The Green Party claims “renters are having their lives turned upside down by the whim of their landlords”. The Green Party manifesto dubbed “our fair deal for renters” says the party will abolish no-fault evictions to help “tenants stay in a secure home.” Other policies include building 150,000 new social homes every year and introducing […]

Confidence in the UK’s housing market is beginning to fall in the run-up to the General Election with one index highlighting the issues with ‘a huge mismatch’ in the private rented sector (PRS). The survey by RICS shows that tenant demand continues to outstrip supply, leaving them facing rising living costs and plummeting affordability levels. […]

Groups representing renters in England have sent every political party an open letter urging them to address the ‘unprecedented crisis’ facing tenants. They say that renters ‘face constant insecurity’ from the threat of Section 21 ‘no-fault’ evictions and that a quarter of tenants have lived in at least three rented homes in the last five […]

The Conservatives promise to “deliver fairness in the rental market” by abolishing Section 21 and passing the Renters (Reform) Bill. The Conservative manifesto has a wide range of policies which the Tories claim will ensure fairness in the housing system. However, the NRLA have blasted the manifesto saying the policies will do nothing to help […]

Hi, as a landlord, I’ve had a flat rented out since October 2023, with the same tenants occupying it since then. The tenants are registered with the council and have set up a direct debit to pay their council tax. However, I’ve been receiving harassment from both Birmingham City Council and the Equita enforcement agency […]

Hello all. I’m looking for advice on this situation, please. The neighbor of my 3-bed semi, who has lived there for around 40 years, has not maintained the trees in her 120ft garden. In contrast, I invested in fully surrounding close-board fencing in 2007, which is barn-painted and re-done before the 10-year paint guarantee expires. […]

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 […]