Southwark Council tops the table for selective licensing fees, generating more than £23 million, as Rachel Reeves’ licensing error continues to make headlines. Ms Reeves failed to obtain a selective licence for her family home, which she rented out in Southwark, and could be forced to repay thousands of pounds to her tenants. While Ms […]

End-of-tenancy walk-throughs rarely shock seasoned landlords. This one did. The front door stuck on a swollen frame, the air felt heavy, and the first step into the lounge crunched on broken glass. What followed looked like a DIY experiment gone wrong. The walk-through from hell Room by room the damage escalated. Doors were off hinges. […]

An Edinburgh councillor is calling for housing tribunal rulings against landlords to be made public. Independent councillor Ross McKenzie says greater transparency is needed and the ways in which landlords are ruled not fit to let properties should be made public. The Scottish Association of Landlords (SAL) says councils should work with landlords to promote […]

I own a three-bedroom terraced property with over 900 years remaining on the lease and a nominal ground rent of £15 per annum. My freeholder has asked me to apply for a leasehold enquiry at a cost of £400 and has indicated that the purchase of the freehold alone would cost £10,000, excluding solicitor and […]

It’s been a week of growing competition across the buy to let mortgage market as several major lenders roll out rate cuts and higher borrowing limits to help landlords. The Mortgage Works (TMW) has lifted its maximum loan per property to £2 million for both standard BTL and limited company applications, up from £1.5 million. […]

The government must invest further in the courts to handle the number of cases under the Renters’ Rights Act, claims The Law Society. The Act, which gained Royal Assent this week, will see landlords forced to use Section 8 notices to regain possession of their properties, which will require a court ruling unless the tenant […]

Mystic Mortar’s Landlord Horoscope Edition: Friday 31 October 2025 Welcome, star-gazers and key-holders, to a Halloween edition where cosmic shadows dance across the property world. The stars whisper of mystery, charm and the need for careful choices as October closes its doors. This week, the Sun journeys deeper into Scorpio, intensifying focus on secrets, power […]

It all started with trust. The landlord had let to the tenant before, so when they asked to extend their stay, he agreed on the spot. No paperwork was signed, no dates or clauses were written down, just a friendly handshake and the tenant’s word that the rent would continue monthly “as usual.” For several […]

The Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, has referred herself to the government’s ethics watchdog after admitting she broke housing law by renting out her family home without a selective licence. She admitted to the breach after questions were raised over her Dulwich property, which was listed for rent at £3,200 a month when she moved into Number […]

One of Nottingham’s largest landlords has blamed selective licensing for the city’s homelessness crisis. Mick Roberts, who has housed benefit tenants for the past 28 years, pushed back against claims by Nottingham MP Nadia Whittome, who says the city’s homelessness problem is caused by a lack of council powers. According to Nottinghamshire Live, Nottingham has […]

My final rental is now vacant and will be ready to go on the market in a couple of weeks. I do have an estate agent lined up, but I’m wondering whether to try an auction. Its a small detached bungalow in Runcorn, Cheshire. Could I ask for people’s experience of selling at auction? I’m […]

Four London councils, plus one in Hertfordshire, are to expand or consult residents on implementing selective licensing schemes. In Islington, the borough’s selective licensing scheme will be extended to seven new wards, bringing thousands more rented homes under regulation. The scheme currently applies to Finsbury Park, Hillrise and Tollington but will soon include Barnsbury, Caledonian, […]

Landlords are spending hundreds of pounds disposing of items left behind by tenants, according to a survey by Direct Line Insurance. From a full aquarium with live fish to 50 tubs of ice cream left in a freezer, some tenants have abandoned unusual possessions that landlords must remove at their own expense. The survey found […]

Rents continue to rise as landlord uncertainty over the Renters’ Rights Act sees rental supply shrink, according to new analysis. A report by lettings agents Benham & Reeves shows which areas of the rental market are haunting tenants this Halloween, revealing the largest increases in average monthly rents since this time last year. The Renters’ […]

A Labour minister has claimed the Renters’ Rights Act will help tackle anti-social behaviour. Sarah Jones MP, Minister of State at the Home Office and former head of campaigns at Shelter, says tenants committing anti-social behaviour causes misery, and landlords will have the tools necessary to keep people safe. The Renters’ Rights Act received Royal […]

Hello everyone, I’m seeking advice on extending the lease for my rental property, which is approaching the dreaded 80-year short lease/marriage value that I want to avoid. The property is a flat in a block of 6 flats. Each flat owner (leaseholder) also owns a share of the Freehold company that owns the Freehold. In […]

Most landlords and tenants are familiar with the usual costs that can crop up when moving out of a rental property. Cleaning fees, deposit deductions, and damage charges are nothing new. Yet one tenant in Birmingham was left stunned when their letting agent issued a £50 bill for an ‘air freshener fee’. The explanation? Apparently, […]

It was meant to be a quick turnaround. The landlord thought skipping the inventory would save a day’s hassle and a few hundred pounds. But when the tenancy ended, the property was left with stains, missing items and damage that no one could prove was the tenant’s fault. With no signed check-in report, the deposit […]

Labour’s new deputy leader is among MPs renting out rooms to colleagues at taxpayers’ expense, new figures reveal. New figures from the Daily Mail show five landlord MPs pocketed over £30,000 last year by letting properties to colleagues in the House of Commons. The Parliamentary watchdog had previously pledged to review the practice amid concerns […]

From December, councils will have the power to enter private rented properties without needing a warrant in certain circumstances. Under the Renters’ Rights Act, councils will have the power to carry out surprise inspections, and landlords will not have to be notified before an inspection takes place. The government has now published investigatory powers guidance […]

Rising interest rates have transformed the lending landscape for landlords. Deals that looked affordable three years ago may now be unaffordable under today’s stress tests. For many, refinancing has become more complex, with lenders scrutinising cash flow and resilience like never before. Understanding how rates impact the commercial lending market is essential for landlords planning […]