Hi, I am a landlord and have given my letting agent notice due to their numerous errors and lack of competence. The notice period is 6 months, but I requested a reduction due to their mistakes, which was denied. I asked the letting agent not to advise my tenant that I was giving my notice […]

Landlords across the UK are being warned about the serious consequences of failing to meet fire safety regulations in their rental properties. The call comes after a recent court case in Sheffield that saw landlord Zahir Ahmed being handed a suspended prison sentence and community service for fire safety violations at a property he owned. […]

The price of detached homes in Edinburgh has rocketed, with the average rising by nearly £1,500 per week over the past year.  According to DJ Alexander, Scotland’s largest lettings and estate agency, the average price of a detached home in Edinburgh has jumped from £666,814 to £742,304 between April 2023 and March. This represents an […]

Hi, I have a converted Victorian warehouse in London which is six storeys high. The top flats are duplexes entered on the fourth floor (fifth storey). I have decided to retire and sell the block. The top flats are wonderful penthouses with a large terraces. I offered one to market (at a very competitive price […]

House prices in England and Wales continue to decline, although the pace of decline is slowing with the average house price falling by 0.2% in May to £356,014. According to the e.surv house price index, that’s still 3.3% lower than a year ago. The slowdown comes despite the Bank of England delaying a cut in […]

The Conservative Party’s manifesto will be published today with a pledge to eliminate capital gains tax (CGT) for landlords, the Daily Telegraph reports. However, the exemption will only be for those landlords who sell their property to a sitting tenant. The initiative will run for two years with the aim of boosting the housing market […]

Welcome to Property Breaking News, where we bring you the latest developments in the property world as they unfold. In this episode, Ranjan Bhattacharya and Andrew Roberts cover a major shift in property regulations: the transition from EPC ratings to the new ‘Home Energy Model.’ Watch the video below

With the upcoming General Election, questions from landlords and homeowners loom over its potential impact on mortgage rates and property prices. Now an analysis from Zoopla and Mojo Mortgages aims to shed light on the potential answers. While the government does not directly dictate mortgage rates, these are influenced by various factors, including the Bank […]

The Liberal Democrats have promised “to deliver a fair deal for renters” by abolishing Section 21 immediately and reintroducing EPC C targets for rented properties. The party’s manifesto proposes making three-year tenancies the norm and creating a national register of licensed landlords. For social housing, the party promises to protect social housing renters with a […]

The Scottish government’s own economic agency has warned that rent controls will only make the housing crisis worse. South of Scotland Enterprise (SOSE) says the Scottish Housing Bill’s move to introduce long-term rent controls has sparked uncertainty, leading landlords to leave the market. Earlier this year, the Scottish government, along with six councils across Scotland, […]

Paragon Bank has made it easier for brokers to find buy to let mortgage products for their landlord clients. Previously, the bank offered separate options for portfolio and non-portfolio landlords. Now, it has consolidated these offerings, streamlining the application process. ‘Simplification of our buy to let product range’ Paragon’s commercial director, Louisa Sedgwick, said: “The […]

Brighton & Hove council has revealed that it’s introducing a new additional licensing scheme for smaller houses in multiple occupation (HMOs) starting in July. This scheme applies to HMOs with two or more floors, and three or four occupants. Landlords and managing agents can apply for licenses from July 1st. From September, a selective licensing […]

After a week of bad news for landlords, with the Telegraph reporting the story of banks repossessing all 57 homes from a landlord who lost £25M in assets, plus the pending worry of what a Labour government might have to rent reforms, Section 21, and rights for tenants, finally there’s welcome news. As we enter […]

Does Reform UK have the best policies for property investors, developers and buy to let landlords? In this Election Special, we examine this question with Ranjan Bhattacharya and John Howard. Watch the video below

This election, is it the devil you know better or worse than the devil you don’t? Not having made law, the Renters Reform Bill, appallingly drafted and ill thought out, can be either quietly dropped or reworked to work with and not against/to crucify landlords if the Conservatives retain power. Labour has said that Section […]

Hi, I have two rented out flats with internal bathrooms (no windows), both of which have bubbling ceiling paint since I installed Envirovent silent ventilation fans. There is also a damp mark on the bedroom ceiling outside one of the ensuites. Can anyone recommend a really efficient, quiet make/model of ceiling extractor (so tenants will […]

Homeowners are moving more frequently, while tenants in the private rented sector (PRS) are staying put for longer, research reveals. According to Zero Deposit, renters are staying in their home for an average of 4.3 years, which is 12% longer than 10 years ago. However, homeowners are spending an average of 9.2 years in a […]

The Property Ombudsman (TPO) is reporting a record-breaking influx of enquiries – mainly from tenants struggling with repair and maintenance issues. The organisation’s annual report reveals that this year, tenants accounted for 62% of the 57,635 letting enquiries received. It says this is a sign of growing awareness of its role for those wanting to […]

New regulations to improve tenant safety in private rental properties across Northern Ireland have been unveiled. The regulations set minimum standards for smoke, heat and carbon monoxide alarms. Alarms can be tamper-proof or hardwired, and smoke and heat alarms must be interconnected. Existing tenancies have until December 1st to comply, while new tenancies must adhere […]

If you blinked this week, or if you just don’t follow the Central Banks of the World more closely (what are you playing at?) then you might have missed the fact that the Bank of Canada, and the European Central Bank, both cut their interest rates. The first “major” central banks to do so, in […]

Hi, two years ago I bought a flat within an Victorian building with several apartments. At the time of my purchase, my flat was leasehold. The cost of building management including service charged was apportioned by percentage, i.e square footage apportionment and I am the smallest apartment. For example, when I bought the flat the […]