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letting boards displayed along a street highlighting student rental availability

UK rents reached a record high in January

15th February 2024

Private rents in the UK reached record highs in January with the average rent paid by tenants rising by 6.2%. That’s according to the latest report from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) and its rental index reveals this is the joint-highest since January 2016. The ONS said that the rise in private rents was […]

Multiple estate agent boards showing properties for sale, sold, and to let in a UK street.

Property market ended 2023 on a positive note

15th February 2024

The UK’s housing market showed signs of recovery in December 2023, as house price falls slowed down and new-build values soared, according to the latest data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). The ONS reports that the average house price across the UK was £285,000 in December 2023, a drop of 1.4% from the […]

Portrait of a confused young casual girl shrugging shoulders isolated over pink background

Should I rent to Serco for 7 years?

15th February 2024

Hello, in a last-ditch attempt to remain in property rental, I have discussed a 7-year lease with Serco to house asylum seekers. My property is on the market as I will not accept the abolition of section 21, tenant’s free legal advice, and Labour’s plans to sneak in tenancy for life, etc. They have offered […]

Pic of court order after s21 landlord tenant property118.com

Referencing agency missed CCJ?

15th February 2024

Hi, we ran a letting agency for a few years and are landlords ourselves. We used a referencing agency for referencing tenants and allowed a lady in our property based on her having no CCJs, a good credit history and an affordable income. In fact, we went further and took out a rent guarantee policy […]

Property maintenance landlord agent costs property118.com

Landlords grapple with rising maintenance costs

15th February 2024

Landlords are having to spend more than £1,000 every year on maintaining and repairing their rental properties. According to a report by Fixflo landlords spend an average of £535 a year fixing leak-related issues. The maintenance management company has compiled a list of the most common emergency repairs in the UK. Water and leak emergencies […]

Book your tickets now for National Landlord Investment Show

15th February 2024

A popular event for landlords is returning for its first show in 2024. The National Landlord Investment Show returns to Olympia London on 6 March 2024 bringing together thousands of landlords and property professionals. The jam-packed show now in its 11th year offers the latest advice and insight for landlords. Big year for the private […]

Government action needed to prevent student landlords leaving, warns Propertymark

15th February 2024

The government is being urged to take action to prevent a potential crisis in the student rental market as fed-up landlords increasingly look to sell, warns Propertymark. The professional body for the property sector points to a survey by Save the Student, a student money advice website, which found that nearly 40% of undergraduates have […]

Paragon offers new customers its lowest rate for 18 months

15th February 2024

Paragon Bank has launched some appealing offers on its two-year fixed rate buy to let mortgages and some deals include its lowest rate for 18 months and cuts of up to 35bps. The specialist lender says its offers are available for portfolio and non-portfolio landlords. They can apply through limited company structures or in personal […]

Asylum seekers take over 16,000 homes amid housing crisis

14th February 2024

The Home Office has rented 16,000 properties for asylum seekers, leaving local families and young workers struggling to find affordable homes, the Daily Telegraph reveals. The properties, sourced from the private and social housing sectors, accommodate more than 58,000 asylum seekers across England, Wales and Scotland. This is twice the number of asylum seekers in […]

UK rents soar by 8.3% in a year – Scotland leads the way

14th February 2024

The UK’s rental market has seen a sharp rise in rents over the last year, with the average monthly rent reaching £1,220, according to property platform Zoopla. This is an increase of 8.3% compared to a year ago, or £1,100 more per year for the average renter. However, the pace of rental growth has slowed […]

What would you ask Michael Gove, if you could?

14th February 2024

Hello, I’ve been a hands on landlord for over 20 years, and regularly renovate properties and deal with tenants, trades and homeowners. I was on a panel asking questions to a number of politicians, including Michael Gove, Sec of State for Housing & Levelling Up. He recently was quoted as saying, “As this guidance also […]

Property expert outdoors discussing rising UK rent prices

Edinburgh, Bradford and London have the best letting agents, tenants say

14th February 2024

Tenants in Edinburgh, Bradford and London are the most satisfied with their letting agents, according to a new survey by Zero Deposit. The tenancy deposit alternative’s survey of 1,204 UK tenants, found that 70% of them have a good relationship with their letting agent. Also, 61% of them feel confident that their letting agent will […]

Hamilton Fraser launches new brand for the PRS

14th February 2024

Hamilton Fraser (HFIS), a leading provider of insurance and compliance solutions for the private rented sector (PRS), has announced the launch of Total Property, a new group brand that brings together its property brands under one umbrella. Total Property will serve as a dedicated home for HFIS’s property products and services, which are well-known in […]

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First-time buyers take 15 years to save a deposit

14th February 2024

It takes 15 years to save for a 20% house deposit in the UK, amid a turbulent housing market and a cost-of-living crisis, a study reveals. The research from Norton Finance analysed average house prices and salaries and found that a person earning £34,963 a year would need to save 12% of their income (£292 […]

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How much is landlord insurance?

14th February 2024

Finding the right landlord insurance for the best price can be a daunting task and many of us begin our online search by asking ‘How much is landlord insurance?’. That’s a good place to start because the price of insurance varies depending on several different factors from location to property value. When landlords compare landlord […]

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Majority of landlords expect EPC legislation to return

14th February 2024

Landlords believe EPC C targets could be re-introduced by the next Parliament, according to a new survey. Research by Foundation Home Loans reveals three out of four landlords still expect EPC legislation to be introduced in the future. The Prime Minister scrapped EPC targets which would have required landlords to ensure their rental properties had […]

Council says housing crisis is worsening as landlords exit market

13th February 2024

Thurrock Council has revealed the growing challenges it faces in providing housing help to its residents, as the cost-of-living crisis and the exit of landlords from the private rental market put pressure on the system. The council’s housing service has seen a 22% increase in homelessness demand compared to the same period last year and […]

Landlords object to city’s new licensing schemes

13th February 2024

Bristol City Council’s new licensing schemes for rented homes have sparked a backlash from landlords who claim they are unfair and costly, Bristol Live reports. The council says the schemes, which were approved last week, aim to improve living standards for renters by ensuring that homes meet certain criteria and are well-managed. The schemes will […]

Mortgage arrears climb as landlords and homeowners struggle

13th February 2024

The number of homeowners and landlords falling behind with mortgage payments has jumped, according to UK Finance. The trade body for lenders says that there were 13,570 buy-to-let mortgages in arrears compared to the previous quarter. UK Finance said the rise in arrears is driven by cost-of-living pressures and higher interest rates. More and more […]

Mixed signals in property market as signs of recovery emerge

13th February 2024

Annual house prices in England and Wales fell slightly in January, according to the latest e.surv house price index. However, according to the data monthly house prices have seen a small increase. E.surv says average house prices in England & Wales are £361,029, up 0.2% on December, down 3.7% annually. House prices saw a slight […]