Page 23 – Property118
The head of the Scottish Association of Landlords commenting on the Scottish Budget and its impact on the private rented sector

Scottish Budget: No worst-case scenario for landlords but a missed opportunity

28th January 2026

At the time of writing, the Scottish Budget process is ongoing in the Scottish Parliament. Sectors across our economy and public sector are watching events as they unfold carefully, and Scotland’s private rented sector (PRS) is no different. The decisions made and the negotiations had will have a significant impact on us as landlords and […]

Illustration showing legal scales surrounded by icons representing enforcement, councils, and renters’ rights

Renters’ Rights Act depends on council enforcement claims tenant group

28th January 2026

A tenant group claims the “Renters’ Rights Act will only be as effective as how well it is enforced”, as they claim councils need more enforcement powers. Speaking to the London Assembly Housing Committee on the implementation of the Renters’ Rights Act, the Renters’ Reform Coalition claimed local authorities have not used existing powers to […]

Wooden figures illustrating conflict over ground rents and leasehold reform

Industry reaction to capping ground rents and leasehold reform

28th January 2026

Industry experts have welcomed the government’s plans to cap ground rents at £250 a year in older leases and introduce wider leasehold reform. Under the proposals, new leasehold flats will be banned, while ground rents on existing leases will be capped at £250 annually before being reduced to a peppercorn after 40 years, meaning no […]

Dog with a small house balanced on its nose, symbolising pets in rented homes amid changing rental laws.

Landlords slow to allow pets as Renters’ Rights Act approaches

28th January 2026

Landlords across England are still reluctant to advertise homes as pet friendly, even as the Renters’ Rights Act gets closer, research reveals. According to Inventory Base, just 8.2% of rental properties are currently marketed as welcoming pets. The inspection and compliance technology firm says that represents an annual rise of 0.6% since January 2025. Landlords […]

Couple with suitcases receiving cash in front of a house with a “To Rent” sign, symbolising support for moving to a smaller home

Council offers cash to free up rented family homes

28th January 2026

A major council is offering financial support to social renters who want to move into a smaller, easier to manage home, as pressure on larger family housing continues to build. The scheme is aimed at tenants living in council or housing association properties that have more bedrooms than they now need, or which have become […]

UK build to rent housing development under construction, reflecting rising single family rental investment

The UK’s BTR investment hit £4.7bn in 2025

28th January 2026

Build to Rent (BTR) investment in the UK reached £4.7bn in 2025, with a late surge in dealmaking helping the sector close the year stronger than many expected. Data from Knight Frank show £1.7bn was invested in the final quarter, capping a year shaped by tighter financing conditions and wider economic pressure on real estate. […]

Split UK house with rising coins and arrow illustrating uneven house price growth across regions

Half of UK homes rise in value in 2025 – Zoopla

28th January 2026

Most homeowners checking their house price last year saw values edge higher, although where you live mattered more than ever, Zoopla has revealed. Its analysis shows that half of the UK’s 30 million homes increased in value during 2025. Around 15.2m properties recorded gains of at least 1%, with an average uplift of £9,900. For […]

Stack of coins topped with a block of flats and a tag reading ground rent capped, symbolising leasehold reform

Ground rents for leaseholders to be capped

27th January 2026

The government has announced that ground rents in England and Wales will be capped at £250 a year for leaseholders. Under the plans, they will fall to a peppercorn rent after 40 years, meaning no payment at all. The cap will apply to most residential leasehold agreements signed before July 2023, removing future shocks for […]

Samples of different home insulation materials highlighting issues linked to defective government insulation schemes

Government insulation schemes fail thousands of households

27th January 2026

More than 30,000 homes have been left with defects from government insulation schemes, according to a new report. The Public Accounts Committee describes a “clear systemic failure,” with no senior officials in the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero knowing whether the schemes were effective for at least two years. A Nottingham landlord has […]

Five-year fixed buy-to-let remortgage concept with house model, coins, keys and falling interest rate icons

Buy to let lenders boost remortgage deals and cut rates

27th January 2026

Landbay has rolled out a new set of five-year fixed Premier remortgage products, pairing assisted legals with a free valuation as lenders continue to compete on both price and processes. The buy to let lender has partnered with digital conveyancing firm Conveyd to support brokers handling straightforward remortgage cases. Landbay said the move is intended […]

Flooded residential property with sandbags illustrating calls to freeze evictions and rent increases after flooding

Tenant group urges freeze on evictions and rent increases following floods

27th January 2026

A tenant group has demanded a freeze on evictions and rents during any post-flood repairs. ACORN says there is no national voice for tenants on flooding, and renters bear the brunt of the consequences. However, ACORN fails to mention that renters can take out insurance to protect their belongings in case of flooding. Freeze on […]

Falling UK rents symbolised by a house with a pound sign and a downward arrow next to the word rent

Rents fall and a supply surge weighs on house prices

27th January 2026

Asking rents are slipping deeper into decline, adding fresh downward pressure to house values at the start of 2026, one index reveals. Home.co.uk says that annualised rent growth is now running at -4.1%. Every English region, along with Scotland and Wales, is now showing year-on-year falls. The news follows an announcement from Hamptons that newly […]

Aerial view of a new housing estate with a construction worker in a hard hat, representing plans for rent-controlled homes in London.

Sadiq Khan’s rent-controlled homes plan under fire from critics

27th January 2026

The Mayor of London has unveiled plans to build 6,000 rent-controlled homes for key workers by 2030. Sadiq Khan claims building rent-controlled homes will help key workers in the capital save thousands of pounds a year. However, the City Hall Conservatives argue rent controls do more harm than good and Mr Khan’s plans are a […]

Build to Rent housing development in London with multiple to rent signs and city skyline in the background

London Build to Rent planning numbers up despite national slowdown

27th January 2026

London is pressing ahead with Build to Rent (BTR) activity despite signs of a nationwide slowdown, an analysis from Foxtons has found. It says that planning volumes in the capital are up 8.5% year on year. The firm reviewed Q3 2025 planning figures and found 106,406 BTR homes are currently in the national pipeline. That […]

Vacant terraced house with people moving into a brightly lit doorway, symbolising bringing empty homes back into use

Council urges landlords to fill vacant homes via free scheme

27th January 2026

Landlords in one city with empty properties are being encouraged to work with a council-backed scheme designed to bring homes back into use quickly and with minimal cost. The council says it wants landlords who want to fill a vacant property and avoid letting agent charges to get in touch. The Exeter City Council initiative, […]

Couple sitting in front of illustrated house and for-sale sign, questioning the value of selling property with tenants

Property value change for landlords with sitting tenants?

27th January 2026

If being a landlord was such a great deal, then properties with tenants would sell at a premium? It’s no surprise to landlords that a quick internet search, and simple common sense, will tell you that one of the quickest ways to destroy property value is to buy a house at market value, then put […]

Landlord Insurance Blog featured image showing a house, shield, umbrella, policy document, tick and pound coins on a teal background.

Rent Guarantee Insurance – Does It Really Work for Landlords?

27th January 2026

Tenant default is one of the biggest risks for landlords. Even with strong referencing, job losses, illness, or disputes can leave tenants unable or unwilling to pay. Rent guarantee insurance (RGI) promises to protect landlords against these losses, but the detail of each policy makes a huge difference. This article explains how RGI works, what’s […]

House with EPC energy efficiency rating bars and upward arrow highlighting rental property energy standards

EPC C targets should not require landlords to raise rents claims government

26th January 2026

The government claim landlords will not have to raise rents to meet EPC C targets by 2030, despite a government consultation claiming the opposite. Under the Warm Homes Plan, the government announced all private rented properties will need to meet EPC C targets by 2030. However, a government consultation on meeting EPC C targets admits […]

Tenants holding placards protesting rent increases inside a courtroom during a rent reform hearing

Rent increase challenge rules spark court backlog fears

26th January 2026

Tenants challenging rent increases under new reforms could overwhelm courts, warns industry experts. An article in The Times explains under the Renters’ Rights Act, tenants will be able to challenge any proposed rent increase at the First-Tier Tribunal (FTT). Under the reforms, the tribunal will no longer be able to set a rent higher than […]

Electrician installing a wall-mounted EV charger at a residential rental property

Government encourages landlords to install electric vehicle chargers

26th January 2026

The government claim they want to incentivise landlords to install electric vehicle (EV) chargers. In answer to a written question, Labour MP Keir Mather claims “renters and leaseholders have barriers to installing EV charging points.” In October last year, the government announced reforms for renters and leaseholders to install electric vehicle (EV) chargers, including mandating […]

Hands forming a house shape around a Welsh flag door beneath a “Priority” banner, symbolising housing policy in Wales

NRLA urges next Welsh government to prioritise housing

26th January 2026

Ahead of the Senedd elections in May, a landlord organisation has launched a manifesto calling on the next Welsh government not to deter investment in the private rented sector. The National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA) says the next Welsh government must promote a better private rented sector across Wales. The Welsh Labour government has come […]