Despite an increase in the overall number of private rented sector (PRS) properties, the proportion of these homes in England has fallen to its lowest level in a decade, research reveals. The findings from Zero Deposit highlight the decline is attributed to the government’s focus on supporting homeownership, leaving the rental sector under-resourced and leading […]

Hello, There is a government consultation on proposed changes to some permitted development rights – the deadline 9 April. I have posted the link below. It seems crazy to me that developers can get permission to go ahead from a council to add rooftop flats without providing proof that the structure can cope with the […]

As the UK government struggles to help landlords facing tough financial situations, landlords have rallied together to help themselves. This year is the year of the sale: with landlords rushing to sell up their property portfolios to either get out, or invest their money in safer bets. The rise in landlords wanting to sell has […]

One of the UK’s largest buy to let lenders, The Mortgage Works (TMW), has called on the government to use the Spring Budget to introduce four key actions that will help the private rental sector. TMW, which is part of Nationwide, said that many landlords are facing difficulties due to increased regulation and taxation, as […]

Hi, I planned to sell my flat this year, but have only recently been told (by chance) that there is an existing issue within the buildings in the same development – i.e. the possibility of pipes, embedded within cement, leaking and causing extensive damage to the flats involved. A few days later, my managing agent […]

Last month, landlords saw an increase in rents and demand for rental properties across England, according to Goodlord’s latest Rental Index. It says the average rent of a property in February was 7% higher than in February 2023, and 1% higher than in January 2024. The average rent was £1,162, up from £1,154 in January. […]

Hello, Does anyone know if a guarantor letter is still valid, if I renewed the original tenancy agreement with the same tenant? I have got a guarantor letter when the tenant first moved in 2009. A year later, a new agreement was issued changing payment terms from weekly to monthly to help the tenant managing […]

A court has fined a landlord almost £1,500 for neglecting her gas safety obligations and ignoring council warnings. Tracey Robinson, from Cold Hesledon, Seaham, was the landlord of a terraced house in Sorley Street, Sunderland. She failed to produce a gas safety certificate and other documents as required by the Housing Act 2004. South Tyneside […]

Whether you are a landlord with a small or big portfolio finding the right landlord insurance cover is hugely important. Imagine if your property was damaged and you had no cover, with many insurance implications these days it’s a good idea to have a look at what landlord insurance covers. Here at Property118, we’ve teamed […]

The majority of the British public have called for urgent action to address the student housing crisis, according to new research. A poll by YouGov reveals (53%) of the British public believe the government should be doing more to support students find housing. The Renters (Reform) Bill plans to abolish fixed-term tenancies, which experts say […]

Government policy and anti-landlord rhetoric are to blame for a 22,000 drop in rental homes across Scotland in one year, according to one organisation. A survey conducted by members of the Scottish Association of Landlords (SAL) reveals respondents have already withdrawn an average of 6.4% of their properties from the sector during 2023. Extrapolating this […]

Nearly four in 10 (38%) landlords are keen to add more properties to their portfolio in the next year, while two in 10 (20%) are planning to refurbish their existing properties, a survey reveals. The research from Lendlord found that 42% will focus on renting out their current properties, while 17% will seek to diversify […]

One million private renters who depend on Universal Credit are unable to cover their rent with the housing benefit they receive, the National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA) reveals. It has analysed government data and found that two-thirds of the 1.5 million households renting privately in Britain and receiving Universal Credit have a shortfall between their […]

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt is expected to announce a £300 million tax crackdown on second-home owners who rent out their properties to tourists in the Budget, The Sunday Times reports. He will scrap a series of tax breaks for landlords who use the furnished holiday lets (FHL) regime, which allows them to deduct the full cost […]

Hi, as a landlord with over 20 years of experience in this business, I realise that we are not all made from the same cloth and we do not all hold the same political beliefs. Some of us are right-wing leaning and some left-wing but I hope we all have an interest in a balanced […]

Hi, I would like to know if my letting agent is in breach of contract.  This is the third time my letting agent has only paid half the amount of rent to me and then transfers the other half at a later date. This is not only frustrating but also disruptive to my financial planning […]

More than 30,000 renting households in London have faced a no-fault eviction claim since the government pledged to abolish them in 2019, according to new figures. Figures from the Ministry of Justice reveal the number of ‘no-fault eviction’ claims has risen 62% in the last year from 7,057 in 2022 to 11,457 in 2023 in […]

Landlords and residents are to be consulted on whether selective licensing schemes in six areas in one town should be extended. Burnley council introduced selective licensing in 2008 as part of its regeneration strategy to improve the quality and reputation of the private rented sector. According to a report by the council’s executive, selective licensing […]

2024 is set to be a challenging year for the private rented sector, according to new research. Propertymark says proposed legislative changes will greatly impact the rental sector. However, there is a glimmer of hope as an uptick in the number of properties available to rent is increasing easing the supply and demand burden. A […]

The Liberal Democrats are urging the government to act on its pledge to ban Section 21 no-fault evictions, as new data shows that homelessness has risen across the UK. According to the latest government statistics, 35,760 people faced the threat of homelessness between July and September 2023, a 3.1% increase from the previous year. Of […]

Tenants in Scotland are being advised to know their renting rights as the emergency measures to protect them from rent hikes and evictions will end on 1 April. The Scottish Government has launched an awareness campaign and the tenants’ rights minister, Patrick Harvie, said: “Our emergency legislation has led the way in the UK in […]