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 […]

This encore piece follows our International Bizarre Landlord Stories series. Today’s story was first reported in the United States. Evictions are never pleasant. This one was unforgettable. A Florida landlord arrived with paperwork and a locksmith, expecting a standard changeover. Instead, they found a six to seven-foot alligator relaxing in a hot tub inside the […]

Making Tax Digital for Income Tax (MTD ITSA) is set to transform how landlords report their rental income to HMRC. From April 2026, individuals with more than £50,000 of self-employment and/or property income will be required to submit quarterly digital updates. The threshold then drops to £30,000 in April 2027, and again to £20,000 from […]

A prominent housing committee has warned Chancellor Rachel Reeves that rumoured plans to make landlords pay National Insurance on rental income could lead to higher rents for tenants and act as a “tax on working people.” The comments by Sir Vince Cable, chair of the Independent Housing Policy and Delivery Oversight Committee, warn rumours of […]

House prices across the country saw a small dip in September, pointing to a housing sector that remains balanced despite economic headwinds. Figures from Halifax reveal a 0.3% or £794 monthly drop, reversing the slight price rise in August. The average home now costs £298,184, while the annual rate of increase slowed to 1.3%, down […]

Winter is one of the riskiest times for landlords. When temperatures drop, pipes can freeze and burst, causing widespread water damage. These claims are among the most frequent and costly in landlord insurance. But who actually pays – the landlord, the tenant, or the insurer? This case study looks at how a typical burst pipe […]

A third of landlords have either sold or tried to sell their rental properties in the past year, a survey reveals. That’s according to Goodlord’s latest State of the Lettings Industry report, which highlights a sector under strain. Most of the issues are down to mounting financial and regulatory pressures affecting landlords, agents and renters […]

Two councils have taken steps to tighten control over Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) in their areas. They say they are aiming to protect local communities and ensure higher standards in shared housing. In North Lincolnshire, councillors have approved an Article 4 Direction that will close a loophole allowing family homes to be converted into […]

Shelter Scotland has announced the launch of its ‘Delivering Homes, Delivering Rights’ plan, which calls for the Scottish government to end the inequality in the housing system. The housing charity is also demanding the Scottish government build more than 15,000 social homes a year. The news comes after a poll by YouGov and commissioned by […]

PRS landlords are benefiting from a wider choice of limited company buy to let products and falling rates, research reveals. According to the latest figures from Moneyfactscompare.co.uk, the rise in mortgage options comes as speculation grows that the next Budget could bring new tax measures targeting rental profits. The number of fixed-rate BTL products available […]

Ahead of the Welsh government’s draft budget 2026-27, the National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA) is calling on the government to support landlords in meeting EPC C targets. The NRLA warns without funding support to meet energy-efficiency targets, such as low-cost loans, landlords will simply sell up. The government have proposed, but not yet made law, […]

As landlords, we learn to expect the unexpected, but some tenant stories truly stretch the limits of imagination. In Sydney, Australia, one landlord discovered their property had been turned into a miniature zoo. Neighbours raised alarms after spotting unusual animals being kept in the back garden, including exotic birds, reptiles, and even a small crocodile. […]