About two weeks ago, one of my HMO tenants messaged to say they kept hearing movement in the loft in the middle of the night. I told him it was probably birds or mice and that I would check it on my next inspection. Then, two days ago, another tenant sent me WhatsApp message saying […]

An industry body is urging landlords and tenants to test their carbon monoxide alarms to save lives. Ahead of Carbon Monoxide Awareness Week next week, Propertymark has created a checklist to help households stay safe and compliant. Known as the “silent killer” due to having no smell, taste, or colour, even a small amount of […]

Hello, I own a block of 6 flats and have managed to get solar to 3 flats under a grant scheme due to the tenants being in receipt of PIP. I had an EPC on my own property due to trying to sell, and talking to the gentleman carrying out the survey, we got around […]

Chapter 3 … It’s late. The house is quiet. The only light still burning is from your laptop screen, the faint glow reflecting off half-empty coffee cups and piles of property files. Bank statements, refinance calculations, insurance renewals. All neatly ordered, all endlessly repeating. You pause for a moment and glance at the family photo […]

Selling a rental property is rarely a tidy, linear decision. Most landlords reach this point after years of pressure, rising costs and a sense that life might be easier with fewer moving parts. Others arrive here because retirement is close, or because family priorities have shifted. Whatever the trigger, the moment you decide to explore […]

It’s finally arrived, the Renters’ Rights Act, one of the biggest overhauls of the private rental sector, will come into force on 1 May 2026. The Act, which, amongst other things, includes tighter regulations, the banning of Section 21 “no-fault” evictions, and the ability for tenants to request pets, whether or not landlords are comfortable […]

For many landlords, the aim of reducing or clearing debt feels like the natural next step. After years of toil and layers of additional legislation, the appeal of reducing exposure to hassle and risk, and becoming mortgage-free, is undeniable. The decision often appears straightforward: sell a few properties with strong equity, pay off the loans, […]

England’s private rented sector will undergo its biggest overhaul in years, as the government confirms the Renters’ Rights Act will come into force on 1 May 2026. The plan sets a firm timetable for landlords, agents and tenants ahead of what ministers describe as a generational shift in housing rights. From that date, private renters […]

This isn’t the article I had planned but I couldn’t decide after waking up today whether I was caught in some weird fever dream now that we know when the Renters’ Rights Act will come in. I might be shooting from the lip here but don’t believe anyone who says the Act is a triumph […]

There has been a strong reaction to the government announcement that England’s rental market will see the Renters’ Rights Act taking effect on 1 May 2026. The move ends months of speculation and gives the sector a clear countdown to what is the biggest change to letting rules in a generation. The confirmed date signals […]

The landlord was dealing with persistent arrears and wanted a quicker route to possession. A Section 8 notice was served, citing grounds for rent arrears. But when the case reached court, the judge threw it out. The notice had been completed incorrectly, with the wrong grounds ticked and insufficient evidence to prove persistent late payment. […]

The landlord was confident they were compliant. Gas and electrical checks were up to date, deposits protected, and tenancy agreements in order. What they missed was that their local council had introduced a selective licensing scheme covering all rented properties in the area. When the omission was discovered, the council issued a civil penalty notice […]

Hello. I’ve got a potential tenant that is claiming UC. His BAP period is 17 – 16th of the month. Normally for tenancies I ask for the first month’s rent in advance and the 5 week equivalent deposit and the tenant pays this themselves (as they are working). In this case the council will be […]

There was a time in Scotland when owning your own home wasn’t a distant aspiration, it was an achievable goal. If you worked hard, paid your taxes, saved what you could, you could build the foundations to become a homeowner. That used to be the story for so many Scots people like my parents and […]

The Welsh government have announced plans for a licensing scheme for short-term lets. Under the Development of Tourism and Regulation of Visitor Accommodation (Wales) Bill, Airbnbs and self-catering accommodation will need a licence to show they meet safety standards. The Welsh government say the Bill will create a “more level playing field between short and […]

Buy to let mortgage arrears fell sharply over the summer but there was a jump in landlord repossessions, UK Finance says. Data for the third quarter shows the number of landlord loans in arrears dropped by 8% compared with the previous quarter, taking the total down to 10,420. It was the lighter arrears cases that […]

Landlords are shifting their focus from expansion to protection, as new data shows a slowdown in buy to let activity and a rise in remortgaging. According to Twenty7tec, BTL purchase searches have fallen by 13.67% over the past year, while remortgage searches are up 6.05%. The numbers suggest that after years of steady growth and […]

Mystic Mortar’s Landlord Horoscope Edition: Friday 14 November 2025 Welcome, star-gazers and key-holders, to a week where the stars weave both intensity and opportunity into your landlord journey. The skies shimmer with allure, yet they whisper a warning: what glitters must be examined carefully before you claim it as yours. This week, Mars joins the […]

Tenant demand continues to climb, but landlords continue to sell amid fears over new legislation. According to Propertymark’s Housing Insight report, demand continues to exceed supply, with an average of nine applicants per property available per member branch. The Renters’ Rights Act received Royal Assent last month, but the government has yet to set out […]

Landlords under the age of 65 are likely to be among the biggest losers in the upcoming Autumn Budget should the government impose National Insurance Contributions (NICs) on rental income. That’s according to an analysis from Hamptons which says that individual landlords paying income tax on their profits currently, are not liable for NICs. However, […]

Two major lenders have launched fresh buy to let offerings designed to speed up the mortgage process and simplify life for brokers and landlords. OSB Group has officially rolled out its new dedicated BTL lender, Rely, which aims to serve everyone from first-time landlords to seasoned portfolio investors. The brand’s arrival marks a major strategic […]