There has been a strong reaction to the government announcement that England’s rental market will see the Renters’ Rights Act taking effect on 1 May 2026. The move ends months of speculation and gives the sector a clear countdown to what is the biggest change to letting rules in a generation. The confirmed date signals […]

The landlord was dealing with persistent arrears and wanted a quicker route to possession. A Section 8 notice was served, citing grounds for rent arrears. But when the case reached court, the judge threw it out. The notice had been completed incorrectly, with the wrong grounds ticked and insufficient evidence to prove persistent late payment. […]

The landlord was confident they were compliant. Gas and electrical checks were up to date, deposits protected, and tenancy agreements in order. What they missed was that their local council had introduced a selective licensing scheme covering all rented properties in the area. When the omission was discovered, the council issued a civil penalty notice […]

Hello. I’ve got a potential tenant that is claiming UC. His BAP period is 17 – 16th of the month. Normally for tenancies I ask for the first month’s rent in advance and the 5 week equivalent deposit and the tenant pays this themselves (as they are working). In this case the council will be […]

There was a time in Scotland when owning your own home wasn’t a distant aspiration, it was an achievable goal. If you worked hard, paid your taxes, saved what you could, you could build the foundations to become a homeowner. That used to be the story for so many Scots people like my parents and […]

The Welsh government have announced plans for a licensing scheme for short-term lets. Under the Development of Tourism and Regulation of Visitor Accommodation (Wales) Bill, Airbnbs and self-catering accommodation will need a licence to show they meet safety standards. The Welsh government say the Bill will create a “more level playing field between short and […]

Buy to let mortgage arrears fell sharply over the summer but there was a jump in landlord repossessions, UK Finance says. Data for the third quarter shows the number of landlord loans in arrears dropped by 8% compared with the previous quarter, taking the total down to 10,420. It was the lighter arrears cases that […]

Landlords are shifting their focus from expansion to protection, as new data shows a slowdown in buy to let activity and a rise in remortgaging. According to Twenty7tec, BTL purchase searches have fallen by 13.67% over the past year, while remortgage searches are up 6.05%. The numbers suggest that after years of steady growth and […]

Mystic Mortar’s Landlord Horoscope Edition: Friday 14 November 2025 Welcome, star-gazers and key-holders, to a week where the stars weave both intensity and opportunity into your landlord journey. The skies shimmer with allure, yet they whisper a warning: what glitters must be examined carefully before you claim it as yours. This week, Mars joins the […]

Tenant demand continues to climb, but landlords continue to sell amid fears over new legislation. According to Propertymark’s Housing Insight report, demand continues to exceed supply, with an average of nine applicants per property available per member branch. The Renters’ Rights Act received Royal Assent last month, but the government has yet to set out […]

Landlords under the age of 65 are likely to be among the biggest losers in the upcoming Autumn Budget should the government impose National Insurance Contributions (NICs) on rental income. That’s according to an analysis from Hamptons which says that individual landlords paying income tax on their profits currently, are not liable for NICs. However, […]

Two major lenders have launched fresh buy to let offerings designed to speed up the mortgage process and simplify life for brokers and landlords. OSB Group has officially rolled out its new dedicated BTL lender, Rely, which aims to serve everyone from first-time landlords to seasoned portfolio investors. The brand’s arrival marks a major strategic […]

The landlord thought they had done everything right. Arrears were mounting, and the time had come to regain possession. A Section 21 notice was served, and the landlord confidently applied to court. But at the hearing, the judge dismissed the claim. The paperwork had been served with the wrong dates, and worse still, the deposit […]

The UK’s housing market has stalled as anxiety over the upcoming Autumn Budget weighs heavily on both buyers and sellers, RICs reveals. Its latest Residential Market Survey shows that demand, sales and listings all weakened for the third month running. Many of the surveyors who responded are blaming pre-Budget uncertainty and fears of new tax […]

There are moments in specialist finance where a leadership appointment carries more weight than the role itself. The announcement that Adam Tyler will become the new Chief Executive Officer of the Bridging and Development Lenders Association has landed as one of those moments. It has prompted a wave of respect among those who have worked […]

The Public Services Ombudsman for Wales has uncovered serious and long-running failings at a housing association after two tenants endured years of disrepair, unheated homes and poor communication. It found that the social landlord Trivallis repeatedly delayed essential repairs, failed to act on reports of damp and mould, and neglected the needs of vulnerable households. […]

Around a third of tenants are now handing over at least half of their take-home pay to pay rent, research reveals. According to deposit alternative provider Reposit, 14% of tenants spend between 50% and 60% of their net income on rent, while 11% allocate 60% to 70%. A further 6% spend more than 70%, while […]

An email from Property118 reader landed this morning saying: “If Rachel Reeves does her worst and puts NI on accountants and lawyers, this seems like an opportunity for Property118. Do you offer consultancy on the viability of incorporating from LLP to Ltd?” The answer is: YES WE DO, and his observations get straight to the […]

The Times is looking to speak to landlords about the potential change to income tax/national insurance and how it might affect their finances. It’s for a piece based on the possibility that Chancellor Rachel Reeves may put income tax up by 2p in the pound but bring national insurance down, keeping PAYE tax bills roughly […]

Despite councils charging landlords hundreds of pounds for selective licensing schemes, the government claims councils should not profit from licensing. In an investigative report by Property118, we contacted numerous councils and the government to ask why selective licensing schemes are so expensive compared to places like Jersey, where they cost £60 and are valid for […]

Wandsworth Council has intensified its efforts to check its licensed landlords and find unsafe homes. Landlords in the borough must now apply for a licence before letting properties across several key areas. So far, more than 3,400 applications have been received, which include around 1,900 for additional licensing and 1,500 for selective licensing. Council officers […]