While the looming threat of a capital gains tax (CGT) hike had landlords worried in the lead-up to last week’s Autumn Budget, the increase in stamp duty on second homes seems to be a lesser concern. A survey from estate and letting agents Benham and Reeves found that nearly one-fifth (19%) of landlords had paused […]

Acorn, the tenant activist organisation, is urging renters to contact their MP calling for a stronger Renters’ Rights Bill. Its new campaign declares: ‘The Renters’ Rights Bill in its current form is a great start, but if it’s going to deliver the change we really need, it must be made stronger! Email your MP to […]

Rachel Reeves, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and her husband are earning £74,000 annually from rental income, The Telegraph reveals. The revelation comes shortly after Ms Reeves introduced a Budget that significantly impacts landlords and second home buyers with increased stamp duty costs. The newspaper reveals that the Chancellor is believed to receive more than […]

The government’s progress in remediating dangerous cladding to make buildings safe is too slow, the National Audit Office (NAO) warns. It says that despite significant changes to remediation programmes, up to 60% of buildings with dangerous cladding have yet to be identified. The NAO’s report highlights the lack of a clear target date for completing […]

Despite an increase in affordable housing, only 700 social homes were built in England last year, according to the Regulator of Social Housing (RSH). According to the RSH, private registered providers added about 5,200 social rent homes in England. However, this gain was offset by a loss of around 4,500 social rent homes for local […]

Hello, I bought a new build property in Cornwall 2 years ago and its now a successful Airbnb. However, I’m thinking of using it as a Buy To Let instead. This is largely because I want to move house myself but my trusted mortgage advisor tells me that, although the outgoings on the holiday let […]

In the 2023 Autumn Statement, the government announced an end to a four-year freeze in local housing allowance rates (LHA) rates. However, on the 30th October 2024 Rachel Reeves quietly froze them again, this has raised serious concerns for low-income renters across the UK. Despite increasing rental prices, the LHA—originally designed to help people cover […]

Hello, I have a tenant who always pays on time and respects the property. One of his neighbours has been known to be a little standoffish on occasion, but my tenant has now twice responded to the neighbour by shouting back when she argues with him. Last time he told her that if she doesn’t […]

Landlords across the UK are facing mounting challenges, from skyrocketing taxes to endless regulations, making it harder and harder to stay in the rental market. It feels as if the government has declared a war on landlords, and it’s not just landlords who are feeling the heat—tenants are being dragged into this crisis too. So, […]

The wet UK weather is exacerbating a growing problem – mould and damp in rental properties and a survey has found that 43% of renters have battled these issues. The findings from Quotezone.co.uk also show that more than 65% of renters have encountered hazards in their homes – with 20% reporting unresolved complaints to their […]

Annual house price growth in the UK slowed in October to 2.4% from 3.2% in September, while monthly growth was a modest 0.1%, one index reveals. According to the latest figures from Nationwide, market activity has remained resilient in recent months with the number of mortgage approvals approaching the levels seen pre-pandemic. The lender says […]

Three silver linings were found in what was a terrible 2024 Labour budget. This was supposed to be a Budget for growth and it was: Growth in taxes Growth in borrowing And growth in public sector expenditure Please click on the video below:

Ending child poverty in Scotland can only happen by tackling the housing emergency, says Shelter Scotland. A report by Shelter Scotland and Aberlour claims Scotland’s housing emergency and child poverty are inextricably linked, as more than 10,000 children are currently trapped in temporary accommodation. The Scottish government and 12 Scottish councils have declared a housing […]

House prices in London take a dramatic dip as the property market continues to struggle. According to research by Moverly, house prices in the capital in the last year alone have fallen by a staggering -21.1% — a loss of almost £202,616. Despite the drop in house prices in London, the average UK house price […]

It’s been tense week this week as landlords waited patiently for Rachel Reeves’ Autumn Budget. As the countdown began to the Chancellor’s announcement, the biggest fear for landlords was a possible hike in Capital Gains Tax. Yet to the utter relief of the entire landlord sector, the day passed with the news that CGT was […]

In a Budget that surprised no one for being the biggest tax grab in decades, Labour really has shown what they think of landlords in the PRS. Absolutely nothing. They know nothing about us, the sector or why we need people to keep investing. It’s all about the tenants, isn’t it? Except it won’t be […]

As a property professional, you’re always on the lookout for effective ways to maximise your returns while minimising costs and taxes. Enter the SSAS pension – a game-changer in the property investment world. A Small Self-Administered Scheme (SSAS) is a company pension designed for small to medium-sized businesses. It’s an incredibly flexible tool that offers […]

The Scottish government has announced plans to cap rent increases in areas with rent controls, as part of its Housing (Scotland) Bill. The proposed amendment would limit rent rises to the Consumer Price Index (CPI) plus 1%, with a maximum increase of 6%. This cap would apply to both in-tenancy and between-tenancy rent increases. In […]

The UK’s private rented sector experienced a significant shift in October with asking rents dropping by 12.6% compared to the previous month. This decline, coupled with a narrowing of year-on-year rent rises, signals a cooling off in the previously intense market. According to the Goodlord rental index, the average rent for a property in England […]

Hi, I have a 73 year old friend who currently rents privately but her rent is becoming very expensive. I am 67, financially secure and want to help my friend. I would like to buy a flat for her or with her with me putting down the deposit and her paying the mortgage. I’m not […]

As winter approaches, landlords in the UK face the daunting task of ensuring their rental properties remain warm and comfortable. Boiler breakdowns are a common occurrence during the colder months, leading to tenant discomfort and costly repairs. But did you know landlords also face potential fines from local councils should your boiler not work? At […]