Landlords in the UK have seen rent arrears soar with the average claim reaching £2,064 in the third quarter – a 22% year-on-year increase. According to data from deposit alternative provider Reposit, this figure significantly eclipses the traditional five-week cash deposit, which averages £1,347. That leaves landlords vulnerable to a shortfall of around £700 in […]

Hello, Mrs Thatcher allowed the introduction of the AST (Assured Shorthold Tenancy) and also supported home ownership. These changes were all voluntary and people adopted them because they made sense. Home ownership grew from 55% of the population in 1980 to 64% in 1987. By the time Margaret Thatcher left office in 1990 it was […]

The Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, says he “does not want landlords to leave the market”. Mr Burnham claims the Good Landlord Charter will help push out rogue landlords and provide recognition for good landlords whose work often goes unnoticed. The Good Landlord Charter aims to improve rental homes across Greater Manchester by ensuring […]

A London council is looking at a significant expansion of its selective licensing scheme which will cost landlords £923. After being launched in four wards, the scheme will now cover most of the borough, impacting an estimated third of Lambeth’s dwellings in the private rented sector (PRS). The scheme requires landlords renting to single-family households […]

The Rise of Corporate Landlords: Are We Heading Toward a Rent Monopoly? There’s a new player in the UK’s private rented sector—one that’s threatening to fundamentally reshape the way tenants experience renting. As small landlords leave the market, driven out by crippling taxes and increasing regulations, corporate landlords are stepping in to fill the gap. […]

Rent price growth is set to slow down but will still outpace inflation, Hamptons reveals. The estate agency is predicting that rents will rise by 4.5% in the final quarter of 2024 – and by the same amount next year. It also says that rents will grow by 4% in both 2026 and 2027 to […]

Hi, I own the leasehold for an upstairs flat, which I rent out to tenants. The issue I have is when the tenants cause damage downstairs due to an act of negligence, such as kids spilling water out of the bath or having a shower without the shower curtain closed. This leads to damage in […]

Spending on rent and mortgages has hit its highest levels this year, according to Barclays Property Insights report. The report reveals rent and mortgage spending grew by 6.4% in October, the highest rate of growth recorded since September 2023. Despite these rising costs, many people feel more confident about the housing market and their ability […]

Hello, There is now a growing trend of professional landlords who have become disenchanted with the NRLA. Their stance on the abolition of Section 21 defies belief and no landlord would have agreed to this. Where do they get their mandate from? Who elects the Board members? This industry has never been in such a […]

Hi all, I’m getting close to the end of the 18-month fixed-term tenancy, which has felt like a nightmare from the start, and it’s now just a few months away. The agent is due to conduct the final inspection in January, and while I was planning to step back from being involved due to the […]

An industry body has welcomed the Welsh government’s proposal to reform the “unfair” way HMOs (Houses in Multiple in Occupation) are charged for council tax. Propertymark has praised the Welsh government’s proposal to only charge HMO’s council tax as a single property rather than per occupant which they say will help make the system less […]

It seems it’s one step forward, two steps back for landlords with the recent Budget introducing significant changes to Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) that will impact property transactions from April 2025. The changes have caused panic amongst landlords, with a spike in numbers looking to sell before Christmas. Currently, the SDLT threshold is £250,000 […]

Landlords in the UK know they aren’t popular with politicians, councils, tenant activist organisations and lots of tenants – but do we really deserve the vile online landlord harassment that takes place? I ask because this week sees another activist urging followers to channel their frustration ‘into hating your landlord more’. I wasn’t going to […]

The Prime Minister is raking in thousands as a landlord, despite avoiding commenting on whether landlords are considered ‘working people.’ According to reports in the Telegraph and the Daily Mail, new ministerial declarations reveal Sir Keir Starmer is the ‘owner of [a] let family home’ in London. The Prime Minister is not the only landlord […]

Donald Trump has won the US election. What impact will his policies have on the UK property market? In this engaging discussion with Ranjan Bhattacharya and John Howard:  Explore how Trump’s policies could influence the UK property market and interest rates. Gain valuable investment strategies tailored for property investors like you. Understand the broader economic […]

Specialist lender Together has introduced a new level of flexibility to its commercial finance products. Customers can now choose from a range of lender arrangement fees across its buy to let mortgages and commercial term loans. By adjusting arrangement fees, borrowers can opt for a lower interest rate. The lender says that an unregulated BTL […]

Landlords are facing the prospect of picking up the bill for Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ recent Budget, says Nick Lyons. The chief executive of property inventory firm NoLettingGo says the increased tax burden on businesses, including letting agents, will inevitably lead to higher costs being passed on to tenants. He says: “The additional cost to employers […]

Auctioneers believe that last week’s Budget move to increase the higher rate for Additional Dwellings from 3% to 5% will discourage investment in the private rented sector (PRS). NAVA Propertymark, Propertymark’s auctioneering arm, says the increase will reduce supply and potentially lead to higher rents for tenants. The organisation is calling for a review of […]

The Renters’ Rights Bill will push landlords out of the sector and into short-term holiday lets, warn MPs. During a Renters’ Rights Bill Committee meeting, some MPs expressed concerns about the bill’s potential impact on the private rented sector. However, Matthew Pennycook, the Housing Minister, claimed, “there is no evidence of a landlord exodus.” The […]

With the recent budget announcement from the Labour government, many property investors are taking a step back to reassess their strategies. The new stamp duty hike from 3% to 5% on second homes and investment properties, represents a substantial 66% increase. This change has left some investors cautious, but where others see hurdles, savvy investors […]

One week after the Budget, landlords and second homeowners are selling up, bracing for higher taxes and council tax premiums. According to Zoopla, a third of homes for sale on the property website are currently chain-free. A chain-free home is one where the sale is not dependent on the buyer or seller needing to complete […]