Page 76 – Property118
Golden percentage symbol being cut by scissors, symbolizing new mortgage rate reductions.

Lenders launch new BTL mortgage products and rate cuts

11th August 2025

Three major UK lenders have rolled out updates to their buy to let and specialist mortgage offerings, providing landlords with fresh opportunities to expand their portfolios. Fleet Mortgages, Foundation Home Loans and Dudley Building Society have each announced new products, reduced rates and enhanced loan structures tailored to diverse borrower needs. Fleet has introduced two […]

Homelessness minister resigns amid controversy over tenant rent hike allegations

Homelessness minister quits over tenant rent hike allegations

8th August 2025

Rushanara Ali, the homelessness minister, has stepped down from her role following allegations of her handling of a rental property in east London, Downing Street has confirmed. The controversy arose when Ms Ali, a key figure in promoting the Renters’ Rights Bill, was accused of raising the rent on her property after ending a tenancy, […]

Landlord and agent reviewing property documents and discussing rental management options.

Should landlords self-manage or use an agent for the Renters’ Rights Bill?

8th August 2025

The impending Renters’ Rights Bill looks like it will have a huge impact on the PRS and it leaves, one industry expert says, landlords grappling with a choice. Should they manage rented properties themselves or recruit professional agents to navigate the complexities? With the legislation expected to become law later this year, it promises sweeping […]

Model house on stacked coins with Halifax logo symbolising rising UK house prices.

UK house prices rose in July – Halifax

8th August 2025

The UK’s property values edged up in July, marking the biggest monthly increase this year, Halifax reveals. It says that the average home now costs £298,237, a 0.4% rise from June’s £297,157, translating to an extra £1,080. Over the past year, prices have grown by 2.4%, slightly down from June’s 2.7%. Mortgage rates are easing […]

Prince William supports affordable housing initiative to tackle youth homelessness.

Prince William unveils plan for affordable housing to end youth homelessness

8th August 2025

A new project in partnership with Prince William to provide affordable homes for young people aims to “act as a bridge between supported accommodation and the private rented sector.” As the Duchy of Cornwall, Prince William owns land at 60 Sancroft Street in Vauxhall, where 16 independent living homes will be created for young people […]

Unfit rental property with damp walls and broken furniture marked with a red prohibition sign

More than a million PRS homes could be illegal under the Decent Homes Standard

8th August 2025

More than one in five privately rented properties in England, which is around 1.027 million homes, could be classified as illegal under the Decent Homes Standard, a study reveals. According to Inventory Base, its analysis, based on government figures, reveals that these homes fail to meet the Decent Homes Standard (DHS), which is part of […]

Model house with key and discount tag symbolising new buy-to-let mortgage offers.

Landbay, Atom Bank and Buckinghamshire BS unveil new BTL offers

8th August 2025

Three buy to let lenders have unveiled fresh initiatives to attract landlords and commercial property investors, each bringing distinct offerings to a competitive market.  Landbay has boosted its Summer Special range by introducing five product transfer options and trimming rates by up to 0.10%. These deals, available for limited companies, cater to standard properties with […]

House keys being handed over symbolising home sale and property ownership issues

Right-to-Buy has worsened housing crisis claims think tank

8th August 2025

A think tank claims that Right-to-Buy has become “England’s biggest housing disaster”, costing taxpayers £200 billion. A report by the think tank Common Wealth reveals that since 1980, nearly two million (1.94 million) council homes in England have been sold under the Right-to-Buy scheme. The flagship policy, launched by Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in the […]

Family reviewing property valuation report as part of LLP succession and continuity planning.

Family LLP Secures £10m Portfolio with Valuations and Continuity Planning

7th August 2025

James and Sarah had never planned to become large-scale landlords. Their first buy-to-let was meant to be a side project to generate a little passive income alongside James’s consultancy work. One property became two, then three, and over two decades, the business grew quietly in the background until it had reached a scale neither of […]

Bank of England and Wellington statue with 4% rate cut graphic

Bank of England cuts base rate to 4% despite inflation concerns

7th August 2025

The Bank of England has announced an interest rate cut to the lowest level in two years, despite concerns about rising inflation and a weakening economy. The Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) voted by a majority of 5-4 to reduce the Bank Base Rate by 0.25% to a total rate of 4%. In […]

Homelessness minister criticized for evicting tenants and raising rent on London property

Labour’s homelessness minister faces hypocrisy claims after evicting tenants

7th August 2025

Labour’s Minister for homelessness, and a strong supporter of the Renters’ Rights Bill, is facing criticism after evicting tenants and then pushing the rent up on the property. The i Newspaper reports that Rushanara Ali, evicted four tenants from her east London townhouse and subsequently increased the rent by £700 a month. The Bow property, […]

Wooden figure crossing houses on wooden blocks symbolising government support for landlords.

Industry body urges government to offer incentives to landlords amid soaring demand

7th August 2025

An industry body is calling for incentives to support landlords as demand continues to outstrip supply. Propertymark’s housing insight report reveals available rental stock contracted further, averaging 9.75 properties per member branch, exacerbating supply shortages. Propertymark is now urging the government to support landlords and acknowledge the role they play in the housing market. Many […]

Rats on dirty kitchen dishes highlighting poor housing hygiene in Brent Council home

Family sues London council over rat-infested home

7th August 2025

While one London council launches ‘surprise’ visits on private landlords to catch them breaking laws, it’s not the same situation for them as one of its own tenant families is suing over a serious rat infestation. The mother alleges that her family’s council home is unfit for human habitation due to severe rat infestations, pervasive […]

Hands holding miniature houses symbolising buy-to-let brokers and landlord property investment.

Landlords boost limited company confidence when using BTL brokers

7th August 2025

There’s a growing reliance of landlords on buy to let mortgage brokers when navigating the complexities of limited company BTL arrangements, a survey reveals. The findings from Coventry for Intermediaries show that 55% of landlords engaging a broker for their limited company BTL feel ‘very confident’ in the process. That’s in stark contrast to the […]

Property118 and Property Investors Awards celebrate 2024 winners with gold trophies on display.

Property Investors Awards – Property Development of the Year

7th August 2025

From dealing with a global pandemic to overcoming unexpected challenges along the way, George Ball’s property journey is one of perseverance and determination. Through his hard work, he has now won Property Development of the Year at the Property Investors Awards. How George’s property career started George first entered the property market when he bought […]

Businessperson walking toward a bright exit symbolizing landlords leaving the rental market

Small landlords exit the PRS amid Renters’ Rights Bill fears

7th August 2025

Growing numbers of Britain’s small-scale landlords are exiting the private rented sector, driven by concerns over the government’s Renters’ Rights Bill, a survey reveals. According to data from Alto, a property management software provider, 34% of letting agents say they have seen a notable increase in independent landlords offloading their properties. The survey, which gathered […]

Paul Shamplina promoting a 2025 landlord webinar on navigating major property law changes

If You’re Still Letting Like It’s 2015, You’re on Borrowed Time

7th August 2025

After 30 years in this sector, I’ve never seen a time like this. The landscape for landlords is shifting fast and if you’re still managing your rentals like it’s a decade ago, you’re setting yourself up for a fall. The Renters’ Rights Bill is the biggest shake-up we’ve seen since the Housing Act 1988. It’s […]

Model house with rent symbol highlighting UK rental market trends

Landlord group challenges simplistic view of rent pricing

7th August 2025

A landlord group says a new report on the PRS shows “a 2D version of rent pricing” rather than the reality. Rodney Townson, from landlord organisation iHowz, tells Property118 that SpareRoom’s report on the UK rental market makes interesting observations but fails to capture the full picture, and instead focuses on a “too narrow view […]

Technician inspecting drain with CCTV camera to identify pipe damage during home-buyer survey

Home-buyer CCTV Surveys?

7th August 2025

Following the advice of their Home-buyer surveyor, my purchasers had a Home-buyer CCTV Pipe Survey done on the house I’m selling. The report has come back with the following recommendations: Lateral 3 / Inspection 1: This lateral, which leads downstream to the main line, has a displaced joint at the material change from PVC to […]