The landlord wanted to keep up with rising costs and decided to raise the rent. A quick letter was drafted and sent to the tenant giving 30 days’ notice of the new amount. The tenant refused to pay and sought advice. It turned out the notice was invalid — the tenancy agreement required a Section […]

Short-let properties are not the same as standard buy-to-lets from an insurer’s point of view. Higher guest turnover, longer unoccupied gaps, and additional amenities like hot tubs or log burners all change the risk profile. Many claims are declined because a landlord used a standard landlord policy for a property that was being advertised on […]

The flat had always been easy to let. But when the last tenant moved out, the landlord hit an unexpected roadblock. The EPC showed an F rating, below the minimum standard of E required for private rental properties in England and Wales. Until costly upgrades were completed, the property could not be legally let. The […]

Landlords are pinning their hopes on commonhold to cut rising costs and improve building management, research from Landbay reveals. It found that nearly half of respondents (46%), said they were banking on lower service charges if commonhold is introduced. Many see the current model as bloated and opaque yet believe a reset could shift control […]

Critics of the Renters’ Rights Act have warned of a “six-month fire sale” as landlords rush to sell before the act comes into force. The government announced the Renters’ Rights Act will come into effect on 1 May 2026, with rules including landlords no longer being able to use Section 21 evictions, and fixed-term tenancies […]

Professional landlords are reshaping the market as they move into specialist buy to let products and complex portfolio strategies, Foundation Home Loans reveals. The lender’s latest quarterly research points to a sector that is shifting towards structured borrowing, targeted acquisitions and a more corporate approach to property investment. Foundation says that one in 10 landlords […]

The UK’s housing market is quickly cooling as a glut of properties for sale starts to drag down prices and sap confidence among buyers, new figures show. According to Home.co.uk, the shift is no longer confined to weaker areas with regions that recently propped up national growth are now struggling. For months, northern markets have […]

Like so many others on the forum are finding, the recent changes in the property rental market are forcing undesired changes, making it feel like a game of chess when trying to decide the way forward after 35 years of being a landlord. The latest conundrum concerns a property I purchased from my grandmother all […]

Of the landlords who have poured money into refurbishing their rental portfolios over the past few years, many say they regret making the investment, research reveals. According to Nationwide, the rush to upgrade kitchens, bathrooms and energy efficiency features has delivered uneven outcomes, but some projects have boosted yields. It says that nearly nine in […]

A Labour councillor in charge of housing at Southwark council has resigned over breaking selective licensing rules, the very rules Chancellor Rachel Reeves also broke. Councillor Michael Situ, admitted in a letter, two of his properties in Peckham did not have a selective licence. The news comes after Chancellor Rachel Reeves broke the rules in […]

The Prime Minister claims the Renters’ Rights Act will “put more power into the hands of renters who have had to stand for unfair behaviour for too long.” Writing in the Big Issue, Sir Keir Starmer, says the “vast majority of landlords provide a respectable and reasonable service” but claims the system needs to be […]

Average seller asking prices for homes have slipped by 1.8% this month, dragging the national figure to £364,833 and signalling an unusually sharp November slowdown, Rightmove reveals. It says the drop is the steepest November house price fall since 2012 with a crowded market and nervousness over the coming Budget affecting confidence. Sellers are cutting […]

Scottish landlords are increasing rents at a faster pace than anywhere else in Great Britain because of rent controls reshaping the market, Hamptons reveals. Its analysis suggests the policy designed to restrain price growth has instead encouraged annual increases. Drawing on data from across the Connells group, it found that 67% of Scottish landlords with […]

The buy to let mortgage market is still seeing major specialist lenders unveiling rate cuts, revamping criteria and fresh lending structures. Foundation Home Loans is rolling out new two-year discount products and trimming prices across its existing range. The lender has introduced no ERC discounts linked to Bank Base Rate and reduced the cost of […]

One of the biggest hurdles landlords face in 2025 is passing lender stress tests. Even if your property generates a solid rental profit, the way lenders calculate affordability can make or break a mortgage application. The key factor is whether the lender uses a 145% coverage rule (common in personal borrowing) or a 125% coverage […]

About two weeks ago, one of my HMO tenants messaged to say they kept hearing movement in the loft in the middle of the night. I told him it was probably birds or mice and that I would check it on my next inspection. Then, two days ago, another tenant sent me WhatsApp message saying […]

An industry body is urging landlords and tenants to test their carbon monoxide alarms to save lives. Ahead of Carbon Monoxide Awareness Week next week, Propertymark has created a checklist to help households stay safe and compliant. Known as the “silent killer” due to having no smell, taste, or colour, even a small amount of […]

Hello, I own a block of 6 flats and have managed to get solar to 3 flats under a grant scheme due to the tenants being in receipt of PIP. I had an EPC on my own property due to trying to sell, and talking to the gentleman carrying out the survey, we got around […]

Chapter 3 … It’s late. The house is quiet. The only light still burning is from your laptop screen, the faint glow reflecting off half-empty coffee cups and piles of property files. Bank statements, refinance calculations, insurance renewals. All neatly ordered, all endlessly repeating. You pause for a moment and glance at the family photo […]

Selling a rental property is rarely a tidy, linear decision. Most landlords reach this point after years of pressure, rising costs and a sense that life might be easier with fewer moving parts. Others arrive here because retirement is close, or because family priorities have shifted. Whatever the trigger, the moment you decide to explore […]

It’s finally arrived, the Renters’ Rights Act, one of the biggest overhauls of the private rental sector, will come into force on 1 May 2026. The Act, which, amongst other things, includes tighter regulations, the banning of Section 21 “no-fault” evictions, and the ability for tenants to request pets, whether or not landlords are comfortable […]