A few weeks ago, I warned that the private rented sector (PRS) faces a far graver threat from the government’s Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) mandates than from the much-debated Renters’ Rights Bill. Now, two heavyweight voices – UK Finance and Paragon Bank – have echoed my fears, sounding the alarm on Labour’s reckless push to […]

Several UK specialist lenders have introduced innovative products to address the evolving needs of professional landlords and property investors, offering greater flexibility and competitive pricing. Hampshire Trust Bank (HTB) has rolled out Portfolio Edge, a structured lending solution designed for brokers helping landlords with complex portfolios. This product merges a two-year fixed-rate term mortgage at […]

I had a property which burnt down in a fire 4 years ago, and was a landlady to a lovely tenant whom I took on via the local council rent guarantee scheme. The insurance has paid for the alternative accommodation for the last 4 years. However, as the property is nearing completion in July (hopefully), […]

The government should abandon the 2028 deadline for all new tenancies to meet EPC C targets, claims UK Finance. In response to a government consultation on improving minimum energy efficiency standards in the private rented sector, UK Finance argues the 2028 deadline could have severe consequences for the supply of rental properties. The government has […]

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has announced a new coalition aimed at ending London’s cladding crisis. The Joint Remediation Partnership Board, which includes members of City Hall, the government, local councils, the London Fire Brigade and regulatory bodies, will work on a plan to accelerate the removal of unsafe cladding from residential buildings over […]

There has been a robust upswing in buyer activity across England over the past year with nearly every county witnessing more potential homeowners, research reveals. The study by estate agency Benham and Reeves reveals the growth is down to improved market confidence and better mortgage accessibility. The analysis, which examined property sale listings, focused on […]

An amendment in the Scottish Housing Bill to allow rent controls for purpose-built student accommodation will have a “chilling effect” on investment, claims an industry body. Under the Scottish Housing Bill, local authorities would be required to assess local rents and recommend to MSPs whether rent controls should apply in their area. However, the Scottish […]

I have a difficult tenant who is refusing access for maintenance to the flat. I have a good relationship with him, but it’s the freeholder who wants access, and the tenant won’t let them in because he’s unhappy with their building firm. In my experience, the builders are just doing what most builders do — […]

As widely predicted, and not this time following the US Federal Reserve, the Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) voted 5-4 to reduce the Bank Base Rate by 0.25% to a total rate of 4.25%. Although it looked like a close vote, two MPC members wanted to reduce the rate by 0.5% points, and […]

The UK’s house prices edged up by 0.3% in April, reversing a 0.5% dip from March, bringing the average property value to £297,781, according to Halifax. This marks an increase of nearly £900, with the annual growth rate climbing to 3.2%, the highest this year. Northern Ireland, Wales and Scotland led the UK in annual […]

Pepper Money has revealed it is returning to the buy to let mortgage market with a versatile range. Paragon Bank has also announced it is broadening its 80% loan-to-value (LTV) offerings, introducing product switches and further advances to support property investors. Pepper Money’s re-entry brings a landlord-focused range, accommodating both limited companies and individuals managing […]

Members of the House of Lords blast loopholes in the Renters’ Rights Bill that let landlords refuse pets. While some Lords criticised the bill for not going far enough to protect renters with pets, others urged caution, saying there needs to be a fair balance between landlords and tenants, and that the law should not […]

Most buy to let mortgage brokers are predicting a reduction in the Bank of England’s base rate today (8th May), a survey reveals. According to Landbay, 61% are expecting a 0.25% drop from the current 4.5% Base Rate. The poll, which questioned 119 mortgage intermediaries, revealed that 71% anticipate a rate cut, while 11% foresee […]

Hi, I need advice on my rights and who is responsible for the following. Two weeks ago, my tenant was forced to leave my flat as the local fire brigade said the building had failed the fire safety test and could not live there any more. I had to pay to accommodate the tenant in […]

The UK’s housing sector is under increasing pressure, with buyer interest waning and rental supply shrinking, according to the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS). Its latest residential market survey for April points to economic uncertainty. Also, the recent end of a stamp duty holiday has dampened activity, while tenants face rising rents due to […]

Illegal short-term lets are on the rise in London, as the government hints at giving more powers to local authorities to clamp down on the problem. According to a report by Central London Forward, more than half of the 117,000 short-term lets listed across the capital in 2024 were booked for over 90 days in […]

Around 2.2 million potential first-time buyers have been unable to purchase a home since the 2006 financial crisis – and they face a lifetime of renting, a report reveals. According to a Building Societies Association (BSA) study, there were 7.2 million individuals or couples expected to become homeowners, but only 5 million succeeded, leaving millions […]

Hi, I had an independent check out and paid in advance £120 + VAT over six weeks ago through my agent. Firstly the report was not completed in the time advised and when I finally received the report, images were missing and details I had expected to be recorded were omitted eg, agent advised the […]

Several buy to let lenders have announced changes to their financing products and services, aiming to bolster the service they offer landlords. MT Finance has reduced rates across its BTL mortgage portfolio, unveiling a standout two-year fixed standard residential buy to let Tier 1 product at 2.99%, down from 3.19%. Its Tier 2 product now […]

A London council admits that “the majority of landlords do a good job” but still wants to introduce selective licensing to crack down on criminal landlords and help protect vulnerable tenants. Havering Council is running a selective licensing consultation that would require landlords in certain areas to obtain a licence, which could cost thousands of […]

The Labour government should slow down EPC reform to avoid a sell-off by landlords, claims Paragon Bank. The bank says the government’s EPC C targets for all private rented properties by 2030 risk rental supply, as landlords will simply sell up if they can’t complete the works on time. Paragon also urge the government to […]