The last so-called Conservative government enacted some terrible policies on the PRS. After our initial shock, many of us flexed and adapted and eventually habituated to greater risks for fewer profits, many of us sold up and left the sector. All of this pales into insignificance when compared to what our current socialist government has […]

Merton Council is believed to be the first in the country to seize a landlord’s properties because – it claims – this will protect tenants. The council says the landlord has repeatedly flouted housing regulations by not licensing them. Under its selective licensing scheme, the council has the authority to address poor housing conditions and […]

The UK’s rental market is on the brink of a transformative shift with Labour’s proposed replacement of the Renters Reform Bill with a Renters Rights Bill. This is claimed to recalibrate the balance of power between landlords and tenants, ensuring a fairer, more transparent, and more predictable rental environment for millions across the country. Could […]

Hi, I am evicting a tenant who has been verbally abusive and threatening, and generally uncooperative. His rent is £795 pcm, and the arrears are £1,756.94. He is not the worst tenant I have ever had and the arrears are not the worst either. But he is getting to be a problem that I do […]

Yorkshire cities are leading the way in property investment returns, outpacing traditional hotspots like London. According to the investment platform easyMoney, three Yorkshire cities have become Britain’s property investment hotspots. easyMoney has analysed average house price growth data in Britain across 15 major cities between December 2021 and today. Sheffield tops the list In December […]

Despite punishing landlords with hefty fines for selective licensing rules and failing to inspect private rented sector properties, one council will finally inspect its social housing stock after eight years. Nottingham City Council has announced a full survey of its 26,000 council homes which will take two years to complete. The long-delayed survey, originally announced […]

Bank of England base rate cut offers a summer boost to the housing market. According to the latest Rightmove House Price Index, since the Bank Rate cut earlier this month, the number of potential buyers contacting estate agents to view homes for sale is 19% higher than in the same period a year ago. However, […]

Standard pensions often bring to mind confusing jargon and offer little to no control but imagine a pension that changes all that. A Small Self-Administered Scheme (SSAS) offers full financial control and helps leave a legacy for your family. SSAS pensions are particularly beneficial for property investors and developers as they are exempt from inheritance […]

Rent controls do far more damage than benefit tenants, according to a comprehensive global review. A new briefing paper from the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) has poured cold water on calls for rent controls in Britain, finding overwhelming evidence of negative consequences. The paper by Dr Konstantin Kholodilin, analysed 196 studies spanning six decades […]

More landlords are investing in the private rented sector than exiting it, research from the TDS Charitable Foundation reveals. Despite a small net increase in rental properties, the study of more than 2,000 landlords found a significant imbalance between supply and demand. The survey reveals that while 19% of landlords purchased properties in the past […]

Sadiq Khan is pushing the Labour government to give him the power to impose rent controls in the capital. The Telegraph claims that if given the go-ahead, the Mayor plans to set up a commission to create rent control plans that are tailored to London. Parliament would be required to pass laws giving him the […]

Apologies in advance if this article appears to be ‘whiny’ but I feel that the Renters’ Rights Bill is about to turn a landlord’s world upside down. There’s obviously no appreciation of a Landlord’s Rights Bill, it’s all one-way traffic and landlords always pay the price. So, what do we make of the latest notion […]

A new lobbying group of industry leaders has warned that the Scottish Housing Bill will create uncertainty and hamper investment. The More Homes More Quickly Group, representing private rented housing providers across Scotland, told the Herald newspaper that some aspects of the Bill could face a “potential legal challenge.” The Scottish Housing Bill aims to […]

Buy to let landlords are increasingly opting for the stability of five-year fixed rate mortgages, research from Landbay reveals. The lender’s survey found that 71% of landlords plan to choose a five-year fixed rate when they next remortgage, a significant rise from 49% last year. This preference for longer-term certainty contrasts with a decline in […]

Hi, I have a friend who has had too many bad experiences with letting agents and sick to the back teeth of them not doing what he pays them to do. He has approached me to look after and manage his property on his behalf – exactly on the same basis he would employ an […]

Britain’s largest housing association has been slammed by the Housing Ombudsman for failing to fix a faulty window for four years. Clarion Housing Association left a child’s bedroom window boarded up for four years which caused damp and mould in the property. The Housing Ombudsman report is part of a series on severe maladministration of […]

In this video, Ranjan Bhattacharya dives into the potential consequences of equalizing Capital Gains Tax (CGT) with income tax and why this policy could be disastrous for property investors. We explore the impact on the property market, the possible decline in investment incentives, and what this change could mean for both new and seasoned investors. […]

‘Buy to Let by Foundation’, the BTL brand of specialist lender, Foundation Home Loans, has revealed lower rates across its core buy to let product range by up to 30 basis points (bps). This follows price reductions announced last week on their ‘Specials’ offerings. The latest cuts impact a wide variety of mortgages, catering to […]

A landlord law expert has blasted four council housing providers for avoiding hefty penalties despite severe safety breaches which would bankrupt private landlords. Phil Turtle, a director of Landlord Licensing & Defence, is furious that Brighton and Hove City Council, London Borough of Hackney, South Derbyshire District Council, and Ashford Borough Council escaped punishment for […]

The average private rent in the UK surged by 8.6% in the 12 months to July 2024 and house prices rose by 2.7%, to £288,000, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) reveals. Its latest rent and house price index shows that there’s no change from June’s rent rise which remains below the peak of 9.1% […]

Rent arrears have surged by a staggering 30% year-on-year, according to new data Deposit alternative provider Reposit reveals the average claim for rent arrears hit £2,092 in the second quarter of 2024. This marks a 15% rise from £1,816 in Q1 2024 and a 31% increase from £1,594 in the same period last year. UK […]