The landlord thought they had done everything right. Arrears were mounting, and the time had come to regain possession. A Section 21 notice was served, and the landlord confidently applied to court. But at the hearing, the judge dismissed the claim. The paperwork had been served with the wrong dates, and worse still, the deposit […]

The UK’s housing market has stalled as anxiety over the upcoming Autumn Budget weighs heavily on both buyers and sellers, RICs reveals. Its latest Residential Market Survey shows that demand, sales and listings all weakened for the third month running. Many of the surveyors who responded are blaming pre-Budget uncertainty and fears of new tax […]

There are moments in specialist finance where a leadership appointment carries more weight than the role itself. The announcement that Adam Tyler will become the new Chief Executive Officer of the Bridging and Development Lenders Association has landed as one of those moments. It has prompted a wave of respect among those who have worked […]

The Public Services Ombudsman for Wales has uncovered serious and long-running failings at a housing association after two tenants endured years of disrepair, unheated homes and poor communication. It found that the social landlord Trivallis repeatedly delayed essential repairs, failed to act on reports of damp and mould, and neglected the needs of vulnerable households. […]

Around a third of tenants are now handing over at least half of their take-home pay to pay rent, research reveals. According to deposit alternative provider Reposit, 14% of tenants spend between 50% and 60% of their net income on rent, while 11% allocate 60% to 70%. A further 6% spend more than 70%, while […]

An email from Property118 reader landed this morning saying: “If Rachel Reeves does her worst and puts NI on accountants and lawyers, this seems like an opportunity for Property118. Do you offer consultancy on the viability of incorporating from LLP to Ltd?” The answer is: YES WE DO, and his observations get straight to the […]

The Times is looking to speak to landlords about the potential change to income tax/national insurance and how it might affect their finances. It’s for a piece based on the possibility that Chancellor Rachel Reeves may put income tax up by 2p in the pound but bring national insurance down, keeping PAYE tax bills roughly […]

Despite councils charging landlords hundreds of pounds for selective licensing schemes, the government claims councils should not profit from licensing. In an investigative report by Property118, we contacted numerous councils and the government to ask why selective licensing schemes are so expensive compared to places like Jersey, where they cost £60 and are valid for […]

Wandsworth Council has intensified its efforts to check its licensed landlords and find unsafe homes. Landlords in the borough must now apply for a licence before letting properties across several key areas. So far, more than 3,400 applications have been received, which include around 1,900 for additional licensing and 1,500 for selective licensing. Council officers […]

On paper, it looked like the perfect arrangement. A company offered the landlord guaranteed rent each month and promised to handle everything else. No voids, no late payments, no tenant hassle. The landlord signed without asking too many questions. But within a year, the property had been crammed with far more occupants than agreed, damage […]

Stress testing has become one of the biggest hurdles for landlords seeking finance. Even when rental income is strong, lenders apply notional interest rates and affordability tests that can significantly reduce the loan available. Understanding how stress testing works – and how to mitigate its impact – is key to maintaining borrowing power. What Stress […]

Private rents in the UK are set to climb by 12% over the next five years as the rental market shifts towards calmer, more predictable conditions, research reveals. According to a forecast from Savills, tenant affordability will slowly improve during that time, helped by steady income growth and a gradual cooling in demand that has […]

Wales and the North East are bearing the brunt of the UK’s widening rental affordability divide, new figures reveal. ARLA Propertymark says that tenants in Wales saw their average monthly rent climb from £995 in September to £1,025 in October — a jump of 3%. Yet, the salary typically required to rent fell slightly, down […]

HM Land Registry has rolled out its Strategy 2025+ which promises to make buying and selling a home quicker. In a process that has been plagued by delays and paperwork woes, the organisation says it will deliver better services. It will also ‘unlock a faster, less stressful property market’. Officials have focussed on home buyers, […]

Nearly half a million social housing tenants have shared their views on the quality of their homes in England. The survey by the Regulator of Social Housing (RSH) found a mixed picture of satisfaction and frustration. The analysis of Tenant Satisfaction Measures (TSMs) shows most tenants are broadly content with the safety and upkeep of […]

Hi, I have a property in County Durham with a previously granted HMO licence to a leaseholder on a corporate lease. I paid for it, but it was granted to the leaseholder as they managed the property. The leaseholder exited the lease a few months ago and the HMO licence was revoked. I have now […]

Many landlords chuckled when Rachel Reeves was caught without a licence. The laughter didn’t last long. When it emerged that the Chancellor herself had rented out a property without the right paperwork, it felt like a moment of poetic justice. Yet the story also served as a reminder that even the most organised professionals can […]

The Housing Secretary has slammed the Green Party for calling for the abolition of landlords. Steve Reed said he had not previously heard of the party’s stance and asked, “If we abolish landlords, where are we going to get homes from?” At its autumn conference, the Green Party passed a motion to “seek the effective […]

Homeless charity Crisis plans to become a landlord to tackle Britain’s housing crisis. The charity says it will begin buying one-bedroom homes in London and Newcastle, with plans to purchase more than 1,000 properties over the next decade. The announcement comes after Crisis revealed that 300,000 families and individuals across England are experiencing the most […]

The Scottish Conservatives have labelled the Scottish Housing Bill a “disaster for the private rented sector” as it gains Royal Assent. The bill, which passed by 89 votes to 28, has now become an Act of Parliament. Secondary legislation will be introduced to bring parts of the Act into effect in stages, with the first […]

The revelation that Chancellor Rachel Reeves rented out her Dulwich home without the correct selective licence has reignited debate about how unevenly housing laws are enforced. Ms Reeves referred herself to the government’s ethics adviser after admitting the oversight. Her family home, let for £3,200 a month, sits within a Southwark Council selective licensing zone. […]