One of the first questions landlords face when financing or refinancing a buy-to-let property is how much equity they will need. In other words, what loan-to-value (LTV) ratio is acceptable to the lender? The answer has a direct impact on your borrowing capacity, mortgage rate, cashflow and growth strategy. This article explains how lenders view […]

Thinking of selling a rental property this year? The headline price is not the number that matters. What counts is your net cash after fees, redemption, and CGT, and how that compares to a refinance or partial sell-down. This guide explains the 2025 Capital Gains Tax (CGT) rules that affect landlords and shows how to […]

Landlords are grappling with a growing problem as more renters walk away from fixed-term agreements well before their tenancies are due to end. Known as ‘stopover tenants’, research by property software provider Alto shows that nearly a third of letting agents have encountered tenants abandoning six- or 12-month tenancies after only a month or two. […]

The UK’s private rented sector is cooling down with average rents climbing 2.4% compared to last year, Zoopla reveals. Its latest Rental Market Report points out that this is the smallest annual rise in four years and a sharp drop from the rapid growth seen 12 months ago. Monthly rents now average £1,300, up by […]

The average cost of a home in Great Britain has dipped below last year’s levels for the first time since January, primarily due to a slowdown in southern regions, Rightmove says. Despite a modest monthly gain of 0.4% in September, which brought the typical new seller’s asking price to £370,257, the national market is now […]

While buy to let mortgage costs for landlords have eased to their lowest levels in nearly three years, landlords remain under pressure from tighter rules, rising repossessions and the prospect of new tax measures in the Autumn Budget, one financial platform warns. According to Moneyfactscompare.co.uk, the average two-year fixed BTL rate now stands at 4.88%, […]

The cost of rent for new lets saw a 0.4% year-on-year decline in August as the rate of inflation grew for the ninth consecutive month, research reveals. Data from Hamptons shows that the rent on a new tenancy is £1,387. The firm says that the fall in rents is the joint second-largest annual decline since […]

Hello everyone, I’m facing a serious issue with my Freeholder situation and would really appreciate some guidance. Background: I purchased my leasehold flat in 2001. The block has 8 flats in total. I am the only leaseholder – the other 7 owners bought the freehold together in 2007. In 2016, I extended my lease. Service […]

Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) remains one of the most significant transactional costs for landlords in England and Northern Ireland. In 2025 the landscape is shaped by three realities: Additional Dwelling Rate (ADR) at 5% for purchases of additional residential properties. 2% Non-Resident Surcharge for overseas buyers on residential transactions. Multiple Dwellings Relief (MDR) abolished […]

Landlords are facing the prospect of the Renters’ Right Bill enabling a surge in pet ownership with up to one million PRS households welcoming furry friends. An analysis by Go.Compare examines how the Bill will reshape living arrangements for private tenants in England. Its data reveals there’s a huge amount of pent-up demand among renters […]

Our tenant (AST) in London gave us a valid break notice on June 20th, 20205, to leave our flat on August 20th, 2025. However, he didn’t leave, doesn’t provide timing estimates on when he will vacate, hardly communicates, and hardly even uses the property! My 19-year-old son and a flatmate were supposed to move into […]

Two leading buy to let lenders have unveiled rate cuts across their ranges, while a major industry initiative seeks to tackle delays in property transactions. CHL Mortgages for Intermediaries has launched its most extensive portfolio to date, unveiling a broad mix of new options alongside reductions of up to 44 basis points. The lender’s refreshed […]

Britain’s private rented sector is facing mounting pressure as landlords continue leaving, driving rents up while the broader housing market experiences continued weakness, the latest RICS research reveals. The organisation’s August residential survey of surveyors shows that landlord instructions have plummeted by 37% – the sharpest drop since April 2020. The fall coincides with sustained […]

Researchers have found that a shocking 93,000 buy to let landlords are set to abandon the PRS this year. The findings from Black & White Bridging show that brokers are predicting a 6% drop in landlord numbers. HMRC data shows 2.84 million unincorporated property owners operating in the UK during 2023, with 57% of them […]

This piece is part of our International Bizarre Landlord Stories series. Today’s story was first reported in Canada. A landlord attending a flat in Ontario for what should have been a routine inspection was met with the sound of meows echoing through the corridor. On opening the door, it became clear why. The tenant had […]

A letting agency has warned of challenges under new rent increase rules, which will affect landlord income. Under the Renters’ Rights Bill, landlords will only be able to raise rent once every 12 months using a Section 13 notice and must give two months’ notice before an increase. Leaders Roman Group (LRG) says that rent […]

The average rental yield for landlords has bounced back to equal a 10-year high, research reveals. According to market analyst Pegasus Insight, the average return on a rental property has climbed to 6.5% – equalling the previous high recorded in late 2024. Data from this year’s second quarter shows a big regional divide in yields […]

Government tax policies targeting private landlords have enabled 1.1 million households to secure their first property purchases, research claims. A study by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation found that taxes on individual landlords and higher stamp duty charges for additional properties, implemented from 2016 onwards, have fundamentally altered Britain’s housing landscape. The foundation’s policy adviser Darren […]

Mystic Mortar’s Landlord Horoscope Edition: Friday 12 September 2025 Welcome, star-gazers and key-holders, to another week where the heavens whisper through rent rolls and the constellations shimmer above your properties. Step closer, for the stars have tales to tell of charm, caution, and cosmic opportunity in your landlord life. This week, Mercury in Libra squares […]

Landlord repossessions across England and Wales have rocketed in the past year, ahead of the Renters’ Rights Bill becoming law and scrapping Section 21 ‘no-fault’ evictions. An analysis by letting agency acquisition firm Dwelly shows a 6.8% national increase in repossessions compared to the previous year, while some towns recorded far sharper rises. Thurrock leads […]

A waste disposal expert claims HMO landlords could face £50,000 fines and a prison sentence if they fail to deal with fly-tipping at the end of a tenancy. Commercial waste firm BusinessWaste.co.uk says HMO landlords have a legal duty to provide the correct bins and keep communal areas hygienic, while tenants remain responsible for disposing […]