Labour’s plans to compel private sector landlords to meet strict energy performance certificate (EPC) targets have left Sir Keir Starmer facing a potential renovation bill of up to £28,000 for his own rental property. Since moving into 10 Downing Street, the Prime Minister has been renting out his £2 million four-bedroom North London townhouse. However, […]

Sadiq Khan has been handed a knighthood in the New Year Honours, igniting a storm of criticism over what some are calling a ‘reward for failure’. The Mayor of London, formerly a Labour MP, received the accolade in the first round of honours since Keir Starmer became Prime Minister. But an online petition against the […]

Nearly two-thirds of workers living in private rented housing struggle to pay their rent, a poll by Shelter reveals. Only 32% of workers said they could keep up with rent payments without difficulty, with 40% sometimes struggling and 23% constantly struggling. Also, 3% say they are falling behind on payments. Invest billions in social housing […]

The private rented sector (PRS) remains ‘broken’ according to the debt charity StepChange, despite recent signs of a cooling market. While recent Rightmove figures point to a slowing in rent growth, the charity warns that many tenants are still struggling to keep up with rising costs and facing severe financial difficulties. The charity is calling […]

House prices in England and Wales saw a modest increase in November, rising 0.2% to an average of £358,800, e.surv reveals. This marks the second consecutive month of price growth, signalling a potential shift in the housing market. Despite the recent uptick, prices remain 1.5% lower than in November 2023. House prices are still more […]

Ed Miliband’s prohibitions on landlords renting out properties with an EPC rating of C by 2030 cannot succeed because: Too many older rental properties cannot be brought up to that standard for under £50,000 making it unaffordable for many landlords There are insufficient heat pump engineers to do the work between now and then. The […]

I have a question on the property valuation listed on a deed, that I am hoping someone can shed some light on. I was given a property in August by a friend. Not in a great state, needs a full refurb rewire etc. The transfer was for nil consideration (no money changed hands) and paperwork […]

The Intermediary Mortgage Lenders Association (IMLA) is forecasting a 14% surge in buy to let lending in 2025, reaching £38 billion, followed by an 11% increase to £42 billion in 2026. This growth is attributed to improved affordability for landlords as interest rates decline while rents continue to climb due to the continuing imbalance between […]

Councils in England are neglecting to enforce energy performance certificate (EPC) regulations in the private rented sector (PRS) which is undermining government efforts to improve energy efficiency, research reveals. Tech provider Reapit sent Freedom of Information (FoI) requests to several major councils, including Liverpool, Manchester, Brighton, Birmingham, Leeds and Bristol, asking for data on the […]

House prices in Stoke-on-Trent rocketed by 17.2% in the year to September, according to the latest Halifax data, solidifying its position as the UK’s leading area for house price growth. Slough followed closely with a 14.9% increase, and Oldham saw a 14.6% rise in home costs. The Halifax research previously revealed that more than 73% […]

When it comes to property investing, one of the most common questions is: why do so many investors choose interest-only mortgages over repayment mortgages? The answer lies in the flexibility and financial benefits that interest-only mortgages provide, especially when it comes to building a portfolio. What Is an Interest-Only Mortgage? An interest-only mortgage allows you […]

The consultation (Reforms to the Energy Performance of Buildings regime) is scheduled to last for 12 weeks from 4 December 2024 to 26 February 2025. Best get replying everyone to tell then what we REALLY think! Click Here You may respond by completing an online survey on Citizen Space “This consultation seeks views on the […]

The Renters’ Rights Bill will return to the House of Commons on January 14, 2025. The government has confirmed that the Bill will be brought back after the parliamentary recess for the report stage and third reading. The Bill will abolish Section 21 no-fault evictions and apply Awaab’s law to the private rented sector. Bill […]

Tenants and landlords want longer tenancies despite the Labour government planning to abolish fixed-term tenancies. According to a survey Leaders Romans Group, both landlords and tenants are seeking security in an unpredictable private rented sector, with some landlords even willing to reduce rents to retain long-term tenants. The Renters’ Rights Bill proposes abolishing fixed-term tenancies […]

“Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, the chancellor and business secretary have written to the UK’s main regulators asking them to come up with ideas for reform that could boost economic growth.” The regulators that received the letters included the Financial Conduct Authority, Ofgem, Ofwat and the Competition and Markets Authority. Why doesn’t he ask Landlords? […]

As a landlord, you may be thinking about adding extra cover for your landlord insurance. Standard landlord insurance covers risks against your property usually including building insurance which covers the basic structure of your property, including pipes, windows, cables and doors. However, if you want to add optional extras such as contents insurance, accidental damage […]

The property market in 2024 saw huge uncertainty due to the general election and the Budget but stamp duty changes and potential interest rate cuts could provide some relief next year. Leaders Roman Group say the first half of 2025 will be busy as buyers rush to complete before stamp duty changes. The estate and […]

Property Answers end of year round-up and what is next for 2025? John Howard and I provide Property Answers to your Property Questions. Click on the video below: You can also join us at the next Baker Street Property Meet Tues 30th April: Network with 300+ property investors at the UK’s No 1 Property Networking Event Book your […]

More corporate landlords will enter the private rented sector in 2025, as they are less impacted by new rules and regulations, while buy to let landlords will leave the sector, claims Leaders Romans Group. According to the lettings and sales agency, the Renters’ Rights Bill will have a huge impact on the private rented sector […]

The Scottish Greens are demanding that ALL landlords halt evictions during the winter months to show “compassion and kindness.” The party, which was in a coalition with the SNP, previously supported an eviction ban that lasted until March this year, pausing evictions for six months. The Scottish Green Party claims that the end of this […]

First-time buyers (FTBs) faced a challenging property market in 2024, but next year could see a surge of buyers before the stamp duty deadline in April. According to Moneybox, 34% of first-time buyers are planning to become homeowners in 2025. Moneybox also reveals that 71% of aspiring FTBs plan to buy in the next two […]