Page 59 – Property118
Stylised house outline with the word rent and an upward arrow, symbolising changes in rental prices

Annual rents are 2% higher but growth rate slows

8th January 2026

The private rented sector ended 2025 with a smaller than expected rise in rents as they grew by 2% year on year. That’s according to the Goodlord rental index which also shows there’s a clear slowdown from the momentum seen earlier in 2025. Even though demand is traditionally weak in winter, the monthly average fall […]

Confident property professional standing in a residential street, reflecting optimism about the private rental market.

Why professional landlords still see opportunity despite tougher rules – Leaders

8th January 2026

Despite ever-growing stories about landlords in the private rented sector quitting in the face of higher costs and growing legislation, one property sector leader says now is a great time to be a landlord. Allison Thompson, the national lettings managing director at Leaders, says the picture on the ground differs from the gloomy narrative often […]

House with falling red price graph and pound symbol, showing UK property market decline.

House prices dipped in December as annual growth slows – Halifax

8th January 2026

UK house prices fell for a second consecutive month in December, delivering a softer end to the year for the housing market, Halifax says. Prices dropped by -0.6% during the month, following a -0.1% decline in November, taking the average property value to £297,755. That’s £1,789 lower than a month earlier and the lowest level […]

Broken communal front door of a block of flats after forced police entry, boarded and unsafe for residents

Freeholder refuses to replace damaged door?

8th January 2026

I have two leasehold flats in a block of 4 converted flats, the freeholder owns the other two. The police attended one of his flats to arrest the tenant, but the police decided to kick the main front door in to gain access. They sent someone out to board it up, and no one could […]

Model house, calculator and UK pound notes on paperwork illustrating rent repayment and landlord enforcement

Propertymark backs wider Rent Repayment Order crackdown

8th January 2026

Propertymark has welcomed the government’s decision to widen the scope of tougher Rent Repayment Orders (RRO) to protect tenants on housing support. Ministers have confirmed that a pilot scheme allowing councils to pursue expanded RRO’s will be rolled out to 41 local authorities across England. That follows early signs that the approach is helping recover […]

How to get Government updates for landlords

How to get Government updates for landlords?

8th January 2026

Hello all readers, I think it might be worth all landlords signing up for the Government’s PRS updates and updates reference Assured Periodic Tenancy agreement templates. Their document is to give tenants already on an AST or Periodic tenancies on or before the 1st of May this year. Get emails from GOV.UK You’ll get emails […]

Damaged electric meter with exposed wiring in a vandalised flat, highlighting costly repairs and safety concerns

Punish the landlord victim?

7th January 2026

Hi, my flat was ransacked by the tenant or a third party introduced by the tenant, and the electric meter was damaged. It will cost £6,000 -£8,000 to make a full repair. The council made an Emergency Prohibition Order under S43 Housing Act 2004. Fair enough. They now want me, the landlord, to pay them […]

Desk calendar showing extended notice to quit dates with Northern Ireland flag in the background

Northern Ireland’s private landlords face seven month Notice to Quit periods

7th January 2026

Northern Ireland landlords could soon face some of the longest Notice to Quit periods in the UK after Communities Minister Gordon Lyons began a 12-week consultation on new regulations. The proposals would require private landlords to give up to seven months’ notice to tenants with more than 10 years of occupancy. The major policy shift […]

Balance scales weighing stacked coins against a house, symbolising buy to let affordability and mortgage stress rates

HSBC cuts BTL stress rates as LendInvest launches 2026 deals

7th January 2026

HSBC UK has lowered its buy to let affordability stress rates for domestic borrowers; a move it says will widen access to finance and help stabilise rental supply during a period of persistent cost pressure. The lender said the adjustment would give landlords greater flexibility when refinancing or raising additional borrowing, improving choice across the […]

Rent sign beside model house and coins with downward arrow showing falling rental prices

Rents stagnate as Renters’ Rights Act uncertainty bites

7th January 2026

The UK’s rents slipped in December to leave annual growth muted as landlords tread carefully ahead of May’s implementation of the Renters’ Rights Act. According to the latest HomeLet Rental Index, average rents fell to £1,317 last month, down 1.5% from November. Despite the monthly dip, prices remain 2.6% higher than a year earlier. Excluding […]

Landlord calculating rental property running costs with calculator, coins, and house model

Landlords spend up to 45% of rental income on rising costs

7th January 2026

Non-HMO landlords are allocating around 25% of their gross rental income to their portfolio running expenses, with HMO operators reporting figures close to 45%, research reveals. According to Pegasus Insight, those proportions mark a big rise in maintenance and repairs, which now represent between 31% and 39% of overall expenditure. Average annual costs have reached […]

Piggy bank with coins and a question mark illustrating a tenancy deposit dispute and outstanding rent arrears

Are rent deposits covered by the Limitations Act 1980?

7th January 2026

The tenant took a 12-month lease from 24/03/2017 and served notice to quit on 10/02/2018, effective 23/03/2018. The deposit, in the sum of £1,920, was registered with The Deposit Protection Service (DPS) on 27/03/2017. The rent due on 23/02/2018 was not paid. The tenant agreed that this amount could be deducted from the deposit, leaving […]

Commercial Finance Blog featured image showing buildings, factory, handshake, loan document, calculator, pound sign and growth bars on a teal background.

A Tale of Two Applications – Why One Got Rejected and the Other Approved

7th January 2026

On the surface, two landlords submitted similar applications for commercial finance. Yet one was rejected outright while the other sailed through to approval. What made the difference? This case study highlights the importance of preparation, presentation, and broker expertise in determining outcomes. Case 1 – The Rejected Application A landlord applied directly to a lender […]

Wealthy investor lounging on piles of cash above two rental homes, symbolising profit-driven landlords replacing smaller ones

Small landlords will be forced out of PRS and replaced by money-motivated landlords

6th January 2026

Small landlords who care about their tenants will sell up in 2026 and be replaced by “money-motivated landlords” due to new regulations, claims legal experts. The Daily Telegraph reports mounting regulations, such as the Renters’ Rights Act, will see small landlords exit due to high costs and increased council powers. Under the Renters’ Rights Act, […]

Judge’s gavel beside stacked coins and a house, symbolising legal support for tenants facing eviction

Government pledges millions of pounds in free legal support for tenants

6th January 2026

The government has announced £20 million in legal support and advice for tenants facing eviction. The government claim the funding will help those at risk of eviction and debt to “get the help they need before they end up in court”. Propertymark says long-term reform of the housing justice system is needed to tackle the […]

Model house in a shopping trolley with a Scottish flag symbolising affordable housing purchases in Glasgow

Scotland’s largest landlord is buying homes for social rent

6th January 2026

Scotland’s biggest registered social landlord has begun buying homes across Glasgow to boost the city’s supply of affordable housing. Wheatley Homes Glasgow is using funding from the Scottish Government and backing from Glasgow City Council. The programme will see each property being refurbished before being offered at social rent to households facing urgent need. The […]

Chart showing variable rate mortgage tracking the UK base rate with house model, keys and cash on a desk

Paragon launches base rate tracker BTL deals as Aldermore cuts rates

6th January 2026

Paragon has rolled out a new range of bank base rate tracker buy to let mortgages, pitching them as a more flexible option for landlords navigating a shifting interest rate landscape. The products track the Bank of England base rate and crucially come with no early repayment charges. That means landlords can move away at […]

Landlord holding a clipboard showing “Joint Tenancy Agreement” crossed out, highlighting tenancy status concerns

Tenant refuses to sign joint tenancy agreement?

6th January 2026

Hello, My tenant, aged 60, moved into the property in May 2022 as a sole tenant.  He has been a good tenant and the house is kept in good condition. I became aware his girlfriend had moved in around April 2025 when I did an inspection visit. We had a discussion about the need to […]

Landlord Insurance Blog featured image showing a house, shield, umbrella, policy document, tick and pound coins on a teal background.

Underinsurance and the Average Clause – Avoiding Reduced Payouts

6th January 2026

Underinsurance is one of the most expensive mistakes a landlord can make. If your sum insured is too low, insurers can apply the average clause and reduce any claim in the same proportion that you are underinsured. The reduction can hit every part of the claim – buildings repairs, contents, and sometimes loss of rent […]