Page 29 – Property118
Model house, calculator and UK pound notes on paperwork illustrating rent repayment and landlord enforcement

Propertymark backs wider Rent Repayment Order crackdown

8th January 2026

Propertymark has welcomed the government’s decision to widen the scope of tougher Rent Repayment Orders (RRO) to protect tenants on housing support. Ministers have confirmed that a pilot scheme allowing councils to pursue expanded RRO’s will be rolled out to 41 local authorities across England. That follows early signs that the approach is helping recover […]

How to get Government updates for landlords

How to get Government updates for landlords?

8th January 2026

Hello all readers, I think it might be worth all landlords signing up for the Government’s PRS updates and updates reference Assured Periodic Tenancy agreement templates. Their document is to give tenants already on an AST or Periodic tenancies on or before the 1st of May this year. Get emails from GOV.UK You’ll get emails […]

Damaged electric meter with exposed wiring in a vandalised flat, highlighting costly repairs and safety concerns

Punish the landlord victim?

7th January 2026

Hi, my flat was ransacked by the tenant or a third party introduced by the tenant, and the electric meter was damaged. It will cost £6,000 -£8,000 to make a full repair. The council made an Emergency Prohibition Order under S43 Housing Act 2004. Fair enough. They now want me, the landlord, to pay them […]

Desk calendar showing extended notice to quit dates with Northern Ireland flag in the background

Northern Ireland’s private landlords face seven month Notice to Quit periods

7th January 2026

Northern Ireland landlords could soon face some of the longest Notice to Quit periods in the UK after Communities Minister Gordon Lyons began a 12-week consultation on new regulations. The proposals would require private landlords to give up to seven months’ notice to tenants with more than 10 years of occupancy. The major policy shift […]

Balance scales weighing stacked coins against a house, symbolising buy to let affordability and mortgage stress rates

HSBC cuts BTL stress rates as LendInvest launches 2026 deals

7th January 2026

HSBC UK has lowered its buy to let affordability stress rates for domestic borrowers; a move it says will widen access to finance and help stabilise rental supply during a period of persistent cost pressure. The lender said the adjustment would give landlords greater flexibility when refinancing or raising additional borrowing, improving choice across the […]

Rent sign beside model house and coins with downward arrow showing falling rental prices

Rents stagnate as Renters’ Rights Act uncertainty bites

7th January 2026

The UK’s rents slipped in December to leave annual growth muted as landlords tread carefully ahead of May’s implementation of the Renters’ Rights Act. According to the latest HomeLet Rental Index, average rents fell to £1,317 last month, down 1.5% from November. Despite the monthly dip, prices remain 2.6% higher than a year earlier. Excluding […]

Landlord calculating rental property running costs with calculator, coins, and house model

Landlords spend up to 45% of rental income on rising costs

7th January 2026

Non-HMO landlords are allocating around 25% of their gross rental income to their portfolio running expenses, with HMO operators reporting figures close to 45%, research reveals. According to Pegasus Insight, those proportions mark a big rise in maintenance and repairs, which now represent between 31% and 39% of overall expenditure. Average annual costs have reached […]

Piggy bank with coins and a question mark illustrating a tenancy deposit dispute and outstanding rent arrears

Are rent deposits covered by the Limitations Act 1980?

7th January 2026

The tenant took a 12-month lease from 24/03/2017 and served notice to quit on 10/02/2018, effective 23/03/2018. The deposit, in the sum of £1,920, was registered with The Deposit Protection Service (DPS) on 27/03/2017. The rent due on 23/02/2018 was not paid. The tenant agreed that this amount could be deducted from the deposit, leaving […]

Commercial Finance Blog featured image showing buildings, factory, handshake, loan document, calculator, pound sign and growth bars on a teal background.

A Tale of Two Applications – Why One Got Rejected and the Other Approved

7th January 2026

On the surface, two landlords submitted similar applications for commercial finance. Yet one was rejected outright while the other sailed through to approval. What made the difference? This case study highlights the importance of preparation, presentation, and broker expertise in determining outcomes. Case 1 – The Rejected Application A landlord applied directly to a lender […]

Wealthy investor lounging on piles of cash above two rental homes, symbolising profit-driven landlords replacing smaller ones

Small landlords will be forced out of PRS and replaced by money-motivated landlords

6th January 2026

Small landlords who care about their tenants will sell up in 2026 and be replaced by “money-motivated landlords” due to new regulations, claims legal experts. The Daily Telegraph reports mounting regulations, such as the Renters’ Rights Act, will see small landlords exit due to high costs and increased council powers. Under the Renters’ Rights Act, […]

Judge’s gavel beside stacked coins and a house, symbolising legal support for tenants facing eviction

Government pledges millions of pounds in free legal support for tenants

6th January 2026

The government has announced £20 million in legal support and advice for tenants facing eviction. The government claim the funding will help those at risk of eviction and debt to “get the help they need before they end up in court”. Propertymark says long-term reform of the housing justice system is needed to tackle the […]

Model house in a shopping trolley with a Scottish flag symbolising affordable housing purchases in Glasgow

Scotland’s largest landlord is buying homes for social rent

6th January 2026

Scotland’s biggest registered social landlord has begun buying homes across Glasgow to boost the city’s supply of affordable housing. Wheatley Homes Glasgow is using funding from the Scottish Government and backing from Glasgow City Council. The programme will see each property being refurbished before being offered at social rent to households facing urgent need. The […]

Chart showing variable rate mortgage tracking the UK base rate with house model, keys and cash on a desk

Paragon launches base rate tracker BTL deals as Aldermore cuts rates

6th January 2026

Paragon has rolled out a new range of bank base rate tracker buy to let mortgages, pitching them as a more flexible option for landlords navigating a shifting interest rate landscape. The products track the Bank of England base rate and crucially come with no early repayment charges. That means landlords can move away at […]

Landlord holding a clipboard showing “Joint Tenancy Agreement” crossed out, highlighting tenancy status concerns

Tenant refuses to sign joint tenancy agreement?

6th January 2026

Hello, My tenant, aged 60, moved into the property in May 2022 as a sole tenant.  He has been a good tenant and the house is kept in good condition. I became aware his girlfriend had moved in around April 2025 when I did an inspection visit. We had a discussion about the need to […]

Landlord Insurance Blog featured image showing a house, shield, umbrella, policy document, tick and pound coins on a teal background.

Underinsurance and the Average Clause – Avoiding Reduced Payouts

6th January 2026

Underinsurance is one of the most expensive mistakes a landlord can make. If your sum insured is too low, insurers can apply the average clause and reduce any claim in the same proportion that you are underinsured. The reduction can hit every part of the claim – buildings repairs, contents, and sometimes loss of rent […]

Online landlord licensing forms slammed as council advertises on the Tube

5th January 2026

A London council has been accused of poor timing and clumsy execution after landlord licensing adverts appeared across the Tube network before an early bird discount ends. One Property118 reader, Richard, questioned the coincidence, saying: “Wandsworth council has posted landlord licensing ads on the Tube, just days before the ‘early bird’ offer expires! Coincidence?” According […]

Chalk-drawn house price chart with a turtle symbolising slow but steady UK housing market growth

House price growth slowed at the end of 2025 – Nationwide

5th January 2026

UK house price growth lost pace at the end of 2025, with annual inflation slowing to 0.6% in December from 1.8% a month earlier, Nationwide’s latest index reveals. The average home is now worth £271,068 and the slowdown marks the weakest annual rate since April 2024. In comparison, prices were rising at 4.7% in December […]

BTL Mortgage Blog featured image showing a house, key, calculator, percentage sign and pound coins on a teal background.

The Role of Mortgage Brokers in Securing Buy-To-Let Finance

5th January 2026

In 2026, mortgage brokers play a more important role than ever in helping landlords navigate the complex buy-to-let market. With stricter affordability rules, changing lender appetites and new product innovations, going directly to lenders is rarely the most effective option. This article explains why specialist brokers matter, what they can do that landlords often cannot, […]

Modern bedroom with wooden bed frame and soft blue bedding representing spare room rental potential

Lodger supply slows as calls grow to raise Rent a Room tax threshold

5th January 2026

Rental stock from households taking in lodgers is barely rising despite intense pressure across the housing market, research reveals. Growth in the number of rooms available to rent in people’s homes increased by just 1.5% in the past year. Previously, it had surged by 19%, the flatshare platform SpareRoom says, and it now wants a […]