Page 25 – Property118
Elderly wheelchair user sitting alone at a dining table in a cluttered home

Landlord says council has ‘ditched’ a vulnerable tenant as clean-up bill mounts

24th February 2026

A Nottingham landlord claims the city council has ‘washed its hands’ of a vulnerable tenant it placed in his property nearly two decades ago. As a result, he has been left facing mounting costs, enforcement action and a potential £30,000 fine. Mick Roberts, the largest landlord of benefit tenants in the city, says the tenant […]

Domino effect leading to a house protected by an umbrella, symbolising rent protection insurance.

Rent insurance demand surges ahead of the Renters’ Rights Act

24th February 2026

Landlord demand for rent insurance products rose sharply in the final months of 2025 as agents and landlords prepared for the Renters’ Rights Act. The analysis from lettings platform Goodlord recorded a 41% increase in demand between September and December. That came after the Act was signed into law on 27 October. Alarm sounded The […]

Young couple celebrating with house keys outside a home, with a crossed-out “For Rent” sign highlighting rental barriers

Call to fine landlords who discriminate against young renters

24th February 2026

Young people attempting to move from homelessness accommodation into private rented housing are facing widespread landlord discrimination, charities warn. Organisations in the EveryYouth Network argue that the Renters’ Rights Act fails to address housing access barriers. It is now calling for financial penalties to be introduced for landlords and agents found to be discriminating against […]

E-bike engulfed in flames indoors, highlighting lithium-ion battery fire risk in rental properties.

Landlords told to store e-bikes safely as fires rise

24th February 2026

Firefighters in London are attending an e-bike or e-scooter fire every other day, as the London Fire Brigade calls on landlords to raise awareness of its campaign and store e-bikes safely. The London Fire Brigade has launched its #ChargeSafe campaign to raise awareness to landlords, housing associations and councils about the risks associated with owning […]

Black mould spreading along interior wall highlighting damp hazards in social housing

Councils struggle with damp and mould targets under Awaab’s Law

24th February 2026

Two councils in Suffolk that manage 700 homes have failed to meet targets for addressing damp and mould, according to a BBC report. Under Awaab’s Law, social housing landlords must investigate any significant hazards, including damp and mould, within 10 working days of becoming aware of them. However, Mid Suffolk District Council resolved only 63% […]

Property law expert discussing cautious leasehold reform

Can the Draft Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill deliver on its objectives?

24th February 2026

We now have the Draft Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill. It is not yet in final form and there may be some changes following consultation until late April. However, we now have some certainty that the government plans for commonhold to become the default tenure for new flats, to cap ground rents in older leases, […]

Cutaway illustration of a modern rental home with “For Rent” sign highlighting strong tenant demand in 2026

Rental demand holds firm as tenants prioritise space

24th February 2026

Rental demand has held firm at the start of 2026, with research suggesting tenants are still competing for homes. An analysis by Benham and Reeves shows that 25.1% of rental properties currently listed across Great Britain have already secured tenants. The East of England leads with 34.8% of homes having agreed lets, the South East […]

Renters reviewing potential landlord fines under Bristol City Council’s new civil penalty policy

Council launches consultation with tenants on landlord fines

23rd February 2026

A council is asking renters to help decide how much it will fine landlords who breach rules under the Renters’ Rights Act. The law introduces civil penalties of up to £7,000 for breaches and up to £40,000 for more serious offences. It also hands councils stronger enforcement powers over the private rented sector. Now Bristol […]

Crumpled eviction notice with moving boxes in the background, symbolizing housing uncertainty.

Instructing court bailiffs after possession granted from violent tenant?

23rd February 2026

We should shortly be instructing court bailiffs after a possession was granted. I`ve not been in this position before, so I would appreciate advice from any landlords with experience here. I have heard that sometimes bailiffs are not successful in an eviction, as they will not use force, and a tenant can refuse to move […]

People leaving rental property after cancelling joint tenancy before move-in date

Can new tenants just cancel and walk away?

23rd February 2026

We operate joint and several student HMO tenancies, which we typically sign up in Jan/Feb for the next academic year beginning in July. We don’t do holding deposits, but we do ask for the first month’s rent upfront to secure the tenancy, payable as soon as the agreement is signed. Under the new Renter Rights […]

Crowds gather outside a London home with a To Rent sign amid rising tenant demand.

London’s lettings demand jumped by 93% in January

23rd February 2026

Tenant demand across London’s lettings market rose sharply at the start of the year, with new registrations increasing by 93% between December 2025 and January 2026. That’s according to Foxtons’ latest Lettings Market Index, which highlights there was also an 11% month-on-month rise in renters competing for each home. Tenant budgets averaged £539 per week […]

House to let sign in Wales with Renting Homes (Wales) Act title and Welsh flag

Renting Homes (Wales) Act harms rental market – NRLA

23rd February 2026

Nearly half of landlords in Wales (47%) believe the Renting Homes (Wales) Act has been detrimental to the private rented sector, according to a new survey. Data from the National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA) reveal that more landlords view the Renting Homes (Wales) Act as harmful to the sector than beneficial. The news comes ahead […]

To Rent sign highlighting the Renters’ Rights Act with the Houses of Parliament in London

Renters’ Rights Act could strain London’s rental market – Propertymark

23rd February 2026

An industry body has warned the success of the Renters’ Rights Act in London will depend not only on legislative change but on court reforms and enforcement. Speaking to the London Assembly Housing Committee, Propertymark warn London’s private rented sector operates at a “scale and complexity unlike anywhere else in England”. The Renters’ Rights Act […]

Worried father surrounded by moving boxes with £20 notes highlighting rising temporary accommodation costs

£11m temporary accommodation bill drives council to seek government help

23rd February 2026

A council is urging the government to give financial support as its temporary accommodation costs soar to £11 million. Brighton and Hove council have requested Exceptional Financial Support (EFS) from the government to create headroom in its 2026/27 Budget. EFS allows councils short-term flexibility to borrow additional funding to stabilise their finances while continuing work […]

Scales balancing buy-to-let and homeowner mortgages in front of suburban houses

Buy to let lending growth is matching homebuyers

23rd February 2026

Buy to let borrowing is rising at the same rate as loans taken out by first-time buyers and home movers as improving BTL rates are helping landlords invest, research reveals. According to mortgage brokers Alexander Hall, the buy to let mortgage lending market expanded at an average quarterly rate of 7% over the past year. […]

Student reviewing paperwork on phone with rising investment and growth graphic overlay

UK PBSA investment hit £4.3bn in 2025

23rd February 2026

Investment into the UK’s purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) sector climbed to £4.3 billion in 2025 as institutional appetite for the asset class remained strong. Research from global property consultancy Knight Frank says that’s a 10% annual rise and nearly £880 million was invested in the final quarter. The firm’s latest Student Market Update reveals that […]

Hand controlling a wooden puppet over model buildings labelled PropCo and OpCo, symbolising risk separation

My PropCo OpCo strategy

20th February 2026

Several Property118 readers have requested details of how I manage my properties, and now, most importantly, how I protect my properties from liabilities and potential fines of up to £40,000. My Property Company (PropCo) owns some 70 properties, purchased over the last 30 years, the shares for which shares are all owned by family members. […]

Damp and mould damage on rental property wall highlighting housing standards concerns

Government’s Decent Homes Standard impact assessment slammed as ‘not fit for purpose’

20th February 2026

The government’s impact assessment for extending the Decent Homes Standard to private landlords has been slammed by an independent committee as ‘not fit for purpose’. The withering condemnation of the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government’s (MHCLG) proposals has been made by the Regulatory Policy Committee (RPC). The aim is to bring private landlords […]

Model house with EPC energy rating scale and for sale sign representing impact of EPC C rules on landlords

Landlords could exit the market without EPC support – Propertymark

20th February 2026

An industry body has warned the government must support landlords in achieving EPC C targets by 2030 or landlords could leave the market. Propertymark has responded to the government consultation on energy-performance certificate (EPC) reforms and the Home Energy Model, which will replace the way EPCs are measured, replacing the existing single cost metric with […]

Knight-themed Landlord Crusader logo symbolizing landlord advocacy

If PRS tenants are so happy, why are landlords being persecuted?

20th February 2026

There’s an old saying that says if something isn’t broken, don’t try to fix it and this week, landlords had the perfect example of what is happening in the private rented sector. Almost three quarters of tenants in England say they are happy renting. That’s 74% according to Pepper Money’s survey. Only 11% say they […]