A barrister has warned that England’s new £7,000 disrepair fines may do little to reduce the number of housing claims brought against landlords. Jeffrey Zitron says limited council resources and continued reliance on existing complaints routes mean the legal landscape is unlikely to change much. The government estimates that around one in 10 privately rented […]

More than 200,000 landlords and sole traders have yet to sign up for Making Tax Digital (MTD), with the first quarterly deadline now less than a month away. Research commissioned by business management platform Tide found that 25% of landlords and sole traders earning more than £50,000 had not registered with HMRC for the new […]

Hello, I commissioned a London-based fire risk assessor to undertake an assessment of the communal area of my terraced property in North London. There are 2 self contained flats. The ground floor has 2 bedrooms, and the first floor has 3 bedrooms which includes a loft conversion. The ground floor tenants were out when he […]

Social housing landlord Notting Hill Genesis has lost an appeal over its attempt to charge shared owners at a Battersea block for facilities serving private flats elsewhere on the estate. The dispute turned on the wording of the leases, and that wording proved decisive. The Upper Tribunal ruled that shared owners in block V1 at […]

Landlords have grown used to bad news under the Renters’ Rights Act, but the suggestion that tenants could be awarded up to £25,000 through the new Private Rented Sector Ombudsman scheme appears to have touched a particular nerve. It is not just the size of the potential award that has caused alarm. It is what […]

Landlords could be required to pay tax every month under Treasury proposals that would calculate deductions using income declared in the previous year, the Daily Telegraph reports. The move comes after the controversial Making Tax Digital (MTD) is already forcing thousands of property owners into a new quarterly reporting regime. The government is consulting on […]

Scottish landlords are having to wait up to a year to regain possession of their properties as housing tribunal delays cause chaos in the rental market. Data from the Scottish Association of Landlords (SAL) reveals the average time between an eviction application being lodged and a tribunal decision has more than doubled, from around three […]

The Welsh government is preparing legislation to strengthen the rights of private tenants, with further restrictions on no-fault evictions expected later in the Senedd term. First Minister Rhun ap Iorwerth included the proposed bill in the first phase of the government’s new legislative programme, outlined in a statement to the Senedd. The initial legislation will […]

Landlords have a fresh round of mortgage rate cuts to explore, with Dudley Building Society reducing selected buy to let and holiday let deals by as much as one percentage point. InterBay, Aldermore and Coventry Building Society have also changed their landlord mortgage ranges, cutting rates or adding new options for specialist and larger loans. […]

The government has announced stricter rules for social landlords under phase two of Awaab’s Law. Coming into force on 30 November 2026, social housing landlords will now be required to fix more dangers like electrical faults, pest infestations and unsafe stairs to quicker timeframes. Under the Renters’ Rights Act, Awaab’s law will be extended to […]

Hello, I am looking for advice on how to proceed regarding my flat’s main fire door. Our managing agent recently arranged for fire door surveys to be completed by an agency for all flats in our building. ​The report requested that I complete the following repairs: replace the hinges and letterbox, ensure the gaps around […]

Despite the government’s pledge to deliver 1.5 million homes, the number of new-build housing developments coming to market is at its lowest level since January 2017. Findings by Rightmove reveal that not enough affordable homes are being built, while high mortgage rates are adding to the challenges facing buyers and developers. The property platform is […]

The government has announced that court fees for landlords will rise this week. However, fees for tenants to challenge a rent increase will remain frozen at £47. The news comes as the government claims the justice system “is well prepared” to handle the Renters’ Rights Act. Rise due to inflation Annual price rises linked to […]

Students remain the main target for HMO landlords, but they are far from the only group in landlords’ sights, research reveals. Paragon Bank found that 92% of landlords actively prepare or present their rental properties to attract a particular type of tenant. It adds that 36% of landlords operating houses in multiple occupation target students, […]

Rent controls could save the average private tenant in England £2,400 a year, according to a report welcomed by Green Party leader Zack Polanski. The report, published by the UCL Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose, argues that controlling rents could reduce housing benefit spending while improving affordability for lower-income households. It was written by […]

We have seen tenant bodies jumping up and down, demanding, lobbying and creating over grievances with landlords. They have achieved major reform but it appears the results are so detrimental to tenants, they are already calling for more major reform. When you try and put a fire out by pouring liquid on it, if you […]

An association has warned the use of temporary accommodation is becoming “financially unsustainable” as they call on the next Prime Minister to offer long-term solutions. Data by the Local Government Association (LGA) reveals council spending on housing homeless families in temporary accommodation has surged by more than 1,000% over 13 years. Councils have spent more […]

Landlords operating HMOs in one city are being warned that unlicensed properties and safety breaches are now firmly in the sights of council enforcement teams. Coventry City Council’s Safer Housing and Communities team carried out a series of targeted visits across the city, alongside police and immigration officers. They uncovered multiple suspected unlicensed houses in […]

Investors are turning to commercial property rather than residential property due to government regulation, claims an industry body. According to NAEA Commercial Propertymark’s Advisory Panel, increasing taxes and regulations are prompting investors to consider commercial property. The news comes as the Renters’ Rights Act came into force in the private rented sector on 1 May […]

With the UK’s heatwave set to continue, estate agents are urging landlords and tenants to take action as homes heat up with the scorching temperatures. Estate agents are calling on landlords to check ventilation and airflow systems and for tenants to use fans safely and efficiently. The news comes as London Mayor Sadiq Khan unveiled […]

Rents continue to rise across the UK as renters struggle with affordability, according to new data. Figures by SpareRoom reveal renting a room in the UK now costs £761 per month on average, a 0.5% increase on the previous year. Across the UK, rents have risen almost 7% in the past three years. Year-on-year rent […]