London’s PRS has started the year on a firm footing, with restricted stock and steady renter interest continuing to drive rental growth, Chestertons reveals. It says that activity across the capital remains robust and tenant enquiries in January were 6% lower than the same month in 2025. However, the figure is 81% higher when compared […]

A left-wing group claims social and private landlords are “getting away with large-scale financial exploitation” over service charges. A survey by Social Housing Action Campaign (SHAC) claims that in cases where service charges were challenged at the First-tier Tribunal (FTT), more than 63% of landlords were found to be overcharging. The figure rises to more […]

Around 726,000 privately rented homes in England could fail the Decent Homes Standard (DHS) by 2035, research reveals. Inventory Base says that another 87,000 homes in the social sector could fail too. Publication of the new Decent Homes Standard last month followed a lengthy consultation, and landlords have up to 10 years to comply. The […]

Generation Rent claims the private rented sector was a “danger zone” due to an imbalance of power between landlords and tenants. Speaking to Matt Allwright on Channel 5 about the Renters’ Rights Act, the group’s chief executive, Ben Twomey, argued that many renters were living with insecurity and poor-quality housing. However, a broadcaster on the […]

Letting property is proving far from passive, with landlords dedicating huge amounts of time alongside financial investment to keep portfolios running. According to Pegasus Insight’s latest Landlord Trends report, landlords now spend an average of 31 hours each month managing rental homes. That equates to almost four working days, and the firm calls it ‘sweat […]

Private rents across the UK continued to climb at the start of the year, though the pace of growth has eased. The latest Office for National Statistics data show average monthly private rents rose 3.5% to £1,367 in the 12 months to January 2026. Last month, the annual increase was 4%. In England, average rents […]

Social housing landlords will not be legally forced to grant pet requests, but the government urges them to be fair and considerate. In a letter to social housing landlords, the government claims tenants in social housing do not experience the same barriers as tenants in the private rented sector (PRS) to keeping a pet. Under […]

More landlords in Scotland sold property than bought over the past year, underlining the direction of travel across the nation’s private rented sector. Research from SafeDeposits Scotland Charitable Trust found 14% of landlords disposed of rental homes in the last 12 months. That compares with just 5% who expanded their portfolios. The Trust’s Voice of […]

Glasgow has taken the top spot for the first time in a major real estate firm’s league table of residential investment hotspots. The latest edition of Colliers’ Top UK Residential Investment Cities Report places Scotland’s largest city ahead of long-established frontrunners. The firm points to standout results across economics as well as property and environmental, […]

Void costs are rising across England by up to 64%, with landlords absorbing growing losses as both rents and letting gaps increase. The research from Dwelly shows the average financial hit linked to empty properties has climbed 13.8% over the past year. In some areas, the increase is much steeper, with one region recording a […]

A landlord expert has accused councils of “double jeopardy enforcement against landlords” by fining them twice for the same offence. Phil Turtle, licensing expert at Landlord Licensing & Defence, has warned councils are creating two routes to prosecution or financial penalty for the same alleged failing, such as selective, additional or HMO licensing. Mr Turtle […]

The Law Society has warned that court backlogs will be unavoidable and access to justice will be limited unless the government invests in the court system. The association warns that the abolition of Section 21 under the Renters’ Rights Act is likely to lead to an increase in contested repossession cases. Figures from the Ministry […]

The government claim the county courts will have the capacity to deal with the Renters’ Rights Act and urges tenants to attend possession hearings. In answer to a written question, the government say tenants must have access to justice, and the government will launch a new digital possession service. The news comes as Landlord Action […]

A Scottish council is calling on landlords to provide temporary accommodation for vulnerable families. The council has launched a partnership encouraging landlords to offer properties for short-term use to help support families facing homelessness across the area. The Scottish Association of Landlords (SAL) is backing the scheme, saying it will help provide vital accommodation for […]

Buy to let lenders have stepped up competition across both mainstream and specialist sectors, unveiling fresh products, rate cuts and cashback incentives. Landbay has rolled out five new five-year fixed remortgage deals under its Premier range, each with £500 cashback alongside a free valuation. The products target borrowers with portfolios of up to 15 properties […]

More social homes are being sold or demolished than they are being built, according to government figures. Data by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government reveals in England, 16,291 social homes were either sold or demolished last year, yet just 10,807 social homes were built. Housing charities Crisis and Shelter have called for […]

MPs have called for the government to go further to clamp down on short-term lets by changing data-management rules. Labour MP for Westminster and Cities of London, Rachel Blake, has introduced a Ten-Minute Rule bill to keep track of how many nights a home is rented out as a short-term let. In London, short-term lets […]

After 31 years of living in the UK, I have decided to leave shortly before 6 April 2026. I am a full-time landlord with a portfolio of 20 properties in London. These are personally held (a few in joint ownership with my wife), and all residential. I manage the properties myself, including managing repairs, insurance, […]

The government claim they are working with the software industry to make Making Tax Digital (MTD) compatible products available for landlords. In answer to a written question, the government claim they are ramping up their campaign to inform landlords about Making Tax Digital. Under the controversial scheme, from April this year, landlords earning more than […]

While it’s always good to check that tenants are not allergic to animals, it is the treatment of landlords as being non-human that grates me more and more. Has no one considered the landlord’s allergies!  People say inspect your properties regularly, make sure everything is in order, but I can’t if there is or has […]

A council has doubled the size of its staff to deal with selective licensing. Westminster council claims it has recruited 52 new posts to its Private Renters Team to process selective licensing applications and move from “reactive enforcement to a more proactive approach”. The licence costs nearly £1,000, and an online reporting tool has been […]