Chancellor Rachel Reeves’s selective licensing scandal is a “perfect example of the challenges landlords face”, claims a landlord group chairman. Paul Cunningham, chairman of the Eastern Landlords Association, says penalties for non-compliance must be applied consistently across the board. His comments come after Ms Reeves admitted she had breached housing law by renting out her […]

Proptech outfit Kamma is rolling out its compliance platform to help with property licensing at no cost to every Member of Parliament through December. It says the initiative comes after Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ admission that she rented out her south London home without the necessary selective licence. Landlords and letting agents have faced mounting headaches […]

Many of us found ourselves unable to stop laughing this week as Chancellor Rachel Reeves was caught and well and truly stung for not having a landlord licence. But as much as we thought, good to see the government getting what they dish out, the momentary small win for landlords was quickly met with more […]

Over the years, I have seen that the rented property boiler deteriorates faster than my own property. My property boiler doesn’t require an annual gas safety check however, my tenant’s property does. The outcome is my boiler lasts twice as long as a tenant’s property one. Has anyone else observed this? I hear that the […]

The tenant seemed trustworthy, references were fine, and the landlord wanted to move quickly. But when immigration officers visited months later, it emerged that no valid Right to Rent check had been carried out. The landlord faced a civil penalty notice running into thousands of pounds, along with the stress of proving what steps they […]

Mystic Mortar’s Landlord Horoscope Edition: Friday 7 November 2025 Welcome, star-gazers and key-holders, to a week where the stars whisper of steady progress, hidden truths, and the charm that wins hearts as surely as rent payments. November opens its doors with cosmic nudges to stay grounded, but not without a little sparkle of attraction along […]

The Bank of England (BoE) has held interest rates at 4%, a move that came as no surprise to markets and economists watching closely for signs of a shift in monetary policy. It marks the final rate decision before Chancellor Rachel Reeves unveils her Budget later this month. Many analysts believe the next BoE meeting […]

The Housing Minister has admitted the government has not carried out an assessment of the impact of banning landlords from re-letting homes if a sale falls through. Under the Renters’ Rights Act, landlords who evict tenants in order to sell a property, but whose sale then collapses, must wait 12 months before re-letting it. In […]

Like many before me and many after me, leaving the UK is becoming a topic of discussion and a realistic action to leave the UK for those frustrated with the high tax, politics, crime and did I mention the rain? Why It Matters Thousands of UK landlords move abroad every year, whether to retire in […]

The government has just seen off a High Court challenge from major freeholders over the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act (LAFRA) 2024. So, a time for leaseholder celebration? Perhaps, but before we declare victory for flat owners, it is worth asking the one question that really matters:  which of the reforms will actually get leasehold […]

In January, I obtained a N206A Notice of Issue (accelerated possession claim), following the service of a Section 21 notice and accompanying paperwork. Slackness on my part, as I didn’t read it properly, caused me to ‘do nothing further’ till now, when I thought it was a long time in the system. I thought things […]

Nearly half of first-time buyers have put their property buying plans on hold until after the Autumn Budget, research reveals. According to eXp UK, 47% of aspiring homeowners have decided to delay buying amid uncertainty over housing and tax policy. Yet most are holding out for deeper, long-term changes to make homeownership genuinely affordable, rather […]

Shelter has released its Christmas advert for this year to showcase the temporary accommodation crisis. The one-minute film, created by agency Don’t Panic specifically for Shelter, set to the song Total Eclipse of the Heart by Bonnie Tyler, shows a young boy singing the ballad at school and on his way back home. The boy […]

I have been thinking about ways around the two-bedroom student house problem. My first thought is it’s hardly rocket science. There is presumably no problem in asking current 2025/26 student tenants to give notice now for the fixed term end date specified in their tenancy contract? I realise that it is likely or at least […]

More than a third of landlords could quit the private rented sector within the next year as the Renters’ Rights Act creates uncertainty, research reveals. Simply Business says that 39% of landlords are considering selling up because of the RRA and other regulatory reforms. Its 2025 Landlord Report reveals that a quarter of landlords said […]

The landlord had managed the property for years without issues. The wiring seemed fine, the lights worked, and the tenants never complained. When new regulations requiring an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) came into force, the landlord delayed. Inspections cost money and felt unnecessary. But when the tenants reported a blown socket that left scorch […]

When did you last create memories by taking your entire family on holiday? Most landlords I speak to were unlikely ever to experience that kind of moment, or to help with their grandchildren’s education, or to see their children’s faces light up when a mortgage deposit changes their lives, until we discussed their options and […]

More than half of tenants are choosing to stay put, clinging to their current homes despite wanting to move, research reveals. The flatsharing platform SpareRoom says that fears of rent rises and fierce competition have frozen the rental market. It says that 56% of tenants are now ‘flathugging’, a term for renters remaining in properties […]

“Regulatory bottlenecks” are to blame for a decline in new-build supply, according to new research. Data by Property Inspect reveals new-build supply in Britain has fallen dramatically and now accounts for just 5.9% of all current residential property listings in Great Britain. Industry experts say a shortage of qualified surveyors and assessors and regulatory rules […]

With the Budget only weeks away, Chancellor Rachel Reeves made an unusual choice to deliver a pre-Budget speech. In her speech, the Chancellor said, “everyone will have to contribute to improve Britain’s finances” and did not rule out tax rises. Property experts have warned the Chancellor against raising the tax burden on landlords, amid speculation […]

High street banks have been retreating from parts of the landlord market, leaving many investors frustrated by rigid criteria and refusals. In their place, specialist lenders have stepped forward, offering tailored solutions for complex portfolios, HMOs, semi-commercial properties, and short-lease assets. For landlords, these lenders are now critical to sustaining and growing their businesses. Why […]