Page 9 – Property118
Illustration of tenant swaps in shared rental housing under the Renters’ Rights Act

HMO and flat-share tenant swaps warning issued

8th May 2026

Tenant swaps may become one of the less glamorous, but increasingly problematic, bit of how the Renters’ Rights Act changes how tenancies operate, mydeposits has warned. The deposit protection provider says letting agents and landlords are likely to face more cases where one tenant leaves a shared home and another moves in while the same […]

The landlords with the most experience are the ones stepping back

8th May 2026

Experience was once the biggest advantage a landlord could have. It meant better buying decisions, stronger relationships with lenders, and a clearer understanding of how to navigate the inevitable ups and downs of the market. Over time, that experience usually translated into larger portfolios, lower borrowing and a more resilient position overall. What is becoming increasingly […]

Tradesperson with tools beside “Act Now” sign, symbolising landlords preparing for housing standards

Firm warns landlords to act now ahead of Decent Homes Standard

8th May 2026

Landlords should begin preparing for the Decent Homes Standard sooner rather than later, a firm has claimed. Conveyancing firm Compare My Move is urging landlords to get ahead of the 2035 deadline to identify and address issues within their properties. Under the new standard, landlords will be required to meet certain criteria. These include ensuring […]

Falling UK house prices and mortgage uncertainty illustrated with homes and for sale signs dropping from the sky

House prices fall again in April – Halifax

8th May 2026

House prices dipped for a second month in April, with Halifax putting the average home’s price tag at £299,313. That’s £296 lower than in March, after values edged down by 0.1% during the month. The lender said annual house price growth slowed to 0.4%, down from 0.8% in March, following what it described as a […]

EPC rating chart improving to C alongside Renters’ Rights Act concerns over retrofit works in rental homes

Upgrading energy efficiency under the Renters’ Rights Act poses new challenges

7th May 2026

A landlord association has warned the Renters’ Rights Act could hamper energy efficiency improvement plans. In a post on its website, the National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA) said that previously landlords could wait for a tenancy to end or use Section 21 to create a void period in which to carry out improvement works. However, […]

Right to Rent checks website on computer screen with “Discrimination” overlay highlighting concerns in rental policy

Government’s Right to Rent consultation draws CIH criticism

7th May 2026

A government consultation to tighten Right to Rent (RtR) checks, has led the Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) to declare that revisions to the code would not address deeper issues within the policy. It said it “welcomes the updated code of practice, but we have serious reservations about right to rent checks and their discriminatory […]

Person carrying large “RENT” letters up steps beside a house with a to let sign, illustrating rising UK rental costs.

UK rents climb again in April

7th May 2026

Average rents rose for the second month in a row in April, with tenants paying £1,325 a month across the UK, according to the latest HomeLet index. The figure was up 1.1% from £1,311 in March and 2.1% higher than the £1,298 recorded in April last year. Outside Greater London, average rents reached £1,135, up […]

Group of landlords exiting a building carrying model houses with “sold” signs under an exit sign

Landlords exit market as regulatory pressures rise

7th May 2026

Nearly 700 former homes to rent are listed for sale every day as legislation piles pressure on landlords, according to new data. Research by Savills reveals that 254,000 previously let buy-to-let homes were listed for sale in the past 12 months to the end of March, equivalent to 697 properties per day. The amount of […]

Older landlord reassessing a property portfolio as the rental market shifts

Older landlords are driving the contraction of the rental market

7th May 2026

A clear pattern is emerging within the private rented sector, and it is being shaped by experience rather than inexperience. The landlords most likely to reduce their portfolios are not new entrants testing the market. They are long-established investors who have already built, refined and, in many cases, de-risked their positions over time. These are […]

Landlord checking watch as overdue rental documents fly beside a “To Let” sign and missed deadline warning

Many landlords set to miss key Renters’ Rights Act deadline

7th May 2026

A Freedom of Information request reveals that the government’s mandatory Renters’ Rights Act information sheet was downloaded 153,000 times in the first four weeks after publication. That’s despite there being 2.3 million private landlords in England who are required to serve it on tenants by 31 May. The data was obtained by Landlord Studio from […]

Two very popular questions on Landlord Facebook groups

6th May 2026

Two very popular questions on Landlord Facebook groups at the moment are: QUESTION 1: Has anybody got a good CGT calculator? QUESTION 2: Where are landlords investing their surplus cash after selling their rental properties? My stock answer to these questions is: HMRC has the best free online CGT calculators. Book a free 30-minute meeting […]

EPC target with rising rents shows energy-efficient rental homes attracting higher premiums

EPC ratings drive rental values as industry body urges realistic targets

6th May 2026

Energy-efficient properties are attracting rental premiums, as an industry body warns that EPC targets need to remain realistic. Data from the Mortgage Works reveals that an EPC rating is a core driver of a property value. Propertymark warns EPC targets must be backed by proper funding as all private rented properties will need to meet […]

Debt-free landlords are still choosing to exit the market

6th May 2026

A widely held assumption is that landlords sell when they are under pressure, but that assumption no longer holds. What is becoming clear is that many landlords now stepping back from the market are doing so from positions of strength, not weakness. These are not forced sellers reacting to rising costs or refinancing pressure. In […]

Assured periodic tenancy agreement with missing section highlighted and question mark, rental property in background

NRLA assured periodic tenancy agreement – Is it missing a vital piece of information?

6th May 2026

I have noted a potential issue in the NRLA’s new APT agreement that may be an omission of the “written statement requirements” under the Renters’ Rights Act. The official Government guidance can be seen by clicking here. There is a statement under “Disability Adaptations” on page 9 that makes the statement. “You must provide information […]

Leasehold contract marked “Excluded” with house model and keys, illustrating leasehold reform concerns

Leaseholders left out as bill excludes action on embedded managers

6th May 2026

The government has confirmed that its draft Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill does not currently include measures to tackle so-called “embedded” management companies. In a written parliamentary question, Labour MP Neil Duncan-Jordan raised concerns about firms that are effectively built into developments by freeholders or developers, often at the point the building is constructed, meaning […]

Housing minister speaking in parliament with “Renters Rights Act Wrong?” text highlighting landlord concerns

Why Matthew Pennycook is wrong about the Renters’ Rights Act?

6th May 2026

Contrary to what housing minister Matthew Pennycook says, all landlords have more to worry about under his Renters’ Rights Act, and here is why I think so. In times gone by, it was recognised that social renters found it difficult to cover all costs, so the government ensured they were protected and rent was paid […]

Tenants walking through an exit door symbolising landlords leaving the rental market after new housing reforms

Landlord exit risk because of Renters’ Rights Act

6th May 2026

Two in five landlords are unlikely to continue letting homes following the implementation of the Renters’ Rights Act, according to new data. Research by property consultancy firm Allsop found that 41% of landlords said they are unlikely or very unlikely to continue letting, rising to 51% among single-property landlords, following the abolition of Section 21. […]

Residential property with a large vault featuring a pound symbol, representing equity tied up in real estate

Landlords sitting on significant idle equity

5th May 2026

A theme emerging from the latest landlord data is not about borrowing, but about what is not being done with idle equity. According to the Property118 Landlord Sentiment Survey Q1 2026, a large proportion of landlords now operate with low loan-to-value ratios or no borrowing at all, indicating substantial levels of idle equity sitting within […]

Estate agents leaving sold rental property with exit sign crossed out, symbolising landlords reconsidering market exit

Claims of a landlord exodus are ‘unfounded’

5th May 2026

Fears that the Renters’ Rights Act will trigger a landlord sell-off of rented homes appear to be ‘unfounded’, research reveals. The findings from OnTheMarket point instead to a steady two-year rise in landlords listing properties for sale. Its figures track homes previously advertised for rent that were then relisted for sale within six months. Act […]

A sector moving from growth to transition – An inflection point

5th May 2026

For many years, the private rented sector has been characterised by steady expansion. Landlords entered the market, built portfolios and reinvested over time, but that pattern now appears to be changing. This marks an inflection point; more landlords are stepping back than stepping forward. The sector is not collapsing, but it is no longer expanding […]