Page 6 – Property118
Young professional viewing two UK houses with sold and to rent signs, illustrating Gen Z property investment trends

Gen Z rents, but buys to let

24th April 2026

Nearly 400,000 company directors aged under 28 are now running UK-registered businesses, with property investment forming part of a model where younger entrepreneurs rent in one place while buying elsewhere to let. The analysis of Companies House data by Hiscox identifies 393,531 active Generation Z directors in 2025. Growth has averaged 78% a year, with […]

Ballot paper being cast between two voting boxes against Scottish flag backdrop, symbolising election choice

Voters could switch ballots over housing policies – poll

24th April 2026

Ahead of the Scottish elections, a housing charity says parties’ plans to end the housing emergency could hold the key to power at Holyrood. A poll by Shelter Scotland found more than half of voters in Scotland (57%) would consider switching their regional ballot vote if another party offered clear policies they supported to tackle […]

Energy efficiency rating scale over UK homes with England and Wales housing and flags in background

55% of homes are below EPC targets in England and Wales

24th April 2026

More than half of homes across England and Wales fall into lower energy efficiency bands, with 55% of properties rated D or below, research reveals. The data highlights the distribution of EPC scores ahead of planned changes to how energy performance in homes is measured. Emperor Paint found the figures from the Department for Levelling […]

Tenant reporting a change in circumstances for Universal Credit on a laptop

Government clarifies tenant responsibility in Universal Credit reporting rules

24th April 2026

The government has confirmed that tenants remain responsible for reporting changes for Universal Credit. In a written question, the government confirmed that while information from landlords can trigger checks and investigations, the tenant should still report any change in circumstances themselves through the system. The news comes as a government pilot allowing councils to use […]

Worried landlord holding model house near Parliament, reflecting UK rental market uncertainty

Landlord confidence falls as demand outpaces supply

24th April 2026

Demand still continues to outstrip supply as landlords lose confidence in the government, according to a new report. Propertymark’s Housing Insight report reveals a number of member agents are worried about the upcoming Renters’ Rights Act, with more single property landlords leaving the market. The news comes as the government has published guidance for tenants […]

Landlords reducing exposure as regulatory pressure reshapes behaviour

24th April 2026

A consistent theme running through the latest landlord data is the growing influence of regulatory and structural pressure on decision-making. According to the Property118 Landlord Sentiment Survey Q1 2026, a majority of landlords are now choosing to reduce their exposure to the sector rather than expand within it. Based on 2,380 completed responses, 57% of landlords […]

Selling one poor performer can beat keeping three average ones

23rd April 2026

Many landlords assume progress comes from owning more properties. More doors, more rent days, more long-term growth. Sometimes that is true, yet there are also moments when progress comes from owning fewer, better assets. That idea is often resisted at first, but it deserves attention because one well-judged sale can sometimes improve a portfolio more than […]

North West buyers are still active, but only for the right stock

23rd April 2026

A common misconception is that if the wider market feels uncertain, buyers disappear altogether, yet that is rarely how property markets work. What usually happens instead is that demand becomes more selective. Across parts of the North West, buyers remain active, but they are choosier than they were during easier years. For landlords considering a sale, […]

Why low debt is not always the low-risk strategy landlords think it is

23rd April 2026

Among landlords, few beliefs are more deeply rooted than this: Pay down debt and risk falls. It might sound sensible,  and in some circumstances, it might be sensible, yet like many simple truths, it can become misleading when applied too broadly because once borrowing becomes modest, a different form of risk often grows quietly in the […]

£1m of equity and only £35k income? The mismatch many landlords ignore

23rd April 2026

There is a conversation we have surprisingly often with landlords who appear wealthy on paper but feel underwhelmed in real life. They often own several properties and have modest borrowing, and may have built more than £1m of net equity over time, yet annual disposable income can remain stubbornly ordinary, and sometimes far more ordinary […]

Reaching retirement with properties you no longer want to run?

23rd April 2026

Many landlords spent decades building portfolios with one clear objective in mind: security. Added to that, they got into Buy-To-Let because they believed it would provide additional income, long-term growth, and something tangible to rely upon later in life. For many, that worked, yet an awkward truth often appears as retirement approaches, which is that […]

Tired of managing rentals? Many landlords are simplifying

23rd April 2026

There comes a point for many landlords when the real issue is no longer yield, capital growth or tax; it is energy. The phone calls, the repairs, the paperwork, the tenant queries, the compliance changes, and so the list goes on. Then there is the mental load of knowing that even when nothing is wrong, […]

Man pushing collapsing wall of houses as orderly homes remain intact, symbolising portfolio simplification

Landlords increasingly prioritising simplicity over expansion

23rd April 2026

A more subtle shift is taking place within the UK private rented sector, one that is less about numbers and more about mindset. According to the Property118 Landlord Sentiment Survey Q1 2026, many landlords are no longer focused on growing their portfolios, but on simplifying them. Based on 2,380 completed responses, just 6.8% of landlords […]

How landlords are using the Renters’ Rights Act to sell on their terms

23rd April 2026

With less than 10 days to go until the Renters’ Rights Act comes into force, many landlords are weighing up their options. While there is clear anxiety amongst landlords, with Section 21 notices being issued at pace as landlords look to get ahead, for landlords who have prepared and are ready for this moment there […]

Warning sign beside a residential pavement leak highlighting underground water pipe issues for landlords

Hidden leaks outside homes raise landlord costs

23rd April 2026

More than half of hidden leaks affecting residential property originate outside the building, leaving responsibility with the owner and landlords rather than the water supplier. According to an analysis of 9,000 callouts by property maintenance firm Aspect, 58% of hidden leaks occur in underground mains supply pipes beyond the property’s structure. The firm, which works […]

UK terraced houses with upward arrows showing rising rents and property prices

UK rent growth slows as house prices edge up – ONS

23rd April 2026

The UK’s private rents rose by 3.4% in the year to March, taking the average monthly figure to £1,377, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) says. The annual increase was lower than February’s 3.6% and is the slowest rate since March 2022. In England, average monthly rents reached £1,434 in March, up £48 on the […]

Council official imagining selective licensing impact as rents rise in local housing market

Council branded “deluded” by landlord over selective licensing scheme

23rd April 2026

A council has been accused of being “deluded” over claims that selective licensing will not cause rent rises. Great Yarmouth Borough Council introduced its selective licensing scheme this month, covering more than 5,000 properties at a cost of £694. The council claims research shows “there is little evidence to suggest rents have risen due to […]

Calendar showing equal monthly rent with pound symbols, illustrating fixed rent across the year

Renters’ Rights Act equal rent for each month?

23rd April 2026

Maybe there are some legal eagles here who can correct me, but I cannot find anything in the law or Renters’ Rights Act to say that the rent must be the same every month. Here is my dilemma. I have a property in an area with high seasonal demand. I am about to sign an […]

Hand using a key fob on a secure entry system, representing controlled building access and security concerns.

Fob access to building?

23rd April 2026

We are a Right to Manage (RTM) Company, just two directors,  it’s a very difficult block having cladding and other fire safety issues that we are dealing with, and it’s all uphill. A number of the leaseholders are resisting measure put in place, the latest is with fob access, it could be seen as micromanaging […]

Scissors cutting a percentage symbol beside a house filled with cash and an upward arrow

Buy to let lenders cut rates and raise loan limits

23rd April 2026

Several buy to let lenders have reduced rates and increased loan sizes across a range of products, with changes covering standard lending as well as more specialist areas. Landbay has cut rates by 0.20% on its selected Core two- and five-year fixed products up to 75% LTV. The changes span 15 products, including both standard […]