Page 54 – Property118
House with EPC energy efficiency rating bars and upward arrow highlighting rental property energy standards

EPC C targets should not require landlords to raise rents claims government

26th January 2026

The government claim landlords will not have to raise rents to meet EPC C targets by 2030, despite a government consultation claiming the opposite. Under the Warm Homes Plan, the government announced all private rented properties will need to meet EPC C targets by 2030. However, a government consultation on meeting EPC C targets admits […]

Tenants holding placards protesting rent increases inside a courtroom during a rent reform hearing

Rent increase challenge rules spark court backlog fears

26th January 2026

Tenants challenging rent increases under new reforms could overwhelm courts, warns industry experts. An article in The Times explains under the Renters’ Rights Act, tenants will be able to challenge any proposed rent increase at the First-Tier Tribunal (FTT). Under the reforms, the tribunal will no longer be able to set a rent higher than […]

Electrician installing a wall-mounted EV charger at a residential rental property

Government encourages landlords to install electric vehicle chargers

26th January 2026

The government claim they want to incentivise landlords to install electric vehicle (EV) chargers. In answer to a written question, Labour MP Keir Mather claims “renters and leaseholders have barriers to installing EV charging points.” In October last year, the government announced reforms for renters and leaseholders to install electric vehicle (EV) chargers, including mandating […]

Hands forming a house shape around a Welsh flag door beneath a “Priority” banner, symbolising housing policy in Wales

NRLA urges next Welsh government to prioritise housing

26th January 2026

Ahead of the Senedd elections in May, a landlord organisation has launched a manifesto calling on the next Welsh government not to deter investment in the private rented sector. The National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA) says the next Welsh government must promote a better private rented sector across Wales. The Welsh Labour government has come […]

Text: 25% increase graphic over UK rental homes with for-rent signs, illustrating rising rental availability

Rental listings jump 25% as tenant moves slow

26th January 2026

The number of rental homes available across England rose sharply at the end of last year, but this was due to a drop in tenants moving and not landlords leaving the market. New figures from Inventory Base show rental availability increased by 25% in Q4 2025 compared with the previous quarter. It says that even […]

DIY landlord toolkit with tools and energy efficiency rating graphic highlighting EPC compliance requirements

Warm Homes Plan raises the stakes for DIY landlords

26th January 2026

The government’s push to tighten EPC standards in the private rented sector is set to intensify pressure on DIY landlords, says one leading letting industry figure. The rules will also create fresh opportunities for managing agents. Ian Macbeth, the co-founder and managing partner of Avocado Property, spoke out after the government revealed details about its […]

Water pouring over a document titled “Leasehold Reforms,” symbolising pressure on government promises

Pressure mounts on government over leasehold reform

26th January 2026

Leaseholders have warned the government not to betray them by watering down promised leasehold reforms. Press reports suggest a growing Labour rebellion over the issue, amid rumours that Chancellor Rachel Reeves is concerned that capping ground rents could deter pension fund investment. However, a leaseholder campaign group has pushed back strongly, saying there is no […]

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

How Mortgage Valuations Work for Buy-To-Let Properties

26th January 2026

When applying for a buy-to-let mortgage, one of the most important steps is the valuation. Lenders need to know both the market value of the property and the expected rental income. In 2026, with affordability tighter and specialist properties more common, valuations are under greater scrutiny than ever. Understanding how valuations work helps landlords avoid […]

Knight-themed Landlord Crusader logo symbolizing landlord advocacy

Why Ed Miliband’s Warm Homes Plan is hot air for landlords

23rd January 2026

Our glorious energy secretary, Ed Miliband, stood on a rooftop surrounded by solar panels this week, declaring the affordability crisis is the main worry for families. Then he unveiled the Warm Homes Plan and, I’m guessing, most private landlords across the country watched in disbelief. The lunatic’s scheme demands that every rented property hit the […]

Model house with EPC energy rating scale and for sale sign representing impact of EPC C rules on landlords

Government consultation exposes unintended consequences of EPC reforms

23rd January 2026

A government consultation document admits landlords may sell up or increase rents due to EPC rules. The Improving the Energy Performance of Privately Rented Homes impact assessment document reveals the wider impact of the government’s rules to have all private rented sector (PRS) properties meet EPC C targets by 2030. The government has also announced […]

Hand holding a house key above a crowd of raised hands symbolising competition in the rental market

Renters’ Rights Act fuels uncertainty as demand outstrips supply

23rd January 2026

Despite a growth in the number of properties available to rent, demand continues to outstrip supply as the Renters’ Rights Act creates uncertainty for landlords. Propertymark’s Housing Insight November report reveals that the average number of properties available to rent has grown slightly, reaching 10.82 per member branch. However, demand remains high, with an average […]

Clock overlaid with calendar pages turning from August to November and a question mark, symbolising uncertainty over housing law changes

Councils and their discharge of housing duty?

23rd January 2026

Most councils will pay the first month’s rent and deposit for someone they deem to owe a housing duty to. In return, the landlord must offer up a min 12 month contract. The Renters’ Rights Act will change all that. So what happens after May 1st? How will the council end that duty? A quick […]

BTL Deals logo inside a glowing house outline held in a hand, symbolising buy to let mortgage options

Paragon, NatWest and RAW unveil new buy to let deals and processes

23rd January 2026

Paragon has widened its buy to let mortgage line-up, adding six two-year Bank Base Rate tracker products following broker feedback and renewed landlord demand for flexibility. The new deals sit alongside the lender’s existing five-year trackers linked to the Bank of England Base Rate and are available up to 75% loan-to-value. All come without early […]

Rocket labelled “rent” launching beside a map of the UK, symbolising rising rental prices in regional towns and cities.

Rents skyrocket in North of England as UK average stabilises

23rd January 2026

Despite rents stabilising across the UK, some areas are seeing prices skyrocket, prompting calls for increased housing supply to tackle rising rents. A report by SpareRoom reveals the steepest average rent increases were recorded in towns and cities across northern England, the Midlands and Scotland. The report reveals that the UK average rent continued to […]

House model on documents with a “For Sale” sign, representing landlords planning to sell amid legislative changes

How to sell two flats and the freehold?

23rd January 2026

I own a small detached freehold building which contains two self-contained flats, which I purchased eight years apart. I put both flats on the market last year, but failed to find buyers, so I re-let them. The building is in a rural market town, and the local agent was worried that when I offered each […]

Landlord hands over buy-to-let property keys beside a model house during a rental transaction

Autumn Budget dents landlord confidence but buy to let activity continues

23rd January 2026

Four in 10 landlords say they feel negative about the outlook for their buy to let businesses following the Autumn Budget but remain active in the sector, research suggests. The findings are in the first revamped landlord survey from Landbay which says landlords are adjusting to various pressures to maintain their business. Carried out at […]

EPC energy efficiency rating chart showing a home targeting EPC C by 2030 against a green landscape

Government U-turn as Warm Homes Plan sets EPC C deadline for 2030

22nd January 2026

The government has U-turned on its plans and scrapped the 2028 deadline for new tenancies to meet EPC C targets, though the cost cap has been reduced. The government has published its Warm Homes Plan, which will require landlords to ensure their rental properties meet minimum energy-efficiency standards. Energy Secretary Ed Miliband says the plan […]

Damp and mould staining on a wall beneath a painted Scottish flag, symbolising housing standards issues in Scotland

Scottish landlords call for balanced approach on damp and mould regulations

22nd January 2026

A landlord association has warned that new regulations on damp and mould must not impede landlords in Scotland. The Scottish government has announced plans to extend Awaab’s Law to the private rented sector. However, the Scottish Association of Landlords (SAL) says its members are committed to the highest standards, and the government must strike a […]

Abstract digital network visual representing collection and analysis of private rented sector enforcement data

Government to gather data on council PRS enforcement staffing

22nd January 2026

The government has confirmed it will introduce a mandatory collection of private rented sector (PRS) enforcement data, including information on staffing levels within local authorities. In response to a written parliamentary question, ministers said they are currently developing systems to gather the data. The news comes ahead of the Renters’ Rights Act coming into force […]