Several Property118 readers have requested details of how I manage my properties, and now, most importantly, how I protect my properties from liabilities and potential fines of up to £40,000. My Property Company (PropCo) owns some 70 properties, purchased over the last 30 years, the shares for which shares are all owned by family members. […]

The government’s impact assessment for extending the Decent Homes Standard to private landlords has been slammed by an independent committee as ‘not fit for purpose’. The withering condemnation of the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government’s (MHCLG) proposals has been made by the Regulatory Policy Committee (RPC). The aim is to bring private landlords […]

An industry body has warned the government must support landlords in achieving EPC C targets by 2030 or landlords could leave the market. Propertymark has responded to the government consultation on energy-performance certificate (EPC) reforms and the Home Energy Model, which will replace the way EPCs are measured, replacing the existing single cost metric with […]

There’s an old saying that says if something isn’t broken, don’t try to fix it and this week, landlords had the perfect example of what is happening in the private rented sector. Almost three quarters of tenants in England say they are happy renting. That’s 74% according to Pepper Money’s survey. Only 11% say they […]

More than half of landlords (51%) raised rents during the last 12 months as many consider leaving the market, according to a new survey. Findings by The Deposit Protection Service (DPS) reveal that upcoming legislative changes are a key factor behind landlords considering selling their properties. The data also shows that some landlords are taking […]

The current leasehold redress system is deterring leaseholders from pursuing and resolving complaints, an organisation has warned. The Leasehold Advisory Service (LEASE) has revealed that leaseholders are not escalating complaints because the process appears too time-consuming and stressful. The news comes as the government have announced plans to cap ground rents to £250 a year […]

Pepper Money has reduced its buy to let (BTL) mortgage rates by 0.50% across its 70%, 75% and 80% loan-to-value tiers, covering both Pepper 48 and Pepper 36 products. This includes Houses in Multiple Occupation, and the reductions apply to two- and five-year fixed terms. The lowest rate now stands at 3.94% on the Pepper […]

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 […]