Rental yields in the buy to let sector have continued to grow across England and Wales, according to the latest Fleet Mortgages Barometer. The report, which covers the third quarter of 2023, shows that the average yield for both countries has risen by 1% to 6.9% compared to the same period in 2022. This is […]

MPs clashed in a Commons debate on reaching net zero by 2050, with one MP calling the scrapping of EPC targets for landlords “unforgivable” Energy Security and Net Zero Secretary Claire Coutinho told MPs the decision to do away with energy efficiency targets was driven by the financial burden it would have placed on landlords. […]

The government has been urged to end delays on the Renters (Reform) Bill that would ban ‘no-fault’ evictions and introduce other protections for tenants in England. In an open letter shared with the Guardian newspaper, 60 cross-party Parliamentarians and the mayors of London and Manchester said the legislation was a manifesto commitment and the government […]

The Property Investors Awards has announced the Finalists for 2023. This year saw “fierce competition” with property investors from all over the UK applying for the awards. The winners will be announced on the 2nd of December at the InterContinental, Park Lane hotel in London. Exemplary leaders and innovators A panel of esteemed judges went […]

The government will proceed with the Renters (Reform) Bill with a second reading scheduled for Monday, the Financial Times reveals. The Bill, which aims to end no-fault evictions and make renting safer and fairer for millions of people in England, was first promised in 2019. But it has been delayed due to opposition from some […]

City leaders in Glasgow are warning of a “humanitarian catastrophe” over plans to find housing for asylum seekers. At an emergency meeting last week, councillors were told that 2,500 asylum claims would be fast-tracked, on Home Office orders, by the end of the year. Glasgow City Council raised fears of an ‘unprecedented’ strain on housing […]

A London council is set to spend millions of pounds repurchasing 310 council homes that were sold off under the Right to Buy scheme. Islington council reveals the programme is part of the council’s commitment to increasing the number of council-owned homes in the borough. The council homes will be a mix of one, two, […]

A council wants to hear from tenants and private rented sector (PRS) landlords as it prepares to adopt a new policy that will impose stricter penalties on those who rent out unsafe and substandard homes. Harlow Council’s cabinet agreed last week to launch a four-week public consultation on its PRS Housing Enforcement Policy. The policy […]

House prices in England and Wales have fallen at their fastest pace since 2009, according to new research. The e.surv house price index reveals that house prices have fallen by more than £1,100, the fourth largest monthly fall of 2023. The chartered surveyor company says the house price falls are down to higher mortgage costs. […]

Landlords need to work “proactively” with tenants to tackle the bed bug crisis, a leading property association has warned. The National Association of Property Buyers warning comes after reports of some landlords telling tenants to put their duvets in the freezer to deal with the problem. Data from pest control company Rentokil reveals a 65% […]

A coalition of 30 charities and non-profit organisations has called on Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to deliver the Renters (Reform) Bill and end Section 21 ‘no-fault’ evictions. The group, led by homeless charity Shelter, say that the current system of Section 21 evictions is causing hardship and suffering for millions of tenants in England. Section […]

The Housing Ombudsman has published a challenging picture of social housing complaints with a 323% increase in severe maladministration findings against social housing landlords. The Annual Complaints Review also reveals a 28% increase in complaints received by the Ombudsman last year, reaching more than 5,000 for the first time. More than half of these complaints […]

Hello, I would be grateful for any advice from anyone who has had a similar experience or knows anyone who has. We experienced a fire at one of our rental properties recently, thankfully all regs’ were adhered to and no one died. The fire has destroyed the majority of the house. The fire service, police […]

Parents and pet owners are forking out £460 more on their rent and bills compared to other tenants. New research by Confused.com reveals, one in three renters (33%) share their homes with pets, while nearly three in ten (29%) have children. According to the survey, parents are the ones taking the biggest financial hit. They’ve […]

More people are struggling to pay their rent or mortgage in the UK, as housing costs have risen sharply in the past year, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) reveals. According to the latest ‘Public opinions and social trends’ bulletin, 40% of adults paying rent or mortgage said they were finding the payments ‘very’ or […]

Dear Mr Neidle As you have refused to speak to me on a recorded Zoom call on two separate occasions I am publishing this open letter in the hope of appealing to your better nature. Before I emigrated to Malta in 2016 I lived in Norfolk for 30 years, just down the road from where […]

Councils have spent £1.7 billion on temporary accommodation in just one year, according to new government figures. The latest figures reveal a 9% increase in spending in just one year. It has increased by 62% in the last five years. One third of the total was spent on emergency B&Bs and hostels – £565 million. […]

Hi, I am a landlord in a block of apartments and have needed to claim block insurance for a large water leak. So far the management company is refusing to claim on the block insurance and has ceased communication with me. Does anyone know what steps I can take to force the claim as at […]

The profitability of buy to let properties in the UK has increased over the last year, according to new research. Letting and estate agents Benham and Reeves has analysed the gross and net rental yields of the average BTL property across the country, taking into account the costs of maintaining and furnishing a rental home. […]

Landlords are now paying £15bn in mortgage interest every year as their cheap buy to let mortgage deals end – and the rate rises could see BTL investors sell up, research reveals. According to Hamptons, that mortgage interest amount is 40% higher than it was a year ago – and 58% higher than November 2021. […]

Hi everyone, I have a tenant who was on an Assured Shorthand Tenancy contract which ran off from its written end date so has therefore gone on to a rolling monthly contract (based upon monthly rental points etc). Tenant was served notice incl S21 and is using local housing authority backing to refuse to leave […]