Landlords face local rent differences of more than 100% between the most and least expensive areas in seven regions of Britain. Research by Benham and Reeves compared average monthly rents within each region, measuring the gaps in £ and as a proportion of the lowest figure. The letting agents found that Scotland recorded the largest […]

Social housing landlords in Scotland have resolved more than 40,000 damp and mould cases, according to a new report. Data from the Scottish Housing Regulator reveals that the 40,140 cases took an average of 26 days to resolve. The news came in the run up to Awaab’s Law taking effect in Scotland in October for […]

Landlords could gain a public register of letting agents and enforceable rules on conduct under proposals for tighter regulation of the sector. The Lettings Industry Council (TLIC) has published a report calling for a new framework to address what it describes as ‘inconsistent and limited accountability’. Its research from 2025 found that 65% of agents […]

Propertymark has urged the Welsh government to avoid policies that could deter investment, warning against the introduction of rent controls. Responding to the Senedd’s local government, housing and planning committee consultation on priorities for the Welsh housing sector, the industry body said increasing the supply of homes should be the top priority, alongside sustaining a […]

Every fiscal season follows a familiar pattern across the UK advisory profession. Plans are leaked, investors scrutinise headlines, and advisers face identical, anxious questions from clients: “What do you think will be in the Budget?” Predicting the outcome of an upcoming Budget is an impossible task. Chancellors operate on short political and fiscal horizons, whereas […]

We regularly speak to landlords who knew they wanted to leave the PRS or downsize after years of rising costs, increasing regulation, tenant problems, maintenance demands and diminishing returns, years before they finally spoke to us. They wanted out but could never find the right time to leave. We know that’s still true and there […]

More than one million low-income renters face crisis as the gap between rents and benefit support is set to hit a record high, claims a think tank. The Resolution Foundation is calling on the government to unfreeze Local Housing Allowance (LHA) rates at the Autumn Budget, warning that the growing gap between rents and housing […]

Hello, Although such cases may be in the minority, we had a tenant who turned out to be a criminal. He passed our excellent usual letting agents checks, but DBS checks are not done and would anyway require agreement from the individual, hardly likely to be given by someone with a “dodgy” past. He viciously […]

An industry body has slammed selective licensing schemes as “ineffective” and a “poor use of public money”. Propertymark’s policy paper on the effectiveness of landlord licensing schemes claims selective and additional licensing schemes can “risk duplicating existing regulatory functions rather than enhancing them”. The industry body has also warned that high licensing fees place an […]

Landlords lose most damp and mould disputes because of how they handle complaints, rather than the law itself, according to property barrister Jeffrey Zitron. He says that landlords who cannot show when a property was last inspected are in a weaker position to contest a tenant’s claim. And repeated mould washes can leave a repair […]

GB Bank has increased its maximum loan from £20m to £25m as it relaunches lending for commercial property investors. Borrowers can combine a bridging loan and longer-term finance within a single funding arrangement. The bank will consider purchases and refinancing of income-generating properties, including retail units, offices and buildings with multiple tenancies. Loans are available […]

The government has claimed councils should allow pets in temporary accommodation where it is suitable. In a parliamentary written answer, Labour peer Baroness Taylor of Stevenage encouraged councils to consider allowing elderly people to keep their pets while living in temporary accommodation. The move comes as the Renters’ Rights Act gives private renters the right […]

Buy to let mortgages have recorded lower arrears rates than owner-occupier loans in every year but one since records began. The fact is revealed in Paragon’s 30 Years of Buy-to-Let report, published to mark three decades since the buy to let mortgage product’s were launch. During that time, the buy to let market has weathered […]

Councils across England are spending £2.9 billion on temporary accommodation as homelessness costs rise. Data released by the government reveals that the amount spent on temporary accommodation has increased by 4%, from £2.8bn the previous year. The news comes as councils will now be required to inform schools and GP practices when a child is […]

Homes to rent in Birkenhead and Wallasey attracted an average of 30 enquiries apiece during July and August, research reveals. That was the highest figure in Great Britain, and both towns recorded average monthly rents below £1,000. Rightmove’s analysis of 1,000 locations put Carlisle third, with 29 enquiries for each available property. Across Britain, the […]

Landlords are being urged to familiarise themselves with the revamped Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS) after the government updated its guidance for landlords and letting agents. The government updated its HHSRS landlord and agents guidance this month to clarify how the system works, following the introduction of the revamped framework in June. Housing […]

Despite buyers prioritising EPC ratings, homeowners are struggling to afford EPC upgrades, according to new research. Data from Together reveals that three in four (74%) buyers would be willing to pay more for a home with a better EPC rating, with buyers prepared to spend an average of £5,293 more for a property with improved […]

Demand for rent guarantors has surged by 50% since the Renters’ Rights Act came into effect in May, according to new data from Housing Hand. The guarantor provider said applications have risen sharply over the past 100 days as landlords and letting agents adjust to new rules on rent paid upfront. Under the Renters’ Rights […]

The government claims the new way to challenge rent increases will be “quicker and more proportionate”. The government has announced that HMRC’s Valuation Office will be responsible for making initial rent determinations when tenants challenge rent increases, replacing the First-tier Tribunal as the first stage of the process. However, it is not yet clear when […]

More than a quarter of landlords are unaware of EPC exemptions as older buildings struggle to meet the EPC C target by 2030. Research by the National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA) reveals that 28% of landlords were unaware that EPC exemptions existed, while fewer than 2% had registered an exemption in the past two years. […]

Houses account for most of the homes attracting high tenant demand outside London, research reveals. According to property management firm Rushbrook, London is the odd one out, with flats making up 71.9% of the capital’s high-demand properties. Across England, however, houses account for 65.7% of the 15,583 properties identified as experiencing strong demand. Flats remain […]