February, with the Goodlord Rental Index reporting a noticeable upswing in tenant interest as void lengths shrank across all tracked areas. The firm suggests this could signal a bustling spring season ahead for the private rented sector (PRS). The index, which examines tens of thousands of fresh tenancy agreements each […]

It’s a tough decision to make: should you hold on to your properties, hoping to recover your portfolio back to the golden era of profits? Or is the market well and truly dead? If you’re a landlord who’s been thinking about this over the last year, you’re going to want to keep reading. Many changes […]

The Labour government claim they do not support rent controls, but say the Renters’ Rights Bill will not cause landlords to leave. Baroness Taylor of Stevenage, Lords Minister for Housing and Local Government, made these comments during a debate in the House of Lords on the private rented sector and affordable rents. An impact assessment […]

The Energy Minister Miatta Fahnbulleh has been pressed for greater transparency and extended timelines to meet the government’s ambitious energy efficiency targets for the PRS. The call was made by the National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA) in the first of four planned discussions. The meetings are bringing together industry voices to scrutinise proposals demanding rented […]

Northern Ireland’s councils have taken control of the Landlord Registration Scheme which should boost housing oversight, the communities minister says. Launched in February 2014, the initiative established a central database capturing details of private landlords, ensuring access to current and precise property data. The communities minister, Gordon Lyons, said: “When I launched the Executive Housing […]

The pace of the UK’s rent rises is at the slowest in three and a half years – while demand continues to increase, Zoopla reports. Its figures reveal that average rents for newly let properties have risen by a modest 3% in the past 12 months. That’s a big drop from the 7.4% surge recorded […]