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 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 […]

One landlord says applying for a selective licence with his council’s online system is a ‘complete waste of money’ which could see him facing a prison sentence and making all of his tenants homeless. Mick Roberts, one of Nottingham’s largest landlords to house benefit tenants, told Property118 that every time he has tried to apply […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 (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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

The National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA) is urging the Government to address the growing gap between the demand and supply of private rented housing, as new research shows a sharp rise in tenant enquiries. According to an NRLA survey, 63% of landlords reported increased demand from tenants in the last quarter of 2020, compared to […]

Scottish tenants are facing a looming crisis in the private rented sector as emergency protections against rent hikes and evictions expire on 31 March, campaigners have warned. The Scottish government has “in effect rubber-stamped rent increases from April”, Ruth Gilbert, the national campaigns chair of the Scotland-wide tenants’ union Living Rent told the Guardian newspaper. […]

Hello, I applied for a selective property licence on behalf of a landlord on 27/9/2023. At that time, the licence fee was £735. A new scheme came into force on 1/11/2023 and the fee increased to £860 On 21/12/2023, I received an email inviting me to pay the final instalment due of £445.00 and to […]

Hello, I have only had to serve one section 8 in 25 years. To my horror, the disrespect of the law the tenant is allowed to do freely, and without consequence, is costing me more time than waiting for the county court case and judgment! Served section 8 first week November 2023, got court hearing […]

Housing Secretary Michael Gove has pledged to ban Section 21 ‘no-fault’ evictions in England by the next general election, which is due by January 2025. No-fault evictions allow landlords to evict tenants without giving a reason, which campaigners say leaves renters vulnerable to unfair treatment and insecurity. The Conservative Party promised to end this practice […]

A housing legal expert says that councils are guilty of severe maladministration, excessive enforcement and unfair licensing conditions against private sector landlords while neglecting their own housing stock and ignoring tenants’ complaints. That’s the view of Des Taylor, a director of Landlord Licensing and Defence, a company that helps landlords comply with regulations and defend […]