A predicted decline in BTL lending to private sector landlords may reduce the number of homes to rent in 2025, UK Finance says. The trade association for mortgage lenders has published an outlook for the buy to let market in 2025 which it describes as ‘challenging’. The main reason given is because of the extra […]

A council has been slammed by the Regulator of Social Housing (RSH) for “serious failings”. Castle Point Borough Council in Essex has issued an apology to tenants after receiving a C4 grading, making it just the second social housing landlord to be given a non-compliant ‘C4’ rating. This marks a downgrade from the C3 rating […]

The majority of homebuyers plan to continue their property search over the Christmas period to meet the upcoming Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) relief deadline, research reveals. According to Lomond which carried out a survey of current homebuyers, 93% are aiming to complete their property purchase by March 31 2025. That’s when the current SDLT […]

I live in Australia and have a residential BTL changed from a HMO about 5 years ago. The new tenant is a commercial lease with a company that houses refugees. The property is kept immaculately and I have visited it myself to see this in Dec 2023. The mortgage term expires in 2025 and it […]

The UK’s housing market has exhibited surprising resilience in 2024, despite affordability challenges, mortgage market activity as house prices demonstrated positive momentum. That’s according to Nationwide’s chief economist, Robert Gardner, who also highlights the deposit hurdle facing first-time buyers. He also points to the high rent costs, and the strain of higher mortgage rates is […]

2025 looks set to be a seismic year for the private rented sector, with the Renters’ Rights Bill expected to become law by summer, one firm says. Other policy changes include more clarity on energy-efficiency targets. While Ed Miliband has announced that all private rented sector properties must meet EPC C targets by 2030, the […]

Landlords across the UK are increasingly adopting green initiatives, but there remains room for further improvement. According to recent data from Redwood Bank, nearly a quarter of landlords benefiting from specialist business loans are already managing energy-efficient properties. Its Green Reward scheme, launched at the end of last year, has been popular among commercial property […]

The New Year will see buyers race to beat stamp duty changes and more landlords selling up, according to Propertymark’s latest Housing Market Insight report. Propertymark reveals that despite static rental prices, many landlords are struggling to break even as rising mortgage rates and costs force rent increases to cover expenses. The report reveals demand […]

A council has launched a selective licensing consultation to clamp down on poor landlords and tackle damp and mould. North East Lincolnshire council (NELC) want to introduce selective licensing in the East Marsh area. The council claims the East Marsh area is in the top 1% of most deprived wards in the country. Homes suffer […]

A national accreditation body for plumbers is warning landlords to protect tenants from lead in their drinking water. Watersafe, the national register of approved installers, says landlords should make sure plumbers only use lead-free solder or fittings that don’t need solder when working on drinking water systems. Lead solder, a metal alloy traditionally used to […]

Landlords remain resilient despite the stamp duty hike announced in the Budget. Chancellor Rachel Reeves confirmed that the stamp duty surcharge on additional homes would increase from 3% to 5% immediately. However, analysis by Hamptons claims the change has had little impact on landlord activity. In November this year, 10.7% of property sales across Great […]

The average price of properties coming onto the market has seen its usual seasonal festive drop, but Boxing Day could be a busy day for sellers. According to Rightmove’s House Price Index, new seller asking prices are expected to drop by a seasonal 1.7% (-£6,395) this month to £360,197, in line with the usual December […]

Inheritance tax thresholds could trigger a crisis in the rental market, according to new research. Analysis given to the Telegraph by accountancy firm RSM UK, reveals that if landlords sold just one property to settle the inheritance tax bill, it could wipe out one in ten rental properties currently on the rental market. The research […]

Buy to let mortgage rates have increased following the controversial Autumn Budget – a sign that the markets are not impressed with Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ plans, research reveals. An analysis by Octane Capital, comparing pre- and post-Budget November data for 75% LTV BTL mortgages, shows a 2.5% rise for full repayment mortgages, costing £951. Interest-only […]

The latest news that landlords will have to bear the brunt of paying the £33 million cost of the Renters’ Rights Bill has left many wondering whether now is the time to sell up. For one landlord, it wasn’t worth all the stress and uncertainty of running his property portfolio, and with new regulations on […]

As Shelter bemoans the rising tide of homelessness with fears that thousands could be evicted from their homes in time for Christmas, it’s time to turn the spotlight on the very organisation that has contributed significantly to this crisis. I’m sure they won’t like it, but Shelter – who don’t offer homes to anyone despite […]

Despite a recent rise in sales activity, the recovery of Scottish house prices has shown signs of slowing down, one index reveals. According to Walker Fraser Steele, October saw a 0.6% monthly decline, the sharpest drop in more than two years. This comes after several new market peaks earlier in the year, pushing average prices […]

Landlords across England have seen their rental yields climb in 2024, thanks to rising rents and relatively stable house prices. According to a new analysis by Inventory Base, the average rental yield has increased by 0.05% since January, reaching 5.2%. This growth is attributed to the rise in the average national house price from £294,799 […]

The Bank of Mum and Dad is feeling the strain of the cost-of-living crisis, with many parents forced to cut back on financial support for their children’s home purchases. A survey by Aldermore found that 59% of first-time buyers have seen their parents reduce or withdraw support. Plus, 19% expect their loved ones to contribute […]

Councils are spending thousands of pounds on temporary accommodation but a new solution could cut the cost and help tenants in arrears. According to The Telegraph, councils are willing to spend thousands on rent arrears to help keep tenants off housing waiting lists, which have soared in recent years. According to homelessness charity Crisis, in […]

Angela Rayner will overhaul planning rules to build more homes. Ms Rayner claims the current planning system is “broken” and “caves into blockers and obstructs builders”. The government has urged councils “to do their part” to help the government achieve its target of 1.5 million homes. Shake-up a broken planning system The government’s National Planning […]