House prices in the UK continued their upward trajectory in September, rising by 0.3% compared to the previous month, Halifax reports. This marks the third consecutive month of increases, bringing the annual growth rate to 4.7%, the highest level since November 2022. Despite the recent gains, the overall trend in house price growth remains relatively […]

A London council is urging residents, landlords and tenants to have their say on proposed new licensing schemes for private rented properties in its borough. The consultation, which closes on Monday 14 October, aims to gather feedback on additional houses in multiple occupation (HMO) licensing and selective licensing schemes designed to improve housing standards. Currently, […]

Labour’s anti-landlord stance will hurt tenants, claims an industry boss. Purplebricks’ chief executive, Sam Mitchell, told The Telegraph that Labour’s proposed tax hike rumours have fuelled anxiety in the property market. Chancellor Rachel Reeves has refused to rule out an increase in capital gains tax (CGT) in the October budget. CGT rates could be brought […]

A council will use new powers to curb the spread of Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) in designated areas. Rugby Borough Council has announced the introduction of these powers, known as Article 4 Directions, under the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015. The direction is set to come into force in […]

Hi, I am interested in buying a flat to rent out but the management company of the block has gone into liquidation. The estate agent has sold one of the two flats which were already on the market but has suggested that the buyer “took a chance” doing this. I’m struggling to find out what […]

The scale of the challenge to improve the energy efficiency of private rented sector (PRS) homes is laid bare as landlords face a £23.4 billion bill, Rightmove reveals. It estimates that 2.9 million landlord properties need to be upgraded to reach an EPC C rating by 2030. The research follows last week’s revelation by Zero […]

Property118 has long been a champion for landlords, offering innovative and essential solutions to help property investors restructure their businesses into companies, without being hit by large, unnecessary costs. One of the biggest hurdles in this process is the significant financing costs associated with restructuring. At Property118, we developed legal strategies that allow landlords to […]

We’re two months away from December. New legislations, tax, and changes for tenants are around the corner, and understandably the race to sell before the end of the year is well and truly on. Last week a whopping 71 landlords contacted us looking to sell. Their biggest worry? They didn’t want to just get rid […]

Some critics, landlords and commentators say there isn’t a landlord exodus, but landlords are leaving – there is no doubt. So, while the term exodus makes people feel squeamish it’s like the look-out on the Titanic calling that massive iceberg ‘a chunk of ice’. We can play with words all we want but the truth […]

Charities slam new figures from the government which claim Section 21 is one of the leading causes of homelessness. New figures from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government reveal that the end of a private tenancy remains a leading cause of homelessness, with 79,500 people seeking council help after their assured short-hold tenancy […]

The Renters’ Reform Coalition is calling for the government to introduce compensation for tenants who are evicted under the new Renters’ Rights Bill. In a report, the coalition argues that the legislation falls short in protecting tenants from the financial hardship from Section 21 ‘no-fault’ evictions. The coalition proposes that evicted tenants be given ‘an […]

Landlords are increasingly exiting the private rented sector (PRS), and tenants are facing rising rents, a new report reveals. The 7th annual Goodlord & Vouch State of the Lettings Industry Report paints a grim picture of the UK’s rental market. Around 1,500 respondents took part, and it was found that many landlords are selling their […]

Most landlords (75%) are expressing huge concerns about the government’s plans to abolish Section 21 ‘no-fault’ evictions as part of the Renters’ Rights Bill. A survey conducted by buy to let lender Landbay revealed that landlords’ primary concern is a loss of control over their properties and their ability to remove problem tenants. They argue […]

Rental yields across England and Wales have continued to increase, according to the latest Fleet Mortgages’ rental barometer. However, the pace of growth has slowed, suggesting that the rent rises seen in recent years may be coming to an end. The overall average rental yield for England and Wales now stands at 7.2%, up from […]

Hi, my partner’s tenant is currently paying mates rates [£500 below market] on a personal AST. The tenant is a friend and is 12 months into her second 12 months AST. She is paying some £500 below the local market rent as a favour. Recently, her accountant advised her to start paying the rent through […]

Parliament will debate the Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase 2 Report today, which found the 72 deaths in the Grenfell fire were avoidable due to widespread failings. MPs will push the government on plans to act on the report’s recommendations. Prime Minister Keir Starmer has pledged to “speed up fixing unsafe cladding,” and will set targets […]

The UK property market is witnessing a surge in landlord and second-homeowner properties for sale as they race to offload their homes ahead of anticipated tax changes, Zoopla reveals. Its latest house price index highlights the looming threat of higher taxes that might be announced in this month’s Budget. The prospect has prompted a wave […]

Polly Neate has announced her decision to step down as chief executive of housing charity Shelter after more than seven years in the role. Ms Neate will leave the position at the end of March 2025, with the recruitment process for her successor already underway. During her time at Shelter, Ms Neate has been a […]

Hi, I have a few rentals coming up for annual rent reviews between Nov 2024 – Feb 2025. In light of the Renters’ Rights Bill (RRB) the implications at this stage seems to be heading towards the landlord having to register with the Ombudsman and also applications to the national landlord database. I presume this […]

I want to be environmentally conscious (who doesn’t?) and improve the legacy of both property and planet. I also want to be a good landlord (who doesn’t?) and enhance my tenants’ living conditions and cash flow. But when the EPCRR (Recommendation Report) suggests that I should be spending £4,000 to £14,000 on “internal or external […]

One leading landlord organisation is warning that older properties without EPC exemptions could see half of the private rented sector’s homes disappearing from the market. In an exclusive interview with Property118, the chief executive of iHowz, Peter Littlewood says “EPCs are a blunt instrument” when it comes to rating energy efficiency and makes it almost […]