Rent controls in Scotland will be introduced in phases and are not expected to take effect until mid-2027. Under the Housing (Scotland) Act, councils must first assess rent conditions in their areas and submit proposals for designated rent control zones to the Scottish Government by 31 May 2027. Two industry bodies told Property118 that flexibility […]

Hello, hopefully a quick question. It is my understanding that if a Head Lease (from the freeholder) prohibits pets residing in the property, then this would constitute a valid reason to decline a tenant’s request. Thoughts? Some Head Leases I have seen only permit subletting via an AST to a single household. In this example […]

The landlord assumed the property’s existing alarms were sufficient. But during an inspection, it was found that the rental had no smoke alarm on the first floor and no carbon monoxide alarm near a solid fuel appliance. The council served an improvement notice under the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS), warning that failure […]

Don’t be fooled by the “2% tax rise”. Once Section 24 kicks in, that tiny headline increase turns into a 14% drop in real cashflow for a typical mortgaged portfolio. We modelled the numbers on an 8-property landlord, and the results are eye-opening. If you want to understand what the 2027 changes truly mean for […]

In somewhat good news for landlords, Chancellor Rachel Reeves decided against extending National Insurance to rental income in the Autumn Budget. However, the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) warns that landlords will still be worse off under this Budget. While National Insurance on rental income was not introduced, the Budget did raise tax rates on […]

The Government’s decision to announce a Mansion Tax alongside higher taxes on property income has triggered immediate concern across the housing sector. Reactions began pouring in within minutes of the Autumn Budget, reflecting a market already stretched by regulatory change, financial pressure and fragile confidence. Lenders, estate agents and sector specialists all warn that the […]

James had been a landlord for more than fifteen years. He owned twelve rental properties with a combined value of approximately £2.7 million. The portfolio looked solid on the surface. It also felt far heavier than it used to. Rising interest due to coming off low fixed rates, increasing legislation, and more maintenance work were […]

The Renters’ Rights Act risks slowing down energy-efficiency upgrades, with more than half of landlords expected to delay or reduce spending on improvements, according to new data. Polling by rental management app August reveals that 62% of landlords say the Act will make them spend less on property improvements, while 54% are likely to delay […]

Applying for commercial finance is not the same as applying for a standard buy to let mortgage. The sums are larger, the structures more complex, and lenders apply much deeper scrutiny. Unfortunately, many landlords trip up by making avoidable mistakes that cost them time, money, and credibility with lenders. Mistake 1 – Poor Preparation Too […]

More than 20 community groups, unions and charities have signed an open letter demanding that the City of Edinburgh Council takes firmer action against ‘rogue’ landlords. Campaign group Living Rent’s Leith branch delivered the letter to the council’s senior figures, accusing the authority of letting negligent landlords operate with little scrutiny. The signatories say the […]

Agent Rainmaker has set a new benchmark after raising £102,250 for Promise Dreams, the highest total the charity has ever received from a single event. The sum was generated at Agent Rainmaker Live, which took place in London recently and attracted hundreds of letting agency owners from around the country. The two-day gathering celebrated business […]

Landlords pulled record levels of equity from buy to let remortgages in the first six months of the year as confidence slowly returned to the market. A Paragon Bank analysis shows that between January and June, investors withdrew £1.94 billion to finance portfolio growth. That’s the largest amount ever recorded for an opening half year […]

A trio of buy to let (BTL) lenders has moved to strengthen options for landlords with Darlington Building Society, Shawbrook and Pepper Money each launching enhancements. Darlington Building Society has entered the limited company buy to let space with two fixed rates. It has rolled out a two-year fix at 5.29% and a five-year alternative […]

The tenancy started smoothly, with no mention of pets. But months later, the landlord discovered two large dogs living in the property. The tenancy agreement made no reference to pets at all — neither granting permission nor prohibiting them. When complaints arose about noise and damage, the landlord found they had no contractual grounds to […]

Leading PRS figures say the proposal to bring a landlord’s rental income into the scope of National Insurance comes at the worst possible moment. Its introduction will pile pressure on landlords who are already grappling with the demands of the Renters’ Rights Act and fragile market confidence. Experts say the move in tomorrow’s (26 November) […]

A council with the biggest social housing waiting list in England has come under fire for buying back ex-council homes for millions of pounds. The Big Issue reports Newham council sold off 130 properties for £10.6 million, only to buy them back for £33.3 million, losing £22m on homes it had owned just a few […]

Every landlord experiences voids from time to time, but few realise how quickly insurance cover changes when a property is unoccupied. Most landlord policies reduce cover after 30 consecutive days, and some exclusions apply immediately. Understanding these rules is essential to avoid declined claims, particularly during refurbishments or long reletting periods. How Long Before Cover […]

The tenant seemed reliable — polite at viewings, full deposit ready, and keen to move in quickly. Wanting to avoid a void, the landlord rushed the process and skipped full referencing checks. Within weeks, rent payments faltered. By the third month, the tenant had defaulted completely. When possession proceedings began, it emerged that the tenant […]

Case law plays a large role in shaping the rules that govern the relationship between landlords and tenants. Statutes create the framework, but it is the courts that interpret those rules and decide how they apply in everyday situations. Some rulings fade as legislation evolves. Others remain central because they cut to the fundamentals of […]

Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook has refused to give a clear answer on whether landlords will be able to recoup the costs of EPC upgrades. Under the Renters’ Rights Act, tenants will be able to challenge rent increases in court. Mr Pennycook said that a Tribunal must assess the rent a property could command on the […]

New findings reveal the majority of tenants have a lack of awareness about the Renters’ Rights Act, as the government admits a tenant campaign about the act will not be ready until a month before it begins. The TDS Charitable Foundation reveals in a poll of 1,000 renters that seven in ten have never heard […]