Page 49 – Property118
Wooden letter blocks spelling “BYE!” in front of a small model house, symbolising landlords leaving the rental market

Small landlords likely to exit as Renters’ Rights Act looms

23rd December 2025

Next year will see more small landlords leaving the private rented sector as younger landlords will shape the market, claims firm. Goodlord predicts 2026 will see some landlords throw in the towel as the Renters’ Rights Act comes into force on 1 May 2026. The lettings software company says preparation is key to navigating the […]

Empty unfurnished room with a blue and white Scottish saltire painted across the floor, symbolising unused housing

Push to unlock empty homes amid Scotland’s housing crisis

23rd December 2025

An organisation is calling for empty homes to be brought back into use to ease Scotland’s housing crisis. Figures published by the Scottish government reveal a total of 44,453 privately owned homes have sat empty for more than six months, an increase of 915 compared to the previous year. Of these, 32,337 have been vacant […]

Small decorated Christmas tree beside a person sleeping on a city street, highlighting homelessness during winter

Shelter blames rising rents and housing benefit freeze for driving homelessness

22nd December 2025

Shelter claims “unaffordable private rents and the freeze on housing benefit” are pushing more people into temporary accommodation. According to the housing charity, 382,618 people are now homeless, including 350,480 people homeless in temporary accommodation, the highest since records began. The news comes as the government have pledged to prevent homelessness by the end of […]

BTL Mortgage Blog featured image showing a house, key, calculator, percentage sign and pound coins on a teal background.

Exit Strategies: What Happens When a Buy-To-Let Mortgage Term Ends

22nd December 2025

Every mortgage has an end date. For landlords, what happens when a buy-to-let deal expires is one of the most important financial decisions in portfolio management. In 2025, with thousands of fixed-rate products maturing, understanding your options is crucial. A clear exit strategy can save thousands of pounds annually and protect portfolio cashflow. What Happens […]

Royal Assent approval seal symbolising the Planning and Infrastructure Bill becoming law

Planning and Infrastructure Bill receives Royal Assent

22nd December 2025

The Planning and Infrastructure Bill has received Royal Assent and will soon become law. The Act aims to speed up the delivery of new homes by slashing red tape in the planning system to meet Labour’s target of 1.5 million homes by the end of this Parliament. Propertymark welcomes the Act but warns the 1.5 […]

Leasehold reform – a third way for flat ownership

22nd December 2025

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 […]

BTL Mortgage Blog featured image showing a house, key, calculator, percentage sign and pound coins on a teal background.

Buy-To-Let Mortgages and Personal Guarantees – What You Need to Know

22nd December 2025

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 – […]

Property law expert discussing cautious leasehold reform

Why rushed leasehold reform could destabilise the housing market

22nd December 2025

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 […]

Collapsed ceiling exposing beams above a child’s bed in a social housing property marked as failed

Failures by social housing landlords continue even with Awaab’s Law

22nd December 2025

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 […]

Rough sleeper curled up on a snowy London pavement at night, highlighting the dangers of homelessness during winter

London’s homelessness crisis worsens as Sadiq Khan vows to end rough sleeping

22nd December 2025

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 […]

Aerial view of a suburban housing estate with a plane flying overhead, symbolising overseas property ownership

Overseas-owned UK property doubles in value as volumes fall

22nd December 2025

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 […]

Blindfolded Lady Justice statue standing in a damp, mould-affected rental property

Tenants will be able to challenge landlords over Awaab’s law and could win compensation

19th December 2025

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 […]

EPC certificate and energy efficiency rating chart highlighting questions around Section 21 eviction rules

Is Section 21 valid if the EPC was served late but before notice?

19th December 2025

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 […]

Ethernet cable emerging from fibre optic strands, representing gigabit broadband access for flats

Leaseholders could be allowed to demand superfast broadband under new plans

19th December 2025

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 […]

First-time buyers holding a house key and model home as UK housing market activity rises

First-time buyers lift home moves to three-year high as price growth cools

19th December 2025

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 […]

Falling housebuilding in Scotland shown by a percentage drop and a house with the Scottish flag

Scottish housebuilding plummets to record lows

19th December 2025

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 […]

Scales balancing money against a tenancy agreement with text asking if it’s fair

Agents sneaking in unfair exit clauses?

19th December 2025

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 […]

Bank of England building with UK flag and 3.75% interest rate cut graphic

Interest rates fall to 3.75% as Bank of England eases borrowing pressure

18th December 2025

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 […]

Welsh housing crisis symbolised by eviction notice on a model house beside stacked coins and families, with the Welsh flag above

Generation Rent calls for eviction compensation for Welsh renters

18th December 2025

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 […]