Stabilising house prices and falling mortgage rates are beginning to restore confidence among aspiring homeowners, but property tax remains a significant obstacle, Propertymark says. The industry body says forecasts pointing to modest house price growth in 2026, combined with easing borrowing costs, suggest the housing market is moving away from recent volatility. For first-time buyers […]

Paragon Bank has moved to bolster its new build buy to let proposition, extending the validity of mortgage offers and unveiling a redesigned broker portal. The lender has increased the standard offer period for landlords purchasing new build properties to six months, double the previous timeframe. Borrowers can also request a further three month extension, […]

Whether you’re an accidental landlord with a single property, or an owner with 100 properties, we’re all in the same boat. And I don’t just mean bored of the constant barrage of bad news. This year is challenging. There’s no denying it. With the Renters’ Rights Act coming into play, plus new tax penalties and […]

Just another day and another government hammer blow to private landlords. Confirmation that all private (and social) landlords must bring their properties up to the Decent Homes Standard (DHS) by 2035. Yes, it might only be a decade away and Generation Rent has called out the government for ‘dragging their feet’. It insists that millions […]

Paul Shamplina’s much-loved charity boxing event, Rumble with the Agents, is set to return to London on Thursday 11 June 2026, bringing together the property industry for another unforgettable night of white-collar boxing, networking and fundraising, this time in aid of North London Hospice. Now entering its 11th year in London, Rumble with the Agents has firmly established itself […]

There are 202,568 homes in the UK that are now registered to owners based outside the country, research reveals. The findings from Enness Global show that the total has barely shifted over the past 12 months, rising by just 0.02%. The data also offers a snapshot of where foreign ownership is concentrated, and which nationalities dominate […]

Tenant competition in London’s lettings market eased at the end of last year as a pickup in available homes to rent began to rebalance conditions for renters and landlords alike. New figures from Foxtons show that market competitiveness in December rose by almost 20% compared with November. That’s based on the number of new renters […]

The cost of refurbishing private rented properties to meet EPC C targets could cost nearly £20 billion, according to new research. Data by Octane Capital reveals more than two million private rented sector (PRS) properties will require improvement to meet EPC C standards. The government have announced all PRS properties will need to meet EPC […]

If not, the consumer will pay the price Commonhold is back in the spotlight: the Draft Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill has confirmed the government’s commitment to reform leasehold and the consultation announce on 28 January is a chance to get the detail right. As a member of ALEP, I support reform of leasehold because […]

An industry body has criticised the Welsh government for missing an opportunity in the Welsh Budget to support the private rented sector. The Welsh government has approved its Final Budget 2026–27 spending plans, but Propertymark says private landlords still need more support, especially for energy-efficiency upgrades. The Welsh government announced the Green Homes Wales Scheme […]

Commercial property demand across the UK stayed broadly positive at the end of last year, despite political uncertainty surrounding November’s Autumn Budget, new data suggests. Rightmove’s latest Commercial Insights Tracker shows both leasing and investment activity continued to grow during Q4 2025, even though momentum eased. The slowdown, it said, reflected caution rather than weakness. […]

The government has confirmed all private and social landlords will need to meet the Decent Homes Standard (DHS) by 2035. Generation Rent has accused the government of “dragging their feet” after opting for a 2035 target . The news comes after the government confirmed all private landlords will need to meet EPC C targets by […]

The government claims it will raise awareness of the Renters’ Rights Act among tenants by increasing funding to Shelter. Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook confirmed the government has already launched a communications campaign for landlords, with this set to be extended to tenants in April this year. Mr Pennycook said the government is supporting tenants’ awareness […]

Specialist lender Somo has launched a new bridging product aimed at landlords grappling with rising borrowing costs and regulatory reform as the Renters’ Rights Act approaches. The lender said its new Landlord’s Breathing Space Loan has been designed for those facing cashflow pressure. Along with reforms, the lander says landlords are dealing with higher maintenance […]

A council has unveiled a consultation on a new citywide licensing scheme for houses in multiple occupation. Proposals for an additional HMO licensing scheme have been approved and now the council needs the views from residents, landlords, letting agents and businesses. However, one news report quotes Salford City Council Mayor Paul Dennett declaring HMO issues […]

A letting agent and a residential leasehold management company have been expelled from The Property Ombudsman after failing to pay compensation ordered in favour of consumers. A review by the scheme’s independent Compliance Committee concluded that both businesses had breached their membership obligations and should be excluded. The Ombudsman found that Noble Living (Nottingham) Limited […]

The Renters’ Rights Act could cause chaos for independent students who do not have access to accommodation over the summer. Student Finance England defines independent students as those who are not living with their parents, are over 25 years old, and have been supporting themselves for the past three years. An article on the WONKHE […]

Home buyer confidence is improving as mortgage costs ease, bringing more people back into the housing market, although activity remains below last year’s opening pace. The latest UK House Price Index from Zoopla shows buyer demand has recovered after a subdued end to 2025. That’s when uncertainty around the Autumn Budget caused many households to […]

Scotland’s private rented sector has shown signs of stabilisation over the past year, with rent rises broadly tracking inflation. DJ Alexander says its analysis of the latest statistics shows average rents for two-bedroom homes rose by £28 a month to £921 in the year to September 2025. That represents a 3.1% annual increase, matching inflation […]

An MP has asked whether the government will prevent landlords from raising rents under the Warm Homes Plan. In a written question, Labour MP Bell Ribeiro-Addy asked if the government will stop landlords from increasing rents after using grants and loans from the plan to fund energy efficiency measures. The government has again insisted that […]

Landlords in Wales will be barred from discriminating against tenants with children or those who receive benefits from 1 June. The Welsh government says that landlords will need to give tenants, or contract holders, a new occupation contract or a statement of variation. The statement can be served up to 14 days after the new […]