Recently, a Google search for “Who is Mystic Mortar?” returned an answer from Gemini AI that cited Property118. That means our playful weekly horoscope has already escaped the landlord world and made it into the wider digital conversation. So who — or what — is Mystic Mortar? Let’s set the record straight. Cloud-based, with eyes […]

The way homes and commercial premises are being sold across the UK is changing rapidly, with online auctions now eclipsing traditional in-room events, one firm says. Figures from Essential Information Group reveal that 33,448 sales were conducted digitally last year, compared with just 3,976 taking place in person. In the first half of this year […]

A fifth of renters believe homeownership is achievable within five years, the highest level since February last year, according to new data. The Barclays Property Insight report reveals growing confidence within the housing market, particularly among Gen Z buyers aged between 18 and 27 years old, as they step onto the housing ladder. The data […]

Poor waste habits among tenants are driving a surge in rat infestations, claims waste disposal experts. Businesswaste.co.uk and pest control firm The Pied Piper warn landlords that poor waste habits among tenants are one of the biggest factors attracting rodents into rental properties. The waste disposal experts have created a list of steps landlords can […]

🔮 Cosmic Commentary: Sadiq Khan’s Rent-Control Dream The planets giggled this week at the Mayor’s bold decree. Sadiq Khan, under Neptune’s haze, reached for new devolution powers and whispered: “Let there be rent controls!” Yet Saturn raised a sceptical brow. “Caps without cash? That’s fantasy,” it sighed. Jupiter chuckled, “Your idealism shines bright, but markets […]

This piece is part of our International Bizarre Landlord Stories series. Today’s story was first reported in New Zealand. When neighbours complained about unusual noises and a strong smell of hay coming from a suburban home, the landlord investigated. To their astonishment, they found a full-sized horse being kept inside the property. The tenant had […]

The Bank of England has decided to keep interest rates at 4% amid persistently high inflation. Despite a rate cut last month, inflation remains at 3.8%, well above the government’s 2% target. The Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) voted 7-2 to maintain the rate at 4%, with two members supporting a reduction of […]

A campaign to apply the Hillsborough Law to victims of the cladding scandal calls for justice to be served. Claddingscandal.co.uk has launched a campaign asking people to write to their MPs, demanding that the Hillsborough Law be applied to the cladding scandal and the Grenfell community following the Grenfell Tower fire. The Hillsborough law will […]

The pace of rent rises across the UK slowed down in August with average monthly rents growing by 5.7% to £1,348 in the 12 months to August, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) reveals. Its latest Index of Private Rents shows that’s a slight slowdown from the 5.9% annual growth recorded in July. In England, […]

This piece is part of our International Bizarre Landlord Stories series. Today’s story was first reported in Ireland. When a landlord in Dublin entered a property after repeated rent arrears, they were stunned to find rows of trays filled with compost and white fungi growing across the sitting room floor. The tenant had converted the […]

Shelter Scotland blasts the government for “Scotland’s broken and biased housing system” as new figures reveal the number of households experiencing homelessness reaches record highs. According to figures released by the Scottish government, despite a decrease in the number of homeless applications for the first time in four years, Shelter Scotland claims the “numbers raise […]

Three leading buy to lenders have introduced mortgage products tailored to meet the needs of landlords, offering competitive rates and flexible terms. Fleet Mortgages has rolled out three new two-year fixed-rate mortgages at 65% loan-to-value (LTV) within its Standard borrower range. Each product includes £1,000 cashback, no application fee and a free valuation for properties […]

An industry body is calling for the Office for National Statistics (ONS) data on the private rented sector to reflect the reality of the rental market. Propertymark has responded to the ONS consultation on the Price Index of Private Rents (PIPR) and raises concerns over the lag in collating and publishing data. The ONS publishes […]

Landlords worried about the costs to upgrade homes to meet higher EPC standards may find a new tool launched by PropEco useful. The property data firm has introduced its EPC audit system, designed to uncover and correct mistakes in Energy Performance Certificates. With government proposals set to require all private rented sector properties to achieve […]

London’s private rented sector experienced its usual seasonal dip in August as tenant registrations fell by 11% compared with July, Foxtons reveals. The letting agency says that the slowdown follows the usual late-summer trend as families return from holidays and students prepare for the academic year. Compared with the same month last year, demand was […]

London Mayor Sadiq Khan claims ‘the power to cap rents’ is top of his list in new powers under the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill. During the London Assembly Mayor’s Question Time, Green Party London Assembly Member Zoë Garbett asked Mr Khan whether he would push the government to cap rent increases, and he […]

Landlords often ask whether they should use a buy to let mortgage, a commercial mortgage, or bridging finance. The right answer depends on the asset, the timing, and the plan for repayment. This guide explains the core differences so you can choose the most effective route for your circumstances. 1) What Each Product Is Buy […]

I had a leak from the stopcock in the foyer in a block of 8 studio flats where I own and rent out. I didn’t know where the water was coming from at first, which rotted my doorframe and threshold. I employed a workman who discovered the source. There is also wood rot to a […]

Most UK buy to let landlords plan to keep their rental homes over the coming year, showing renewed confidence in the private rented sector, a survey reveals. According to Landbay, 58% of respondents said they have no plans to sell in the next 12 months – that’s up from 47% in the firm’s previous survey […]

Two letting agencies have been stripped of their membership with The Property Ombudsman following their failure to pass on rent income of more than £11,600 to landlords. The decision, made by the Ombudsman’s Compliance Committee, has resulted in both firms being excluded from the redress scheme, effectively barring them from legally operating in the private […]

Two buy to let lenders have announced changes designed to give brokers and landlords more flexibility in the BTL mortgage market. Foundation Home Loans has widened its criteria to include single household properties rented to Housing Associations and Local Authorities. The move is aimed at supporting advisers and their landlord clients at a time when […]