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 […]

A pet charity has condemned the Renters’ Rights Act, warning it could reduce the number of pet-friendly landlords. AdvoCATS welcomed the legislation but cautioned that “it’s no giant leap for petkind,” saying the removal of pet damage insurance from the final version of the Act undermines its potential impact. The Act, which received Royal Assent […]

The housing market has recorded its first annual fall in new sales in two years, as house price growth slows to 1.3%, according to Zoopla’s House Price Index. The findings reveal with less than a month to go till the Autumn Budget, house buyers are adopting a wait-and-see approach. Zoopla claims media speculation over stamp […]

A new lettings agency has launched to tackle housing inequality by “bringing more social purpose to the private rental market”. Good Place Lettings, created as a joint venture between the national homelessness charity Crisis and Homes for Good, claims it offers “a socially responsible alternative” for landlords who either self-manage or rely on traditional lettings […]

Rental supply continues to remain strong ahead of the Renters’ Rights Bill, as rents hit their highest levels in September in four years, according to a new survey. According to Foxtons Lettings Market Index reveals, despite a slight dip in demand, supply remains robust, with September 2025 listings exceeding those from the same month last […]

Rightmove has unveiled a new digital Renter Checklist tool aimed at easing the rental move-in process for tenants. The platform says it will help renters manage each stage of securing a property, from initial search to collecting the keys. The checklist lets tenants track progress in real time by ticking off each stage as they […]

In one of the starkest reminders that bullying tactics have no place in lettings, a letting agent was banned from operating after threatening a family with unlawful eviction. The case showed a pattern of heavy-handed messages and pressure, even when the rent dispute was contested. Local enforcement stepped in and secured restrictions to protect the […]

Long before I founded Property118, I began my career in financial services. I was just 19 years old, eager to learn and ready to help people make sense of their money. I’ll never forget my first-ever client meeting. It wasn’t a textbook case. It was a man in his early 60s, not much older than […]