A Tory MP has claimed that the UK’s housing crisis is being aggravated by the post-Brexit migration system which sees tenants now paying 40% of their disposable income on rent, The Times reports. Neil O’Brien, who was the levelling-up minister until last year, conducted an analysis that showed Britain had one of the lowest homeownership […]

It’s not often that politicians offer an opinion and get it right, and it’s probably even rarer when it is the Edwardian throwback Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg talking sense. Of course, he hits so many nails on the head in his GB News monologue about the ‘socialist error’ that is the Renters (Reform) Bill that no […]

The UK’s housing market showed signs of recovery in January as lower mortgage rates encouraged more buyers to resume their property search. That’s according to Hamptons, who say that the search is being led by first-time buyers and second-steppers who rely on mortgage finance. Aneisha Beveridge, the firm’s head of research, said: “The early signs […]

Only 9% of tenants in the UK say they are financially comfortable, while 59% said they had trouble paying their bills and expenses due to the high cost of living, a survey reveals. The findings from Zero Deposit also found that nearly half (46%) of renters said they had little, or no money left after […]

While Housing Secretary Michael Gove has vowed to end Section 21 ‘no-fault’ evictions before the next General Election, legal experts are warning that his pledge may cause confusion and uncertainty in the housing market. The government plans to ban Section 21 evictions under the Renters (Reform) Bill and require landlords to rely on statutory grounds […]

One in three renters claim housing is harming their mental health, according to new research. Data by the London Renters Union (LDR) reveals that 63% of private renters feel depressed about paying their rent. The activist group is calling for rent controls to bring down rents to take pressure off renters. Landlords are cashing in […]

Foxtons has revealed that the capital’s residential property market has delivered one of the best returns over the last 10 years, second only to Bitcoin and gold. The lettings and estate agents compared the performance of London property with nine other common investment choices, ranging from wheat to crude oil, and natural gas to the […]

A new study shows that the UK’s passion for homeownership remains strong and that baby boomers are playing a vital role in helping millennials get on the ladder. The property lender Together says the property market has become much harder to enter for first-time buyers over the past 50 years, with average prices soaring by […]

Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg, the former leader of the House of Commons, has launched a scathing attack on the housing secretary, Michael Gove, over his proposed Renters (Reform) Bill, which he called a ‘socialist error’. The Bill aims to improve the security and standards of tenants in the private rented sector (PRS) and would abolish section […]

 A housing charity is urging the First Minister to declare a housing emergency across the whole of Scotland. Shelter Scotland has delivered an open letter to Humza Yousaf calling for him to deliver an action plan to solve Scotland’s housing crisis. Housing emergencies have already been declared in Edinburgh, Argyll and Bute and Glasgow. It’s […]

Key workers in London are struggling to afford the high rents in the city and a rent cap is needed, says one campaign group. A report from Generation Rent highlights how much key workers are struggling as it calls for all metro mayors – including London’s Sadiq Khan – to be elected in England in […]

Landlords are listening more to their tenants’ needs and improving compliance standards, according to new research. A survey by Total Landlord Insurance reveals a positive shift in the landlord-tenant dynamic amidst challenging economic times. According to the survey, more than half of landlords (58%) are willing to accommodate their tenants’ financial situations. The proportion of […]

A new resource from the National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA) aims to help landlords make their properties more accessible for tenants with disabilities or long-term illnesses. The factfinder, which is supported by Foundations, the national body for home improvement agencies, explains how landlords can use Disabled Facilities Grants (DFGs) to fund adaptations such as ramps, […]

Rental prices in the capital saw a slight downturn amidst increasing supply, according to new research. According to letting agents Foxtons, rental prices decreased by 1% in January 2024 compared to the same period in 2023, Foxtons say this small decrease in rental price could be attributed to increasing supply. The average weekly rent in […]

Hello, I am paying very high service charges for my flat (3 times the average in London), recently this has risen again with the appointment of a new managing agent and a change in freeholder. The new freeholder is also the majority share leaseholder who forced the sale of the freehold, ignoring our request to […]

Using section 21 ‘no-fault’ evictions to remove ‘model tenants’ in a court of law is ‘fundamentally unfair’ and will ‘get worse’. That is the opinion of Simon Harris, the chief executive of Citizens Advice Staffordshire North and Stoke-on-Trent, who spoke to Stoke-on-Trent Live about the latest data on ‘no-fault’ evictions. He said: “It’s something we’re […]

Campaigners are warning the Renters (Reform) Bill is being watered down by MPs. The Renters Reform Coalition and Shelter claim a group of backbench MPs who are also landlords are delaying the bill for their own interests. Analysis of the Register of MP’s Financial Interests conducted by the Renters’ Reform Coalition reveals that five out […]

Hello, my question is about HMRC VAT Notice 708 and specifically section 8 empty properties. Properties empty for 2 years benefit from a reduced VAT rate on works. 5% rather than the usual 20%. >> https://www.gov.uk/guidance/buildings-and-construction-vat-notice-708#section8. I have one property where I am benefitting from this and just found out that a second property I […]

A special investigation by the Housing Ombudsman has exposed how Hammersmith and Fulham Council failed to provide adequate repairs and complaints handling to its residents, leaving them ‘feeling anything but secure in their homes’. The report found that the council had a maladministration rate of 88% in 33 cases investigated, with 85 findings of fault […]

Scotland outperformed the rest of the UK in the property market in 2023, with a 4.2% increase in house prices, while the UK average fell by £740, according to one property firm. DJ Alexander Ltd, Scotland’s largest lettings and estate agency, analysed the monthly house price index and found that the average house price in […]

Just six London boroughs managed to register an increase in house prices in 2023, while the rest faced a drop, especially in the prime market, research reveals. A new report by Benham and Reeves, based on the latest data from the Land Registry, shows how the capital’s housing market fared over the last year, amid […]