Social and private landlord possession claims, orders, warrants and repossessions all increased dramatically between and April and June, government data reveals. When compared to the same quarter in 2023, landlord possession claims surged from 22,526 to 24,495 (9%), orders from 16,029 to 18,436 (15%), warrants from 9,957 to 11,172 (12%), and repossessions from 5,950 to […]

An industry body is “disappointed” over a lack of changes to the Scottish Housing Bill. Propertymark has criticised the Scottish government for not taking on board amendments suggested by various industry groups including the impact rent controls could have on the private rented sector. The Bill contains a package of policy reforms including introducing rent […]

Confidence in the rental market dips as landlords fear Labour’s housing policies. According to a poll by SpareRoom, 79% of landlords think Labour’s proposals to improve the rental market won’t work. Labour has promised to abolish Section 21 and plans to introduce hardship tests which will make it impossible to evict tenants. Only 19% of […]

Hi, almost a year after my sheltered building was decommissioned (by a council cabinet decision), I applied to buy my flat (Right to Buy). The council rejected saying the flat was still sheltered because the decommissioning had not been registered. When I objected, I was told that the property was still registered as ‘elderly property’ […]

We own two parking spaces worth about £15,000. We use the income, £1,800, to fund pension plans for our four grandchildren. The rent is paid to us which, of course, we include in our tax return with other letting income. We are thinking about transferring/gifting the spaces to our grandchildren (all under the age of […]

Hi everyone, I am in the process of selling my own home which I expect to take up to 6 months, but this could change either way in terms of time. I also own a flat around the corner that is let with the tenant coincidentally confirming they have purchased their own house and will […]

As a property professional, you’re always on the lookout for effective ways to maximise your returns while minimising costs and taxes. Enter the SSAS pension – a game-changer in the property investment world. A Small Self-Administered Scheme (SSAS) is a company pension designed for small to medium-sized businesses. It’s an incredibly flexible tool that offers […]

The UK housing market exhibited mixed fortunes in July as the private rented sector (PRS) continued to grapple with a widening gap between supply and demand. However, according to the latest RICS residential property survey, the sales market is showing tentative signs of recovery. RICS says that demand for rental properties persisted at a robust […]

Accord Mortgages has announced further reductions to its buy to let product range, with cuts of up to 0.15% across all loan-to-value tiers up to 75%. The latest changes see two-year fixed rates decrease by 0.15%, with reductions of up to 0.10% for three and five-year fixes. Landlord clients favouring tracker options will also benefit […]

Rental yields generated by landlords have hit the highest level since 2014, research from Paragon Bank reveals. The lender’s latest PRS trends report reveals that landlords saw an average of 6.3% in rental yields during the second quarter of the year. This figure marks a substantial rebound from the 15-year low of 5.2% recorded in […]

Hi, Until now I have been happy and confident with my landlord insurance packages and their level of cover. Moving forward, I have no certainty that insurances will be able to cover things like loss of rent, repossession aid and legal cover. Does anyone have any insight into this? If all the proposed government measures […]

Landlord Licensing and Defence chief Phil Turtle is urging the National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA) to back his proposal for a Jersey-style property licensing model. He believes this could revolutionise the private rented sector (PRS), providing a more efficient and cost-effective way to regulate landlords while potentially eliminating the need for selective licensing schemes. Under […]

In this crucial episode of Property Breaking News, Ranjan Bhattacharya and Andrew Roberts discuss the latest legislative changes affecting landlords: a new rule that prohibits evicting tenants within the first two years of a tenancy if you wish to sell the property. What does this mean for landlords facing financial difficulties, especially with fluctuating interest […]

House prices in the UK rose by 0.8% in July, halting a three-month plateau, Halifax reveals. The average property value now stands at £291,268, marking a £2,200 increase compared to June. Annual growth has also accelerated to 2.3%, the highest rate since January 2024. Despite this uptick, the lender cautions that affordability issues and limited […]

Buy-to-Let by Foundation is among a slew of lenders to unveil new products and rate cuts designed to appeal to a wider range of landlords. The new offerings include: Limited Edition Products: Two new limited edition fixed-rate deals, one for borrowers with a strong credit history and another for properties with a high Energy Performance […]

Landlords across England are facing an increasingly heavy financial burden as local councils ramp up selective licensing schemes, research reveals. English councils are charging landlords almost £700 on average to obtain mandatory selective licenses, with costs varying wildly across the country. According to the study by Direct Line, Leicester city council tops the list with […]

Just 17% of on-campus university rooms in the UK are classed as affordable for students – that’s one in six available rooms, Generation Rent reveals. It says the research highlights a severe shortage of budget-friendly accommodation. And universities are accused of ‘raking it in’ as landlords despite claiming to care for their students’ ‘wellbeing’. The […]

The UK’s rental market remains intensely competitive, with tenants facing a perfect storm of surging demand, dwindling supply and escalating rents, Rightmove says. Its research reveals a stark picture of a private rented sector (PRS) that’s out of kilter with tenant demand – and more landlord investment is need. While the number of enquiries per […]

Labour has confirmed plans for rented properties to achieve a minimum Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) grade C by 2030. Miatta Fahnbulleh, the Under Secretary for Energy Security and Net Zero, confirmed the initiative, emphasising the government’s commitment to reducing fuel poverty. In a written question, Green MP Ellie Chowns asked: “To ask the Secretary of […]

The National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA) has thrown its weight behind government plans for a new landlord database, insisting it could be a tool to weed out criminal landlords. However, it warns against unnecessary red tape for responsible landlords. As a member of the Lettings Advisory Board, the NRLA has helped shape proposals for the […]

Landlords using OpenRent to find tenants will lose Rightmove access, it has been announced today (6 August). Rightmove says it has ended its partnership with OpenRent, meaning private landlords using the online letting agent will no longer be able to advertise their properties on the UK’s largest property portal. The decision follows a breakdown in […]