The Housing Ombudsman is urging the social housing sector to prepare for Awaab’s law after one housing association left a house unhabitable due to dead rats. Awaab’s law will force social housing landlords to act within strict time limits to deal with hazards such as damp and mould. The law is named after Awaab, a […]

House prices in the UK continue to rise, while rental demand has shown its first signs of slowing since 2020, RICS says. Its latest Residential Survey shows that despite the slight dip in tenant demand, rent prices are still expected to increase soon. This is due to the ongoing imbalance between supply and demand in […]

First-time buyers are shelling out nearly 8% more than the asking price for their first homes, an analysis reveals. The findings from estate agent Yopa compared average asking prices to average sold prices for first-time buyer homes. It shows that inexperienced buyers are going to significant lengths to secure their first property. While the average […]

Shelter is blaming evictions and rising rents for a surge in homelessness this Christmas. According to the housing charity, 354,000 people in England, including 161,500 children, will spend Christmas without a home — a 14% increase in just one year. Government data reveals 45% of families placed in temporary accommodation have been there for more […]

Industry bodies have blasted the Welsh labour government over raising stamp duty for landlords and second homeowners in the Welsh Budget. Former First Minister and now Finance Secretary, Mark Drakeford, has announced a 1% increase in Land Transaction Tax (LTT) on additional properties, which is the Welsh equivalent of stamp duty. The NRLA warns the […]

The cost of renting a home has surged since the Covid lockdowns, rising from £12,000 annually in 2021 to £15,240 this year – a 27% increase. However, rising rent has outpaced the growth in earnings, which stood at 19% over the same period. The data comes from Zoopla’s latest Quarterly Rental Market Report which highlights […]

The number of tenants facing homelessness due to landlords selling up has soared by a third since the end of last year, the National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA) reveals. It says that between October and December 2023, 5,400 households in the private rented sector (PRS) in England were forced to seek council support after their […]

Rent and mortgage spending reached a 14-month high as more homeowners focus on improving energy efficiency in their homes for winter, according to Barclays. According to Barclays Property Insight report, rent and mortgage spending grew 8.2 per cent year-on-year in November reaching a 14-month high. The report also reveals a quarter of homeowners (25%) are […]

Thousands of people across England and Wales are facing the prospect of homelessness in the lead-up to Christmas, new figures reveal. Analysis from Tlyfe, a tenant app, and Benham and Reeves, the lettings and estate agency, paints a grim picture of the PRS and owner-occupier markets. Tlyfe’s data indicates that around 2,425 tenants are expected […]

Mortgage rates remain a big barrier to first-time buyers in the UK, research reveals. The Mortgage Advice Bureau says that two in five (42%) first-time buyers believe that mortgage rates will make it harder to purchase a property. And more than a quarter (24%) worry that rates won’t drop fast enough for them to afford […]

While the UK’s house prices continue to rise, income growth has lagged, making homeownership a distant dream for many, data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) shows. Using figures for the financial year end of 2023, the issue of buyer affordability in England is particularly dire, it reveals. That’s when the average house price […]

Hello, I have recently terminated the landlord agreement with a letting agent in Kent, due to poor service etc. We agreed a financial settlement to end the relationship. The letting agent agreed to release all the documents including the tenancy agreements, tenant contact details, keys etc to the new letting agent, immediately (their words). In […]

Renters across the UK are growing increasingly concerned about their ability to pay rent with a surge in online searches related to rent arrears. Data from Zero Deposit reveals there has been an 8.6% increase in Google searches for ‘rent arrears’ over the past three months. There has also been a 3.7% uptick in searches […]

Despite the Labour government claiming there is no evidence of a landlord exodus, the English Private Landlord Survey shows a rise in the number of landlords leaving the sector. The survey reveals that in 2024, 31% of landlords were more likely to say they planned to reduce the number of properties or sell them all, […]

Hello, My property has just been inspected by the local council after my tenant complained about some issues regarding damp. Prior to the council issuing their report I wanted to provide them evidence that supports my assertion that the problem is being caused by the tenant themselves. This would include emails and chat messages between […]

Precise and Fleet Mortgages have both announced significant interest rate reductions on their buy to let products. Precise, part of the OSB Group, has introduced a sub-4% BTL product, catering to both first-time buyers and landlords. Key features of the new BTL products include: Tiers 1-3: Rates starting from 3.99% with a 5% fee HMO […]

2025 is shaping up to be a golden opportunity for commercial property profits. Discover why market conditions, government policies, and shifting retail landscapes are creating the perfect storm for savvy investors. Expert property investor John Howard shares invaluable insights on why commercial property could outperform residential investments in 2025. Learn about the key advantages, including […]

Buyer demand continues to rise across UK cities, as stamp duty thresholds are set to end next year. According to estate agent comparison website, GetAgent, 45% of homes currently listed across Britain have either had an offer accepted or are under offer subject to contract. This marks a 5% increase compared to the start of […]

The imbalance of supply and demand is returning to normal after five years of soaring levels. According to SpareRoom, supply and demand levels are now beginning to fall back to pre-pandemic levels. The flat-share website suggests this drop could signal a positive start for the property market next year. People moving post-pandemic The data from […]

I own a property in Dorset which has now been on the market for 5 years since my tenants had to move out due to bad mould and damp caused by a leak in the roof that was giving them health problems. As I am not able to re-let the property, as it is F […]

Tenants on the brink of retirement are the fastest-growing group of private renters in England, research reveals. According to an analysis by Paragon Bank, the number of households headed by individuals aged 55 to 64 rocketed by 66% between 2014 and 2024, reaching 492,000. Those aged 65 and over followed closely, with a 33% increase […]