England’s planned landlord database is set to cost the private rented sector at least £327 million a year, with tenants ultimately footing the bill, the NRLA warns. The government will begin rolling out the database in December as part of its Renters’ Rights Act, but Landlords will be charged to submit much of the same […]

Two councils have been found to be seriously failing their tenants, with one also criticised for failing to tell the housing regulator promptly about its significant problems. Repairs and safety were among the concerns at Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council, while Thanet District Council fell short on housing conditions and tackling anti-social behaviour. Both received […]

Three in 10 private tenants in England would prefer to live in social housing, which is up from 21% a year earlier. Among those aged 65 or over, that preference rises to almost half. The TDS Charitable Foundation’s national survey of more than 2,000 private tenants found that 47% of this age group would choose […]

For nearly four decades, I helped landlords build their wealth, while most of my time is now spent helping them work out how to enjoy it. Behind the questions about selling properties and paying tax lies a much bigger question about whether they can give themselves permission to live differently and put a practical plan […]

Well, the cat is well and truly out of the bag. Burnham’s tears during his party conference speech should be saved for the country’s landlords when the details of targeting sub-standard homes will see councils having the power to compulsory purchase them from the landlord. I know lots of people, including landlords, are turned off […]

The Home Office has now published its updated Right to Rent guidance for landlords Landlord’s guide to right to rent checks – GOV.UK Right to rent immigration checks: landlords’ code of practice – GOV.UK This guidance applies to right to rent checks conducted on or after 1 October 2026. Previous versions are available through the […]

For landlords with fixed rates ending in the next six to 18 months, the useful response to market volatility is to establish what each property can afford, what refinancing would cost and when decisions need to be made. Britain’s 30-year government bond yield moved above 6% on 1 October 2026, reaching its highest level since […]

Private rent rises must be capped at 2% or less for three years to stop ‘the scandalous cost of private rents’ under proposals made by Green Party leader Zack Polanski. The move would see landlords being restricted to whichever is lowest out of inflation, wage growth or 2%. The Greens’ party conference in Brighton heard […]

The government has corrected its own data to reveal that more than one million private rented households paid rent in advance alongside a deposit in 2024–25. The government updated the English Housing Survey 2024–25 on 30 September because the previous data referred to rent in advance paid during households’ previous tenancies rather than their current […]

Tenants are facing the fallout from the Renters’ Rights Act, with landlords leaving the market and rents rising, according to new research. SpareRoom claims, since the Renters’ Rights Act came into force, room rents have reached record highs, while supply has dwindled. Data from SpareRoom shows that 78% of landlords in England have no confidence […]

Landlords are being offered lower buy to let tracker rates and the freedom to leave some deals without early repayment charges from lenders. Five-year tracker mortgages are also being added to the options available to borrowers seeking an alternative to a fixed rate. YBS Commercial Mortgages has introduced a five-year BTL tracker at 4.90%, comprising […]

An industry body has issued guidance to letting agents on renting with pets and recommends tenants provide a pet CV. Propertymark has published guidance as the Renters’ Rights Act gives private renters the right to request a pet, with landlords and letting agents unable to refuse requests unreasonably. The guidance comes as the government has […]

Despite the Labour government’s plan to build 1.5 million homes by the end of this Parliament, new-build properties currently account for just 8.1% of all homes for sale across Great Britain. Data from UK Property Development Limited reveals that new-builds make up just 8.1% of homes currently on the market, leaving buyers with a relatively […]

Landlords are being asked to provide homes for people facing homelessness, with free help to find tenants and keep tenancies going. The support can include rent guarantee insurance, although this is offered when needed. Homelessness charity Crisis is seeking landlords willing to let properties through its tenant matching service. Last year, it helped 750 people […]

Landlords and letting agents in Scotland are being urged to prepare, as tenants can claim up to 36 months’ rent if their tenancy is wrongfully terminated. New housing rules coming into force on 6 October will significantly increase compensation available to tenants through the First-tier Tribunal, from three to 36 months’ rent. The changes will […]

Tenant referencing is getting tougher under the Renters’ Rights Act, and I can understand why. One of the biggest things I hear from landlords now is fairly simple: if a tenancy goes wrong, getting the property back is no longer as straightforward as it once was. Since 1st May, Section 21 is gone, so landlords […]

New Right to Rent rules take effect today, and for landlords already questioning their future in the rental market, they may feel like one more thing to manage. Landlords in England who choose to use a digital verification service for eligible checks must now use a registered provider. The revised Home Office guidance also makes […]

Landlords in England now face an average wait of more than three weeks between tenants, with voids lengthening for the third consecutive year. Each gap leaves an estimated £1,097 hole in rent income, according to research by property management firm Rushbrook. The average period without a tenant reached 23.2 days in 2026, compared with 17.5 […]

London has 10% fewer homes to rent than a year ago, yet enquiries from prospective tenants have risen by 7%, according to Rightmove. Studios and one-bedroom properties are attracting the fastest growth in demand, despite advertised rents averaging £1,904 a month. Across Great Britain, tenant enquiries remain 2% below last year’s levels. However, the number […]

For years, student landlords have competed to secure next year’s tenants early. In some university towns, properties for the following September are being advertised before Christmas. A good group views a house, likes it and wants to sign. The landlord is equally happy to get next year’s letting secured. The Renters’ Rights Act creates a […]

UK house prices fell by 0.2% in September, reversing August’s rise, Nationwide reveals. The average price dropped from £275,465 to £274,251, with annual growth halving from 1.6% to 0.8%. That’s weakest rate since December 2025. Meanwhile, four regions recorded annual price falls in the third quarter, with East Anglia seeing the largest decline at 0.7%. […]