The government has released data showing a divide in damp and mould across the private rented sector and social housing. According to the government’s local authority housing stock condition modelling report 2024, damp and mould remain prevalent across both rented tenures, alongside homes classed as non-decent. The findings come as all private and social landlords […]

Every year or two, I carry out a detailed review of my own property and investment portfolio. The exercise is not confined to checking whether my properties have increased in value or whether the rents still cover the mortgages. I want to understand how much equity is tied up in each asset, what cashflow that […]

One of the most common questions landlords ask is whether they would pay less tax by owning their rental properties through a limited company instead of personally. It is an understandable question, but it is also one that is surprisingly difficult to answer properly without running the numbers. The answer depends on far more than […]

A government committee has urged the government to introduce incentives for landlords to raise standards in the private rented sector (PRS). The Housing, Communities and Local Government (HCLG) Committee’s report on housing conditions in the PRS calls on the government to speed up compliance with the new Decent Homes Standard ahead of the 2035 deadline. […]

Back in June, a number of published landlord guides were citing 42 days as the response window for tenant pet requests under the Renters’ Rights Act. The correct figure is 28 days. That correction got attention at the time, but with the law now in force and landlords actively relying on these documents, it’s worth […]

With energy bills continuing to rise, EPC ratings are playing an increasingly important role for buyers and tenants, according to a property portal. Data from Rightmove shows that the latest energy price cap increase could add up to £591 a year to bills for households in the lowest EPC-rated homes. The energy price cap is […]

Scottish housebuilding is at its lowest level in a decade as political parties slam SNP over failures. Figures released by the Scottish government show in total, 17,268 new homes were built (completed), and 14,955 homes were started in 2025-26 in Scotland. Completions were down 10% (-1,914) and starts down 4% (-693) from 2024-25. The Scottish […]

More than 5,000 residential buildings over 11 metres still have unsafe cladding, with remediation expected to cost billions, according to new government data. Government statistics show that, despite targets to fix all unsafe cladding by 2029, progress remains slow. The figures come as commercial buildings over 1,000 square metres will be required to meet EPC […]

The government claim the Renters’ Rights Act provides “tangible benefits” to landlords despite admitting it has introduced no measures to help small landlords. The act came into force on 1 May this year, bringing major changes, including the abolition of Section 21 evictions and giving tenants the right to request permission to keep a pet. […]

Rental yields have risen, but periods of political volatility have caused problems in the mortgage market, new figures reveal. Fleet Mortgages’ Rental Barometer found that while six out of 10 regions across England and Wales recorded a quarterly decline in yields, the average rental yield across England and Wales increased by 0.3% year-on-year to 7.8%. […]

The government has claimed that the new Landlord Redress Scheme will support both landlords and tenants, claiming “good landlords have nothing to fear”. Under the Renters’ Rights Act, the private landlord ombudsman scheme will provide independent dispute resolution, which the government describes as “fair and impartial” and intended to give tenants access to redress outside […]

More than 441,000 private rented homes fail thermal comfort standards, according to new data. Research by Inventory Base reveals around 40% of PRS homes fall short as updated Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS) rules came into force last week. The government announced landlords could face on-the-spot fines of £7,000 for severe damp and […]

For years, a Section 21 notice rewarded a particular kind of landlord. The one whose paperwork was simply present and correct. Get the prescribed information served, the deposit protected, the gas certificate in date, and the right form completed, and you did not have to explain yourself. You did not need a reason. The documents […]

A sharp spike in Google searches for the Renters’ Rights Act and information sheet was recorded ahead of its implementation, as a lender warns key guidance may not be reaching landlords. Research by Coventry for Intermediaries reveals searches for “Renters’ Rights Act 2026” rose by 600% between January 1st and May 1st 2026. Searches for […]

A Labour MP is calling on the government to introduce rent controls to curb welfare spending. Margaret Mullane, MP for Dagenham and Rainham, writes in LabourList that rent controls are needed to tackle soaring rents. However, industry experts warn that rent controls do more harm than good. Driving councils to brink of collapse Ms Mullane […]

House prices are ticking up slowly as political uncertainty continues to cause a slowdown, according to the Nationwide house price index. The data shows UK annual house price growth picked up to 2.2% in June, rising from 1.7% in May. House prices across UK regions also saw broadly positive growth. Market has softened a little […]

News surrounding Keir Starmer’s resignation and speculation over whether Andy Burnham could become the next Prime Minister have left many landlords asking what comes next. Discussions about Andy Burnham’s previously proposed land tax paid by property owners rather than tenants that could see landlords paying 0.96% of their property value annually have reignited concerns across […]

The government claims the courts have “sufficient capacity to manage the impact of the Renters’ Rights Act”. The act came into force on 1 May this year and, with the abolition of Section 21, landlords must now rely on Section 8 notices and specific grounds to regain possession. As previously reported by Property118, industry experts […]

On 23 June 2026, the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS) was significantly reformed under the Renters Rights Act 2025. Most landlords are unaware the changes have happened. That needs to change urgently, because the penalty for a Category 1 hazard has now risen to £7,000 per hazard under section 6A of the Housing […]

The government claims that rent prices are affected by various factors amid scrutiny over proposed EPC targets could push rents up. In a written parliamentary question, Green MP Hannah Spencer asked what assessment the government has made of new Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) in the private rented sector on private rent inflation. Under the […]

There has been a huge amount in the press about the “feudal” system of leasehold and how the government’s revitalised commonhold will fix all of the problems associated with long leasehold ownership. But will those buying into or converting to commonhold find that the old adage “be careful what you wish for” applies to them? […]