Council tax is set to double for second homes in Scotland. The Scottish government has put forward proposals which would give local councils the discretion to charge council tax premiums of up to 100% on second homes. If this proposal is approved the new measures could come into force by April next year. 24,000 second […]

This is your invitation to attend the Virtual Property Exhibition, organised by the Property Investors Network (pin), on Friday 29th September from 9.30am to 5pm. This live online, no cost, training will feature nine of the top property speakers in the UK, who will provide a full update of what’s happening and what has changed […]

The Telegraph is looking to speak to landlords for two feature stories. The first one is following the news that EPC C targets have been scrapped, The Telegraph is looking to speak to landlords who were considering selling up or reducing their portfolios because of the cost of the targets – but are now thinking […]

The Bank of England (BoE) has hit the brakes on base rate rises with news that the current rate of 5.25% will remain unchanged. The decision brings to an end 14 months of base rate rises and follows an unexpected slowdown in price rises last month when inflation fell to 6.7%. And the BoE follows […]

Hello, could anyone from Property118 please help? As fines are going to increase from early 2024 does anyone know how we can ask the home office to check whether a passport document is genuine? There are some excellent forgeries out there so how are we supposed to differentiate if unsure? Any advice would be greatly […]

A new range of buy to let fixed-rate special deals, including a five-year product for portfolio landlords only, have been unveiled by Foundation Home Loans. The intermediary-only specialist lender’s new products are designed to cater to the needs of different types of landlord borrowers. That includes those with an almost clean credit history, to those […]

The Prime Minister has confirmed plans to water down the phasing out of gas boilers. The delay will mean landlords do not need to install all new gas boilers in new builds and existing properties in England by 2035. Many landlords in rural areas will be relieved to hear of the backtracking of the boiler […]

The UK’s rental market is facing a crisis as many landlords are choosing to sell their properties due to new legislation, economic uncertainty and tax changes, a legal expert warns. Gina Peters, the head of landlord and tenant at law firm Dutton Gregory, says this could lead to a shortage of privately rented homes and […]

A new comprehensive guide to dispute resolution for landlords and tenants has been published. The Tenancy Deposit Scheme (TDS) and the National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA) have teamed to provide a guide on how to navigate potential conflicts that may arise during a tenancy without the need for legal action. The free guide aims to […]

Landlords will be celebrating after the government announced it will scrap the energy performance certificate (EPC) targets for homes. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak unveiled the plan – along with a ban on binning gas boilers – during a televised press conference from Downing Street. And tenants will be celebrating too since Mr Sunak acknowledged that […]

House prices in the UK increased by just 0.6% in the year to July – down from the 1.9% rise seen in June, the Office for National Statistics reveals. The ONS also says that the seasonally adjusted figure shows that house prices fell 0.5% between June and July. Homeowners in London saw the highest average […]

London is now unaffordable to graduates, with every postcode in the capital a ‘no-grad zone’ thanks to sky-high rents, new data reveals. The average room rent in London and surrounding areas was at a record high of £1,013 in August. According to SpareRoom’s latest quarterly rental index, not one postcode in the capital has average […]

Private rent prices paid by tenants in the UK have continued growing and have risen by 5.5% in the year to August 2023, data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) reveals. This is up from 5.3% in the year to July 2023, and reflects the strong demand for rental accommodation amid the ongoing housing […]

Are you a landlord who has spent money upgrading their properties to an EPC C rating? Then, Alexa Phillips, the personal finance reporter for the Telegraph would like to speak with you. Alexa would also like to speak to landlords who have sold properties because they were concerned about looming EPC targets. If you can […]

Hello, I have a two bedroomed ground floor flat. The current tenants have been there for four years now. Last year, they began to complain of excessive damp within the property. I had a damp survey done and was advised to have the air bricks repaired and renovated as they had collapsed within the cavity and […]

A buy to let mortgage expert has accused the Government of needlessly ‘spooking’ landlords over the proposed Renters’ (Reform) Bill with its language aimed at pleasing tenants. Gavin Richardson, the boss of Mortgages for Business, says the Government’s proposals to change evictions, including scrapping Section 21 notices, are not as bad as many fear. He […]

Most letting agents are against the proposed changes in the Renters (Reform) Bill and want to have their say, a survey reveals. The findings from PayProp UK found that 62% of respondents viewed the Bill negatively, while only 4.4% felt positive about it. The automated rental payment specialist also reveals that agents fear the law […]

One association is warning that introducing rent controls in Wales will have a ‘disastrous impact on the private rented sector.’ The NRLA has responded to the Welsh government’s Fair Rents & Adequate Housing consultation deadline explaining how rent controls influence landlord behaviour and stifle housing supply. The consultation period ended on the 15th of September […]

Landlords in England and Wales have earned more from their rental properties in the past year, a study reveals. According to letting agents Benham and Reeves, landlords have seen their portfolio rental income increase by 8.7% in the past year. But in London, the best performing region, income grew by an astonishing 32.9%. That’s despite […]

Landlords and homeowners could save hundreds of pounds towards energy-efficient improvements following the launch of the Great British Insulation Scheme. The scheme aims to help families on the lowest incomes and extend support to a wider range of households compared to other existing government-funded schemes. Those eligible for support under the scheme include families in […]

Several of the largest social housing providers in England are persistently ignoring official warnings from the housing ombudsman over how to improve their handling of tenants’ complaints – and the situation is getting worse. Landlords such as L&Q, Southwark Council and A2Dominion Group, who are responsible for 142,000 affordable homes, have failed to address issues […]