A Labour-run council is hiring extra staff to tackle selective licensing and the Renters’ Rights Act. Liverpool City Council has announced plans to expand its enforcement team, with seven new staff joining immediately and a further 27 officers set to be appointed over the coming financial year. The council says this means there will be […]

Landlords are very aware of the upcoming Renters’ Rights Act, but uncertainty persists around how the framework will operate once in force. The survey by Paragon Bank found awareness of the new law at 98%. However, 73% of landlords said they remain unsure about parts of the legislation, or most of it. Only 26% consider […]

I am planning on making use of an approaching void period in one of my properties to work on improving ‘u-values’, by applying internal wall insulation systems (IWI) – along with some other easy EPC wins, such as swapping GLS lights for LEDs & switching to Smart TRVs. As I possess the necessary skill sets […]

John Lewis is shutting down its housebuilding arm and abandoning plans to deliver 1,000 rental homes across three sites. The firm is blaming higher borrowing and construction costs since the venture was launched in 2020. The employee-owned retailer said the decision also covers an exit from property management when four residential building contracts expire. Resources […]

Landlords and tenants will be able to access hundreds of pounds in grant funding for electric vehicle (EV) charging points under new government plans. Until March 2027, renters and landlords can claim up to half the cost of installing a charger, worth up to £500, as the scheme is extended for a final year. The […]

Potentially exempt transfer insurance (gift inter vivos policies), protect your family during the seven-year inheritance tax risk period following a gift. Most landlords have some understanding of the seven-year rule for IHT purposes. What far fewer appreciate is the financial exposure their family faces during those seven years. This exposure is not theoretical; it arises […]

More landlords than ever are stopping to take stock. The days of constant expansion are giving way to careful evaluation, because the cost of standing still has started to feel as risky as the cost of growth. Legislation, regulation, and taxation now shape almost every decision. A single oversight can turn a profitable portfolio into […]

Nearly one in three private renters in Scotland has struggled to pay their rent over the past year, research reveals. According to the SafeDeposits Scotland Charitable Trust’s latest tenant survey, 29% had difficulty paying. However, 35% said their rent was easy to afford. Pressure on household finances is feeding into spending decisions with 47% of […]

The government has confirmed floor coverings will not be mandatory under the Decent Homes Standard due to cost pressures. Many social homes do not come with floor coverings, with research by End Furniture Poverty showing more than 1.2 million people in the UK live without floor coverings, with 66% of those affected living in social […]

The UK’s longest-running tenancy deposit protection scheme claims it has resolved more than 33,000 disputes and protected £2.45 billion in deposits. Tenancy Deposit Scheme (TDS) Social Impact report 2024/25 claims it has supported tenants and landlords by resolving disputes and reducing court demand by diverting disputes from the courts. The news comes as the government says […]

In a victory for student landlords, the government has confirmed changes to the student possession ground under the Renters’ Rights Act. The government has introduced a new ground for possession to ensure properties rented to students are available for new tenants from one academic year to the next. Under the new ground, landlords must provide […]

A coalition of 25 housing bodies has written to Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook, calling for a national plan to return more than 300,000 empty homes in England to use. The alliance, brought together by social impact fund manager Resonance, spans charities, investors and council leadership. Among the signatories are Shelter, Big Issue, Refuge, Women’s Aid […]

Several buy to let (BTL) lenders have introduced a fresh round of pricing reductions, cutting fixed rates across standard and specialist ranges as product repricing continues. Landbay has lowered rates by up to 20bps across its Premier, Core and Specialist lines, covering purchases, remortgages and product transfers. Within Premier, two- and five-year fixes have fallen […]

When Martin Lewis recently described marriage as the “ultimate inheritance tax hack”, he was making a technical point rather than a romantic one. The same principle applies equally to civil partnerships. If you are legally married or in a registered civil partnership, you can leave your entire estate to your spouse or civil partner free […]

Reform UK will pledge to scrap the Renters’ Rights Act if it wins the next general election, with deputy leader Richard Tice arguing the law is already reducing supply and pushing up rents. The Act secured Royal Assent in October after it was introduced by former housing secretary Angela Rayner and builds on the earlier […]

Demand has soared in commuter towns such as Esher as renters are priced out of cities, according to a new report. Findings by SpareRoom reveal renters are seeking more affordable options as rent prices have risen sharply in recent years. However, the flatshare website warns that as more renters migrate to cheaper towns, those areas […]

A council will go ahead with its selective licensing scheme set to come into force in April, requiring landlords to pay a £1,000 licence fee. North East Lincolnshire Council has confirmed it is in the process of entering into a contract with a delivery partner to implement the scheme in part of the East Marsh […]

Landlords and residents are being asked to comment on proposed planning restrictions targeting shared housing in Kidderminster. A six-week consultation has now begun with Wyre Forest District Council seeking views on introducing an Article 4 direction for HMOs there. Anyone who lives, works or owns property locally, alongside landlords and sector groups, can submit an […]

The government admits the higher rates of stamp duty on additional dwellings are designed to penalise landlords while supporting first-time buyers. In the 2024 Autumn Budget, Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced that the stamp duty surcharge on additional homes would rise from 3% to 5%. The Budget also lowered Stamp Duty thresholds in England, with the […]

February is on track to record the highest number of new home listings in a decade as the housing market continues to rebound, according to a new report. Zoopla’s house price index reveals there are currently 6% more homes for sale than a year ago, with the property portal expecting this number to rise in […]

Landlord possession claims dropped 7.8% in 2025 despite the approaching removal of Section 21, research reveals. According to Inventory Base, there were 91,093 claims issued during the year, compared with 98,766 in 2024. The fall comes ahead of the Renters’ Rights Act taking effect on 1 May. The Act will ban Section 21 ‘no-fault’ repossession. […]