On paper, it looked like the perfect arrangement. A company offered the landlord guaranteed rent each month and promised to handle everything else. No voids, no late payments, no tenant hassle. The landlord signed without asking too many questions. But within a year, the property had been crammed with far more occupants than agreed, damage […]

Stress testing has become one of the biggest hurdles for landlords seeking finance. Even when rental income is strong, lenders apply notional interest rates and affordability tests that can significantly reduce the loan available. Understanding how stress testing works – and how to mitigate its impact – is key to maintaining borrowing power. What Stress […]

Private rents in the UK are set to climb by 12% over the next five years as the rental market shifts towards calmer, more predictable conditions, research reveals. According to a forecast from Savills, tenant affordability will slowly improve during that time, helped by steady income growth and a gradual cooling in demand that has […]

Wales and the North East are bearing the brunt of the UK’s widening rental affordability divide, new figures reveal. ARLA Propertymark says that tenants in Wales saw their average monthly rent climb from £995 in September to £1,025 in October — a jump of 3%. Yet, the salary typically required to rent fell slightly, down […]

HM Land Registry has rolled out its Strategy 2025+ which promises to make buying and selling a home quicker. In a process that has been plagued by delays and paperwork woes, the organisation says it will deliver better services. It will also ‘unlock a faster, less stressful property market’. Officials have focussed on home buyers, […]

Nearly half a million social housing tenants have shared their views on the quality of their homes in England. The survey by the Regulator of Social Housing (RSH) found a mixed picture of satisfaction and frustration. The analysis of Tenant Satisfaction Measures (TSMs) shows most tenants are broadly content with the safety and upkeep of […]

Hi, I have a property in County Durham with a previously granted HMO licence to a leaseholder on a corporate lease. I paid for it, but it was granted to the leaseholder as they managed the property. The leaseholder exited the lease a few months ago and the HMO licence was revoked. I have now […]

Many landlords chuckled when Rachel Reeves was caught without a licence. The laughter didn’t last long. When it emerged that the Chancellor herself had rented out a property without the right paperwork, it felt like a moment of poetic justice. Yet the story also served as a reminder that even the most organised professionals can […]

The Housing Secretary has slammed the Green Party for calling for the abolition of landlords. Steve Reed said he had not previously heard of the party’s stance and asked, “If we abolish landlords, where are we going to get homes from?” At its autumn conference, the Green Party passed a motion to “seek the effective […]

Homeless charity Crisis plans to become a landlord to tackle Britain’s housing crisis. The charity says it will begin buying one-bedroom homes in London and Newcastle, with plans to purchase more than 1,000 properties over the next decade. The announcement comes after Crisis revealed that 300,000 families and individuals across England are experiencing the most […]

The Scottish Conservatives have labelled the Scottish Housing Bill a “disaster for the private rented sector” as it gains Royal Assent. The bill, which passed by 89 votes to 28, has now become an Act of Parliament. Secondary legislation will be introduced to bring parts of the Act into effect in stages, with the first […]

The revelation that Chancellor Rachel Reeves rented out her Dulwich home without the correct selective licence has reignited debate about how unevenly housing laws are enforced. Ms Reeves referred herself to the government’s ethics adviser after admitting the oversight. Her family home, let for £3,200 a month, sits within a Southwark Council selective licensing zone. […]

Supported living and care sector arrangements are increasingly popular among landlords, with specialist providers offering long leases and reliable rent. However, insurers view these properties differently from standard lets or HMOs. Higher duty-of-care standards, safeguarding requirements, and the involvement of care providers create unique insurance challenges. This article explains what landlords need to know before […]

The property was well looked after, the tenants were reliable, and the landlord assumed their standard home insurance would cover any mishaps. When a major leak destroyed ceilings and carpets, the claim was submitted without worry. But the insurer refused to pay out — the policy specifically excluded properties let on assured shorthold tenancies. Without […]

“The Renters’ Rights Act is not a victory for tenants but economic vandalism that will hurt the very people it’s trying to protect”, claims a think-tank. The Foundation for Economic Education (FEE) has published a piece on its website by Reem Ibrahim that warns the Act will wreak havoc on the private rented sector and […]

Many landlords are expressing concern about new council powers allowing unannounced inspections of rental properties. From December 2025, these powers will come into force under the Renters’ Rights Act, enabling local authorities to enter certain rented homes without advance notice or a warrant. Understanding the New Rules The government has now published investigatory powers guidance […]

Budget speculation often sparks anxiety among homeowners, particularly when political language turns to “unearned wealth”. This year’s focus on inheritance tax has created understandable concern, yet the real story is one of foresight rather than fear. Chancellor Rachel Reeves faces a £50bn fiscal gap and is under pressure to demonstrate fairness in taxation. The Treasury […]

As we draw ever closer to the planned tighter restrictions on landlords, an increasing number of houses and apartments are appearing on the market. The effect? The market is slowing, but it’s not yet ground to a halt. Come January, though, the rush of landlords wanting to sell as they “get out” before the new […]

A lawyer has warned landlords and letting agents to focus on asking the right questions about pets rather than relying on their personal feelings. In a LinkedIn post, David Smith said the “current thinking of landlords and agents in relation to pets is one-dimensional” and needs to become more nuanced. Under the Renters’ Rights Act, […]

Energy efficiency has moved from being a “nice to have” to a core requirement in the buy-to-let sector. With government targets and regulatory pressure pushing landlords to improve property EPC ratings, lenders are responding by offering green mortgage products and adjusting criteria. In 2025, understanding the link between EPC ratings and finance is essential for […]

More buy to let (BTL) lenders are cutting rates again as competition intensifies in the mortgage market, with several big names unveiling reductions for landlords seeking new deals or remortgages. The Mortgage Works (TMW) is trimming rates across its new business and switcher ranges by up to 0.30 percentage points. The changes include new products […]