A simple question posted in the HMO Group on Facebook this week triggered a response that will feel familiar to many landlords. “Anyone else got a lot of empty rooms? Market seems dead.” Within hours, more than 100 landlords had replied. Some were blunt. “Worst it’s been in 10 years.” “Rooms taking months to fill.” […]

Public trust rarely rests on one source. This week, attention has turned to Shelter’s Trustpilot profile, where the charity is currently rated “Poor”. On its own, that number proves very little because review platforms often attract unhappy users first, and volumes can be limited. However, it would be a mistake to dismiss it out of […]

Is the portfolio behaving this way because it has to, or because it has never been examined in a different way?

Is the equity within the portfolio simply sitting there? Should it be playing a more active role?

The Bank of England has kept interest rates at 3.75% due to the economic impact of the war in Iran. The Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) all voted unanimously to hold interest rates, citing the conflict in the Middle East as a key factor. This coincides with the US Federal Reserve’s decision to […]

The Green Party claims that “rent controls can work,” despite evidence suggesting otherwise. Speaking at the New Economics Foundation, Green Party leader Zach Polanski claimed rent caps would help tenants facing rising rents. He also called for the abolition of the right-to-buy scheme. Rent controls can work In the speech, Mr Polanski said: “Spiralling rents […]

The government claim they want to minimise the administrative requirements on landlords with the upcoming Private Rented Sector Database. Under the Renters’ Rights Act, all landlords will need to sign up for the database, which will include information about their properties that tenants can access. The government has not given a definitive timeline for when […]

Letting agents are being urged to act early to avoid operational and financial disruption by helping landlords facing compliance demands under the Renters’ Rights Act. Agent Rainmaker’s Sally Lawson says the scale of change rivals the Tenant Fee Ban introduced more than a decade ago. She said: “The Renters’ Rights Act is coming, and it’s […]

Students say they feel less safe in their private landlord homes than they do in purpose-built student accommodation, a survey has found. Purpose-built housing provider Here! Students surveyed 600 students to learn how safe tenants feel depending on where they live. Three in four residents in PBSA said they feel safe, but that figure drops […]

Landlords and block managers are facing widespread non-compliance across purpose-built flats, with audit data showing how frequently fire safety standards are being missed. Figures released from Fire and Rescue Service inspections and analysed by Drax Technology show that 45% of audited buildings failed to meet required standards. That equates to 1,923 out of 4,257 blocks […]

Landlord online search activity tied to the Renters’ Rights Act has climbed in recent months as May’s implementation date draws closer. An analysis from Dwelly, based on Google search trends, shows a clear increase in queries over the past three months when compared with the previous quarter. The lettings agency acquisition platform says searches for […]

Hello, I have two properties where I have served S21 notices ahead of 1/5/26 when the Renters’ Rights Act comes into effect. Both tenants have requested an extension of tenancy. One is OK, because he wants to extend to end of June and I have until end of July in which to apply to the […]

As a private landlord managing our own portfolio, we are finding it increasingly difficult to support tenants who rely on Universal Credit. The core issue is that private landlords do not have access to a landlord portal, which is available only to social landlords. As a result, we are unable to upload rent arrears statements, […]

What happens to the income that the portfolio currently generates? How easily can that income be replaced with the same level of reliability?

Is borrowing still being viewed purely as a cost, or also as a strategic tool? Does the portfolio’s existing equity create options that were not available during the early years?

How does the portfolio actually function as a single business? How clearly does the structure reflect the landlord’s current priorities?

Is the portfolio organised in the most effective way for the future? How easily could the business adapt if priorities changed?

How did the portfolio gradually evolve into its current structure? Which earlier decisions quietly shaped the way the business now operates?

Does the structure surrounding the portfolio still reflect the environment in which it now operates? If circumstances changed unexpectedly, how easily could the portfolio adapt?

How much time should the portfolio require in the years ahead? What happens if the owner wishes to step back from day-to-day involvement?

How easily could someone else understand how the portfolio works? If the owner eventually steps back, who carries the knowledge that keeps the business running smoothly?