Page 34 – Property118
Hand holding a house key above a crowd of raised hands symbolising competition in the rental market

Renters’ Rights Act fuels uncertainty as demand outstrips supply

23rd January 2026

Despite a growth in the number of properties available to rent, demand continues to outstrip supply as the Renters’ Rights Act creates uncertainty for landlords. Propertymark’s Housing Insight November report reveals that the average number of properties available to rent has grown slightly, reaching 10.82 per member branch. However, demand remains high, with an average […]

Clock overlaid with calendar pages turning from August to November and a question mark, symbolising uncertainty over housing law changes

Councils and their discharge of housing duty?

23rd January 2026

Most councils will pay the first month’s rent and deposit for someone they deem to owe a housing duty to. In return, the landlord must offer up a min 12 month contract. The Renters’ Rights Act will change all that. So what happens after May 1st? How will the council end that duty? A quick […]

BTL Deals logo inside a glowing house outline held in a hand, symbolising buy to let mortgage options

Paragon, NatWest and RAW unveil new buy to let deals and processes

23rd January 2026

Paragon has widened its buy to let mortgage line-up, adding six two-year Bank Base Rate tracker products following broker feedback and renewed landlord demand for flexibility. The new deals sit alongside the lender’s existing five-year trackers linked to the Bank of England Base Rate and are available up to 75% loan-to-value. All come without early […]

Rocket labelled “rent” launching beside a map of the UK, symbolising rising rental prices in regional towns and cities.

Rents skyrocket in North of England as UK average stabilises

23rd January 2026

Despite rents stabilising across the UK, some areas are seeing prices skyrocket, prompting calls for increased housing supply to tackle rising rents. A report by SpareRoom reveals the steepest average rent increases were recorded in towns and cities across northern England, the Midlands and Scotland. The report reveals that the UK average rent continued to […]

House model on documents with a “For Sale” sign, representing landlords planning to sell amid legislative changes

How to sell two flats and the freehold?

23rd January 2026

I own a small detached freehold building which contains two self-contained flats, which I purchased eight years apart. I put both flats on the market last year, but failed to find buyers, so I re-let them. The building is in a rural market town, and the local agent was worried that when I offered each […]

Landlord hands over buy-to-let property keys beside a model house during a rental transaction

Autumn Budget dents landlord confidence but buy to let activity continues

23rd January 2026

Four in 10 landlords say they feel negative about the outlook for their buy to let businesses following the Autumn Budget but remain active in the sector, research suggests. The findings are in the first revamped landlord survey from Landbay which says landlords are adjusting to various pressures to maintain their business. Carried out at […]

EPC energy efficiency rating chart showing a home targeting EPC C by 2030 against a green landscape

Government U-turn as Warm Homes Plan sets EPC C deadline for 2030

22nd January 2026

The government has U-turned on its plans and scrapped the 2028 deadline for new tenancies to meet EPC C targets, though the cost cap has been reduced. The government has published its Warm Homes Plan, which will require landlords to ensure their rental properties meet minimum energy-efficiency standards. Energy Secretary Ed Miliband says the plan […]

Damp and mould staining on a wall beneath a painted Scottish flag, symbolising housing standards issues in Scotland

Scottish landlords call for balanced approach on damp and mould regulations

22nd January 2026

A landlord association has warned that new regulations on damp and mould must not impede landlords in Scotland. The Scottish government has announced plans to extend Awaab’s Law to the private rented sector. However, the Scottish Association of Landlords (SAL) says its members are committed to the highest standards, and the government must strike a […]

Abstract digital network visual representing collection and analysis of private rented sector enforcement data

Government to gather data on council PRS enforcement staffing

22nd January 2026

The government has confirmed it will introduce a mandatory collection of private rented sector (PRS) enforcement data, including information on staffing levels within local authorities. In response to a written parliamentary question, ministers said they are currently developing systems to gather the data. The news comes ahead of the Renters’ Rights Act coming into force […]

Gold pound symbols forming upward arrows, representing rising UK rents and house prices

The UK’s rent rises slow but house prices are up – ONS

22nd January 2026

Private rents across the UK continued to rise, though the pace eased towards the end of 2025. New figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show average monthly rents climbed 4% over the year to December, reaching £1,368, down from 4.4% growth a month earlier. England recorded typical rents of £1,424, up 3.9% annually. […]

Renters’ Rights Act character chasing confidence down a playground slide in a suburban London setting

Landlord confidence slides as Renters’ Rights Act nears

22nd January 2026

Landlords are entering 2026 with reduced confidence following the November Budget and the impending Renters’ Rights Act, research reveals. According to a survey by Savills, the Act is prompting many landlords in the prime sector to reassess their outlook as regulatory pressure builds. Jessica Tomlinson, a research analyst with Savills, said: “A fundamental reset of […]

Prospective tenants view a to rent sign highlighting strong demand on a residential street

Tenant demand is easing but remains historically strong

22nd January 2026

Tenant demand across the private rented sector has eased slightly over the past year but remains strong by long-term standards. The Landlord Trends data from Pegasus Insight shows that 68% of landlords still describe tenant demand in their area as strong. That’s despite an 11 percentage point drop compared with a year earlier. Of those […]

Debt repayment reminder with calculator and pen on desk, symbolizing rent recovery and financial management.

Debt greater than deposit paid to us?

22nd January 2026

Hello readers: Is it acceptable for us to chase an ex-tenant for rent, damaged items and cleaning bills after the deposit proportion has been paid to us by the holding company? The deposit repaid was not enough to cover the costs and debt. The tenant also owes £1200 for an early non-agreed exit by 2 […]

Buy-to-let mortgage calculator beside model house illustrating UK rental property lending

Buy to let lending rebounds as lender possessions rise – UK Finance

22nd January 2026

New buy to let lending rose sharply in the third quarter of 2025, with 59,467 loans completed across the UK, together worth £10.9bn. The data from UK Finance reveals that the total marked a strong annual uplift, climbing 22.7% by volume and 28.2% by value compared with the same period a year earlier. It also […]

Eviction notice placed in a file marked “Past,” symbolising landlord decisions on serving Section 21 notices

Renting by room and help with future eviction laws?

21st January 2026

I am struggling to understand the new Renters’ Rights Act regulations and eviction process. I hope you can help. I currently rent 2 rooms in my flat out to two separate lodgers/tenants, and keep the 3rd bedroom in the flat for myself (though it is not my main home). The 2 lodgers (technically tenants?) have […]

GOV.UK crown logo representing UK government consultation on EPC reforms

Government reveals what must be included in Renters’ Rights Act tenancy agreements

21st January 2026

The government has released details of what information landlords must put in new tenancy agreements under the Renters’ Rights Act. The information could be subject to change, with the final version expected in March, but is unlikely to change much before the Renters’ Rights Act comes into force on 1 May. The government has also […]

Tenant overheated in flat fanning herself during extreme indoor heat linked to housing conditions

London tenants threaten legal action over excessive heat in flats

21st January 2026

Possession Friend has drawn attention to Property118 about a group of tenants threatening legal action against their housing association over excessive heat. In what could be the first case of its kind, residents living in flats managed by PA Housing in Woolwich, London, claim the flats are not fit for purpose, with temperatures reaching 43°C […]

Politicians discussing the Renters’ Rights Act outside Parliament with microphones and briefing papers

NRLA chief calls on government to avoid unhelpful rhetoric on Renters’ Rights Act

21st January 2026

The government should avoid unhelpful rhetoric when communicating with landlords about the Renters’ Rights Act, a landlord association has claimed. Speaking to the London Assembly Housing Committee on the implementation of the Renters’ Rights Act, National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA) chief executive Ben Beadle said the legislation should be communicated in a balanced way that […]

Local Housing Allowance rates frozen headline displayed over UK terraced housing backdrop

Government defends freeze of Local Housing Allowance rates

21st January 2026

The government has claimed a range of factors were considered when Local Housing Allowance (LHA) rates were frozen for a second time in a row. During the Autumn Budget, ministers announced that LHA rates will remain frozen for a second consecutive year in 2026/27. According to government data, almost 1.7 million private rented households across […]

Model house wrapped in a scarf on a radiator, symbolising warmer homes and lower energy bills

Government unveils £15bn Warm Homes Plan with new duties for landlords

21st January 2026

The government has finally unveiled its long-awaited Warm Homes Plan, claiming landlords “have a responsibility to ensure homes are safe, warm and affordable.” The £15 billion plan introduces new protections for renters and aims to tackle fuel poverty by offering grants for upgrades such as solar panels, batteries, heat pumps and insulation. The government says […]