A council has decided to press ahead with a selective licensing scheme despite warnings it could drive up rents for tenants. Thurrock Council in Essex says the scheme will help raise standards across the private rented sector. However, a consultation on the scheme reveals landlords and tenants believe the scheme is “nothing but a cash […]

Despite the Housing Secretary’s mantra of “build, baby, build,” the Telegraph reveals Steve Reed tried to block a housing development last year in his own constituency. Steve Reed, who took over the housing brief from Angela Rayner after she resigned over failing to pay enough stamp duty, shared a now-deleted social media post calling on […]

More individual private landlords are leaving the private rented sector ahead of the Renters’ Rights Bill, according to a new survey. Data by Dwelly reveals a significant drop in the number of landlords, which fell by 1.04%, driven primarily by individual landlords leaving the sector. The letting agency says the fall in the number of […]

An industry body is warning of the potential consequences of introducing rent controls in Scotland as the Scottish Housing Bill nears its final stages before becoming law. Propertymark cautions that such measures could deter investment but welcomed the Scottish government’s efforts to provide clarity. Under the bill, in designated rent control areas, annual rent increases […]

Despite London Mayor Sadiq Khan saying that powers to cap rents are “at the top of his list,” the Labour government insists it has no plans to introduce them. In answer to a written question, Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook claims he has not discussed rent controls with Mr Khan. As previously reported by Property118, Mr […]

Fire crews in England were dispatched to more than 22,000 false fire alarms in medium and high-rise blocks of flats over the last year, new figures reveal. The number of incidents rose by 10% compared with the previous year, equating to an average of 61 unnecessary callouts every day. On more than 2,000 occasions, between […]

🔮 Cosmic Commentary: Business Property Relief Under the New Stars The skies are shifting: from 6 April 2026, Business Property Relief (BPR) will be capped at £1,000,000 per individual. Any qualifying business property value above that will only get 50% relief. This change affects traders, developers, and farmers — anyone whose business qualifies as “relevant […]

This piece is part of our International Bizarre Landlord Stories series. Today’s story was first reported in Kenya. Landlords often expect the occasional maintenance surprise, but one Kenyan property owner could never have predicted what awaited them. During a routine inspection, they discovered a fully grown crocodile living inside their tenant’s home. The reptile, weighing […]

If you’re a landlord who’s been in the business for around 10 to 15 years, you’ll know the market isn’t exactly in our favour right now. It’s the stark reality facing many landlords considering selling. The pace of rent rises across the UK slowed in August, with average monthly rents growing by 5.7% to £1,348 […]

Shelter Cymru urges Welsh politicians to end the “imbalance of power between landlords and tenants” and calls for restrictions on landlords increasing rent. In the run-up to the Senedd elections in May next year, the housing charity is calling on every political party to commit to ending the housing emergency. Shelter Cymru claims a lack […]

Despite students claiming living in HMOs has taught them basic home maintenance skills, many still contact their landlord for minor fixes. The report by Aldermore bank also reveals 44% of students say their parents pay part or all of their rent. The news comes as young people prepare to head to University for Freshers Week. […]

More than half (57%) of buy-to-let (BTL) landlords are set to choose a five-year fixed rate when they come to remortgage. The research by Lender Landbay reveals this is a drop from 71% this time last year, as two-year fixes gain greater interest. Tracker mortgages have also grown in popularity, offering landlords more flexible options […]

Plans approved by the Labour government for a second Gatwick runway could see house prices plummet by up to £40,000, according to new data. Research by estate agents Yopa reveals that the £2.2bn privately financed project is likely to cause short-term dips in property values for those living in the so-called ‘Gatwick Diamond’, which includes […]

The Housing Ombudsman reveals social housing landlords are still failing in their duties ahead of Awaab’s Law coming into effect next month. The organisation’s Annual Complaints Review 2024–25 shows complaints continue to rise, with 71% of complaints upheld. Awaab’s Law will require all social housing landlords to fix dangerous damp and mould within set timeframes […]

There is a question Property1118 members might be able to help with. I am hearing that landlords are being approached by HMO agents and being offered lucrative five-year contracts to house asylum seekers. I am very interested in finding out how what they’re being offered compares to market rents in their area and if they’re […]

Half a million renters claim their landlord unfairly rejected their request to keep a pet, new research claims. According to Go.Compare, more than three-quarters (79%) of tenants who had a pet request turned down felt the decision was unreasonable, equivalent to around 590,592 households across the country. Under the Renters’ Rights Bill, landlords will no […]

A council has banned wood-burning stoves in its council properties due to health and safety concerns. Angus council in Scotland says it will not permit the installation or replacement of solid fuel heating systems in its properties, except in exceptional circumstances. The council say this will not apply to private homeowners or private landlords. Our […]

This piece is part of our International Bizarre Landlord Stories series. Today’s story was first reported in Ireland. A landlord inspecting their property in County Cork was stunned to find that their tenant had filled the flat with chickens. Over 100 birds were roaming freely through the living room, kitchen and even the bedrooms. The […]

Up to six million tenants could be preparing to take their first step onto the property ladder as 29% of them have explored whether they can afford to buy a home in the past year. According to Pegasus Insight, many tenants are now also saving for a deposit with those aged between 25 and 34 […]

A referencing platform warns landlords will scrutinise tenant applications more carefully as they list tips to navigate the Renters’ Rights Bill. Canopy says the new rules will rebalance the rental market and give stronger protections to tenants. The referencing platform says whilst the reforms are designed to make renting fairer, it could cause confusion and […]

When I published my recent article on equity recycling and leverage, the level of engagement surprised even me. Several readers took the time to share thoughtful comments, ranging from detailed number-crunching to personal reflections on risk, retirement and legacy. What struck me most was the common theme running through those responses: building wealth through property […]