Why leasehold reform doesn’t have to mean commonhold As the government, in its imminent Leasehold and Commonhold Reform Bill, prepares to mandate commonhold as the default tenure for new flats, one developer is already offering an alternative that balances consumer control with the impetus for change. The government’s intention to legislate for commonhold as the […]

Most landlords using limited companies to borrow in 2025 will encounter the requirement to sign a personal guarantee (PG). Even though the borrowing is through a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV), lenders want additional security that ties directors and shareholders personally to the loan. For landlords, understanding how PGs work – and the risks involved – […]

Reform of the leasehold system is long overdue. It’s broadly agreed that the current model, with its layers of complexity and its potential for abuse, has required reform for some time. The Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act (LAFRA), which was enacted in a rush under the last government, represents a major step towards fairer ownership […]

Despite Awaab’s Law already being in place for social housing landlords, many are still failing in their duties, including incidents such as a ceiling collapsing onto a child’s bed. A report by the Housing Ombudsman reveals severe maladministration among a number of social housing landlords. Awaab’s Law requires all social housing landlords to fix dangerous […]

As more than 200,000 Londoners will be homeless and living in temporary accommodation on Christmas Day, London Mayor Sadiq Khan has vowed to tackle homelessness. Data from London Councils reveals that more than 100,000 children will be in temporary accommodation on Christmas Day, an 8% increase since last year and a 35% rise compared to […]

The number of homes and buildings in England and Wales owned through overseas companies has almost doubled in a decade, even as the pace of new acquisitions slows, research reveals. Figures compiled by Search Acumen indicate that 91,791 properties are now registered to overseas entities, up from 47,787 in 2015, a rise of 92%. Those […]

The government has warned that all landlords will need to meet Awaab’s Law requirements, as tenants will be able to challenge landlords in court over breaches. Under the Renters’ Rights Act, Awaab’s Law will be extended to the private rented sector (PRS), where landlords will have to fix damp and mould within strict timeframes. Awaab’s […]

Hi, I’ve served a Section 21 notice on a tenant and I’m getting conflicting advice regarding the EPC validity and when it should be served on the tenant to validate a Section 21. The AST began six years ago. I didn’t have or serve a valid EPC at the time. I commissioned and served/shared with […]

The government has announced new proposals which could see leasehold flat owners being able to request superfast broadband that freeholders cannot unreasonably refuse. A consultation has been launched that would give flat-owning leaseholders more rights to request a gigabit-capable broadband connection from their freeholder. Currently, leasehold flat owners do not have a formal right to […]

The housing market is heading for its busiest year in three years, with sales set to reach 1.2 million in 2025, even as price growth continues to slow down, data reveals. According to Zoopla, despite a drop in activity during the final quarter because of the recent Budget speculation, the number of completed moves is […]

The Scottish Conservatives claim the SNP’s housing strategy has failed, as new figures reveal a sharp decline in housebuilding. Data released by the Scottish government show a 5% decrease in overall housebuilding starts and an 8% drop in completions between the year ending September 2024 and the year ending September 2025. Despite the Scottish government’s […]

What do other landlords think about the exit clauses in their contracts with agents? I’m shocked, so check yours and see if you think it is fair. I just got a letter from my letting agent saying they were updating the T&Cs to “help landlords with new legislation.” Yeah, not. I checked and found the […]

The Bank of England has reduced its base rate from 4% to 3.75%, cutting borrowing costs to their lowest level since February 2023. The decision had been widely anticipated after recent data pointed to a cooling economy. Markets had already priced in a move, with analysts expecting policymakers to act following a run of softer […]

Ahead of the Senedd elections next year, a tenant group is demanding all political parties pledge in their manifestos to stand up for renters by limiting rent rises and providing two months’ rent as compensation for tenants if evicted. Generation Rent claims Welsh renters are “more exposed to arbitrary or revenge evictions than anywhere else […]

Private rents in the UK rose by 4.4% over the year to November, taking the average monthly cost to £1,366, according to the Office for National Statistics. The increase marks a slowdown from October and signals the weakest annual rise in more than three years. England recorded an average rent of £1,422, up £60 on […]

Hello, I legally completed on a flat in July 2015 and the development was physically completed in November 2018. I bought a parking space, but until this year, no tenant needed to use it. The new tenant has received several penalty notices, and the managing agents have admitted that my space does not exist. This […]

The government claim the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) does not believe the decision in the Autumn Budget to raise property tax income will affect rents. In answer to a written question from Lord Truscott about the impact of tax rises on landlords in the Autumn Budget on the supply of property in the private […]

More than 1.2 million renters have received a Section 21 ‘no-fault’ eviction and 76% believe the Renters’ Rights Act will improve life in the private rented sector, research reveals. Co-op Insurance says that 11% of renters have been served a Section 21 notice at some point, and most tenants appear optimistic about the changes now […]

Shelter Scotland is calling on the Scottish government to build more than 15,000 social homes as the number of people in temporary accommodation rises. According to the housing charity, Shelter Scotland receives twice as many calls to its helpline from people urgently seeking temporary accommodation than for any other issue (38%). The news comes after […]

Hi, I understand the Renters’ Rights Act 2025 outlaws rent in advance? I know of a tenant who is cash-rich – lots of investments and savings – and who has given up paid work. He wishes to change rental properties and is concerned that the above change could mean he wouldn’t now be acceptable to […]

A surge in buy to let homes being held within company structures is being powered by landlords entering the market at a younger age and choosing incorporation from day one, research reveals. Paragon Bank has found that almost one in three landlords now operate solely through a limited company. A further 36% are spreading their […]