There is a lot to read about the Renters’ Rights Act, and not much of it is calm. Law firms write for landlords who already have a solicitor. Software companies write to sell software (yes, OK, fair cop, but we were landlords first!). The trade press writes for clicks. The result is that a piece […]

As the dust begins to settle on the 2026 Scottish elections, landlords, tenants, and everyone involved in the private rented sector (PRS) in Scotland are wondering what the results actually mean. At the time of writing, there has been no new Scottish government formed, but it seems likely at this stage that John Swinney will […]

A left-wing think tank has called on the government to introduce rent controls to tackle “unaffordable housing costs”. The Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) warns more than 2.5 million renters could end up living in unaffordable housing without government intervention. The call comes as the National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA) has urged the next […]

The government has published guidance for councils on when it is illegal for a landlord or letting agent to ask for rent in advance. Under the Renters’ Rights Act, landlords and agents can no longer accept large amounts of rent in advance. As previously reported on Property118, landlords can only accept rent in advance in […]

Higher-rate Stamp Duty receipts from landlords and second-home buyers now account for the majority of takings in more than half of English local authorities, research reveals. According to Paragon Bank’s review of government data, it found that higher-rate additional dwelling (HRAD) transactions generated at least 50% of total stamp duty receipts in 164 local authorities […]

Security was always meant to be the end goal. For many landlords, that meant building a portfolio large enough, and stable enough, to provide long-term income and financial independence. Over time, that goal has been achieved. Debt has been reduced, equity has accumulated and risk has been managed. What follows is not always what people expect. Instead […]

Buy to let landlords are paying up to £5,839 more over a two-year mortgage term than they were a decade ago, research suggests. And, tucked behind the headline figure, the sharper squeeze is being felt by those on interest-only loans, where monthly costs have climbed by nearly two-thirds. The analysis by Benham and Reeves found […]

England’s tribunal and court system is already struggling with case delays as the Renters’ Rights Act adds fresh pressure to rent appeals and possession cases. The warning comes from Real Estate:UK which submitted Freedom of Information requests to the five Tribunal Property Chambers. It asked for the number of tenant rent appeal cases over the […]

Despite the government’s claim that the private rented sector has doubled in size, research reveals a decline in supply. Analysis by Savills for The Telegraph shows a drop in the number of homes to rent in London, which has fallen by 21.7% compared with two years ago. The data also reveals that, at the same […]

Scotland, Northern Ireland and London recorded some of the largest monthly rent rises in April, while Wales and parts of northern England moved the other way, Propertymark says. The organisation’s latest rent and salary tracker shows Scotland’s average monthly rent rising from £1,123 in March to £1,167 in April, a 3.9% increase. Northern Ireland saw […]

Hinckley & Rugby for Intermediaries has launched new buy to let (BTL) products up to 80% loan-to-value. The mutual has introduced two-year discounted products for landlord borrowers buying or refinancing, with rates starting from 4.99%. The lender says the higher LTV range gives brokers more options in a section of the market where choice has […]

Second home council tax premiums are costing the public purse an estimated £383 million a year, according to research from Colliers. The business rates specialist says councils trying to double bills on second homes are instead pushing more owners into the business rates system, where many then pay nothing. Colliers says 85% of local authorities […]

The government has announced new reforms to Right to Buy as part of efforts to overhaul and support councils. The flagship policy, introduced by Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in the 1980s, was designed to give council tenants in England and Wales the right to purchase their homes from local authorities. However, the scheme has proven […]

Social housing landlords will need to carry out mandatory electrical safety checks or face a £40,000 fine. Under new legislation, social housing landlords will need to have electrical installations, as well as any electrical equipment they supply, inspected and tested at least once every five years to confirm they are safe. Landlords in the private […]

Despite ongoing pressure in the private rented sector, landlords remain resilient, with new data showing most are still making a profit. Research by lender Foundation reveals that 84% of landlords report their lettings activity is profitable, with average rental yields edging up to 6.5%. The figures come after the Renters’ Rights Act came into force […]

There was a time when growth was the natural direction of travel for landlords. Acquiring more properties, refinancing to release equity and steadily expanding a portfolio was not just common, it was expected. Progress was measured in scale, but that is no longer the case. A growing number of landlords now find themselves in a very […]

The government claims its reforms will reduce the number of possession cases reaching the courts, despite industry experts warning of an overload in the court system. In answer to a written question, Baroness Leavitt said that because only cases with clear, well-evidenced grounds will be able to proceed, court demand should fall. However, as the […]

More than 1,000 landlords a day have been contacting a landlord association, with many feeling apprehensive now that the Renters’ Rights Act is in force. The National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA) told The Express that landlords are particularly concerned about fines of up to £40,000 for those who repeatedly break the rules. Under the Renters’ […]

Small landlords built the PRS, but rising costs, tougher rules and the loss of Section 21 are pushing many of the most experienced investors towards the exit. Reading Property118 this week, it appears that we are witnessing the beginning of the end for the ‘individual’ investor. To me, the backbone of the sector is not […]

An editorial opinion piece in the Guardian claims the Renters’ Rights Act is a “welcome step forward for the private rented sector, but there’s a long way to go”. The article claims “the rush by landlords to evict people and boost their incomes” shows why change was needed. However, as previously reported by Property118, industry […]

A surprising city has been named as the strongest location for tenants looking for homes to rent, according to Pepper Money. Its analysis reveals that Chichester, not London or Oxford, ranks first with 659 searches per 10,000 people, ahead of Exeter on 369 and Bath and North East Somerset on 340. The lender’s new rent […]