Page 16 – Property118
Housing minister speaking in parliament with “Renters Rights Act Wrong?” text highlighting landlord concerns

Why Matthew Pennycook is wrong about the Renters’ Rights Act?

6th May 2026

Contrary to what housing minister Matthew Pennycook says, all landlords have more to worry about under his Renters’ Rights Act, and here is why I think so. In times gone by, it was recognised that social renters found it difficult to cover all costs, so the government ensured they were protected and rent was paid […]

Tenants walking through an exit door symbolising landlords leaving the rental market after new housing reforms

Landlord exit risk because of Renters’ Rights Act

6th May 2026

Two in five landlords are unlikely to continue letting homes following the implementation of the Renters’ Rights Act, according to new data. Research by property consultancy firm Allsop found that 41% of landlords said they are unlikely or very unlikely to continue letting, rising to 51% among single-property landlords, following the abolition of Section 21. […]

Residential property with a large vault featuring a pound symbol, representing equity tied up in real estate

Landlords sitting on significant idle equity

5th May 2026

A theme emerging from the latest landlord data is not about borrowing, but about what is not being done with idle equity. According to the Property118 Landlord Sentiment Survey Q1 2026, a large proportion of landlords now operate with low loan-to-value ratios or no borrowing at all, indicating substantial levels of idle equity sitting within […]

Estate agents leaving sold rental property with exit sign crossed out, symbolising landlords reconsidering market exit

Claims of a landlord exodus are ‘unfounded’

5th May 2026

Fears that the Renters’ Rights Act will trigger a landlord sell-off of rented homes appear to be ‘unfounded’, research reveals. The findings from OnTheMarket point instead to a steady two-year rise in landlords listing properties for sale. Its figures track homes previously advertised for rent that were then relisted for sale within six months. Act […]

A sector moving from growth to transition – An inflection point

5th May 2026

For many years, the private rented sector has been characterised by steady expansion. Landlords entered the market, built portfolios and reinvested over time, but that pattern now appears to be changing. This marks an inflection point; more landlords are stepping back than stepping forward. The sector is not collapsing, but it is no longer expanding […]

BTL mortgages choice concept with gold “Choice” text highlighting buy-to-let mortgage options

BTL lenders widen specialist mortgage choice

5th May 2026

Landlords refinancing specialist buy to let property are being offered fresh fixed-rate options as lenders adjust ranges for HMOs, multi-unit blocks, holiday lets and expat borrowers. Foundation, the intermediary-only specialist lender, has expanded its BTL range with new Green, HMO, MUFB, holiday let and expat products, saying landlord cases are becoming more varied across both […]

UK house prices rising 3% as Nationwide reports renewed market momentum

UK house price growth rises to 3% – Nationwide

5th May 2026

Annual UK house prices rose by 3%, up from 2.2% in March, while prices increased by 0.4% month on month after seasonal adjustment, Nationwide data reveals. The lender put the average UK house price at £278,880 in April, compared with £277,186 a month earlier. Robert Gardner, Nationwide’s chief economist, said: “Despite the uncertainty caused by […]

Rental price checker dashboard displayed in a London letting agency office

New online tool targets London’s fair rent prices

5th May 2026

Letting agents in London are being offered a new tool to benchmark rent prices ahead of tighter controls under the Renters’ Rights Act, which came into force on 1 May. Launched by LonRes, its ‘Rental Checker’ is designed to help agents assess what qualifies as an open market rent under Section 13. From May, landlords […]

Sign showing declining commercial property demand with downward arrow outside modern office buildings

Commercial property demand falls as rate rises loom

5th May 2026

Commercial property demand slipped across most sectors in the first quarter, with both leasing and investment activity down year on year as geopolitical tensions intensified and mortgage rate expectations shifted. Data from Rightmove’s Commercial Insights Tracker shows office leasing demand fell 3% compared with a year earlier, and investment demand dropping 9%. Leisure saw leasing […]

Hybrid LLPs – My thoughts on HMRC’s Spotlight 63a

4th May 2026

This is my own opinion piece, reflecting my reading of the law and my own thoughts on how HMRC and the tax tribunals should approach the Hybrid LLP transactions described in HMRC Spotlight 63A. It is not advice, and other commentators will disagree with me, but that is the nature of tax. What follows is […]

Landlord viewing multiple rental properties illustrating large portfolio scale and strategic investment approach

Average landlord now owns nearly 10 properties: A sector shaped by experience

4th May 2026

At first glance, public perception often focuses on the idea of the “accidental landlord” or small-scale investor, but our data suggests something quite different. An average of nearly 10 properties indicates that many landlords have spent years, if not decades, building and managing their portfolios. These are not isolated investments, they are structured property businesses. This matters […]

Renters' Rights Act book with bold “Today” text symbolising new UK rental law changes

Renters’ Rights Act comes into force today

1st May 2026

Landlords and letting agents face a new legal landscape from today as the Renters’ Rights Act comes into force, abolishing Section 21 and replacing fixed-term tenancies with a periodic system across England. The government says 11 million private tenants will now benefit from the biggest increase in renters’ rights for more than 40 years. Landlords […]

Knight-themed Landlord Crusader logo symbolizing landlord advocacy

Happy Renters’ Rights Act Day! Here are 4 reasons why it’s a disaster

1st May 2026

Happy Renters’ Rights Act Day everyone, a law that will bring sunshine and positivity into every tenant’s life should be celebrated because no politician or media outlet has come close to discussing its real impact. Leaving aside my initial claim when the Renters’ Reform Bill first made its appearance that landlords will lose control of […]

Housing minister Matthew Pennycook speaking at podium on leasehold reform policy

Housing minister rejects calls for immediate leasehold abolition

1st May 2026

The housing minister claims the government will not “immediately abolish leasehold overnight”. In a speech at the Institute for Government think tank, Matthew Pennycook criticised those calling for outright abolition, questioning how the mortgage market would be affected. The National Leasehold Campaign has called for reform, saying “justice delayed is justice denied, and that is […]

Why landlord sentiment is becoming a leading indicator for the housing market

1st May 2026

A growing insight from the latest data is not just what landlords are doing, but what their intentions signal about the wider market. According to the Property118 Landlord Sentiment Survey Q1 2026, landlord sentiment is increasingly acting as a leading indicator for future housing trends. Based on 2,380 completed responses, the survey reveals a clear […]

Confused couple holding Renters’ Rights Act document in empty apartment with moving boxes

Most tenants unaware of how RRA affects their rights

1st May 2026

More than 78% of tenants don’t know how the Renters’ Rights Act will impact their rights. According to a survey by Housing Hand, only one in five tenants understood their rights under the act. Under the act, tenants will gain stronger protections, including the abolition of Section 21 and an end to bidding wars. Confusion […]

Pets outside rental homes highlighting new rights for tenants to request pet ownership

Renters’ Rights Act could unlock millions of homes for renters with pets

1st May 2026

One in four renters are now more likely to get a pet following the Renters’ Rights Act, according to a new survey. Research by Mars Petcare and Battersea Cats and Dogs Home reveals that almost a third of tenants (31%) say housing rules have previously stopped them from owning a pet. Under the Renters’ Rights […]

Tablet showing landlord compliance checklist with UK rental homes and To Let sign in background

The Renters’ Rights Act starts today – Five things to do before 31 May

1st May 2026

The Renters’ Rights Act starts today. The headlines have been bracing, and the comments threads on this site have made the mood clear: landlords feel cornered, fatigued, and unsure whether the business case for letting still works. Some of that frustration is earned. But for most self-managing landlords, the real operational work of 1 May […]

Estate agency window with property listings and upward arrow reflecting rising homes for sale in England

England’s property listings rise 6.3%

1st May 2026

An estimated 471,619 properties were listed for sale across England in March, based on residential listings data, new figures reveal. The data from Yopa show that the total is 3.3% higher than March last year and sits 6.3% above levels recorded at the start of the year. Across 48 counties, the increase since January has […]

Bank of England building with UK flag and 3.75% interest rate cut graphic

Bank of England keeps interest rates at 3.75%

30th April 2026

The Bank of England has held interest rates at 3.75%, with uncertainty persisting due to the conflict in the Middle East. The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) opted for a cautious approach, voting 8–1 to keep rates unchanged. One member voted to increase the Bank Rate by 0.25 percentage points, to 4%. Forceful tightening in monetary […]