Industry bodies are warning Scottish landlords that blanket “no pets” policies are likely to become harder to enforce. Under the Scottish Housing Bill, tenants will be able to request permission to keep a pet in their home, and landlords will not be able to unreasonably refuse such requests. While pet charities have welcomed the proposal, […]

Imagine this: you’re scrolling through rental listings, and one advert shows a gorgeous, modern two-bedroom apartment with sleek furniture, stylish décor, and a pristine kitchen. A tenant rushes to book a viewing—only to discover that the actual flat is nothing like the photos. Instead, it is dated, tired, and bears no resemblance to the dream […]

Mystic Mortar’s Landlord Horoscope Edition: Friday 3 October 2025 Welcome, star-gazers and key-holders, to another week where the skies sprinkle both promise and puzzles across your landlord journey. Gather close, for the stars whisper secrets of charm, caution and opportunity in the property realm. This week, the Sun in Libra joins Mercury and Venus, making […]

Last weekend, Green Party members voted like lemmings to ‘seek the effective abolition of private landlordism’ at their conference in Bournemouth, and become the first political party to effectively declare war on much-maligned landlords around the country. The motion, aptly titled ‘Abolish Landlords’, won strong delegate backing to become official party policy and promise heavy […]

Buy to let lenders have unveiled a wave of new mortgage products and lending criteria to meet the changing demands of the BTL landlords. The Mortgage Works has broadened its line-up for incorporated landlords with remortgage deals on two- and five-year fixed terms without solicitor costs. Its portfolio for multi-tenant dwellings gains fresh fixed-rate choices […]

A property expert has warned fears over the Renters’ Rights Bill are driving many landlords to house asylum seekers instead. Paul Shamplina, founder of Landlord Action, told the i newspaper that landlords are now striking deals with Serco instead of renting to private tenants. Industry experts told the i landlords are drawn by guaranteed rent […]

Landlords are pulling out of the PRS at the fastest rate since the early pandemic to leave behind a growing shortage of rental homes, RICS says. In its latest Residential Market Survey, the organisation warns that as a consequence, tenants are being facing affordability issues. The latest data shows that tenant demand was broadly unchanged […]

UK room rents have reached record-breaking levels, as undersupply and high demand leave renters struggling. According to data by SpareRoom, the UK average room rent has reached an all-time high of £753 per month. Over the past five years, rents in the UK have risen 28% and in London by 37%. We need to address […]

New research has uncovered a striking property price gap between homes near the nation’s best and worst-performing train stations. Findings by estate agents eXP show that across the 20 best-performing stations, where just 1.85% of trains are cancelled on average, the typical sold price of a home is £507,044. In contrast, across the postcodes of […]

Landlords in Wales are enjoying the UK’s strongest returns, data reveals. According to Paragon Bank’s Q3 Buy to Let Yield Report, the region recorded an impressive average gross yield of 8.84% by September’s end. That’s a rise from 8.59% in the previous quarter and a big jump from 7.13% in early 2023. High tenant demand […]

Letting agents play a vital role in the rental sector, but sometimes their mistakes are so outrageous that they leave both landlords and tenants speechless. From bizarre miscommunications to costly oversights, these real-world stories highlight what can go wrong when agents get it badly wrong. In this new series, we will be sharing some of […]

The Conservatives have pledged to scrap stamp duty if they win the next election. Speaking at the Conservative Party Conference, leader Kemi Badenoch says stamp duty is one of the biggest barriers to home ownership. However, the policy will only apply to primary residences. We must free up our housing market Stamp duty is paid […]

Landlords are losing thousands of pounds as county court bailiff backlogs stretch eviction timescales to unprecedented lengths, research reveals. The High Court Enforcement Officers Association (HCEOA) says that landlords face average losses of £12,708 in England and Wales when attempting to repossess properties through legal channels. But that figure soars to £19,223 in the capital, […]

Hi, we have a tenant in arrears who appears to have had previous landlords turn off his electricity. In our small block, the electric meters are all in one cupboard in the communal hallway. The override switch, which cuts off the electricity supply individually to each flat (so electricians can work there in safety) has […]

A legal firm has warned landlords that if tenants secretly sublet, it’s the landlord, not the tenant, who could face hefty fines or even criminal prosecution. Landlord Licensing & Defence has warned that landlords may not realise that subletting even one bedroom can turn a standard single-let into a House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) under […]

Bridging finance is one of the most talked about, yet least understood, tools available to landlords. Fast, flexible, and widely used, it can unlock opportunities that would otherwise be missed. But bridging is not a cheap or risk-free option. Used in the right context it can be invaluable, but applied in the wrong circumstances it […]

In a last-ditch attempt before the Renters’ Rights Bill becomes law, Peers fight back and make further amendments. The bill returns to the House of Lords next Tuesday (14 October) for its final stages, commonly known as ‘ping-pong’, where it will go back and forth between the Lords and Commons to resolve any remaining disagreements […]

Hi, I bought a flat in June 2021. The previous leasehold had a debt to the freeholder for service charges of around £400, for the year to March 2021. The freeholder is chasing me for this sum, saying that, because they issued the demand in September 2021, I am liable for the debt How can […]

A survey has found that most landlords don’t know who is responsible for housing policy affecting the private rented sector. Landbay found that just 11% of landlords correctly identified Matthew Pennycook as the Minister of State for Housing and Planning. Despite his appointment following Labour’s July 2024 election victory, most respondents could not name the […]

With London Mayor Sadiq Khan under pressure to meet housing targets in the capital, there are rumours he may reduce affordable housing requirements. Mr Khan’s targets require private housebuilders to make 35% of homes within each development affordable. According to the Financial Times, the Greater London Authority could cut this quota to 10–15%. London cannot […]

For landlords looking to expand, the biggest question is often: where will the capital come from? With property prices and borrowing costs higher than in previous years, portfolio growth requires careful planning. Equity release and leverage remain powerful tools, but they must be applied with discipline to avoid unnecessary risk. Why Equity Release Matters Equity […]