Following the strong engagement with my recent article about the Sehgal SDLT decision, many readers asked a natural question: “How often do taxpayers actually win at the tax tribunals, and is the system fair?” It is easy to assume HMRC always holds the upper hand. They have deep pockets, specialist litigation teams, and the ability […]

Hello, I’m going through the process of building 2 x 1 bed flats. I’m at the stage of the predicted/design SAP/EPC’s to add to the bundle of info to send off for Build Reg approval and what type of heating source is the question. The question is: should I go for a gas boiler or […]

Chancellor Rachel Reeves says she’s lifting half a million children out of poverty. Hang on a minute, how’s she doing that then? She’s just put an extra 2% on rental income. Where does a landlady get her rent from? Normally, a family, a woman. Oh, I see, does this woman have kids? Yes normally. If […]

A landlord organisation has welcomed a council’s decision to reduce a selective licensing fee and scale back inspections, but warns the move will ultimately increase costs for tenants. The Eastern Landlords Association (ELA) had opposed Great Yarmouth Borough Council’s selective licensing scheme, which was set to cover 5,000 properties at an original cost of £784 […]

The build to rent sector has delivered another strong quarter, adding more than 3,700 new homes across the UK, even as construction activity shows signs of cooling. Fresh analysis from Property Inspect reveals that 139,132 BTR units had been completed by Q3 2025, a quarterly lift of 2.7% and an annual jump of 13.6%. However, […]

The landlord had buildings insurance in place but failed to notify the insurer that the property was rented out. When a serious leak caused thousands of pounds of damage, they submitted a claim. The insurer investigated and discovered the property was let to tenants, something not disclosed when the policy was taken out. The claim […]

For landlords, growth often depends on using gearing – borrowing against equity in existing properties to fund further acquisitions. In 2025, with property values stabilising and lenders reintroducing more competitive products, gearing remains one of the most powerful tools for portfolio expansion. This case study illustrates how one landlord used refinancing and sensible leverage to […]

You already know how to create and multiply wealth, that won’t ever be your problem. While others are chasing stable income and luxuries, you’ll already see the bigger picture: how time and debt can be transformed into equity, how every £1 million borrowed today and sensibly invested into properties with strong capital appreciation prospects becomes […]

Thousands of us are getting ready to sell as the government warns landlords they could face fines of up to £40,000 under the Renters’ Rights Act. With less than 28 days to go until the start of the New Year, many landlords are looking for a quick way out. With the new changes just around […]

I think the kids call it doom scrolling, when you can’t stop reading negative news stories and comments on social media. In my case, the landlords on X/Twitter have had a field day after the Budget and its potential impact. I made a crack last week about getting those landlords who don’t engage with what’s […]

The government has confirmed landlords will need to stay signed up to the Private Rented Sector Ombudsman, even after they’ve left the rental market, as it releases further guidance. However, landlord organisation says the move is “disproportionate and administratively unfair” and claims it amounts to an “exit tax for landlords.” The scheme will be mandatory […]

House prices were flat in November as the market paused after several steady months of gains, the latest Halifax House Price Index reveals. The average home price now stands at £299,892, only £138 higher than October and just enough to set a new record. Yearly growth dropped back to 0.7%, down sharply from October’s 1.9%. […]

Angry landlords have hit out at their town’s selective licensing scheme, a year after it was introduced. They accuse the council of creating higher rents, driving evictions and worsening local housing pressures, Teesside Live reports. The five-year scheme, covering central Stockton, north Thornaby and Newtown, has issued more than 1,400 licences since its launch. Landlord […]

Rents in England dropped for a fourth straight month in November as the winter lull took hold, but annual rental inflation rose from 3.1% to 3.3%. The data from Goodlord reveals that the average rent slipped by 2.4%, falling from £1,276 in October to £1,245. It marks a steady decline since July’s peak, when the […]

Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO) landlords are being warned they could face a £5,000 fine for poor waste management under new rules. Simpler Recycling legislation, set to come into effect in March next year, will mean every household in England will be required to have a separate weekly collection of food waste, including all purpose-built […]

I have been an Airbnb host for about six years, and I thought I had seen everything. I was wrong. I recently accepted a three-night booking from three young women. They looked perfectly normal on their profile. Nothing unusual. The messages were polite, check-in was smooth, and I did not give them a second thought. […]

The landlord had a standard residential mortgage but decided to let out their property when work took them abroad. They assumed the lender wouldn’t notice and went ahead without seeking consent. When the lender carried out a routine check, they discovered the property was tenanted. The landlord was in breach of their mortgage terms, exposing […]

In November 2020, I let a property in North London to a major housing association (HA) on a three-year lease. They overstayed their lease by two years and in 2025, I made a claim through the Money Claim Online arm of the County Court (MCOL) for underpayment of rent (difference between market rent and passing […]

A newly published First-tier Tribunal decision has drawn fresh attention to how easily Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) can be misapplied when property purchases include multiple components such as parking spaces, garages, or storage units. The case, Sehgal v Revenue and Customs [2025] UKFTT 1439 (TC), concerned the purchase of an apartment, an allocated car parking […]

A landlord is warning that councils gaining more powers for implementing forced intended entry to a rented property will ultimately harm tenants. While Nottingham City Council says it will not use forced entry, the Renters’ Rights Act will give council officers the power to carry out surprise inspections and enter private rented properties without a […]

The government has confirmed rental payment history will not be used as mandatory proof of affordability for tenancy agreements. In response to a written question, Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook said there is no “one-size-fits-all approach for landlords” when determining whether a tenancy is suitable. Many landlords ask for a guarantor to provide financial protection, particularly […]