Stoke-on-Trent has been identified as the fastest-growing commuter town for people travelling into Manchester, according to an analysis of commuting patterns and relocation trends. Average rail journeys from the town to Manchester take around 45 minutes, while a typical peak-time round-trip costs £25.58. Data used in the analysis by credit card firm Aqua also shows […]

Investors have poured almost £40bn into the Build-to-Rent (BtR) sector over the past decade, with most of that cash being directed towards professionally managed multifamily housing schemes. The findings from the property consultancy Knight Frank found that around £30bn, roughly 75% of total investment since 2015, has gone into apartment-led BtR developments. That investor-led move […]

Rents across England rose by 2% year-on-year in February, with the average monthly cost reaching £1,203, the latest Goodlord rental index reveals. That compares with £1,180 recorded in February 2025. The annual rent increase also sits below the 2.4% year-on-year rise reported in January and well under the 4% growth recorded at the same point […]

With National Empty Homes Week taking place this month, research has revealed that one in every 25 homes in England stands empty. Research by the Empty Homes Network shows the number of empty homes has risen to more than one million, as one lender says mortgage products for landlords could help bring more vacant properties […]

We’ve all been there, most landlords think a “difficult” tenant kills a sale. But in reality, handled correctly, they can help drive the price up. Amidst the noise, the regulation changes, the red tape and the headlines predicting doom and gloom, landlords across the North West are still selling. And not only selling, but selling […]

More than seven in 10 of Gen Z renters felt overwhelmed, uncertain or anxious when first looking for a home to rent, research reveals. Figures from Housing Hand’s Understanding Renters in 2025 report, highlight several gaps in knowledge about the basics of renting. Gen Z is those aged between 12 and 29, and of the […]

Fleet Mortgages has widened its buy to let (BTL) lending criteria, removing its minimum income requirement and adjusting several affordability and property rules. The lender said the changes are intended to reflect landlords’ real-world borrowing circumstances while maintaining responsible lending standards. Under the revised criteria, applicants will no longer need to meet a fixed earned […]

Two councils have opened consultations on the future operation of the private rented sector locally, inviting tenants, landlords and letting agents to submit feedback. However, only Torfaen County Council is asking private renters in its area to share their experiences as it prepares a new Private Rented Sector Strategy covering 2026 to 2031. Responses, the […]

Searches for Making Tax Digital have surged ahead of the April deadline, according to new research. Under the controversial scheme, from April 2026, landlords earning more than £50,000 will be required to keep digital records and submit quarterly updates to HMRC using authorised MTD-compliant software. Landlords earning between £30,000 and £50,000 will join the scheme […]

Hello, Under the Renters’ Rights Act, fixed-term assured shorthold tenancies will be abolished and replaced with periodic assured tenancies with no fixed end date. Under SDLT legislation, leases which have a net present value of over £125,000 are subject to SDLT. Short leases in almost all cases will not be subject to SDLT as the […]

Scottish Labour has pledged to build 125,000 new homes over the next Parliament. Party leader Anas Sarwar claimed Scotland’s housing emergency is “a moral imperative and an economic one” and set out a package of reforms for housebuilding ahead of the Scottish elections in May. The news comes as the Scottish Conservatives have pledged to […]

Four in 10 tenants thinking about moving this year say they are considering doing so because of rent prices, research reveals. The findings from CIA Landlords suggests affordability is influencing not just the type of home tenants choose, but the location they can afford. Of those weighing up a move, 12% said they were ‘very […]

Property118 has spent more than a decade reporting on the private rented sector, helping landlords, journalists, lenders and policymakers understand the commercial and regulatory realities shaping housing supply.During that time, Property118 has also played a quieter but equally important role. We have helped academic researchers engage directly with landlords, supported university research projects, and ensured […]

Like Thelma and Louise hurtling towards the cliff edge, more people are beginning to see the problems coming with the Renters’ Rights Act. Thankfully, tenants are now asking why landlords are leaving and why rents are rising. I say that after reading the comments under a BBC story this week about rents topping £1,000 a […]

In 2015, months before Section 24 became law, Property118 founder Mark Alexander met officials at HM Treasury responsible for the policy and raised concerns about how landlords might restructure their businesses if the new tax rules made existing models commercially unviable. The discussion included reference to the Elizabeth Moyne Ramsay case and the potential relevance […]

Councils in England have collected only a quarter of the civil penalties issued to landlords for housing offences over the past two years, research reveals. The National Residential Landlords Association says its data was obtained through Freedom of Information requests to English councils responsible for PRS enforcement. Across 2023/24 and 2024/25, 285 councils imposed almost […]

House prices edged higher again in February, pushing the average UK property value to £301,151 after a monthly rise of 0.3%, according to Halifax. That followed a stronger 0.8% increase in January for average prices to be boosted by roughly £3,000 since the start of the year. Annual growth saw house prices being 1.3% above […]

The government insists private landlords must not wait until the Decent Homes Standard 2035 deadline to improve rental properties. Under the Decent Homes Standard, landlords will need to meet certain criteria, including that homes must be in a reasonable state of repair and provide core facilities and services, including a kitchen with adequate space and […]

An industry body has warned the Decent Homes Standard must raise standards without reducing housing supply. Propertymark has cautioned that any reforms to the Decent Homes Standard must “incentivise landlords to invest in improvements rather than create further uncertainty.” The warning comes after the government’s Decent Homes Standard impact assessment was criticised as “not fit […]

Many investors never ask themselves an important question. What if this year ends up looking exactly like the last one financially? Not terrible. Not amazing. Just the same. You worked hard, stayed busy and maybe even made investments. Yet when you step back and look at the results, progress often feels slower than it should. […]

London is experiencing intense demand and high rent prices, according to a new survey. Data by SpareRoom shows that inner London postcodes have recorded the highest rental costs, with Bethnal Green (E2) seeing the largest five-year rent increase in all of inner London, up 56%. The findings come as the number of rental homes in […]