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 […]

Hi, was wondering if anyone has had a similar issue. My tenant has broken the shower door, not sure how or why, but its happened. I have tried to find a replacement shower door, but have struggled, the only option is to replace the shower enclosure at a cost. I’ve informed my managing agent that […]

I believe that given what is happening right now in the UK, this is a perfect time to step up your property investing activity. With high interest rates, and the General Election next month, there is massive uncertainty, which means most property investors are just standing back, waiting to see, which leaves the market wide […]

UK house prices showed little change in May compared to the previous month, dipping by just 0.1%, Halifax reports. However, on an annual basis, house prices continued their upward trend, growing by 1.5% from April’s 1.1% increase. The average UK property now costs £288,688, which is a slight drop from April’s £288,862. Market activity remained […]

Welcome to Property Answers, the series where we address your burning property questions! In this Election Special, Ranjan Bhattacharya, John Howard and Liana Wall dive into the critical issue of Labour vs. Tories: Who’s better for property investors? Watch the video below

Property management thrives on efficiency, but keeping track of rent payments, managing maintenance requests, and ensuring smooth financial operations can quickly become overwhelming. This is where technology steps in, and open banking is poised to revolutionize the way property managers handle cash flow. By leveraging open banking solutions, property managers can streamline the process of […]

Generation Rent has criticised Labour’s newly announced ‘Freedom to Buy’ initiative which aims to help more than 80,000 young adults move out of their parental homes and onto the property ladder within the next five years. However, the tenants’ campaign organisation says the scheme overlooks the struggles of renters. The initiative is designed to aid […]

Property investors and landlords might be interested in a study of London’s moving trends which reveals a significant rise in people relocating to areas with lower house prices. London continues to be the most expensive place to buy a house in the UK, with a whopping £701,280 average house price. This hefty price tag, coupled […]

Hello, Over the last few years I have been hit with this awful cladding issue and repossession by my lender due to expiry of mortgage term on one flat by Mortgage Express and the other flat being taken over because of arrears – due to having to pay tens of thousands in legal bills. It […]

Councils are failing to properly inspect properties with potentially dangerous hazards, claims the NRLA. Under the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS), local authorities can inspect rented properties for hazards after a tenant complaint and force landlords to fix them. Freedom of Information data obtained by the NRLA reveals that between 2021 and 2023, […]