Every landlord experiences voids from time to time, but few realise how quickly insurance cover changes when a property is unoccupied. Most landlord policies reduce cover after 30 consecutive days, and some exclusions apply immediately. Understanding these rules is essential to avoid declined claims, particularly during refurbishments or long reletting periods. How Long Before Cover […]

The tenant seemed reliable — polite at viewings, full deposit ready, and keen to move in quickly. Wanting to avoid a void, the landlord rushed the process and skipped full referencing checks. Within weeks, rent payments faltered. By the third month, the tenant had defaulted completely. When possession proceedings began, it emerged that the tenant […]

Case law plays a large role in shaping the rules that govern the relationship between landlords and tenants. Statutes create the framework, but it is the courts that interpret those rules and decide how they apply in everyday situations. Some rulings fade as legislation evolves. Others remain central because they cut to the fundamentals of […]

Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook has refused to give a clear answer on whether landlords will be able to recoup the costs of EPC upgrades. Under the Renters’ Rights Act, tenants will be able to challenge rent increases in court. Mr Pennycook said that a Tribunal must assess the rent a property could command on the […]

New findings reveal the majority of tenants have a lack of awareness about the Renters’ Rights Act, as the government admits a tenant campaign about the act will not be ready until a month before it begins. The TDS Charitable Foundation reveals in a poll of 1,000 renters that seven in ten have never heard […]

The government has issued guidance to help landlords understand the rules they must follow when requesting rent at different stages of a tenancy under the Renters’ Rights Act. Under new rental bidding guidance, landlords need to be aware of the types of deposits they are allowed to request from tenants. The government warns landlords they […]

Another council has revealed it is preparing a major clampdown on unregulated Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) amid rising concerns about safety. It also warns that rising HMO numbers are causing community disruption and the loss of family homes across key neighbourhoods. Gloucester City Council is following in the footsteps of Ealing Council which announced […]

Shelter Scotland has called on the Scottish government to deliver more than 15,000 affordable homes every year of the next parliament. The housing charity, alongside the Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) and Scottish Federation of Housing Associations (SFHA), has written to Finance Secretary Shona Robison, warning that homelessness will rise if the government fails to […]

Ahead of the Autumn Budget, the National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA) is calling on Chancellor Rachel Reeves to support the private rented sector (PRS). The NRLA warns Ms Reeves rather than add “another layer of taxation” to landlords, the Budget should recognise the vital role the PRS plays in the economy. Media speculation ahead of […]

Many landlords feel the market is collapsing, yet the data shows a very different picture. Comment threads across the landlord community often paint a bleak picture. Many long-standing investors feel worn down by the political mood, by constant changes, and by the simple weight of dealing with tenancies after twenty or thirty years in the […]

The final countdown to Rachel Reeves’ Autumn Budget this week has begun, and I’m wondering whether the announcements might finally wake up landlords in the private rented sector. I’m prepared to accept that a substantial number of landlords haven’t heard of the Renters’ Rights Act, or considered its impact, but a tax rise might just […]

There’s a new anti-landlord play touring theatres which is being promoted by tenant campaign group Acorn, but London critics were far from impressed. The Good Landlord bills itself as a dark comedy about renters spiralling into disaster. It follows in the footsteps of the Fringe show we highlighted in August called ‘How to kill your […]

When landlords look back on the last few years, many will remember a period defined by shifting legislation, stubborn costs and a housing market that rarely holds still long enough to feel predictable. Through all of this one sponsor on Property118 has delivered something rare. Clear guidance, steady results and a service that helps landlords […]

Few things are more frustrating for landlords than having a mortgage application declined. You may have spent weeks preparing documents, only to be told your case doesn’t meet criteria. In 2025, with lenders applying strict affordability and compliance rules, declines are more common than many landlords expect. The good news is that a decline is […]

The tenancy looked secure because a guarantor was in place. Confident, the landlord agreed to let the property despite some concerns over the tenant’s income. Months later, arrears built up and the guarantor was approached. But there was a problem — the guarantee form had not been properly executed as a deed, and one page […]

A flat-share website has urged the Chancellor Rachel Reeves to address the housing crisis as workers in London struggle to afford rent. SpareRoom findings reveal Londoners earning the National Living Wage would need to work 63 hours per week to spend no more than 30% of their wages on housing costs. Rents in the capital […]

Landlords are being advised to get ahead of the Renters’ Rights Act, with one leading letting agency warning that the sector is running out of time to prepare. The reforms come into force on 1 May 2026, and Leaders says the transition will be one of the most significant overhauls of rental law in decades. […]

The government has issued guidance for landlords on evicting tenants for anti-social behaviour, including the introduction of a new ground for possession. Under the Renters’ Rights Act, when using a discretionary ground for possession, landlords will have to prove that anti-social behaviour has occurred, and the court will then decide whether it is reasonable to […]

Chapter 4 … Sunday morning. The smell of roast chicken and coffee fills the kitchen. The younger grandchildren are building Lego castles on the floor while your daughter scrolls through Zoopla on her phone. For once, the conversation isn’t about tenants, maintenance or mortgage renewals, it’s about the family’s future. “You know,” she says, “if […]

For more than a decade, Property118 has reported every major change affecting private landlords in the UK: legislation, taxation, finance, and policy. We’ve also become a forum for landlords to share experiences, challenge ideas and, at times, vent their frustrations. That honesty has always been our strength, but over time, the tone of landlord news […]

The government has released guidance on what landlords need to do when their tenants request a pet. Under the Renters’ Rights Act, tenants have the right to reasonably request a pet, and landlords cannot unreasonably refuse permission. The government have listed examples and refusals on when landlords can refuse pets and when they cannot refuse. […]