Page 22 – Property118
Older couple reviewing household bills and energy efficiency information while discussing housing costs

Older renters fear rent rises and evictions under EPC targets

5th March 2026

A charity has urged the government to guarantee that EPC targets deliver benefits for older renters. Research from Independent Age reveals that 63% of older tenants would be worried about a rent increase, while 35% would fear eviction if their landlord carried out work to improve the condition and energy efficiency of their home. The […]

Aerial view of housing construction site with foundations and a key labelled “rent,” representing Build-to-Rent housing development

Build-to-Rent viability warning as ARL urges government action

5th March 2026

The Association for Rental Living (ARL) is urging the government to take prompt action to support the UK’s Build-to-Rent (BtR) sector and address the increasing issue of viability that is deterring investment in new rental homes. It warns that rising costs, regulatory change and weaker investment returns are discouraging investors from backing new BtR developments. […]

Syringe filled with UK banknotes over a rental home and “To Let” sign illustrating funding to tackle rogue landlords

Council boosts landlord enforcement funding ahead of the Renters’ Rights Act

5th March 2026

A city council has unveiled a huge cash injection to deal with ‘rogue’ landlords ahead of the Renters’ Rights Act being implemented in May. It says that landlords will face increased scrutiny as the council prepares for new enforcement duties tied to the rental reforms. City of Wolverhampton Council has confirmed it will commit an […]

Rejected eviction notice concept with digital documents and red “rejected” stamp, illustrating government refusal of landlord proposals.

Petition for faster evictions and tenant database rejected

5th March 2026

In response to a petition calling for faster evictions and a tenant database, the government said it does not support the proposals. The government claim “it is not proportionate” to introduce a tenant database and argues that the Renters’ Rights Act will provide landlords with sufficient grounds for possession. The petition reached more than 15,000 […]

Stacks of coins with downward arrows and “Arrears Payment” sign illustrating falling rent arrears in 2025

Rent arrears and claim values fall despite rise in cases

5th March 2026

The average value of rent arrears fell to £1,980 in 2025, down from £2,143 in 2024, according to new data from Reposit. It also says that claim values also declined over the same period, dropping from £1,207 to £1,178, a reduction of just over 2%. However, while the monetary value of arrears and claims fell, […]

Blue house icon with red X surrounded by tools and cash, symbolising property maintenance costs and lost value

Landlords face a £75,000 bill for neglecting property maintenance

5th March 2026

Landlords who defer repairs or step back from day-to-day management risk shaving tens of thousands of pounds off the value of their investments over a decade. According to property management experts Rushbrook & Rathbone, failing to maintain an asset could see a landlord in England losing up to £36,429 over 10 years. That bill soars […]

Shield with house icon standing in floodwater, symbolising landlord flood insurance protection

Insurance with flood cover for landlords

5th March 2026

If you own a let property in a flood area or have suffered flooding previously, then you know how hard it is to get insurance covering floods. In partnership with The Home Insurer, there are now solutions available that will help protect you in the event of a flood. As let properties are deemed commercial, […]

Illustration of eviction headlines and court statistics highlighting debate over whether evictions are truly rising

Evictions ‘surging’? The court data tells a very different story

4th March 2026

Claims that evictions are “surging” have become a familiar feature of the housing debate. Campaign groups repeat them in press releases, journalists reproduce them in headlines, and the figures quickly take on a life of their own. The problem is that eviction statistics are often presented in a way that sounds dramatic but does not […]

Paul Shamplina promoting landlord law webinar ahead of Renters Rights Act changes in May 2026

Landlord Law is Changing: What You Must Do Before 1st May 2026

4th March 2026

Over the past few months, I have been speaking to landlords across the UK about the Renters Rights Act, which comes into force on 1st May 2026. Most know it is happening. Many assume it is simply another regulatory adjustment to add to the long list of changes landlords have already navigated. It is not. […]

Graphic of EPC energy rating scale and house outline illustrating PRS energy efficiency targets

Peer questions impact of EPC exemptions

4th March 2026

A peer in the House of Lords has pressed the government to explain whether exemptions for EPCs are slowing down progress in the private rented sector (PRS). In a written question, Lord Carrington asked about the impact of energy-efficiency exemptions relating to leaseholder and third-party consent exemptions. The news comes as the government announced all […]

Houses of Parliament during Spring Statement 2026 debate on UK housing supply

Property industry reaction to the Spring Statement 2026

4th March 2026

Property industry experts have warned that the Chancellor’s Spring Statement lacked ambition, as new figures suggest housing supply is set to fall. Chancellor Rachel Reeves delivered the government’s Spring Statement to Parliament, claiming the government’s economic plan was working. However, forecasts from the Office for Budget Responsibility indicate that house prices are expected to rise […]

Two landlords holding model houses with “To Let” signs, one representing a limited company structure

Limited company landlords hold three times more properties

4th March 2026

Landlords using limited companies now control portfolios that are more than three times larger than those holding rented property in their own name, research reveals. According to Pegasus Insight, this highlights a widening structural split across the private rented sector. The data shows that 21% of landlords operate at least part of their portfolio through […]

Angela Rayner and Michael Gove discuss leasehold reform against a backdrop of the Houses of Parliament

Rayner and Gove attack ‘vested interests’ over leasehold reform

4th March 2026

Two former housing secretaries have slammed the “vested interests of freeholders” over their response to the Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill. Speaking to the Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee, Angela Rayner and Lord Michael Gove welcomed the bill but warned it would be a balancing act to get the reforms through Parliament. The government […]

Wheelchair in a sunlit living room symbolising Disabled Facilities Grant home adaptations

Calls to streamline disabled facilities grant access for landlords

4th March 2026

Disabled facilities grants (DFG) should be streamlined for private landlords and the government should raise more awareness of the support available, claims Propertymark. The Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) provides funding to councils to pay for home adaptations that enable disabled people to live independently. A government consultation on the DFG has revealed plans for a […]

After 30 Years in Property, One Strategy Still Leads for Cashflow

4th March 2026

Over three decades of investing have taught Simon Zutshi one clear lesson. If your goal is strong, consistent monthly income, not all strategies are equal. Buy-to-lets can work. Flips can create chunks of cash. But when it comes to reliable cashflow, HMOs continue to stand out. As the founder of property investors network, Simon has […]

Map highlighting UK areas where average monthly rents exceed £1,000 alongside suburban homes with To Let signs

Rents now top £1,000 in half of Britain

4th March 2026

Average monthly rents now exceed £1,000 in more than half of local authority areas across Great Britain. Zoopla’s latest figures show 52% of councils recorded average rents above that threshold in November 2025, compared with 23% in 2020. In the South East, councils above £1,000 have increased from 32 to 63, lifting the regional share […]

Businessperson holding “I’m Sorry” sign highlighting need for stronger apologies in social housing complaints

Ombudsman calls for stronger apologies from social housing landlords

4th March 2026

Social housing landlords are being urged to apologise for mistakes after a report revealed that residents suffered due to failures. A report by the Housing Ombudsman found that one resident felt unable to leave their home due to anti-social behaviour, while another experienced a failure to replace windows for more than three years. The Housing […]

UK, Ireland and Portugal flags illustrating diverging rental policy directions in Europe

Why are comparable housing markets moving in opposite directions on rental policy?

3rd March 2026

Across Europe, governments facing similar housing pressures are making markedly different choices about how to regulate and tax private rental supply. Some are tightening fiscal treatment and strengthening regulatory controls. Others are recalibrating incentives to retain or attract private rental investment. The divergence is no longer subtle. It is structural, and it is becoming impossible […]

Scales of justice on a digital circuit board symbolising court system digitisation

Court digitalisation will improve access to justice claims government

3rd March 2026

The government claim they will spend more than £50 million to digitise the county courts to handle the court backlog. Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Secretary David Lammy spoke following a report by Sir Brian Leveson, who warned the justice system is in crisis. The news comes as Landlord Action figures reveal that landlords are […]

Pound symbols flowing from a limited company office towards buy-to-let homes with To Let signs

Limited company buy to let purchases hit record share

3rd March 2026

Limited company borrowing now accounts for a record share of buy to let purchases, reshaping how many landlords structure new acquisitions, research reveals. The analysis by Paragon Bank shows 43% of mortgaged BTL house purchases in 2025 were completed through limited companies, up from 35% the previous year. That proportion has climbed steadily since 2018, […]

Downward rent trend graph with houses in background illustrating UK rental market slowdown

UK rents dip in February – led by London falls

3rd March 2026

Landlords are seeing rents level off as tenants take longer to commit and affordability pressures shape new deals, HomeLet says. Its latest rental index shows average UK rents fell to £1,301 in February, a 0.1% month-on-month fall from £1,302 in January. That leaves rents 2% higher than a year earlier, when the average stood at […]