The Scottish government has been accused of creating a “two-tier rental market” after a consultation revealed that Build-to-Rent (BtR) and mid-market rent (MMR) properties could be exempt from rent controls, unlike the private rented sector. In its action plan to tackle Scotland’s housing emergency, the government appears to confirm that rent controls will not apply […]

Hello Everyone, I have a some HMO properties that are shortly due to be subject to additional licensing scheme by a council. The council has stipulated the scheme to come into effect on the 1st of October. They state landlords will be given three months to apply for a licence. The housing act of 2004 […]

Fewer than one in four landlords expect Labour’s planning changes will help their business, a survey reveals. The poll from BTL lender Landbay found that 77% of landlords believe the reforms will not bring any advantage to their buy to let activities. Just 13% think relaxed rules might increase options for buying new properties. And […]

Hello, I’m a landlord managing a tenancy situation that has gone badly wrong. We’ve been hit with a letter before action and a claim for rent repayment but it’s not been filed for yet. It’s for harassment and illegal eviction by K. Here’s the background: a few days after moving into a single tenancy style […]

How many of you have seen these ‘we buy anything, anywhere’ companies? I think it is fair to say most landlords would not even consider them – WELL I have just sold for the second time a property at under market rate, and I am not the least bit concerned. Here is my reasoning: Currently […]

Shelter and HSBC have teamed up for a video campaign to show the realities of the housing crisis, as the housing charity claims people are living in fear over Section 21. The housing charity and bank claim the video titled ‘Our House’ shows the realities for families living in “grotty-unsafe temporary accommodation where vital repairs […]

In the ever-revolving door of Housing Secretaries, Steve Reed has become the 12th person to take on the role since 2010. The former Environment Secretary replaces Angela Rayner, who resigned following controversy over the stamp duty scandal. His appointment comes as the Renters’ Rights Bill reaches its final stages and returns to Parliament today. Build, […]

With mortgage pricing shifting and lender criteria evolving, many landlords are weighing up whether to fix for certainty or track the Bank of England base rate for potential savings. There is no one-size-fits-all answer. The right choice depends on cashflow, risk tolerance, portfolio plans and refinancing flexibility. This article sets out how both options work, […]

Selling everything is rarely necessary. A partial sell-down uses the sale of one or two weaker units to retire expensive debt on the keepers. Debt re-basing then sets a resilient portfolio LTV and smoother maturities so cash flow is stronger and life is simpler. This article shows how to pick what to sell, how much […]

A council wants to be seen “as a supportive partner, not an enforcement body” to landlords as it launches drop-in sessions to support landlords ahead of the Renters’ Rights Bill. Fylde council in Lancashire is holding free and confidential bi-monthly surgeries for landlords to help them navigate legislative changes and improve standards across the private […]

Only one in six landlords are fully prepared for the Renters’ Rights Bill which returns to Parliament today (8 September), a survey reveals. The poll of 1,000 landlords by letting agents Cavendish reveals a mixed understanding of the bill, with many landlords still having questions. The news comes as the Renters’ Rights Bill prepares to […]

As students across Great Britain prepare to start or resume their university journeys, new findings reveal which cities are the most budget-friendly for renting. According to Rightmove, Hull and Sunderland have average monthly rents of £804, making them 49% more affordable than the national average of £1,565. Carlisle follows closely, with rents averaging £828. For […]

New official statistics from HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) reveal that property income received by unincorporated landlords has reached its highest level in the past five years. Although this does not take into account the wide differences in what landlords actually earn after Section 24 mortgage interest relief restrictions. The property rental income statistics for […]

This piece is part of our International Bizarre Landlord Stories series. Today’s story was first reported in Australia. Imagine lifting the toilet lid in your rental flat and finding a large snake coiled inside the bowl. That is exactly what happened to a startled tenant in Queensland, who came face to face with a carpet […]

The last few days have revealed that whispers from Westminster about the introduction of National Insurance on rental income are gaining momentum. If the measure goes ahead, landlords could see an extra 8% shaved off their rents. For an industry that’s been struggling in the last two years, combined with the fact that we’ve experienced […]

They say a week is a long time in politics. In Angela Rayner’s case, that was certainly true this week, following the revelation in the Telegraph at the end of last week that the Housing Secretary had failed to pay the additional SDLT surcharge amount. HMRC says: “You’ll usually have to pay 5% on top […]

Angela Rayner has resigned from government as Housing Secretary and Deputy Prime Minister. Her resignation comes after she admitted to failing to pay enough stamp duty on her flat in Hove and the ethics watchdog found she broke the ministerial code. Sky News also reports a wider reshuffle of the cabinet is expected, with Chancellor […]

An industry body has warned further financial constraints on landlords could cause “huge irreversible effects”. Propertymark’s latest Housing Insight report for July reveals some landlords are serving Section 21 notices to “problem tenants” ahead of the Renters’ Rights Bill becoming law, as they do not want to take on additional risks. Propertymark also says speculation […]

The Renters’ Rights Bill is approaching its final stages in Parliament and will resume its passage on Monday (8 September). The new law will bring the biggest change to the PRS for landlords and tenants in 30 years. Next week could see a ‘ping pong’ process as the bill navigates between the House of Commons […]

A pet charity has warned a government amendment to remove the right for landlords to require pet damage insurance will mean fewer landlords accepting pets. AdvoCATS, along with 47 organisations including Landlord Action and Propertymark, have written to Housing Secretary Angela Rayner and Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook asking them to overturn the amendment. The Housing […]

Property prices across the UK have grown for the third month to reach a record £299,331, Halifax says. Its latest index reveals that in August, house prices grew by 0.3%, or £932. The annual price growth was up 2.2%, which is down from July’s annual price rise of 2.5%. Also, the average first-time buyer price […]