Page 147 – Property118
Housing market trends 2025 with homes above a digital tablet

2025 set to be a bumper year for housing market

13th December 2024

National average asking prices are expected to rise by 4%, with 2025 shaping up to be a bumper year for the housing market, according to Rightmove. The property portal predicts that the number of homes for sale will hit record highs, with 1.15 million properties expected to be sold. Rightmove also anticipates a rush from […]

Mortgage rates reduced with lenders cutting buy to let deals

BTL rate cuts announced by Foundation and Paragon

13th December 2024

Foundation Home Loans and Paragon Bank have both announced reductions in their buy to let mortgage rates. The buy to let brand of the specialist lender, ‘Buy to Let by Foundation’, has lowered its rates by up to 30 basis points on a range of Fixed Rate Specials. These revised rates are available in both […]

House and gold coins balanced on a wooden seesaw representing property investment leverage

What Is Leverage in Property Investing, and Why Is It So Powerful?

12th December 2024

When it comes to property investing, one term you’ll hear often is leverage. But what does it mean, and why is it considered such a game-changer for investors? Let’s dive into the concept and explore how it can transform your investment strategy. What Is Leverage? Leverage means using borrowed money to fund an investment, with […]

Landlord in despair with Labour Party logo symbolizing regret over political choice

Landlords who voted Labour regret doing so – survey

12th December 2024

In a severe case of buyer’s remorse, Labour-voting landlords are expressing deep regret over their political choice, according to a survey. Buy to let lender Landbay found that 80% of these landlords now admit they would not vote Labour again. They point to the Chancellor Rachel Reeve’s decision to increase Stamp Duty on investment properties […]

Interest rates forecast for 2025 with impact on UK property investment

UK Interest Rates In 2025: The Warning Property Investors Need Now

12th December 2024

2025 interest rates could spell trouble for property investors. Here’s why and how to prepare. Discover the potential impact of rising interest rates on UK property investment in 2025. We analyse recent economic shifts, including Rachel Reeves’ budget and global events, that could affect the property market. Learn expert strategies to protect your investments and […]

Landlord stressed over paperwork and rising EPC upgrade costs.

Landlord confidence plummets amid legislation and soaring EPC upgrade costs

12th December 2024

Landlord confidence has dropped due to looming legislation and upcoming energy-efficiency changes. Research by Savills reveals that 73% of landlords have felt less confident in the past year, driven by concerns over the Renters’ Rights Bill and the potential abolition of Section 21. Landlords are also worried about bearing the burden of energy-efficiency upgrades to […]

Houses lifted by red balloons symbolising rising UK property prices with pound sign and upward arrow.

House prices rise as tenant demand slows – RICS

12th December 2024

House prices in the UK continue to rise, while rental demand has shown its first signs of slowing since 2020, RICS says. Its latest Residential Survey shows that despite the slight dip in tenant demand, rent prices are still expected to increase soon. This is due to the ongoing imbalance between supply and demand in […]

Banknotes flying above a house model with a first-time home buyer tag

First-time buyers pay over the odds for homes

12th December 2024

First-time buyers are shelling out nearly 8% more than the asking price for their first homes, an analysis reveals. The findings from estate agent Yopa compared average asking prices to average sold prices for first-time buyer homes. It shows that inexperienced buyers are going to significant lengths to secure their first property. While the average […]

Person huddled in blanket near Christmas tree highlighting homelessness crisis

Rising rents and evictions leave thousands homeless this Christmas claims Shelter

12th December 2024

Shelter is blaming evictions and rising rents for a surge in homelessness this Christmas. According to the housing charity, 354,000 people in England, including 161,500 children, will spend Christmas without a home — a 14% increase in just one year. Government data reveals 45% of families placed in temporary accommodation have been there for more […]

Welsh flag with rising bar chart symbolising stamp duty tax increase on landlords

Welsh government slammed over stamp duty hike for landlords

12th December 2024

Industry bodies have blasted the Welsh labour government over raising stamp duty for landlords and second homeowners in the Welsh Budget. Former First Minister and now Finance Secretary, Mark Drakeford, has announced a 1% increase in Land Transaction Tax (LTT) on additional properties, which is the Welsh equivalent of stamp duty. The NRLA warns the […]

Miniature house with face mask and rising rent arrows reflecting post-Covid rental market trends.

Rents up by £3,240 a year since Covid – Zoopla

12th December 2024

The cost of renting a home has surged since the Covid lockdowns, rising from £12,000 annually in 2021 to £15,240 this year – a 27% increase. However, rising rent has outpaced the growth in earnings, which stood at 19% over the same period. The data comes from Zoopla’s latest Quarterly Rental Market Report which highlights […]

Hands holding a cardboard house with rising homelessness statistic highlighted by a red arrow

Landlords selling up is fuelling the homelessness crisis – NRLA

11th December 2024

The number of tenants facing homelessness due to landlords selling up has soared by a third since the end of last year, the National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA) reveals. It says that between October and December 2023, 5,400 households in the private rented sector (PRS) in England were forced to seek council support after their […]

House wrapped in winter hat symbolizing rising mortgage costs and energy efficiency focus

Rent and mortgage spending reaches record highs amid energy-efficiency push

11th December 2024

Rent and mortgage spending reached a 14-month high as more homeowners focus on improving energy efficiency in their homes for winter, according to Barclays. According to Barclays Property Insight report, rent and mortgage spending grew 8.2 per cent year-on-year in November reaching a 14-month high. The report also reveals a quarter of homeowners (25%) are […]

Christmas scene with house, eviction notice, and repossession sign highlighting tenant and homeowner evictions.

Thousands of tenants face eviction before Christmas

11th December 2024

Thousands of people across England and Wales are facing the prospect of homelessness in the lead-up to Christmas, new figures reveal. Analysis from Tlyfe, a tenant app, and Benham and Reeves, the lettings and estate agency, paints a grim picture of the PRS and owner-occupier markets. Tlyfe’s data indicates that around 2,425 tenants are expected […]

Doormat with “First Time Buyer” beside moving boxes and two people’s feet

Mortgage rates hinder first-time buyers’ homeownership dreams

11th December 2024

Mortgage rates remain a big barrier to first-time buyers in the UK, research reveals. The Mortgage Advice Bureau says that two in five (42%) first-time buyers believe that mortgage rates will make it harder to purchase a property. And more than a quarter (24%) worry that rates won’t drop fast enough for them to afford […]

Rising house prices compared to income growth shown with houses on stacked coins

House prices outpace income growth to hit affordability

11th December 2024

While the UK’s house prices continue to rise, income growth has lagged, making homeownership a distant dream for many, data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) shows. Using figures for the financial year end of 2023, the issue of buyer affordability in England is particularly dire, it reveals. That’s when the average house price […]

Two professionals discussing withheld landlord documents during a property handover.

Letting agent withholding landlord’s documents?

11th December 2024

Hello, I have recently terminated the landlord agreement with a letting agent in Kent, due to poor service etc. We agreed a financial settlement to end the relationship. The letting agent agreed to release all the documents including the tenancy agreements, tenant contact details, keys etc to the new letting agent, immediately (their words). In […]

Person using laptop with overlay text highlighting rent arrears and tenant rights.

Renters fear arrears as cost-of-living bites

11th December 2024

Renters across the UK are growing increasingly concerned about their ability to pay rent with a surge in online searches related to rent arrears. Data from Zero Deposit reveals there has been an 8.6% increase in Google searches for ‘rent arrears’ over the past three months. There has also been a 3.7% uptick in searches […]

Silhouettes of landlords walking away as houses below show for sale and sold signs.

Landlord exodus grows due to Renters’ Rights Bill and EPC C targets

10th December 2024

Despite the Labour government claiming there is no evidence of a landlord exodus, the English Private Landlord Survey shows a rise in the number of landlords leaving the sector. The survey reveals that in 2024, 31% of landlords were more likely to say they planned to reduce the number of properties or sell them all, […]

Hands typing on laptop with security icons representing data protection.

Is tenant correspondence subject to data protection?

10th December 2024

Hello, My property has just been inspected by the local council after my tenant complained about some issues regarding damp. Prior to the council issuing their report I wanted to provide them evidence that supports my assertion that the problem is being caused by the tenant themselves. This would include emails and chat messages between […]