The government’s ambitious target of requiring all private rented sector (PRS) properties to have an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of C or above by 2030 has sparked huge concern among landlords. Research from Shawbrook Bank reveals that with just over five years to comply, many landlords are grappling with the costs and challenges of […]

The number of buy to let properties on the market has rocketed over the last year, according to new data. Figures from TwentyEA reveal, 11.3% of all new properties listed for sale in Q3 2024 had previously been available for rent within the last three years. This is more than double the 6.8% recorded in […]

If landlords don’t have an EPC rating of C or above by 2030 then will tenants be legally required to vacate the rental property they are living in? Who knows. Yet another thing that Labour hasn’t thought through sufficiently. I suggest members of the Property118 community raise this with their Member of Parliament and the […]

I have just realised my AST tenancy agreement has been signed by myself, the letting agent and the tenant, but not dated by any of us! I know I ought to have been more thorough and spotted this at the time! It says on the front of TA it should be signed, then dated and, […]

The majority of buy to let landlords remain optimistic about the future performance of their property investments, despite recent challenges, a survey reveals. The research from Butterfield Mortgages shows that 60% of UK landlords are optimistic about both capital growth and rental returns. More than half (57%) of the 501 respondents said that the interest […]

The UK’s private rented sector continues to face upward pressure, with average advertised rents outside London reaching a new quarterly record of £1,344, Rightmove reveals. The property platform’s rent index shows this a 5.2% increase from last year, although it is the slowest rate of growth since 2021. In London, rents have also hit a […]

A leading industry body warns Scotland faces “a lack of supply” if rent controls are not implemented properly. Speaking at the Scottish Property Federation dinner, chair of the organisation, Stuart Oag, says the upcoming Scottish Housing Bill could hamper investment in the private rented sector. The Bill contains a package of policy reforms including introducing […]

As we watch the supply of rental property dwindle and rents head North, I thought I’d add my latest experience of open discrimination against landlords by my local council. So the situation is the tenant has done a runner, they are in serious rental debt and have faced legal action both section 21 and Section […]

Hello all, like everyone I dreaded telling my tenants that their “forever home” might not be forever due to the antics of Ed Miliband and co. I even had a comment to that effect read out by Nigel Farage on GB News last week. Bravely I decided to get my EPC’s redone sooner rather than […]

Tenant activist groups and trade unions are demanding the Labour government “devolve power to Metro Mayors and regional authorities to introduce rent caps”. In a letter to Angela Rayner, groups including Generation Rent and the London Renters Union claim “landlords and letting agents have used the cost-of-living crisis to push up rents”. The group says […]

The future of the private rented sector (PRS) is a major worry for 75% of landlords, research reveals. The findings from the Simply Business’s Landlord Report highlight that the year so far has been challenging for landlords. They’ve seen increasing costs, evolving legislation and a new Labour government. However, it is Labour’s victory in the […]

Renting privately in England is apparently so traumatic that it’s having a devastating impact on tenants’ mental health, Generation Rent reports. The tenant campaign group has carried out a survey and found that almost nine in 10 renters report that their mental health has been negatively affected by their housing situation. Nearly two in five […]

I am currently advertising my property for rent in London and was recently contacted by HPL Estates. They claim to have been in operation for 55 years, with their main office in Maidenhead and four branches around London. During a phone conversation, a representative emphasised their contractual agreement with the NHS to support family relocations. […]

Lenders and mortgage brokers are urging the Chancellor to “carefully consider” landlords in light of upcoming EPC regulations. In a letter to Chancellor Rachel Reeves, the Mortgage Advice Bureau along with other lenders Leeds Building Society propose a Stamp Duty refund for homebuyers who retrofit their property to achieve an EPC rating of C or higher. Ed […]

A new service designed to streamline the handling of bills during void periods for landlords and agents and tenants has been unveiled. The Void Management service from the rent tech platform Vouch automates the process of switching bills to the correct name. Once a tenant moves out of a property, the service will alert utilities […]

Hi, I have a 2-bed flat with 20-year-old storage heaters still in working order. The electrician who reset one recently commented that I should be looking at replacing these shortly and recommended “eco electric rads” and replace the Economy 7 meter (with the cheaper night tariff), with a standard meter. This would require major disruption […]

Hi, recently, I found myself in a frustrating situation with Brent Council regarding the licensing of a property I rent out. After applying for and paying for a Selective Licence for my property, which is rented to a family, the council conducted an inspection. During the inspection, they spoke with one of the residents who, […]

Chancellor Rachel Reeves could hike capital gains tax to a whopping 39%, according to The Guardian. The newspaper reports the Treasury is testing a range of 33%-39% for capital gains tax to fill in the so-called £22 billion black hole in Britain’s finances. Propertymark warns raising capital gains tax could jeopardise growth in the housing […]

A professional landlord with a large portfolio faced a challenging situation when their tenant stopped paying rent and failed to communicate. Upon visiting the property, the landlord was met by an unfamiliar young woman, later identified as the tenant’s partner. She explained that her boyfriend, the named tenant on the tenancy agreement, had been sent […]

The unintended consequences of the Renters’ Rights Bill for the private rented sector (PRS) could make the housing crisis worse, Propertymark warns. It says that while the Bill is designed to protect tenants, landlords who cannot gain possession will leave the PRS – pushing up rents. Over the past decade, the PRS has faced legislative […]

1. I propose to replace a gas boiler, in a rented property I own, by an Air Source Heat Pump (ASHP) in order to improve the EPC rating from D to C. My provider tells me that installing an ASHP may in fact worsen the EPC rating, rather than improving it. Is that likely? 2. […]