With London Mayor Sadiq Khan under pressure to meet housing targets in the capital, there are rumours he may reduce affordable housing requirements. Mr Khan’s targets require private housebuilders to make 35% of homes within each development affordable. According to the Financial Times, the Greater London Authority could cut this quota to 10–15%. London cannot […]

For landlords looking to expand, the biggest question is often: where will the capital come from? With property prices and borrowing costs higher than in previous years, portfolio growth requires careful planning. Equity release and leverage remain powerful tools, but they must be applied with discipline to avoid unnecessary risk. Why Equity Release Matters Equity […]

This encore piece follows our International Bizarre Landlord Stories series. Today’s story was first reported in the United States. Evictions are never pleasant. This one was unforgettable. A Florida landlord arrived with paperwork and a locksmith, expecting a standard changeover. Instead, they found a six to seven-foot alligator relaxing in a hot tub inside the […]

Making Tax Digital for Income Tax (MTD ITSA) is set to transform how landlords report their rental income to HMRC. From April 2026, individuals with more than £50,000 of self-employment and/or property income will be required to submit quarterly digital updates. The threshold then drops to £30,000 in April 2027, and again to £20,000 from […]

A prominent housing committee has warned Chancellor Rachel Reeves that rumoured plans to make landlords pay National Insurance on rental income could lead to higher rents for tenants and act as a “tax on working people.” The comments by Sir Vince Cable, chair of the Independent Housing Policy and Delivery Oversight Committee, warn rumours of […]

House prices across the country saw a small dip in September, pointing to a housing sector that remains balanced despite economic headwinds. Figures from Halifax reveal a 0.3% or £794 monthly drop, reversing the slight price rise in August. The average home now costs £298,184, while the annual rate of increase slowed to 1.3%, down […]

Winter is one of the riskiest times for landlords. When temperatures drop, pipes can freeze and burst, causing widespread water damage. These claims are among the most frequent and costly in landlord insurance. But who actually pays – the landlord, the tenant, or the insurer? This case study looks at how a typical burst pipe […]

A third of landlords have either sold or tried to sell their rental properties in the past year, a survey reveals. That’s according to Goodlord’s latest State of the Lettings Industry report, which highlights a sector under strain. Most of the issues are down to mounting financial and regulatory pressures affecting landlords, agents and renters […]

Two councils have taken steps to tighten control over Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) in their areas. They say they are aiming to protect local communities and ensure higher standards in shared housing. In North Lincolnshire, councillors have approved an Article 4 Direction that will close a loophole allowing family homes to be converted into […]

Shelter Scotland has announced the launch of its ‘Delivering Homes, Delivering Rights’ plan, which calls for the Scottish government to end the inequality in the housing system. The housing charity is also demanding the Scottish government build more than 15,000 social homes a year. The news comes after a poll by YouGov and commissioned by […]

PRS landlords are benefiting from a wider choice of limited company buy to let products and falling rates, research reveals. According to the latest figures from Moneyfactscompare.co.uk, the rise in mortgage options comes as speculation grows that the next Budget could bring new tax measures targeting rental profits. The number of fixed-rate BTL products available […]

Ahead of the Welsh government’s draft budget 2026-27, the National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA) is calling on the government to support landlords in meeting EPC C targets. The NRLA warns without funding support to meet energy-efficiency targets, such as low-cost loans, landlords will simply sell up. The government have proposed, but not yet made law, […]

As landlords, we learn to expect the unexpected, but some tenant stories truly stretch the limits of imagination. In Sydney, Australia, one landlord discovered their property had been turned into a miniature zoo. Neighbours raised alarms after spotting unusual animals being kept in the back garden, including exotic birds, reptiles, and even a small crocodile. […]

As a private landlord of over 20 years, plus the founder of Landlord Sales Agency, which has helped over 4,000 people needing assistance with their properties over the last 15 years, I’ve seen it all. In the last five years, I’ve had the opportunity to try every single strategy to squeeze the most out of […]

The Labour government has announced the biggest shake-up to the homebuying system in decades. Under the proposals, which aim to cut costs and stress for homebuyers, sellers and estate agents will be required to provide buyers with vital information about a property upfront, including the condition of the home, leasehold costs, and any chains of […]

Green Party members have voted to ‘seek the effective abolition of private landlordism’ at their autumn conference in Bournemouth, signalling a sharp shift in the party’s housing stance. The motion, ‘Abolish Landlords’, won strong backing from delegates and now forms official party policy. It pledges to curb private renting through heavy regulation and higher taxes, […]

Not all buy-to-let properties fit neatly into the category of a single-family rental on a standard assured shorthold tenancy. Many landlords own or are considering Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs), holiday lets, or semi-commercial properties. These assets often deliver stronger yields, but they also come with different risks and complexities. That’s why specialist lending exists. […]

If you remember only one number for a calmer landlord life, make it this: around 40 per cent loan-to-value (LTV). It isn’t magic and it isn’t a promise—just a practical rule of thumb that keeps lenders comfortable, cushions rate shocks and gives you choices. Get close to 40 per cent (or step down via 45% […]

Cost is holding back homeowners from making green upgrades, according to a new report. Findings by Natwest reveal nearly three-quarters (74%) of homeowners without upgrade plans cite expense as the main hurdle. Other obstacles include a reluctance to take on debt (38%), disruption caused by the work (32%), and limited financing options (27%). Clear divide […]

A financial institution has warned of a “double whammy of rent increases for tenants” if landlords pay national insurance on rental income. With just eight weeks to go before the Autumn Budget, and rumours that Chancellor Rachel Reeves could extend national insurance to rental income and replace stamp duty with a property tax on homes […]

Social housing landlords in Scotland could be leaving tenants at risk due to a lack of mould training. A survey reveals one-third of Scottish social housing tenants lack confidence their landlords will resolve ongoing issues. Awaab’s law will come into effect in England with Scotland to follow at a later date to be confirmed. The […]