Page 36 – Property118
Person wrapped in a blanket sitting alone on a bench during cold, wet weather in Scotland

Scottish Conservatives condemn government over homelessness failures

11th December 2025

The Scottish Conservatives claim the Scottish government has failed to get a grip on Scotland’s homelessness crisis. The Scottish government has published its annual Ending Homelessness report, which summarises the progress made during the last year towards ending homelessness in Scotland. However, the Scottish Conservatives say the results show that millions of children are growing […]

Cartoon of a frustrated landlord holding an unsigned inventory checklist while smiling tenants move out of a red-brick house with their belongings.

The inventory handover failure that lost a landlord’s deposit claim

11th December 2025

The landlord arranged for a professional inventory at the start of the tenancy, believing they were fully protected. But they never provided the tenants with a signed copy. When the tenants moved out, several items were missing and damage was noted. The landlord attempted to claim deductions from the deposit, but the adjudicator sided with […]

Stressed renter facing rising housing and energy efficiency pressures amid EPC upgrade concerns

EPC C targets could put renters at risk without stronger protections – ACORN

10th December 2025

A tenant group has welcomed the proposed minimum energy efficiency standards of EPC C targets but warns renters could risk losing their homes without additional protections. A poll by ACORN of 252 renters found that 70% fear eviction or a rent increase if they request a retrofit or if their landlord is forced to upgrade […]

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

Loan Covenants Explained – Avoiding Traps in Your Commercial Mortgage Agreement

10th December 2025

Loan covenants are one of the least understood parts of a commercial mortgage agreement. Many landlords focus on rate and loan size but overlook the conditions that govern how the facility must be managed. Breaching a covenant can trigger penalties, force refinancing, or even give the lender rights to call in the loan. Understanding covenants […]

House model chained with padlock and falling money bags illustrating social housing affordability pressures

Poor tenants shut out of social housing on affordability grounds

10th December 2025

Tenants on the lowest incomes are being blocked from social housing because providers fear they will not be able to afford the rent, research reveals. A study by homelessness charity Crisis shows housing associations in England are increasingly rejecting applicants following affordability checks carried out before a tenancy begins. Around a third of English housing […]

Older couple walking through a bright modern home, illustrating later-life renting trends

Renting later in life exposes growing financial strain – survey

10th December 2025

New figures from the English Housing Survey show that growing numbers of people are reaching midlife and retirement still renting their home. It also shows that the financial gap between tenants and homeowners continues to widen. The latest release from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities reports that, in 2024/25, 29% of adults […]

Yellow downward arrow above rental houses illustrating falling tenant demand

Rental demand hits six-year low as supply improves and rents cool – Zoopla

10th December 2025

Demand for rented homes has dropped to its lowest level in six years, with the gap between tenants and available properties narrowing sharply over 2025, Zoopla reveals. The property portal said demand has fallen by 20% over the past year, while the number of homes available to rent has risen by 15%, easing pressure in […]

Cartoon of a worried landlord in court holding a “Free Tenancy Template” while a confident solicitor holds “Missing Clauses,” with a stern judge presiding.

The tenancy agreement template trap that cost a landlord dearly

10th December 2025

The landlord downloaded a free tenancy agreement template online and used it without legal review. At first, everything seemed fine. But when a dispute arose over rent arrears and damages, the court scrutinised the agreement. Critical clauses were missing, including those covering service of notices and repair obligations. The tenant’s solicitor successfully argued that parts […]

Section 162 incorporation relief in crisis

9th December 2025

Securing clarity and stability in the application Section 162 incorporation relief for property investment businesses: Why the industry needs updated guidance and consistent interpretation. Over the past decade, UK landlords and their advisers have faced growing uncertainty in how Section 162 incorporation relief is interpreted and administered. What was once a relatively stable area of […]

Wooden umbrella sheltering a model house as miniature figures stand around it, symbolising tenant protection delays

Government confirms no new tenant protections before Renters’ Rights Act

9th December 2025

The government has confirmed no further protections for tenants will come in before 1 May 2026. In answer to a written question, Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook says tenants at risk of eviction before the Renters’ Rights Act comes into effect should seek advice from housing charity Shelter. The Act will abolish Section 21 evictions and […]

Keys held in front of a rental property with a sign indicating immediate availability

More than half of rental homes available for immediate move in

9th December 2025

More than half of all rental properties across Great Britain are available for immediate move in, research reveals. The findings from Benham and Reeves show that tenants have a good chance of securing a home before Christmas. The estate and letting agent examined nearly 125,000 active listings across the country and found that 63,922 of […]

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

Government legislation driving larger landlords to sell properties

9th December 2025

A new government survey reveals that larger landlords are planning to sell due to the impact of legislation, as small-scale landlords make up a large majority of the private rented sector. The English Private Landlord Survey reveals the different types of landlords in the private rented sector, with corporate landlords only making up a small […]

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

Subsidence and ground movement – What landlords need to know

9th December 2025

Subsidence is one of the most disruptive and time-consuming perils a landlord can face. Unlike a burst pipe or storm damage, ground movement claims rarely resolve quickly. Investigations, monitoring and structural works can span many months, sometimes years, with cash flow consequences if the property is uninhabitable. This guide explains causes, warning signs, how insurers […]

Gavel poised above a model house highlighting council enforcement against rogue landlords

Renters’ Rights Act at risk without strong council enforcement – Generation Rent

9th December 2025

A tenant organisation has warned the Renters’ Rights Act could fail if councils do not rigorously enforce the law against criminal landlords. Writing in Inside Housing magazine, Generation Rent chief executive Ben Twomey argues the Act could become “no more than words on paper” without proper enforcement. Under the Renters’ Rights Act, councils will have […]

Rising property values shown through increasing house icons and an upward market trend line

Hamptons forecasts modest 2026 house price growth

9th December 2025

House prices are set to rise modestly next year by 2.5% across Great Britain in Q4 2026, Hamptons says. It is also predicting that inflation will ease, and mortgage rates will be lower. The firm says transactions should hold near 1.15 million as improving affordability counters economic and tax pressures. However, the outlook becomes more […]

Cartoon of a worried landlord holding an expired gas safety certificate while an inspector points at it, with a house and tenants in the background.

The safety certificate oversight that put a landlord at risk

9th December 2025

The landlord had arranged gas safety checks for years without issue. But one year, the reminder email from the engineer was missed, and the annual certificate expired unnoticed. When the council inspected after a tenant complaint, they found the property operating without a valid Gas Safety Record. The landlord faced enforcement action, including a fine, […]

Landlord at rental tax crossroads

Portugal cuts rental tax to 10%: A warning shot for the UK?

8th December 2025

Recent announcements from the Portuguese Government, including a proposed reduction of income tax on residential rental income to 10% or even 0% in some cases, have captured the attention of UK landlords. The move contrasts strongly with UK policy direction and raises two important questions: Is Portugal positioning itself as a more attractive reinvestment destination […]

Hands typing on a laptop with digital privacy and security graphics overlaying the screen

Government promises to address landlord privacy concerns amid PRS database rollout

8th December 2025

The government claim they “will try to balance landlords’ privacy concerns with private tenants’ needs to make informed decisions” for the Private Rented Sector (PRS) database. Many landlords are concerned about what details will be included in the PRS database, which is set to roll out in late 2026. The government claim they are still […]

House and tax blocks balanced on a seesaw illustrating changes to buy-to-let affordability

Buy to let lenders unveil new landlord deals and support

8th December 2025

Nottingham Building Society has moved to counter the impact of the government’s property tax hike by releasing a new set of buy to let products aimed at easing affordability for landlords. The launch follows the Autumn Budget announcement, which confirmed a 2% increase in property income tax from April 2027. The mutual has cut its […]