New research by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) suggests there has been an improvement in the financial well-being of Brits, though challenges remain, particularly for renters. The FCA analysis reveals a significant burden on renters who are disproportionately affected compared to other demographics. Its survey shows that the percentage of tenants struggling financially has dipped […]

A council has revealed that it will revise its ‘Homes for Ukraine – Landlord Incentive Scheme’ after finding the initial financial offerings were not attractive for landlords. That’s because just one landlord signed up to the scheme – after 25 had contacted the council for more information. South Cambridgeshire Council’s scheme was launched in October […]

There has been a 0.4% rise in the total average yield for England and Wales, reaching 7.1% in the first quarter of 2024, a buy to let rental index reveals. According to Fleet Mortgages, despite a 0.4% drop in yield for landlords in the North East, rented properties there still deliver an impressive average rental […]

There has been a positive shift in the housing market with buyer demand and expectations for future sales on the rise, one survey has found. According to RICS, house prices also appear to be stabilising. There has also been a modest rise in tenant demand at +19% – up from +16% previously – but landlord […]

Managing multiple rented properties can be time-consuming and challenging for landlords, so the last thing you need is to worry about organising different insurance policies for each home you rent out. This is where multi-property landlord insurance can help by insuring your properties in one single policy, saving you the hassle of managing multiple policies. […]

Landlords renting to Universal Credit tenants are being warned of potential payment inconsistencies in light of recent changes by the government. The Chancellor Jeremy Hunt unveiled plans to unfreeze Local Housing Allowance (LHA) which will increase to the ‘30th percentile of local market rents’. Despite promises of increased housing support for low-income renters starting from […]

Scottish landlords are capitalising on a loophole in the SNP’s rent control laws, leading to a 12% increase in rents, the Daily Telegraph reports. The rent cap legislation which restricted rent rises ended on March 31. However, new plans to bring in permanent rent controls are not expected to come into force until 2025, following […]

Hello, I am thinking of granting an AST for three years. It will have a tenant’s break clause on the first anniversary and at any time thereafter by three months notice The rent would be initially x and become x plus 5 per cent on the anniversary x plus 10 per cent on the 2nd […]

Tenants are experiencing some relief as the rate of rent rises slows down significantly, new data from Barclays reveals. The bank says that renters spent just 1.8% more on rent last month than in March last year. It has analysed millions of its customers’ current accounts and found the 1.8% extra being spent on mortgages […]

Councils in London are tightening their grip on landlords and letting agents who fail to comply with selective licensing rules as fines have already broken through the £10 million barrier this year, research reveals. This surge comes alongside a predicted record number of new licensing schemes aimed at improving tenant rights and housing standards. A […]

A sharp rise in rental market competition is fuelling a surge in tenancy application fraud, according to new data.  An analysis by tenant referencing firm Goodlord found a staggering 140% increase in fraudulent applications between 2022 and 2023. The most common tactic involves manipulating payslips, with applicants either inflating their income or altering the source […]

Poorly insulated homes will cost £340 more to heat from April, according to new research. Data by the Energy and Climate Change Intelligence Unit (ECIU) reveals homes with an EPC rating of F will face the biggest increase with a 50% rise in gas bills. Even homes rated as D will face a 15% hike […]

Hi, 18 years ago, we managed to rent our three bedroom, end of terrace property to the council but it left us with a financial burden. The council did the original contract and over the years the price of bills, and market rates all increased except our rental income. We ended up with a huge […]

A leading firm of property solicitors is reporting a rise in disputes between landlords and tenants – and points to a ‘media frenzy’ as being partly responsible. Dutton Gregory Solicitors says that media focus on disrepair complaints – particularly over damp and mould – and a lack of government support for the buy to let […]

Scottish Greens co-leader Patrick Harvie has defended Scotland’s rent cap saying that ‘many thousands’ of tenants have been helped and that predictions that landlords would leave the sector were ‘false’. The tenants’ rights minister was speaking at the Scottish Greens conference, and he offered a robust defence of the rent cap. Mr Harvie said his […]

Manchester’s M14 postcode, which includes Fallowfield, Rusholme, Old Moat and Ladybarn, is the UK’s most popular location for buy to let investors with four or more properties, research reveals. The findings from Paragon show that the area’s proximity to both Manchester and Manchester Metropolitan Universities makes it a prime location for student housing. The lender […]

Hello, We would like to revoke a Declaration of Trust currently in my husband’s name to reflect the usual 50:50 split as tenant’s in common. The tenants in one of our properties have told us they are going to move away – probably in the summer. With the Renters Reform Bill looming etc we have […]

First-time buyers in Britain still face a significant financial hurdle despite receiving help from family when it comes to saving for a deposit, research reveals. The findings from estate agents Yopa found that deposit contributions from the ‘Bank of Mum and Dad and substantial, but still leave buyers needing to save a considerable amount themselves. […]

The UK’s private rented sector (PRS) is seeing a surge in tenant demand, with a new report revealing a significant increase across most counties in England.  Zero Deposit analysed rental data and found tenant demand rose by 1.5% in the first quarter of 2024 compared to the previous quarter. This means nearly a third (31.8%) […]

London’s mayor, Sadiq Khan, says he is the ‘renter’s champion’ and is committing to building 6,000 ‘affordable’ homes by 2030 with rents tied to the earnings of key workers. Mr Khan was speaking at the launch of his third mayoral bid and will use powers he has already to cap the rent for these homes […]

Hi, apologies if this is a dumb question but my wife is the leaseholder on one of the fout flats in a converted double fronted terraced property. The freeholder also owns one of the other three flats. The frontal layout of the building has a central door with two flats on either side of the […]