Rising rents and stagnant benefits are creating a financial squeeze for private renters in the UK, with a study revealing more than a third (35%) are struggling to afford their rent. The research by the TDS Charitable Foundation surveyed more than 2,000 tenants and found a big rise in financial strain compared to last year. […]

With the general election approaching, there needs to be more clarification from the Labour Party on its plans for improving the private rented sector, Propertymark says. The move follows news of Labour adding more detail this week to its manifesto. Now, the party says that it will crackdown on ‘unscrupulous landlords’ It will also abolish […]

Dawn-style raids, more powers than the police and issuing £105,000 fines —councils wield considerable authority in regulating landlords. Phil Turtle, compliance director from Landlord Licensing & Defence deals with councils daily and issues a stark warning to landlords. With more than 160 pieces of legislation and 400 regulations, landlords may sometimes find themselves in hot […]

Labour says it will crackdown on ‘unscrupulous landlords’ who are strangling growth in the private rented sector (PRS). The party is adding details to its manifesto which was launched last week. It says there will be a clampdown on ‘unscrupulous landlords ripping off tenants with extortionate rents and lurid living conditions’. Labour adds that renters […]

The UK’s housing market appears to be stabilising after a period of decline, with average house prices edging upwards for the second month in a row, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) reports. It says that house prices rose 1.1% in the 12 months to April, reaching an average of £281,000. This follows a 0.9% […]

Scottish Labour will improve tenants’ rights by protecting them from unaffordable rent increases and unscrupulous landlords. In its manifesto dubbed change, Scottish Labour claims more proposals are needed to drive up standards in PRS homes in Scotland. The Scottish Association of Landlords (SAL) say rent controls are not the answer to the housing crisis. Tenants […]

The rate at which UK private rents increase is beginning to slow down with the average rent rising by 8.7% in the 12 months to May, down from 8.9% in April. This is still a significant rise, but it is the second consecutive month of easing annual inflation after a record high of 9.2% in […]

The SNP blames Brexit and Westminster underinvestment for Scotland’s housing crisis.    In the SNP’s manifesto dubbed ‘A Future Made In Scotland’ the party claims cuts made by the UK government have affected the Scottish budget for housing. Earlier this year, the Scottish government, along with six councils across Scotland, officially declared a housing emergency. […]

A lack of housing choice for tenants threatens to undermine private rented sector (PRS) reforms being proposed by political parties, the National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA) says. The NRLA is sounding the alarm as the Conservatives, Labour, Liberal Democrats and Green Party all consider ending section 21 ‘no-fault’ evictions. However, it says that none of […]

Hi Fellow Members/Readers, I have a long-term tenant (Approx 12 yrs in situ) on an A.S.T. who has always paid rent £650pcm late and some months nothing. I served a rent increase notice last year of £75pcm, this being the first and only throughout 12 years. The response I received was “I can’t afford/Why poor […]

My tenants owe me nearly 10k in rent and legal fees. I am still waiting to get a high court enforcement order to evict them from my property, which could still take several weeks. I have received an email from their daughter asking me for a good reference so she can rent privately citing it […]

UK landlords say they aren’t worried about the potential political change of government next month, and most will keep hold of their buy to let portfolios, research reveals. The findings from Zero Deposit show that despite various legislative changes under the Conservative government, 82% of landlords have kept their buy to let portfolio unchanged. Some […]

The UK’s short-term rental market appears to be running out of steam with a new report highlighting a rise in listings – but a worrying drop in occupancy rates and revenue. The research from lettings and estate agent Benham and Reeves looked at key market metrics across popular holiday destinations. While the number of short-term […]

Electric vehicle (EV) driving renters are in luck, with a new study showing landlords are open to installing charging points at their properties. Direct Line research reveals a whopping 86% of landlords with suitable homes would consider installing a charger if a tenant requested one. While a fifth (20%) would cover the entire cost, most […]

Millions of pounds are being lost by the UK’s renters due to cleaning-related deposit deductions, according to research. The flat-sharing site SpareRoom found that nearly two-thirds of renters have had money withheld from their deposits over cleaning issues. This equates to a staggering £724million lost every year. The average deduction is £250, but some renters […]

Landlords across the UK can look forward to having more rights and tax relief on their costs if Reform UK gains power in the 2024 General Election. In an exclusive interview with Property118, landlord David McLennan is representing Reform UK in the Livingstone seat in Scotland. As a former policeman who once delivered a baby […]

Consumer champion Which? is urging the government to reform the system for Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs), saying they are ‘unreliable’. It carried out an investigation that revealed inaccurate assessments and unhelpful recommendations from EPC surveys. These could leave landlords and homeowners out of pocket and with misleading information about their homes’ energy use. Which? wants […]

Back in August 2022, I became an accidental landlord and it’s been an interesting learning curve. I’ve been quite lucky that I’ve had good tenants and the property is still in good condition. However, the issue has been the letting agents with which I’ve had consistent issues. I decided to use agents because we were […]

In this episode of Property Breaking News, we explore the hot topic: “Will Landlords Be Made to Accept Pets?” Join us as we delve into the latest discussions and potential policy changes that could impact landlords and tenants alike. Find out what these changes could mean for pet owners looking to rent and landlords managing […]

Protecting a deposit in real life, is not something most legal professionals would have likely ever done. Their interpretation of the law, must therefore sometimes be questioned. I have been advised by two experienced lawyers, that “all deposits must be protected within 30 days of receipt”. As a landlord, I cannot agree with such a […]

Hi, I have had a tenant for 10 years who was in rental arrears in 2022. After obtaining a possession order and bailiffs writ of eviction the tenant pleaded to be allowed to stay and said they would pay up. I allowed the tenant to stay but by August 2023 they had not finished paying […]