Growing numbers of parents are becoming landlords to ease the financial burden on their university-attending children, research reveals. Mortgage brokers Alexander Hall has found that investing in properties near top UK universities offers improved affordability and savings compared to renting from a student landlord. The research examined mortgage costs across postcodes of the top 100 […]

The UK’s private rented sector is under unprecedented strain, with suburban towns bearing the brunt of a growing shortage of homes to rent, data reveals. According to SpareRoom, in places like Sale, Oldbury and Bootle, competition for rooms has reached critical levels, with nearly nine people vying for each available space. This marks a stark […]

A left-wing think tank is calling for councils to be granted new powers to prevent landlords from profiting from Right to Buy. As previously reported by Property118, think tank Common Wealth blames the Right to Buy scheme for worsening the housing crisis. However, the think tank has now listed policy recommendations, including new powers for […]

Over the past month, Property118 readers have been gripped by our UK series of bizarre landlord and tenant stories, from dogs left behind to scam tenants and makeshift living-room swimming pools. The engagement in the comments and newsletters has been phenomenal, proving that sometimes truth really is stranger than fiction. For the rest of this […]

Labour’s plan to impose National Insurance (NI) contributions on rental income could see UK landlords paying £885 per property each year, research from Inventory Base reveals. The study of the policy under consideration by Chancellor Rachel Reeves for the upcoming Autumn Budget estimates the impact of a proposed 8% NI rate. The average UK landlord, […]

Most landlords are familiar with buy to let mortgages, but fewer understand what commercial finance means in practice. Many assume it is only for large companies with offices or factories. In reality, commercial finance covers a wide range of borrowing options that are directly relevant to landlords, especially those with portfolios or more complex circumstances. […]

The Scottish government has announced an action plan to end the housing emergency, including implementing Awaab’s Law by 2026 and spending millions of pounds on affordable homes. Housing Secretary Màiri McAllan says the government is focusing on three key areas: ending children living in unsuitable accommodation, supporting the housing needs of vulnerable groups, and promoting […]

The best destination for landlords wanting the highest yielding university locations has been revealed by Paragon. The lender’s analysis of mortgage data from the last two years points to Stoke-on-Trent as the number one destination for student landlord investment. The city, home to Staffordshire and Keele universities, delivers an impressive average yield of 9.42%, slightly […]

Sixteen letting agencies in one London borough have been slapped with penalties totalling more than £100,000 for flouting tenant protection regulations, putting renters’ financial security at risk. The violations, which include breaching Client Money Protection rules and failing to display transparent fee structures as required by the Consumer Rights Act 2015, have led to a […]

HMO landlords are reaping an average gross annual income of £120,283, nearly double the £61,846 earned by their non-HMO counterparts over the past year, research reveals. The study by Aldermore reveals that HMO landlords dominate the upper echelons of rental income. It found that 30% of HMO landlords reported gross earnings of between £100,000 and […]

Anti-landlord rhetoric from politicians is to blame for the landlord exodus in Scotland, claims the Scottish Association of Landlords (SAL). New figures revealed by The Herald show that more than 30,000 landlords have left the private rented sector in Scotland since the Covid pandemic. SAL is calling for the Scottish government to invest in the […]

When a landlord carried out a routine mid-term inspection, they expected the usual checks on smoke alarms and décor. Instead, they opened the door to find a living room filled with cages, tanks and enclosures – a veritable menagerie of animals including snakes, lizards, parrots and even a raccoon. The discovery The tenancy agreement had […]

Generation Rent has accused landlords of ‘rigging the system to line their own pockets’ after findings revealed councils are spending millions of pounds in one-off incentive cash payments to private landlords to house homeless people. Generation Rent sent a Freedom of Information (FOIs) request to 32 London councils who provide statutory homelessness services and the […]

A Labour proposal to apply National Insurance contributions to rental income could be the ‘final nail in the coffin’ for private landlords, critics say. The move will reshape the UK’s private rented sector with a dwindling property supply and soaring rents. The plan, aimed at addressing a £40 billion public finance shortfall, targets landlords’ ‘unearned […]

Landlord insurance is essential, yet many property investors are unsure what it really covers. Some assume a standard home policy is enough. Others pick the cheapest option and only discover the gaps when a claim is declined. This article explains the core covers, the common pitfalls, and how to structure policies so they protect income […]

One landlord thought their new tenancy was running smoothly until a neighbour spotted strangers with suitcases arriving every few days. A quick online search revealed the flat advertised on Airbnb – without the landlord’s knowledge or consent. The discovery The tenant had created a glossy listing with photos copied from the letting advert. Guests were […]

Areas where landlords might struggle to refinance due to their properties failing to meet lender interest coverage ratio (ICR) standards and potentially limiting their financial options, have been revealed. Specialist lender Octane Capital has uncovered where rental returns have been consistently poor over the past three years. Its research, which examined average yields across Great […]

More than 2,000 empty homes have been brought back into use in Scotland in the past year to help tackle the housing emergency. A report by the Scottish Empty Homes Partnership (SEHP) reveals 2,066 homes were brought back into use in 2024/25, and empty homes officers have helped bring a total of 12,955 homes back […]

England’s PRS stayed robust in August, with average monthly rents hitting £1,480 per property, just shy of the record set in July, according to the Goodlord Rental Index. This figure marks the second-highest rent since the index began tracking data in 2019. Despite a slight 1% dip from July’s peak of £1,496, rents are up […]

A London council has announced a new selective licensing scheme has come into force this week and will set landlords out of pocket by nearly £1,000. Lambeth Council has announced the selective licensing scheme is in operation across 23 of Lambeth’s 25 electoral wards, which the council claims is to “tackle anti-social behaviour.” Under the […]

When Refinancing Beats Selling (And When It Doesn’t) Selling can simplify life. Refinancing can improve cash flow without giving up good assets. The smart move is to compare the true net proceeds from a sale with the cash-flow uplift and resilience you could achieve by refinancing and de-gearing to a sensible target LTV. This article […]