Landlords can’t afford to pay for the proposed EPC rental property upgrades because they don’t earn enough in rent, the National Residential Landlords Association warns. It says that the government’s proposed funding model risks collapsing before it even begins. Ministers want landlords to spend up to £15,000 per property to meet the minimum EPC rating […]

The majority of private renters have had a positive experience in the private rented sector, according to a government survey. The private rented sector tenants research report reveals satisfaction with landlords was higher (70%) than with property management agencies (62%). The survey was conducted in March 2024, with 1,517 renters participating in an online survey. […]

UK housing activity weakened again in November as speculation around the Autumn Budget sapped confidence and pushed key indicators further into negative territory. That’s according to the latest RICS Residential Market Survey with agents reporting another month of falling buyer demand, shrinking instructions and sluggish sales. Many said the political noise ahead of the Budget, […]

The government claim their rental reforms will “reduce demand on the courts,” but industry experts say the opposite is true. In its Renters’ Rights Act guide, the government insists the county courts won’t be overwhelmed because only “well-evidenced possession cases” will go ahead. However, Propertymark and the National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA) warn the Renters’ […]

The government has announced the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) has been expanded to include air-to-air heat pumps and heat batteries. The BUS offers financial grants to landlords and homeowners to replace gas boilers with low-carbon alternatives such as heat pumps and biomass boilers. The news comes after Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced in the Autumn Budget […]

With Christmas just around the corner, it’s understandable that many of us are ready to close up shop and leave today’s problems until the New Year. But with just 2 weeks to go, and the news that there might be many more hits to landlords following the Renters’ Rights Act in May, there’s still plenty […]

The government has released new civil penalty tables under the Renters’ Rights Act 2025, and the figures are outrageous. The official guidance, published this week on GOV.UK, sets out a scale of fines that start at £3,000 and climb to £35,000 for the most serious breaches. Many of these offences were previously treated as routine […]

The government have hit back at claims banning rent in advance will lock tenants out of the market. In the Renters’ Rights Act guide, the government claim large amounts of rent can be “a significant barrier to renting”. Under the Renters’ Rights Act, landlords and agents will no longer be allowed to accept large amounts […]

Formal disputes over tenancy deposits continue to affect only a small fraction of the private rented sector, even as deposit values and rents climb, the TDS Group has revealed. Its Statistical Briefing 2025 shows that just 1% of protected deposits in England and Wales were subject to formal adjudication during 2024/25. A total of 46,950 […]

Industry experts have warned the Renters’ Rights Act will make it harder for students to find homes. The National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA), together with student housing platforms Accommodation for Students, Uni Homes, and The Young Group, say the Act may restrict access to university education, as landlords may be unable to guarantee available homes. […]

Letting agents and mortgage brokers are being pushed to the forefront of preparations for tighter EPC rules, with one leading industry figure warning that many landlords still lack the guidance needed to meet the proposed deadlines. Dr Neil Cobbold, the commercial director at Reapit, told viewers of Eco Approach’s recent ‘Green homes – how can […]

Hi. I am currently dealing with the estate of a friend. I have established that his Assured Shorthold Tenancy commenced in 2006 and changed to a periodic tenancy after the initial 12-month period. I have asked the landlord which scheme he had deposited the deposit to which he replied that he didn’t think there was […]

Lenders are reshaping the buy to let and commercial finance landscape as new products, pricing moves and a strategic exit have been announced. Paragon Bank has widened its streamlined BTL application journey to include HMOs and Multi-Unit Blocks, cutting friction for landlords holding 15 properties or fewer. The update follows the summer launch of its […]

The Scottish Conservatives claim the Scottish government has failed to get a grip on Scotland’s homelessness crisis. The Scottish government has published its annual Ending Homelessness report, which summarises the progress made during the last year towards ending homelessness in Scotland. However, the Scottish Conservatives say the results show that millions of children are growing […]

The landlord arranged for a professional inventory at the start of the tenancy, believing they were fully protected. But they never provided the tenants with a signed copy. When the tenants moved out, several items were missing and damage was noted. The landlord attempted to claim deductions from the deposit, but the adjudicator sided with […]

The government has released guidance on how a landlord can end a tenancy if their tenant wants to leave. Landlords will not be able to ask their tenant to give more than two months’ notice. The new rules will come into effect on 1 May 2026 when the Renters’ Rights Act comes into force. Tenant […]

A tenant group has welcomed the proposed minimum energy efficiency standards of EPC C targets but warns renters could risk losing their homes without additional protections. A poll by ACORN of 252 renters found that 70% fear eviction or a rent increase if they request a retrofit or if their landlord is forced to upgrade […]

Landlords will know that once a deposit is placed in the Deposit Protection Scheme (DPS), the landlord is under a countdown of 30 days to provide prescribed information. The prescribed information appears totally pointless. It appears to add zero value, worthless paperwork for paperwork’s sake. Yet the DPS states the landlord can be fined up […]

Loan covenants are one of the least understood parts of a commercial mortgage agreement. Many landlords focus on rate and loan size but overlook the conditions that govern how the facility must be managed. Breaching a covenant can trigger penalties, force refinancing, or even give the lender rights to call in the loan. Understanding covenants […]

Tenants on the lowest incomes are being blocked from social housing because providers fear they will not be able to afford the rent, research reveals. A study by homelessness charity Crisis shows housing associations in England are increasingly rejecting applicants following affordability checks carried out before a tenancy begins. Around a third of English housing […]

New figures from the English Housing Survey show that growing numbers of people are reaching midlife and retirement still renting their home. It also shows that the financial gap between tenants and homeowners continues to widen. The latest release from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities reports that, in 2024/25, 29% of adults […]