The government is urging landlords to upgrade their properties to the Decent Homes Standard at “the earliest opportunity”. While the deadline for the private rented sector to meet the Decent Homes Standard is 2035, the government is encouraging landlords to make improvements before the deadline. Under the new standard, landlords will need to meet certain […]

Two councils are offering landlords financial backing and guaranteed rent support as part of wider efforts to reduce homelessness and limit reliance on temporary accommodation. Mansfield District Council has confirmed it will extend its private rental access scheme, which helps people move out of temporary housing by covering the upfront costs required by landlords. The […]

Buy to let borrowing has shifted towards northern England over the past decade, with landlord purchases now concentrated outside London and the south following the introduction of the stamp duty surcharge. An analysis by Paragon Bank shows that in 2015, just before the additional 3% tax on second homes took effect, southern regions accounted for […]

Private rents increased 3.5% in the 12 months to February, leaving the average monthly cost at £1,374, the Office for National Statistics says. The annual rate was unchanged from January, and England’s average rent is now £1,430, up 3.6% over the year. Wales reached £828, a 5.5% increase, while Scotland stood at £1,022, up 2.4%. […]

Many landlords tell us they find Property118 helpful. What often surprises them is what happens when we look at their own portfolio. Property118 has always been designed to be useful. The articles, research and discussions are intended to help landlords understand what is happening in the sector and how others are thinking about it. For many […]

Former deputy leader of the Labour Party, Angela Rayner has told Sir Keir Starmer to ‘pick more fights’ with landlords and freeholders. At a fundraising dinner in central London, the former housing secretary said voters feel the system is ‘rigged against them’, the Daily Telegraph reports. She went on to say that she expects a […]

The Renters’ Rights Act 2025 introduces wide-ranging sweeping reforms to the private rented sector in England, fundamentally changing the legal framework for both landlords and tenants – these aren’t small changes, it’s the biggest set of reform the sector has seen in over 30 years. Key changes include section 21, more commonly known as ‘no […]

Developers will be required to install solar panels and heat pumps in all new homes in England under updated planning requirements, as ministers set out new rules to reshape how properties are built. The changes form part of the long-delayed Future Homes Standard, which mandates that new homes will not be connected to the gas […]

The government has been accused of failing to ensure the court system is ready to deal with the Renters’ Rights Act. In oral questions in the House of Lords, several Peers slammed the government for failing to prepare the courts and argued that the Renters’ Rights Act should be delayed until the system was ready […]

The clock is ticking. With just 36 days until the Renters’ Rights Act comes into force on 1st May, landlords across the UK are facing a simple question: act now, or deal with the consequences later. Why? Because once this legislation comes into full force, the war against landlords will well and truly be upon […]

Has anyone heard anything definite to answer on this seemingly ongoing subject? I have seen so many comments, sites, suggested possibles etc, including government sites, that I’m beginning to wonder if anybody even cares! So many forbidden changes would be required to most listed buildings to make them a C grade that it’s a no-no, […]

Seven locations across England have been put forward for a new generation of towns, as ministers outline plans to expand housing supply within a broader building push. The government has announced that Tempsford in Bedfordshire could see more than 40,000 homes being built around a new East West Rail station. It would have links to […]

Section 21 repossession cases have fallen ahead of the Renters’ Rights Act coming into force, according to government figures. Data analysed by the National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA) shows that Section 21 (‘accelerated’) possession claims in the county courts have dropped to their lowest level in several years. The news comes as the abolition of […]

With less than two weeks to go until Making Tax Digital comes into force, an industry body is urging letting agents and landlords to take action. Under the controversial scheme, from 6 April 2026, landlords earning more than £50,000 will be required to keep digital records and submit quarterly updates to HM Revenue & Customs […]

What do I want this portfolio to do for me now?

What might you be giving up in exchange for making things simpler?

Most landlords spend decades building portfolios designed to deliver two things: financial security during retirement and a meaningful legacy for their families. The focus tends to be on acquisitions, refinancing and tax efficiency while the portfolio is growing. The inheritance tax question often sits quietly in the background, acknowledged but rarely urgent, yet inheritance tax […]

The government has changed its tune regarding a landlord exodus, admitting it doesn’t know how many landlords have quit the private rented sector (PRS). Previously, Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook has claimed there’s no evidence of a landlord exodus and the size of the PRS has doubled since the early 2000s. However, in answer to a […]

Ben Twomey has announced his decision to step down as chief executive of Generation Rent after three years in the role. He is set to leave the position this summer, with the search for his successor already underway. Generation Rent has begun recruiting for a new chief executive, offering a salary of £68,000. Timing feels […]

The government have published a mandatory Renters’ Rights Act information sheet that all landlords need to give to their tenants. However, the government and councils are going to fine me £7000 for not giving tenants, who have lived there 25 years, a letter that the government has just brought in in 2026. With the amount […]

Councillors have been told there is no mechanism to prevent landlords and developers’ bulk-buying homes for conversion into houses in multiple occupation (HMO), despite mounting concern over concentrations in residential areas. Councillors on Belfast Council’s licensing committee raised concerns about ‘cash-only’ purchases in East Belfast, with several properties acquired together and repositioned as HMOs to […]