Page 169 – Property118
High-rise building with chains and the word “Scandal” symbolizing the cladding safety crisis.

Join the Fight for Justice: Support the Cladding Scandal Campaign

3rd October 2024

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 […]

Landlords and second homeowners rush to sell – Zoopla

3rd October 2024

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 […]

picture of polly neate stepping down as chief executive of Shelter after seven years

Polly Neate steps down as chief executive of Shelter

3rd October 2024

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 […]

Rising rent concept with stacked coins and a wooden house symbolizing increasing rental costs

Rent increase now or just before RRB?

3rd October 2024

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 […]

Landlord stressed over property costs and EPC ratings while money flows from laptop.

EPC madness: Are EPCRR judgements failing?

3rd October 2024

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 […]

Hand holding an EPC rating model beside headline questioning flaws in the EPC system

EPC regulations could drive older properties out of the rental market

2nd October 2024

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 […]

Council refund sign next to a judge’s gavel representing a tribunal ruling

Nottingham City Council ordered to refund Landlord after Tribunal rules against council

2nd October 2024

A council has been forced to refund more than £2,800 to a landlord after a Tribunal ruled in his favour. Mick Roberts, one of Nottingham’s largest landlords for benefit tenants, accused Nottingham City Council of overcharging him for property valuations during lease renewals on four of his flats. The council charged £825 per flat for […]

Property expert discussing landlord sentiment after stamp duty increase

Landlords face £15,000 Capital Gains Tax hike under Labour

2nd October 2024

Rumoured changes to Capital Gains Tax (CGT) in the upcoming Autumn Budget could see the average landlord being hit by a £15,000 CGT increase on the average buy to let property, research reveals. Lettings and estate agent Benham and Reeves have analysed the CGT being paid by landlords at current tax thresholds and what would […]

Property118 logo for article on landlords leaving the PRS amid tax and reform pressures

Landlords are leaving the PRS as tax hikes and reforms loom

2nd October 2024

The UK’s private rented sector (PRS) is facing a potential storm as landlords reassess their portfolios in response to anticipated tax changes and reforms. Now members of The Guild of Property Professionals have been asked their views and they are warning of significant disruptions in the short to medium term. They point to a proposed […]

Professional landlord reading report on emerging HMO and MUB investment trends

Aspiring landlords turn to HMOs and MUBs for bigger returns

2nd October 2024

Aspiring portfolio landlords are turning to more complex rental properties, such as Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) and multi-unit blocks (MUBs), as they build their property businesses, research reveals. According to a new survey by Paragon Bank, these landlords are increasingly drawn to these higher-yielding properties due to the significant demand for rented housing. The […]

Hand separating wooden puzzle pieces symbolising a broken contract in an eviction context

How to evict family member without a tenancy agreement?

2nd October 2024

Hi Everyone, I need to evict a tenant/family member. I’ve served a section 21, but I am seeing conflicting information online. Some say you can evict using section 21 without a tenancy agreement then others say you can use section 21 but not an accelerated procedure and would need to be N5 form and others […]

HMRC letters related to delayed Form 17 processing and tax reporting issues

HMRC delay causes me to pay more tax?

2nd October 2024

I sent Form 17 to HMRC just before Christmas in 2022 to change the ownership of my properties for better tax arrangements. It took them three months to respond, asking for further documents – including one I had already provided. I resent the document, but it took them over a year to come back, only […]

Model house with energy rating chart beside stacked coins, representing local grant for home energy efficiency.

New funding for EPC improvements – but it’s not enough for landlords

1st October 2024

A new funding pot has been announced by the government to support energy efficiency improvements in England, but many landlords may still be left out in the cold, the National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA) warns. The ‘Warm Homes: Local Grant’ scheme will provide grants of up to £30,000 for landlords to improve their first rental […]

Hand blocking a money bag with a pound symbol, representing refusing a payoff to a lodger

Should I pay difficult lodger to leave?

1st October 2024

Hi, my partner and I own a two-bedroom flat in Scotland and have decided to rent out one of the rooms for £550 a month (which is an excellent price for where we live). It is our first time letting a room. So our lodger has one dog staying in our property full time, a […]

Chief executive commenting on falling rent prices in England’s private rental sector

Pace of rent rises is starting to slow – Goodlord

1st October 2024

Rents across England continued to hold steady in September, breaking the £1,400 barrier for the third consecutive month, according to the Goodlord Rental Index. However, there were signs that the rapid pace of rent increases might be starting to slow. The average price for a rental property was £1,417 – that’s marginally lower than August’s […]

Molo Finance and TML offer new competitive BTL deals

1st October 2024

Two leading buy to let mortgage lenders, Molo Finance and The Mortgage Lender (TML), have announced updates to their BTL mortgage ranges. These changes include lower interest rates and the introduction of new product fee tiers, offering landlords more competitive options. Molo has introduced a third product fee tier across its UK resident products, providing […]

Propertymark representative promoting landlord support in upcoming Welsh Budget

Welsh agents urged to share housing market insights

1st October 2024

Letting agents are being urged to contribute to an initiative exploring the impact of Welsh Government policies on the housing market that are popular with visitors. The Wales Tourism Alliance and Propertymark are inviting agents to share their firsthand observations and experiences over short-term, and holiday lets in Wales. One of the issues is second […]

Property expert outdoors discussing rising UK rent prices

Landlords face £21 billion bill to meet new EPC standards

1st October 2024

Landlords in the UK are facing a substantial financial burden to comply with the government’s proposed energy efficiency standards. According to research by Zero Deposit, the tenancy deposit alternative, it will cost the nation’s landlords £21.455 billion to bring their properties up to the required EPC C rating by 2030. Net Zero minister Ed Miliband […]

Note showing “Capital Gains Tax” beside calculator, highlighting concern over proposed tax changes

How much extra rent do you need to offset Labour’s proposed CGT grab?

1st October 2024

Hello, Many landlords in the past used to budget for a capital growth strategy with their investments guided by a 5% annual gross yield on rental income and 5% average annual return on capital growth. The rental yield just covered the running costs of maintenance, management and finance though recently higher rents were necessary to […]

Child sneezing indoors while a dog sits nearby, illustrating concerns about pet allergies for landlords

Pet allergies and the Renters’ Rights Bill?

1st October 2024

Hi, I own a Victorian house that I converted into four flats. I’ve sold one, rent out two, and live in one myself. I issue Landlord Tenancy Agreements (non-assured tenancies). I understand I would still need to go through the court process if a tenant refuses to leave under the Renters’ Rights Bill. I have […]

Hands exchanging a small house with a newspaper headline about legislative changes in the rental sector

Why the Standard Rent-to-Rent Model Will Struggle Under the New Renters’ Rights Bill

30th September 2024

Rent2Rent has taken the rental market by storm, offering landlords a handsfree option with guaranteed rent, but has time run out for the standard R2R model as we know it? The Renters’ Rights Bill represents a significant shift in the legal framework governing the relationship between landlords, tenants, and rent-to-rent (R2R) operators. These changes introduce […]