The UK’s private rented sector remains competitive, with demand for rental properties outpacing supply, Rightmove says. Its research reveals that the average number of enquiries per available property is nearly double pre-pandemic levels. That’s despite a 7% rise in available properties and a 19% drop in prospective tenants compared to last year. Each available property […]

With inflation now running above the 2% target rate at 2.6%, the Bank of England Monetary Policy Committee (MPC), voted by a surprisingly large split of 6 – 3 to hold the Base Rate at 4.75%. This is counter to the Federal Reserve yesterday announcing a third reduction this year of 0.25% with a range […]

Avoid £10,000+ in stamp duty hikes on investment properties in 2025! Discover three expert strategies to navigate the upcoming changes in UK property taxes. Learn how to leverage commercial and mixed-use properties, identify uninhabitable properties, and explore property trader relief to minimise your stamp duty costs. This video breaks down:  The new 5% additional stamp […]

In an unprecedented move, Shelter Scotland has urged Scottish Ministers and the Scottish Housing Regulator to intervene and remove the leadership of Edinburgh City Council, accusing them of “stripping homeless households of their basic rights.” The row centres on a council meeting in December, where Shelter Scotland claims councillors voted six to five in favour […]

Homeless charities are warning of the “final nail in the coffin” due to the Chancellor’s national insurance hike in the Budget. Homeless Link, along with more than 100 other charities, has written to Chancellor Rachel Reeves, warning that changes to National Insurance could cost homelessness services between £50m and £60m per year. In the Budget, […]

Portfolio landlords are increasingly looking to expand their properties rather than sell, according to research from United Trust Bank Mortgages. The findings of more than 130 BTL mortgage brokers, found that 58% of respondents had more landlord clients seeking to grow their holdings than those looking to offload properties. This suggests a level of resilience […]

Letting agents will offer more services to landlords in the New Year as the Renters’ Rights Bill looks set to become law, says Goodlord. The lettings technology platform explains that agents will play a key role in helping landlords stay on top of new rules and regulations in 2025. Goodlord adds that many landlords are […]

Private rents in the UK have risen by 9.1% in the 12 months to November – that’s up from 8.7% in October but lower than March’s record figure of 9.2%. According to the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), rent rises were seen across all regions of the UK, with England seeing […]

Landlords could be forced to rent out empty properties under new powers announced by the Labour government. The English Devolution White Paper reveals councils will be given powers to take over vacant rental properties. The plans lack detail about the specific new powers but are expected to resemble Labour’s recently introduced High Street Rental Auctions […]

Propertymark has welcomed the Department for Communities’ housing supply strategy for Northern Ireland but has criticised its lack of ambition. The strategy for 2024-2039 was approved by the Northern Ireland Executive on 5 December and outlines a 15-year framework to boost new home construction. The strategy aims to deliver 100,000 new homes by 2039, focusing […]

A London council has launched a rigorous inspection programme to crack down on unlawful and unsafe Houses of Multiple Occupation (HMOs). It says the initiative aims to protect tenants and ensure landlords comply with its selective licensing regulations. Since August, more than 130 HMOs have been inspected, with plans to inspect at least 100 larger […]

Hi, we have a 3 bedroom student HMO where one of the students has been continually aggressive towards her fellow tenants. She has cut all communication with myself and I am now only able to contact her via her parents, who are aware that she has mental health issues even to the point where she […]

Landlords across the UK are continuing to sell off their least profitable properties, boosting the sales market but reducing the supply of rental homes. According to Home.co.uk’s asking price index, landlords are increasingly worried about the prospect of increased taxation and restrictive legislation. Regionally, the North continues to offer better yields compared to London and […]

The estate agency Jackson-Stops is predicting a 2-3% rise in rents across its network in the next 12 months. However, its 2025 property market prediction warns that inflationary pressures and affordability constraints will limit further increases. Also, the potential exit of smaller landlords due to the Renters’ Rights Bill could boost sales supply for first-time […]

Local authorities in England and Northern Ireland are to get powers to implement selective licensing schemes without seeking approval from the Secretary of State. The new rules take effect from 23 December with councils still needing to consult with the public for at least 10 weeks before implementing a scheme. Local mayors will play a […]

A predicted decline in BTL lending to private sector landlords may reduce the number of homes to rent in 2025, UK Finance says. The trade association for mortgage lenders has published an outlook for the buy to let market in 2025 which it describes as ‘challenging’. The main reason given is because of the extra […]

A council has been slammed by the Regulator of Social Housing (RSH) for “serious failings”. Castle Point Borough Council in Essex has issued an apology to tenants after receiving a C4 grading, making it just the second social housing landlord to be given a non-compliant ‘C4’ rating. This marks a downgrade from the C3 rating […]

The majority of homebuyers plan to continue their property search over the Christmas period to meet the upcoming Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) relief deadline, research reveals. According to Lomond which carried out a survey of current homebuyers, 93% are aiming to complete their property purchase by March 31 2025. That’s when the current SDLT […]

I live in Australia and have a residential BTL changed from a HMO about 5 years ago. The new tenant is a commercial lease with a company that houses refugees. The property is kept immaculately and I have visited it myself to see this in Dec 2023. The mortgage term expires in 2025 and it […]

The UK’s housing market has exhibited surprising resilience in 2024, despite affordability challenges, mortgage market activity as house prices demonstrated positive momentum. That’s according to Nationwide’s chief economist, Robert Gardner, who also highlights the deposit hurdle facing first-time buyers. He also points to the high rent costs, and the strain of higher mortgage rates is […]

2025 looks set to be a seismic year for the private rented sector, with the Renters’ Rights Bill expected to become law by summer, one firm says. Other policy changes include more clarity on energy-efficiency targets. While Ed Miliband has announced that all private rented sector properties must meet EPC C targets by 2030, the […]