Stamp Duty receipts have remained above most pre-pandemic levels despite signs of a cooler housing market, with HMRC collecting an average of £1.108bn a month during the first half of 2026, research reveals. The findings from Yopa show the figure is below the £1.285bn monthly average recorded in 2025, when transactions were boosted by buyers […]

Article by Katherine Simpson, Partner at Edwin Coe LLP The draft Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill, published in January 2026, has generated plenty of coverage about what flat owners stand to gain. Less has been written about what they will be taking on. For agents advising buyers and sellers of flats, understanding both sides of […]

The number of build-to-rent (BtR) homes under construction in Scotland has fallen sharply, recording the largest decline of any UK nation. Figures from Real Estate: Scotland and Savills show that 1,466 BtR homes were under construction in Scotland in Q2 2026, down from 1,995 in the same quarter last year. This represents a 27% year-on-year […]

When a fire tears through a home or business, the damage is immediate and obvious. What’s less visible, but often more drawn-out, is what happens next: the disputes between landlords, tenants and neighbours over who is responsible for what. Having acted for both commercial and residential landlords for 20 years, I’ve seen this pattern repeat […]

HMRC has changed its published guidance on the controversial 20-hour test for landlord Incorporation Relief, expressly confirming that somebody who spends fewer than 20 hours a week on their property activities may nevertheless be carrying on a business for the purposes of section 162 of the Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992. The amendment to […]

King Charles and Prince William could reportedly face a bill of around £10 million to improve the energy efficiency of rental properties across their estates. That is a hefty bill, even by royal standards, but the Government expects ordinary landlords across England and Wales to find nearly £9.9 billion. The Guardian has reported that King […]

HMRC has published detailed new guidance explaining exactly what taxpayers must provide when claiming Section 162 Incorporation Relief for business transfers taking place from 6 April 2026. The change is particularly important for landlords incorporating property businesses because, unlike transfers completed before 6 April 2026, Incorporation Relief is no longer automatic even where all of […]

Landlords who transferred their property businesses into companies could face unexpected Capital Gains Tax bills after following what was widely presented as the conventional incorporation process. The warning concerns landlords whose personal or partnership mortgages were repaid using new borrowing taken out by their companies at the time of incorporation. For many years, landlords were […]

This case study is based upon the contemporaneous correspondence presently available to Property118. Names, precise financial details and other identifying information have been withheld. We have not seen the complete file or full written advice of the professional subsequently instructed by the clients, and no court or regulator has determined that any adviser was negligent. […]

A council has announced a new civil penalty policy for the PRS and told landlords how to tackle anti-social behaviour from tenants. Bristol City Council has published a new Civil Penalty Policy for private housing offences to reflect changes introduced through the Renters’ Rights Act, saying civil penalties will be used “proportionately”. The council has […]

Landlord confidence is growing as the number of landlords experiencing rent arrears falls to a record low, according to new data. Research by Paragon Bank reveals the second quarter of 2026 saw 26% of landlords report experiencing rent arrears during the past 12 months. This was down by four percentage points from 30% in the […]

A council has admitted a new licensing scheme for houses in multiple occupation (HMO) landlords could lead to them passing the cost on to tenants. Bolton Council plans to launch a new licensing scheme for HMOs early next year, meaning nearly all HMOs in Bolton will require a licence to operate legally. However, the council […]

The government has claimed, despite not setting a specific target for the number of affordable homes to be built, it remains committed to “delivering the biggest increase in social and affordable housebuilding in a generation”. In answer to a written parliamentary question, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Housing Baroness Taylor of Stevenage claimed that the […]

It is a well-established view that reform of ground rents is long overdue. Under the draft Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill, it is proposed that most existing long residential ground rents would be capped at £250 a year and then reduced to a peppercorn after 40 years. That sits within a wider programme of change […]

Demand continues to outstrip supply as void periods increase, according to new data. Propertymark’s latest housing insight report reveals longer void periods, while reports of easing rents point to a more nuanced housing market. The industry body says the Autumn Budget in October will be crucial in shaping market sentiment. Notice periods causing issues According […]

The government has announced 1,000 new judges and tribunal members are being recruited to cope with increased demand following the Renters’ Rights Act. In a letter to the National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA), Courts Minister Sarah Sackman KC confirmed that the recruitment drive, alongside the courts’ digitisation process, would allow possession claims to be dealt […]

If you let student HMOs, the paperwork you put in front of a group this August decides whether you can get the property back next summer. There is no fixing it later. Ground 4A is the possession ground built to keep the student turnover cycle working after the end of Section 21. It is mandatory, […]

Rents continue to rise across the UK following the Renters’ Rights Act, while house price growth slows, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) reports. Private rents increased by 3.7% in the 12 months to July 2026, reaching an average of £1,393. This was up from an annual growth rate of 3.3% in the 12 months […]

The average price of a new-build home has surpassed £500,000, according to new research. Data by Propertymark reveals the average price of a new-build property reached £501,658 in July 2026. However, regional disparities remain, with the largest decline in the East of England. Every nation faces its own housing challenges According to the data, the […]

A council has launched a major crackdown on houses in multiple occupation (HMOs). Stoke-on-Trent City Council has proposed a cap on the total number of HMOs within each ward and plans to require planning permission for new conversions. The news comes as landlords in Norwich could face a new licensing regime covering smaller HMOs. Require […]

A new target of more than 30,000 purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) beds over the next decade will require flexible planning, according to Lichfields. The planning and development consultancy has warned that a flexible planning approach will be needed to deliver 31,500 student beds across the capital, helping to ease pressure on the private rented sector. […]