A legal expert has accused a council of “abuse of power” over its failure to give prior warning before introducing new rules for Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs). Bolton Council has introduced an immediate Article 4 direction, meaning landlords can no longer convert family homes into HMOs for three to six occupants without applying for […]

The Mayor of Salford has praised tough housing enforcement after rogue landlords were handed £2.2 million in fines. According to the Manchester Evening News, the penalties were issued as part of a major enforcement crackdown targeting poor standards in the private rented sector. The news comes after Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham launched the Good […]

Private rents across the UK have surged, reaching an average of £1,343 per month to July 2025, the Office for National Statistics reveals. This reflects a 5.9% rise over the past year, a slight slowdown from the 6.7% increase recorded in the 12 months to June. The data marks the seventh consecutive month of falling […]

Despite a landlord helping to rehouse tenants after serving them with a Section 21 notice, a Labour MP is calling for the notice to be withdrawn. According to Nottinghamshire Live, Nadia Whittome MP has urged the landlords and property managers of Assured Properties Leasing and Transitions Housing to withdraw the Section 21 notices immediately from […]

The value of rent arrears fell by 12% in the second quarter of 2025, reaching £1,861 compared to the same period in 2024. This marks the first annual decline for a second quarter since 2021, according to data from Reposit, the tenancy deposit alternative provider. The figure also reflects a 20% drop from the first […]

Rumours of replacing stamp duty with a property tax on homes worth more than £500,000 have sparked fury among property experts. The Guardian reports ahead of the Autumn Budget, Chancellor Rachel Reeves has tasked officials to “study how a new ‘proportional’ property tax could be implemented and model its impact before reporting back to ministers.” […]

The UK’s professional landlords appear to be making a pivot towards office space investments, with applications for office-related projects surging by 44% in the first six months of 2025. That’s according to Shawbrook, which says that the South West is leading this shift, with an impressive 233% spike in landlord applications for office developments. The […]

A London council has come under fire for consulting on two new five-year licensing schemes for the private rented sector, scheduled to come into force next year. Hackney Council claims the schemes will improve housing quality, but they have drawn sharp criticism from Propertymark. It warns of inflated costs for responsible landlords and potential rent […]

Rents are outpacing tenants’ budgets as they turn to parents to help with costs, claims a flat-share website. Data by SpareRoom reveals half of UK renters have relied on some form of loan, credit, advance or a second income stream to help them pay their rent in the past 12 months. The figures show Twickenham […]

Purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) could be the solution to help London meet housing targets, claims a planning and development consultancy. Lichfields says a surge in PBSA in the capital will ease pressure on the private rented sector and support the rising number of students. However, many students prefer to rent from the private sector due […]

Landlords can lose five figures in an instant, not from market crashes or bad tenants, but from avoidable errors. These mistakes are easy to make if you’re not watching the details, and the recent examples below show just how expensive they can be. 1. Ignoring safety requirements In Bristol, a landlord was fined nearly £44,000 […]

Shelter Scotland claims social housing generates thousands of pounds a year to help improve lives. A three-year study commissioned by Shelter Scotland reveals new social tenancies can generate a value of nearly £12,000 a year. The study, led by Housing Associations’ Charitable Trust (HACT), worked with tenants and social housing providers to measure how securing […]

A charity has urged the government to reverse the freeze on the Local Housing Allowance (LHA) to support low-income renters. The Salvation Army claimed in a poll of 1,000 adults, nearly half (48%) fear an extra £100 expense would leave them unable to pay their rent or mortgage. The charity has also called for the […]

Renters in England faced growing budget pressures last year, with tenants on a median household income having to spend 36.3% of their earnings on an average rent of £1,232, the Office for National Statistics reveals. That’s much higher than the 25.9% tenants who spent in Wales with rent at £702 and 25.3% in Northern Ireland […]

There’s been a big drop in landlord purchasing activity which has reshaped the UK’s buy to let landscape, with 85,000 fewer properties acquired over the past year. That’s according to Dwelly, a letting agents software firm, which has analysed data from The Mortgage Works and HMRC figures. It shows that only 170,520 landlords purchased properties […]

House prices fell in July but interest rate cut offered some relief for first-time buyers, claims e.surv. The House Price Index for July by e.surv revealed the housing market remained subdued during the summer, but there were signs of a gentle recovery. E.surv claimed lower interest rates through the second half of the year would […]

The Tenant Left Without Warning… and Took Only Their Clothes Most landlords have dealt with late rent or minor damage. But sometimes, the surprise left behind is more… alive. In Salford, a landlord inspecting a recently vacated property found something no one expects: 22 pet tarantulas, abandoned in tanks and containers. Local authorities and animal […]

There is nothing wrong with selling. The key is to sell with your eyes open. Before you decide to market your properties and definitely before you accept an offer, check the true net proceeds after mortgage redemption costs and Capital Gains Tax, then compare that figure to a refinancing or partial sell-down plan that might […]

Every landlord has heard stories about heavy-handed enforcement. It is much rarer to see clear, documented wins where a council decision is overturned or criticised. The two cases below show it does happen. Both are recent, both are credible, and both contain practical lessons for the rest of us. Case One: Ombudsman raps council over […]

A letting agency is urging landlords to prepare for the Decent Homes Standard by carrying out regular inspections and reviewing EPC ratings. Leaders Roman Group (LRG) warns landlords that there will be greater enforcement when the rules come into effect, with civil penalties of £7,000 and possible prosecution. LRG also says tenants will gain stronger […]

Agreed sales hit their highest July level in five years, as lower prices drove an 8% jump in activity, according to Rightmove. Its House Price Index reveals the number of homes for sale is now 10% up on this time last year, muting the annual price increase to just 0.3%. The property portal says the […]