Chancellor Rachel Reeves’s under pressure (definitely not an emergency budget) Spring Statement alleviated concerns among private landlords by avoiding an increase in Stamp Duty rates for second-home purchases. Despite pre-statement criticism labelling it an ‘Emergency Budget’, the address largely echoed prior announcements, offering little in the way of surprises. Reeves opened her speech with confidence, […]

Although I’ve been a landlord for over twenty years, I only recently came across luften, the German way of dealing with mould. Briefly, the householder opens all the doors and windows in the morning. They are left open for five minutes in the winter, ten minutes in spring and autumn, and fifteen minutes in summer. […]

The Scottish government could impose fines on landlords for failing to have a valid EPC. A technical consultation is underway on proposed changes to lodgement fees and penalty charges as part of its ongoing reform of the EPC system in Scotland. However, Propertymark warns that increased fees and penalties could harm remote areas in Scotland, […]

A council is encouraging landlords to participate in a final digital session concerning its selective licensing consultation. The new scheme will cover East Marsh in Lincolnshire and the event is on Tuesday, 1 April between 5:30pm and 7:00pm. The event is not only for landlords but also tenants, local enterprises and others who will be […]

Despite London Mayor Sadiq Khan praising ULEZ, new research suggests it is damaging property prices in London. According to estate agents Benham and Reeves, houses in ULEZ boroughs have been hardest hit. London Mayor Sadiq Khan introduced the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) to improve air quality in London. It was first introduced to cover […]

UK house price growth is cooling, dropping to 1.8% in February from 1.9% in January after a year of steady recovery, Zoopla reveals. Its latest house price index found that the average home is now worth £267,500 — up £4,750 from last year. There was also an 11% rise in homes listed for sale compared […]

There are fears that Chancellor Rachel Reeves might unveil an additional increase to the stamp duty surcharge for second home purchases during her Spring Statement tomorrow (26 March). Property specialists, including television icon Phil Spencer, are bracing for what could be another blow to the buy to let sector. During last year’s Autumn Budget, Ms […]

A new report on the Scottish private rented sector urges the Scottish government to support smaller private landlords to avoid them selling up. The report by the UK Collaborative Centre for Housing Evidence (CaCHE) reveals the Scottish private rented sector is dominated by “small-scale, part-time investor landlords”. A survey by the Scottish Association of Landlords […]

Despite the media coverage and calls from tenant activist groups, research reveals that 43% of tenants admit to being ‘slightly aware’ or completely in the dark about the Renters’ Rights Bill. And 5% of renters say they haven’t heard of it. The findings from Pegasus Insight reveal that just 32% of renters are ‘fully aware’ […]

The Renters’ Rights Bill will return to the House of Lords on 22 April. After the Easter recess, peers will scrutinise the Bill and then debate and finalise adjustments to the legislation over several days. While sessions are confirmed for 22 and 24 April, additional dates will probably emerge nearer the time. Landlords can reclaim […]

Eight years after the tragic Grenfell Tower blaze, the cladding crisis nightmare continues, leaving countless residents in limbo, a Parliamentary committee reports. A scathing report from the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has slammed the Government for failing to grasp the full scope of hazardous buildings, the staggering costs involved, or a realistic timeline for resolution. […]

Landlords could face an eye-watering £28k to upgrade their properties to meet EPC C targets with student landlords being hardest hit. Analysis by The Telegraph using public EPC and census data revals that university towns and cities have the highest concentration of inefficient homes, where many properties have an EPC score of D or lower. […]

Two landlords have recently brought to our attention a blog published by MF Brokers, written by Sean Hughes of Comprehensive Tax Planning. The article provides a surface-level overview of Incorporation Relief but omits crucial technical guidance found in professional tax literature and HMRC’s own manuals. Given the wide readership of this broker’s content—and the growing […]

Hello, I hope someone may be able to help. I seem to have tenants from hell. I have only one property which was my dad’s before he died. Now I own it with the bank. It’s a lovely little cottage with a south facing garden. I completely did it up and redecorated it to make […]

The biggest problem facing landlords is that the PRS is like a pendulum, swinging slowly from one policy extreme to the other, and there is nobody left in parliament or the civil service who remembers what the PRS was like before 1988. I do. My family has been involved with private lettings one way and […]

Three leading buy to let lenders have unveiled mortgage products or improved systems tailored to the evolving needs of landlords. Fleet Mortgages, YBS Commercial Mortgages and MT Finance are rolling out distinct offerings, each designed to enhance flexibility, speed and borrowing capacity for landlords. Fleet has revealed a selection of five-year fixed-rate mortgages capped at […]

The UK’s housing costs surged to an unprecedented £217 billion in 2024, marking a £19.8 billion rise from the previous year, a 10% jump. According to property firm Savills, this figure eclipses the previous high of 2016 by £8.6 billion, even when adjusted for inflation. That’s placing a huge financial strain on Brits, it warns. […]

One of Britain’s largest trade unions is demanding that its members receive priority for social housing, despite earning £70,000 a year, The Telegraph reveals. In a list of demands, the Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers Union (RMT) argues that tube drivers are key workers and should be given priority for council housing in London. The […]

Four more local councils have unveiled plans to regulate Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) in their areas. From Enfield to North Lincolnshire, councils are introducing licensing schemes, planning restrictions and public consultations. Enfield Council has greenlit a fresh HMO licensing scheme which is set to launch on 1 September and will run for five years. […]

Hi, I own a shared flat occupied by 3 people (twins plus friend) in Inner London that has now become an HMO. I applied for a licence, which has been granted. The local authority says the fire blanket I provided with Standard BS EN 1869.2019 should be replaced with one BS 6575 (latest edition). This […]

A study from estate agency Yopa has found that while British home prices have surged by 51.8% since 2014, this growth shrinks to just 12.1% when accounting for inflation. Its Housing Market Affordability Review looks at 10 years of shifts in homeownership costs and their effects on buyers’ purchasing power amid rising earnings and moving […]