The landlord had a standard residential mortgage but decided to let out their property when work took them abroad. They assumed the lender wouldn’t notice and went ahead without seeking consent. When the lender carried out a routine check, they discovered the property was tenanted. The landlord was in breach of their mortgage terms, exposing […]

In November 2020, I let a property in North London to a major housing association (HA) on a three-year lease. They overstayed their lease by two years and in 2025, I made a claim through the Money Claim Online arm of the County Court (MCOL) for underpayment of rent (difference between market rent and passing […]

A newly published First-tier Tribunal decision has drawn fresh attention to how easily Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) can be misapplied when property purchases include multiple components such as parking spaces, garages, or storage units. The case, Sehgal v Revenue and Customs [2025] UKFTT 1439 (TC), concerned the purchase of an apartment, an allocated car parking […]

A landlord is warning that councils gaining more powers for implementing forced intended entry to a rented property will ultimately harm tenants. While Nottingham City Council says it will not use forced entry, the Renters’ Rights Act will give council officers the power to carry out surprise inspections and enter private rented properties without a […]

The government has confirmed rental payment history will not be used as mandatory proof of affordability for tenancy agreements. In response to a written question, Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook said there is no “one-size-fits-all approach for landlords” when determining whether a tenancy is suitable. Many landlords ask for a guarantor to provide financial protection, particularly […]

Hello, Should PRS landlords be encouraging all tenants to sign up for free to Canopy or Credit Ladder so that their rent payments help build their credit score with big credit referencing agencies? The tenant pays the rent directly to the landlord, so no change. In the case of benefit recipients, while the rent paid […]

Foundation Home Loans has introduced a fresh limited edition five-year fix for portfolio buy to let borrowers while trimming the price of its two-year deal. The specialist lender’s new F1 Limited Edition five-year product sits at 5.24% up to 75% LTV with a 1.75% fee. It includes a free standard valuation and no application charge […]

Nearly 1,000 households a day turned to councils for homelessness assistance in England last year, new figures reveal. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government shows 360,050 households approached their local authority for help between April 2024 and March 2025. Councils accepted 330,410 of them as homeless or at imminent risk, marking the highest […]

The total number of buy to let mortgage searches fell in November to 1,405,878, a 14.64% month-on-month decline and 3.81% lower than the same period last year. The data from Twenty7tec shows that the fall in all mortgage applications is down to weakening buyer demand, especially for BTL. Buy to let searches are down 13.47% […]

My tenant of 14 years reported a puddle on her carpet, which she had noticed three weeks ago, and she tried to mop it up with a towel. However, it kept coming back, so I went the next morning to find access to the airing cupboard blocked by furniture and clutter, so I had to […]

The landlord filed for possession after months of arrears, confident the paperwork was in order. But when the case reached court, the tenant’s solicitor argued that no valid notice had ever been served. The landlord had posted a Section 21 notice but had no proof of delivery, and the tenant denied receiving it. The judge […]

I have agreed to join a live online briefing on Making Tax Digital (MTD) specifically for Property118 readers, alongside the team at Landlord Studio and a specialist landlord accountant. Whether you’re a landlord, a professional adviser or a letting agent, this webinar is for you. The aim is simple: to give you a clear, practical […]

The government has issued guidance for landlords on the process they will need to follow to evict tenants under the Renters’ Rights Act. According to the guidance, after 1 May 2026, landlords wishing to evict a tenant solely for unpaid rent will need to use the Possession Claim Online Service (PCOL). If eviction is for […]

Angela Rayner has come under fire for avoiding the council tax surcharge on her Westminster flat while serving as Housing Secretary and Deputy Prime Minister. The Telegraph reports Westminster Council introduced a 100% surcharge on second homes from April 1, which would have doubled the £2,034 bill on her Whitehall residence. However, the council only […]

Personal guarantees are one of the most misunderstood aspects of commercial finance. Many landlords sign them without fully appreciating the implications, while others reject deals outright because guarantees are required. The reality is more nuanced. Understanding the risks and the possible alternatives is key to making informed decisions. What Is a Personal Guarantee? A personal […]

Paragon Bank has moved to loosen its lending criteria as its buy to let rivals cut rates, signalling a renewed push for landlord business ahead of 2026. The lender has lifted maximum loan sizes across its BTL range and scrapped minimum income rules for portfolio landlords in an attempt to widen access. Paragon’s new limits […]

Annual house price rises slowed again in November with annual growth of 1.8% last month, down from 2.4% in October, Nationwide reveals. Despite the slowdown, it says the market continues to show signs of underlying resilience. Prices edged up 0.3% on a monthly basis to reach £272,998, up from October’s £272,226. Stable housing market The […]

Landlords are accelerating the shift towards limited company ownership as fresh tax pressures and rising compliance costs reshape the private rented sector, research reveals. The latest Landlord Trends Report from mortgage analyst Pegasus Insight, shows incorporation is no longer a niche tactic but a mainstream response to a tightening regulatory climate. Its study found that […]

The landlord thought they were being flexible. They allowed tenants to pay rent by cash, bank transfer, or even occasionally by cheque, depending on convenience. Over time, arrears built up, and it became unclear what had been paid and what had not. Receipts weren’t always issued, and payments came from different accounts. When the landlord […]

First-time buyer affordability has improved over the last year, but rent costs continue to rise, according to a new report. Data from Lloyds Bank reveals the typical first-time buyer property price is now 5.9 times average earnings, down from 6.2 last year. The report shows a typical first property now costs £237,518, up 2.4% over […]

Landlords are being urged to look out for letters about faulty insulation and upcoming repair plans. As previously reported by Property118, the National Audit Office (NAO) found that 98% of homes fitted with external wall insulation under the government’s ECO4 scheme need remedial work to fix serious issues that could cause damp and mould. Despite […]