Page 2 – Property118
Gavel, council building and homes illustrating proposed council powers over short-term lets and second homes in the UK.

Councils could get more powers over short-term lets and second homes

7th July 2026

The government has hinted at giving councils more powers to clamp down on short-term lets and second homes. In response to a written parliamentary question, Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook confirmed the government was considering “additional powers” for councils to tackle the pressures created by short-term lets and second homes. The news comes as MPs have […]

Fly-tipped furniture and household waste beside a warning sign highlighting penalties for illegal dumping in a residential area.

MPs call for landlords to work with councils on fly-tipping

6th July 2026

Private landlords must take action and work with councils to prevent fly-tipping, claim MPs. MPs claimed that landlords tackling fly-tipping will help prevent areas from becoming “dumping grounds” and make it easier for landlords to rent their properties. During a debate on the impact of fly-tipping in residential areas, MPs say landlords must work with […]

Government support for landlords meeting EPC C targets, with EPC rating graphic, financial support symbol and UK Parliament backdrop.

Government promises to help landlords with EPC costs

6th July 2026

The government claims financial support is available to landlords to meet EPC targets. In answer to a written parliamentary question, the government claim they want to expand the availability of private finance options to help landlords meet energy-efficiency targets. The government has announced all private rented properties will need to meet EPC C targets by […]

Commercial airplane towing a banner reading “5 Days Notice?” above a city skyline, illustrating a tenant notice dispute

Tenants moving back to their country with only 5 days notice?

6th July 2026

Hello Everyone, We received our tenant’s notice letter on 30th June, and they are flying out of the country on 5th July! Instead of paying the full two months’ notice period rent, they are demanding that we return their deposit, minus just five days’ rent for this month! We are trying very hard to find […]

Couple reviewing overdue household bills as rising housing costs cause financial stress and anxiety.

Shelter claims housing crisis driving anxiety among working people

6th July 2026

Shelter claims workers are suffering sleepless nights over housing costs. Research by the housing charity claims more than half (53%) of working people in England say the cost of housing has made them feel anxious in the last six months. The news comes as Shelter and HSBC have renewed their partnership for a further two […]

Illustration of rising UK rental inflation reaching its highest level in two years amid Renters’ Rights Act changes.

Rents climb to highest level in two years

6th July 2026

Rental inflation has hit its highest level in two years, with a firm blaming the Renters’ Rights Act for the rise. Goodlord’s latest rental index shows June recorded the highest year-on-year rental inflation since August 2024, rising to 6.5% after holding at a 10-month low in April and May. Average rents in June also rose […]

Protesters outside the Palace of Westminster hold signs calling for rent controls and affordable housing.

Housing campaigners demand rent controls ahead of new Prime Minister

6th July 2026

A housing coalition is calling on the next Prime Minister to introduce rent controls to help tackle the cost-of-living crisis. The Renters’ Reform Coalition says a cap on rents would help make housing more affordable while allowing the government to increase housing benefit each year. The call comes after Keir Starmer resigned as Prime Minister, […]

Damp and mould affecting the corner of a rented property wall, highlighting housing condition issues in England.

Damp and mould persist across housing tenures – government data

6th July 2026

The government has released data showing a divide in damp and mould across the private rented sector and social housing. According to the government’s local authority housing stock condition modelling report 2024, damp and mould remain prevalent across both rented tenures, alongside homes classed as non-decent. The findings come as all private and social landlords […]

Case study: What is this £3.4 million property portfolio really earning?

3rd July 2026

Every year or two, I carry out a detailed review of my own property and investment portfolio. The exercise is not confined to checking whether my properties have increased in value or whether the rents still cover the mortgages. I want to understand how much equity is tied up in each asset, what cashflow that […]

BTL company vs personal calculator

3rd July 2026

One of the most common questions landlords ask is whether they would pay less tax by owning their rental properties through a limited company instead of personally. It is an understandable question, but it is also one that is surprisingly difficult to answer properly without running the numbers. The answer depends on far more than […]

Magnifying glass and shield highlighting private rented homes, representing higher rental property standards and landlord compliance.

Committee calls for raising standards and stronger enforcement across PRS

3rd July 2026

A government committee has urged the government to introduce incentives for landlords to raise standards in the private rented sector (PRS). The Housing, Communities and Local Government (HCLG) Committee’s report on housing conditions in the PRS calls on the government to speed up compliance with the new Decent Homes Standard ahead of the 2035 deadline. […]

Energy efficiency rating graphic with a rising pound symbol illustrating how higher EPC ratings can reduce household energy bills.

Rising energy costs drive demand for homes with high EPC ratings

3rd July 2026

With energy bills continuing to rise, EPC ratings are playing an increasingly important role for buyers and tenants, according to a property portal. Data from Rightmove shows that the latest energy price cap increase could add up to £591 a year to bills for households in the lowest EPC-rated homes. The energy price cap is […]

Construction site in Scotland with a falling red arrow highlighting the sharp decline in housebuilding over the past decade.

Scottish Conservatives slam SNP after housebuilding falls to decade low

3rd July 2026

Scottish housebuilding is at its lowest level in a decade as political parties slam SNP over failures. Figures released by the Scottish government show in total, 17,268 new homes were built (completed), and 14,955 homes were started in 2025-26 in Scotland. Completions were down 10% (-1,914) and starts down 4% (-693) from 2024-25. The Scottish […]

Unsafe cladding exposed on a residential apartment building awaiting remediation work.

Thousands of buildings still affected by unsafe cladding – government data

3rd July 2026

More than 5,000 residential buildings over 11 metres still have unsafe cladding, with remediation expected to cost billions, according to new government data. Government statistics show that, despite targets to fix all unsafe cladding by 2029, progress remains slow. The figures come as commercial buildings over 1,000 square metres will be required to meet EPC […]

Key and To Let sign illustrating the Renters’ Rights Act changes affecting landlords and the private rental sector.

Government claims Renters’ Rights Act benefits landlords

3rd July 2026

The government claim the Renters’ Rights Act provides “tangible benefits” to landlords despite admitting it has introduced no measures to help small landlords. The act came into force on 1 May this year, bringing major changes, including the abolition of Section 21 evictions and giving tenants the right to request permission to keep a pet. […]

Rental yields rise across England and Wales as buy-to-let market stability returns.

Rental yields hold firm despite market uncertainty

3rd July 2026

Rental yields have risen, but periods of political volatility have caused problems in the mortgage market, new figures reveal. Fleet Mortgages’ Rental Barometer found that while six out of 10 regions across England and Wales recorded a quarterly decline in yields, the average rental yield across England and Wales increased by 0.3% year-on-year to 7.8%. […]

Landlord holding property keys overlooking rental homes with a protective shield symbolising the new Landlord Redress Scheme.

Government defends PRS Ombudsman scheme amid concerns over landlord exodus

2nd July 2026

The government has claimed that the new Landlord Redress Scheme will support both landlords and tenants, claiming “good landlords have nothing to fear”. Under the Renters’ Rights Act, the private landlord ombudsman scheme will provide independent dispute resolution, which the government describes as “fair and impartial” and intended to give tenants access to redress outside […]

Split-season house illustrating overheating and cold risks under updated HHSRS thermal comfort standards.

PRS homes fall short on thermal comfort standards as HHSRS rules come into force

2nd July 2026

More than 441,000 private rented homes fail thermal comfort standards, according to new data. Research by Inventory Base reveals around 40% of PRS homes fall short as updated Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS) rules came into force last week. The government announced landlords could face on-the-spot fines of £7,000 for severe damp and […]

Evidence file illustrating the shift from Section 21 to evidence-based Section 8 possession claims for landlords.

Section 21 has gone. Now your evidence file is the case

2nd July 2026

For years, a Section 21 notice rewarded a particular kind of landlord. The one whose paperwork was simply present and correct. Get the prescribed information served, the deposit protected, the gas certificate in date, and the right form completed, and you did not have to explain yourself. You did not need a reason. The documents […]

Google logo clearing a high jump over “Renters Rights Act,” symbolising the surge in online searches before the law’s implementation.

Sharp jump in Google searches for Renters’ Rights Act ahead of deadline

2nd July 2026

A sharp spike in Google searches for the Renters’ Rights Act and information sheet was recorded ahead of its implementation, as a lender warns key guidance may not be reaching landlords. Research by Coventry for Intermediaries reveals searches for “Renters’ Rights Act 2026” rose by 600% between January 1st and May 1st 2026. Searches for […]