More than half of hidden leaks affecting residential property originate outside the building, leaving responsibility with the owner and landlords rather than the water supplier. According to an analysis of 9,000 callouts by property maintenance firm Aspect, 58% of hidden leaks occur in underground mains supply pipes beyond the property’s structure. The firm, which works […]

The UK’s private rents rose by 3.4% in the year to March, taking the average monthly figure to £1,377, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) says. The annual increase was lower than February’s 3.6% and is the slowest rate since March 2022. In England, average monthly rents reached £1,434 in March, up £48 on the […]

A council has been accused of being “deluded” over claims that selective licensing will not cause rent rises. Great Yarmouth Borough Council introduced its selective licensing scheme this month, covering more than 5,000 properties at a cost of £694. The council claims research shows “there is little evidence to suggest rents have risen due to […]

Maybe there are some legal eagles here who can correct me, but I cannot find anything in the law or Renters’ Rights Act to say that the rent must be the same every month. Here is my dilemma. I have a property in an area with high seasonal demand. I am about to sign an […]

We are a Right to Manage (RTM) Company, just two directors,  it’s a very difficult block having cladding and other fire safety issues that we are dealing with, and it’s all uphill. A number of the leaseholders are resisting measure put in place, the latest is with fob access, it could be seen as micromanaging […]

Several buy to let lenders have reduced rates and increased loan sizes across a range of products, with changes covering standard lending as well as more specialist areas. Landbay has cut rates by 0.20% on its selected Core two- and five-year fixed products up to 75% LTV. The changes span 15 products, including both standard […]

More than 30,000 older private renters would be pulled out of poverty if Local Housing Allowance (LHA) matched actual rents, according to new research. Data by Independent Age reveals 270,422 older private renters currently have a shortfall between their rent and the rate of Local Housing Allowance. LHA sets the maximum level of rent support […]

A clear shift in future buying behaviour is emerging across the UK private rented sector. According to the Property118 Landlord Sentiment Survey Q1 2026, while most landlords still hold property in their personal names, a growing majority would choose to purchase through a limited company if acquiring today. Based on 2,380 completed responses, although 61% […]

A landlord organisation has urged the next Scottish government to introduce proportionate legislation that balances the needs of landlords and tenants. The Scottish Association of Landlords (SAL) has published a ten-point manifesto calling on the next Scottish government to tackle the housing crisis and prevent landlords from leaving the sector. The Scottish elections will take […]

The government has confirmed councils should not be telling tenants to stay in a property when facing eviction. A story in The Telegraph says the National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA) has claimed “there is no excuse” for councils to be issuing this advice. Property118 has previously investigated whether councils have been acting illegally when telling […]

Landlords are being urged by the government to take action now to get their properties up to the upcoming Decent Homes Standard. In a written question, Labour MP Sharon Hodgson acknowledged that bringing homes up to standard will take time, but confirmed the direction of travel is clear. All private and social landlords will be […]

The social housing sector needs to better handle complaints and run on “good infrastructure rather than goodwill”, new research claims. A story in Inside Housing reveals research by consultancy firm Campbell Tickell that found empathy in complaints handling emerged as the strongest predictor of tenant satisfaction. Social housing landlords with higher empathy scores also received fewer […]

Hello, My insurance is up for renewal next month and the policy wording talks about shorthold tenancy agreements not periodic agreements. I have asked that post May 1st and the RRA coming into force, will this wording be updated and the answer was no ‘they have no plans to update the policy wording.’ Am I […]

Nearly a third of tenants in England have experienced rent rises since the Renters’ Rights Act received Royal Assent six months ago, according to a new report. Data from SpareRoom shows that 30% of tenants who have stayed in the same rental property during that period have had their rent increased. The findings come as […]

I am a long-time reader of Property118 and would be grateful for the views of others who may have direct experience of something I have been thinking about recently. My perception is that many UK property developers seem to have tie-ups with companies that help facilitate part exchange deals. In other words, the developer promotes […]

Landlords are accelerating possession activity ahead of the Renters’ Rights Act being implemented on 1 May, with activity rising sharply as existing routes remain open. Figures released by Landlord Action show instructions rose by 60% in March compared with the same month last year. Enquiries climbed 75%, the largest monthly increase the firm has recorded. […]

The Times is looking to speak to landlords who are concerned about the upcoming Renters’ Rights Act, which will ban no-fault evictions. They are keen to hear from landlords about how the changes may impact them, or whether they are making them reconsider holding BTL properties. The Times are also keen to speak to anybody […]

Hobby landlords are increasingly leaving the PRS because of the Renters’ Rights Act, while other landlords will increase tenant checks and tighten letting criteria, raising questions about rental home access for some potential tenants. Those are the views of Louisa Sedgwick, the managing director of mortgages at Paragon Bank, who was speaking on a podcast […]

The housing minister has claimed the government does not expect a spike in Section 21 notices ahead of the Renters’ Rights Act. In a written question, housing minister Matthew Pennycook claimed the 1 May 2026 deadline is not expected to have an impact. This comes despite claims from tenant groups that landlords are rushing evictions […]

Limited company landlords are pressing ahead with expansion plans as most are expecting stronger yields over the next year, even as borrowing and compliance costs rise. The latest BTL Barometer from Kensington Mortgages shows 84% of residential limited company landlords expect yields to increase within 12 months. A further 89% say they are confident about […]

Policy changes often dominate headlines, but their real impact depends on how landlords respond. According to the Property118 Landlord Sentiment Survey Q1 2026, landlord sentiment may now be a more immediate indicator of market direction than policy announcements alone. Based on 2,380 completed responses, 57% of landlords plan to reduce their portfolios, while only 6.8% intend […]