Landlords expect to see gardens a little overgrown between tenancies. What one landlord found, however, was more like a fly-tipping site than a backyard. Household waste, broken furniture and even bags of rotting food were piled against the fence, creating a health hazard and attracting vermin. The discovery The tenant had kept the inside of […]

One in five landlords now holds at least one rental property through a limited company which has boosted the buy to let mortgage sector. That’s according to Pegasus Insight’s latest Landlord Trends research which found that 20% of landlords own properties within a limited company structure. Also, 7% of landlords manage their entire portfolio this […]

The Deposit Protection Service (DPS) has rolled out a fresh initiative called ‘Renting 101’ designed to demystify the renting process for student tenants. There are nine concise videos in the campaign aimed at students and their families. The minute-long clips, shared across platforms like Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and LinkedIn, cover essential topics. These include […]

We are leaseholders of three flats within a block. Beneath its are some shops. We found out by accident that the previous freeholder had sold off the freehold of our building to a new freeholder without notifying us. We as leaseholders have an interest and would have liked to purchase the freehold which, as I […]

Letting agents are deeply concerned about the impending Renters’ Rights Bill, which is set to create a complex compliance landscape for the private rented sector (PRS). According to Reapit’s Property Outlook Report 2025, the Bill’s regulations, which could become law this autumn, is the top concern for 60% of property professionals. The Bill will scrap […]

Scotland’s property taxes have reached record highs of £714.9 million, increasing by 18.2% over the 12 months from August 2024 to July 2025. That’s according to DJ Alexander, Scotland’s largest letting and estate agent, almost a third of this total, £221.3m (30.9%), came from the Additional Dwelling Supplement (ADS), which is paid by second homeowners […]

Young tenants are being warned about a sharp rise in rent scams with scammers increasingly targeting them amid a growing housing crisis. Experts at Tiger.co.uk, a home insurance comparison site, are highlighting critical warning signs for those navigating the property hunt. Their advice is aimed at those aged 18 to 29, who made up 48% […]

It’s all hands on deck for landlords looking to sell, as September promises to be the “peak month” to sell property. Just one week away, buyers are already pushing to snap up buy-to-let houses and landlord property portfolios in the rush to complete before Christmas and the Budget. But why? Put simply, the Autumn Budget, […]

The vast majority of landlords won’t recognise the sector from a survey carried out by a law firm which alleges that ‘millions of tenants are living in fear of eviction’. The firm, Duncan Lewis Solicitors, also says that tenants endure unsafe housing conditions and some are being asked for sexual favours or unpaid labour in […]

The Deputy Prime Minister, Angela Rayner, has come under fire after allegedly ‘dodging’ £40,000 in stamp duty on an £800,000 seaside flat in Hove, East Sussex, by declaring it her primary residence. According to The Times, Ms Rayner removed her name from the deeds of her Greater Manchester home weeks before purchasing the Hove property, […]

I have just obtained an EPC C rating for a small (75 sqm) three-bedroom pre-war semi-detached house in a London borough. It scraped a 70C score, and the certificate gives a potential score of 79, which is 2 points below a B rating. The steps I could take “to save energy” are set out below, […]

Chancellor Rachel Reeves reported targeting of ‘unearned income’ from landlords with a controversial plan to impose National Insurance contributions on rental income, has sparked an outcry. Labour wants to raise £2 billion to tackle a £40 billion public finance deficit, according to Treasury sources quoted by The Times. The move will avoid breaching the government’s […]

The UK property market is at its strongest point in three years, claims estate agent. Estate agent comparison website GetAgent.co.uk reveals both mortgage approvals and transactions are at their highest average monthly levels in three years. Using data from HMRC and the Bank of England, GetAgent analysed residential property transactions and mortgage approvals in England, […]

Molo and NatWest have introduced changes to their buy to let (BTL) mortgage offerings, with Molo cutting rates to enhance affordability for UK landlords. Its two-year fixed rates for standard BTL products now start at 2.68%, while five-year fixes begin at 4.34%, available to both individual and limited company borrowers. These reductions apply exclusively to […]

London’s private rented sector is delivering a strong performance, driven by a big rise in available properties and a robust surge in tenant interest. According to Foxtons’ latest data, nearly 50,000 new rental listings flooded the market, marking a 4% rise from June and a 12% jump compared to July 2024. This influx represents the […]

Fleet Mortgages has launched a comprehensive guide called ‘Getting Landlords Renters’ Rights Ready: A Guide for Advisers’. The resource aims to assist advisers in guiding landlords through the upcoming Bill which is expected to gain Royal Assent this Autumn and take effect in early 2026. The guide provides practical checklists to help advisers deliver clear, […]

Ok, so here goes my dilemma, I have housed a family of 4, a couple and their 2 young kids. The kids are from the lady’s first marriage, so the couple is recently married. That’s not an issue, the kids, however, one 15 and the second 9, turning 10 soon. I have a 3-bedroom property, […]

I have a client who eventually may be facing a Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) on a converted semi-detached house into offices many decades ago. 29% is in a trust where that rent is paid to a third party as a pension, so the building would be without vacant possession due to a 30-year verbal agreement […]

Mystic Mortar’s Landlord Horoscope Edition: Friday 29 August 2025 Welcome, star-gazers and key-holders. The skies hum with moving vans and murmurs of fresh tenancy. Take this as playful guidance, not professional advice. Entertainment only, lovely UK landlords, though the cosmos does enjoy a tidy inventory and a timely rent day. Astrological Snapshot – 29 August […]

Millions of landlords could be hit by a plan to impose National Insurance contributions on rental income to generate around £2 billion in additional revenue. Treasury sources have told The Times that the Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, wants to target ‘unearned income’. The idea is being floated to tackle a £40 billion deficit in public finances, […]

Another council has launched a crackdown against landlords, warning “they will face severe consequences for unsafe housing.” Harlow council has announced its Building Harlow’s Future plan, which claims to protect tenants and support responsible landlords who maintain quality housing. However, the council say they will punish landlords who run unsafe properties. Landlords who do the […]