Letting agents and mortgage brokers are being pushed to the forefront of preparations for tighter EPC rules, with one leading industry figure warning that many landlords still lack the guidance needed to meet the proposed deadlines. Dr Neil Cobbold, the commercial director at Reapit, told viewers of Eco Approach’s recent ‘Green homes – how can […]

Hi. I am currently dealing with the estate of a friend. I have established that his Assured Shorthold Tenancy commenced in 2006 and changed to a periodic tenancy after the initial 12-month period. I have asked the landlord which scheme he had deposited the deposit to which he replied that he didn’t think there was […]

Lenders are reshaping the buy to let and commercial finance landscape as new products, pricing moves and a strategic exit have been announced. Paragon Bank has widened its streamlined BTL application journey to include HMOs and Multi-Unit Blocks, cutting friction for landlords holding 15 properties or fewer. The update follows the summer launch of its […]

The Scottish Conservatives claim the Scottish government has failed to get a grip on Scotland’s homelessness crisis. The Scottish government has published its annual Ending Homelessness report, which summarises the progress made during the last year towards ending homelessness in Scotland. However, the Scottish Conservatives say the results show that millions of children are growing […]

The landlord arranged for a professional inventory at the start of the tenancy, believing they were fully protected. But they never provided the tenants with a signed copy. When the tenants moved out, several items were missing and damage was noted. The landlord attempted to claim deductions from the deposit, but the adjudicator sided with […]

The government has released guidance on how a landlord can end a tenancy if their tenant wants to leave. Landlords will not be able to ask their tenant to give more than two months’ notice. The new rules will come into effect on 1 May 2026 when the Renters’ Rights Act comes into force. Tenant […]

A tenant group has welcomed the proposed minimum energy efficiency standards of EPC C targets but warns renters could risk losing their homes without additional protections. A poll by ACORN of 252 renters found that 70% fear eviction or a rent increase if they request a retrofit or if their landlord is forced to upgrade […]

Landlords will know that once a deposit is placed in the Deposit Protection Scheme (DPS), the landlord is under a countdown of 30 days to provide prescribed information. The prescribed information appears totally pointless. It appears to add zero value, worthless paperwork for paperwork’s sake. Yet the DPS states the landlord can be fined up […]

Loan covenants are one of the least understood parts of a commercial mortgage agreement. Many landlords focus on rate and loan size but overlook the conditions that govern how the facility must be managed. Breaching a covenant can trigger penalties, force refinancing, or even give the lender rights to call in the loan. Understanding covenants […]

Tenants on the lowest incomes are being blocked from social housing because providers fear they will not be able to afford the rent, research reveals. A study by homelessness charity Crisis shows housing associations in England are increasingly rejecting applicants following affordability checks carried out before a tenancy begins. Around a third of English housing […]

New figures from the English Housing Survey show that growing numbers of people are reaching midlife and retirement still renting their home. It also shows that the financial gap between tenants and homeowners continues to widen. The latest release from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities reports that, in 2024/25, 29% of adults […]

Demand for rented homes has dropped to its lowest level in six years, with the gap between tenants and available properties narrowing sharply over 2025, Zoopla reveals. The property portal said demand has fallen by 20% over the past year, while the number of homes available to rent has risen by 15%, easing pressure in […]

The landlord downloaded a free tenancy agreement template online and used it without legal review. At first, everything seemed fine. But when a dispute arose over rent arrears and damages, the court scrutinised the agreement. Critical clauses were missing, including those covering service of notices and repair obligations. The tenant’s solicitor successfully argued that parts […]

Securing clarity and stability in the application Section 162 incorporation relief for property investment businesses: Why the industry needs updated guidance and consistent interpretation. Over the past decade, UK landlords and their advisers have faced growing uncertainty in how Section 162 incorporation relief is interpreted and administered. What was once a relatively stable area of […]

The government has confirmed no further protections for tenants will come in before 1 May 2026. In answer to a written question, Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook says tenants at risk of eviction before the Renters’ Rights Act comes into effect should seek advice from housing charity Shelter. The Act will abolish Section 21 evictions and […]

More than half of all rental properties across Great Britain are available for immediate move in, research reveals. The findings from Benham and Reeves show that tenants have a good chance of securing a home before Christmas. The estate and letting agent examined nearly 125,000 active listings across the country and found that 63,922 of […]

A new government survey reveals that larger landlords are planning to sell due to the impact of legislation, as small-scale landlords make up a large majority of the private rented sector. The English Private Landlord Survey reveals the different types of landlords in the private rented sector, with corporate landlords only making up a small […]

Subsidence is one of the most disruptive and time-consuming perils a landlord can face. Unlike a burst pipe or storm damage, ground movement claims rarely resolve quickly. Investigations, monitoring and structural works can span many months, sometimes years, with cash flow consequences if the property is uninhabitable. This guide explains causes, warning signs, how insurers […]

A tenant organisation has warned the Renters’ Rights Act could fail if councils do not rigorously enforce the law against criminal landlords. Writing in Inside Housing magazine, Generation Rent chief executive Ben Twomey argues the Act could become “no more than words on paper” without proper enforcement. Under the Renters’ Rights Act, councils will have […]

House prices are set to rise modestly next year by 2.5% across Great Britain in Q4 2026, Hamptons says. It is also predicting that inflation will ease, and mortgage rates will be lower. The firm says transactions should hold near 1.15 million as improving affordability counters economic and tax pressures. However, the outlook becomes more […]

The landlord had arranged gas safety checks for years without issue. But one year, the reminder email from the engineer was missed, and the annual certificate expired unnoticed. When the council inspected after a tenant complaint, they found the property operating without a valid Gas Safety Record. The landlord faced enforcement action, including a fine, […]