The government claim a guarantor can act as a barrier to renting for some tenants. In answer to a written question, Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook says landlords and letting agents must consider a tenant’s individual circumstances and will monitor the use of guarantors. According to the English Private Landlord survey, nearly a quarter (21%) of […]

As this week’s news reported that UK rents were falling again in a “rental market cool,” the number of landlords looking to sell continued to increase. The latest HomeLet Rental Index revealed that the average UK rent had slowed down by 1.1% in January 2026. Whilst the figures might not seem much, London in particular […]

Landbay has expanded its buy to let (BTL) range with the launch of new tracker and fixed products, as lenders continue repricing in response to interest rate expectations. The lender has introduced two two-year trackers alongside two zero fee five-year fixed deals within its Premier range, which is aimed at landlords holding up to 15 […]

An industry body has warned the government that planning reforms alone will not be enough to deliver 1.5 million homes. Propertymark’s Meeting UK House Demand position paper sets out recommendations for policymakers, including empowering councils to build more homes and supporting smaller developers in development planning. The Labour government promised in its manifesto to build […]

The Housing Ombudsman has called for fair compensation across the social housing sector after a report found that social housing landlords are failing to apply their own compensation policies correctly. According to the report, there were numerous cases where residents living in poor housing conditions received no compensation. The Housing Ombudsman has launched new compensation […]

Hello, I have a tenant on remand in prison for the last three weeks. He has no family or friends, despite phone calls and emails with no reply. I cannot find out which prison he is in. He is now 10 weeks behind with his rent; the severity of the alleged crime suggests that he […]

Renters moving home are being left to juggle thousands of pounds in overlapping tenancy deposits, as rising rents push up the cash required to secure a new property. Research compiled by Reposit shows tenants switching between homes are tying up an average of £2,524 while waiting for their previous deposit to be returned. At the […]

Landlords will need to fork out £26.5 billion to meet the new Decent Homes Standard, according to government data. Statistics published by the government for its English Housing Survey Briefing: Modelling a new Decent Homes Standard reveals landlords will have to spend billions to meet the new standard by 2035. Under the new standard, landlords […]

More than 430,000 social homes fail to meet the Decent Homes Standard, as a cross-party group of MPs warns the government must do more to tackle poor housing conditions. A report by the Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee (HCLG) says social housing conditions have barely improved since the pandemic, leaving residents stuck in appalling […]

Confidence is edging back into the private rented sector, with a growing share of landlords expressing a more positive outlook despite ongoing financial and regulatory strain. Research from Rely, the buy to let lender which is part of the OSB Group, points to a notable upswing in sentiment over the past year. Its annual Landlord […]

Most commercial buildings in England’s largest cities could become unlettable without swift government action on energy efficiency rules, a new analysis warns. Research by the British Property Federation shows 81% of commercial buildings across seven major cities currently sit below an EPC rating of B, leaving around 190 million sq. m of floorspace exposed to […]

As the number of people living in temporary accommodation rises, a taskforce has called on the government to restore Local Housing Allowance (LHA) rates. The taskforce, made up of London councils, registered providers and social housing support service firm, Newbridge Advisors, says the supply of private rented sector homes at LHA levels needs to be […]

Rightmove has launched a new Renters’ Rights Act module as part of its qualification for letting agents, as they say it will allow landlords to benefit from agents being up to date with the latest legislation. Rightmove’s Level 3 Certificate for Estate and Letting Agents (CELA) will include the Renters’ Rights module from April, which […]

As the Scottish government launches a consultation on accelerating housebuilding in Scotland, the Scottish Conservatives have accused the SNP of creating the country’s housing emergency. The Scottish government is seeking views on measures to speed up the delivery of new homes as part of its response to the housing crisis. However, the Scottish Conservatives told […]

The government could impose a £1,000 fine on landlords who fail to update their digital contact details under Making Tax Digital (MTD). During a government debate, Shadow Economic Secretary Mark Garnier criticised the penalty, warning it could have a significant impact on vulnerable taxpayers. Under the scheme, which came into effect in April, landlords earning […]

A councillor has warned that landlords in Blackpool could sell up as they struggle to pay “massive selective licensing fees.” In Blackpool, the selective licensing fee costs £772 for a five-year licence, although some discounts are available. However, Reform councillor Emma Ellison warned that landlords are struggling to set up a payment plan, as they […]

Background: For HMO’s, the landlord is responsible for paying the Council Tax (CT), and will then add CT to the general costs of managing and maintaining the property, which in turn influences the rent each tenant is asked to pay. The DWP is rolling out Universal Credit (UC) and the rent payment part of UC […]

The Scottish Housing Secretary has written to the UK government, warning that the continued freeze of Local Housing Allowance (LHA) is making it harder for lower-income renters to access the private rented sector. During the Autumn Budget, ministers announced that LHA rates will remain frozen for a second consecutive year in 2026/27. In a letter […]

England’s rental market showed further signs of cooling last month, with slower annual rent growth and longer void periods hinting that intense tenant competition may be easing. The latest Goodlord Rental Index found that rents rose by 2.4% year-on-year in January. That compares with a 4.6% annual increase recorded in January 2025, pointing to a […]

Two councils have launched a campaign to raise awareness of the risks of damp and mould, urging landlords and letting agents to sign up. Hull City Council and East Riding of Yorkshire Council are promoting the Healthy Homes campaign on social media and in GP surgeries across the region. The councils say 26 letting agents […]

Propertymark has urged the government to set out clear plans for future energy efficiency standards in commercial property. It warns that agents are being left to operate without direction as major investment decisions loom. The professional body has written to Martin McCluskey, the minister for energy consumers, calling for immediate guidance on Minimum Energy Efficiency […]