Every landlord knows the risks of late rent, but sometimes the issue is far more brazen. Imagine finding out that the person living in your property was never a legitimate tenant at all, but a scammer who had quietly taken over and paid nothing. The story A landlord was shocked to discover that their flat […]

Case Study: Rebuilding a Property Business for Retirement, Control and Family Flexibility Planning the Next Phase With Purpose Mark and Emma had built their property business steadily over two decades. With a portfolio of fifteen rental properties, ten residential and five commercial, the income supported their lifestyle, and the routine gave them purpose. They were […]

Landlords face the longest wait for possession in over two years, according to figures published by the Ministry of Justice. The average wait for a landlord in the second quarter of this year was 33.8 weeks – almost eight months, up from 32.5 weeks in the first quarter, marking the longest average wait since early […]

A leading lettings agency says it has seen no evidence of a landlord exodus from the PRS – but that might change when the Renters’ Rights Bill becomes law. Currently, England’s rental sector is showing remarkable resilience, with a significant increase in available properties, Benham and Reeves says. It has found that rents across England […]

Despite concerns from landlords and tenants over the cost of selective licensing and its impact on rents, the council has decided to press ahead with the scheme. North Lincolnshire Council has announced plans to introduce selective licensing in part of the East Marsh ward in Grimsby. The local authority claims the scheme is necessary because […]

Finding a place to live while at university is a big challenge for many UK students, leaving some feeling scared or anxious. According to a report by rent guarantee firm Housing Hand, there’s a landscape of uncertainty and anxiety for those navigating the rental market for the first time. Its Understanding Renters in 2025 survey, […]

Selling can be the right move. The mistake is deciding based on the headline sale price rather than the true cash you will bank after mortgage redemption costs and Capital Gains Tax. This practical calculator shows you how to work out your net sale proceeds and compare them to a refinance or partial sell-down that […]

Post-tenancy inspections usually mean meter readings, keys, and an inventory check. This one was different. Behind the kitchen door of a recently vacated rental, the landlord found an elderly dog, confused but friendly, waiting for someone to come back. The discovery The property had been cleared in a hurry. Food cupboards were half empty and […]

In what seems like a change to the tide, the property market showed signs of swinging in favour of landlords this month. Following what looked like a tricky time for landlords to sell, it seems that buy-to-let properties are back in demand, and they’re selling fast. Last week we shared the news that a landlord […]

Something new is about to sparkle across Property118 every Friday. Starting on 29th August 2025, our very own star-gazer Mystic Mortar will be publishing a weekly horoscope written especially with UK landlords in mind. Expect playful predictions, a dash of property wit, and just enough cosmic mischief to make you wonder if Mercury really is […]

Selective licensing was introduced as a tool to raise standards and tackle poor management in the private rented sector. In practice, many schemes have led to conditions that some landlords believe go far beyond what Parliament intended in the Housing Act 2004. Wirral’s latest selective licensing scheme is a prime example – and it is […]

The National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA) is calling on the government to use the Autumn Budget to support long-term investment in new quality rented housing. It points to fresh data from the Office for National Statistics which shows that private rents across the UK increased by 5.9% in the year to July 2025. That’s a […]

There are more fresh offerings in the UK’s buy to let mortgage sector as lenders roll out competitive products tailored for landlords. Lloyds Bank, Aldermore and ModaMortgages have introduced new deals that cater to a range of property investors, from those managing single dwellings to portfolios with multiple units. Lloyds Bank has been highlighted as […]

A council wants tenants and members of the public to report unlicensed Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) as part of an enforcement crackdown on landlords. Coventry Council has warned that enforcement action will be taken against landlords who breach licensing and management conditions of HMOs, the Coventry Telegraph reports. The news follows Harlow Council stepping […]

One-off live training event announced to help UK landlords stay compliant, avoid legal pitfalls, protect their portfolios and take advantage of new opportunities. With the Renters’ Rights Bill expected to roll out soon, UK landlords are facing the biggest legislative shake-up in over 30 years. To help landlords prepare, property investor and educator Simon Zutshi […]

From the strange to the stomach-churning, here are real UK (and UK-reported) stories of what landlords discovered once the keys were back on the hook. If you have your own tale, please share it in the comments. 1) 3,000 Beer Cans, Some Filled With Urine In Nuneaton, a “mate’s rates” arrangement ended with a flat […]

It started with a small admin slip, the kind that happens on a busy changeover day. The tenancy agreement had the wrong start date, the rent schedule followed that wrong date, and no one noticed in the rush to hand over keys. Weeks later, the numbers were not adding up. Payments looked late on paper, […]

A blog blames landlords for “charging excessive rent prices” and for taking a “disproportionate amount of income from renters”. Writing on his blog Funding for the Future, Richard Murphy claims “landlords are charging excessive prices” and points to data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showing that the cost of rental property in proportion […]

1. The Wake-Up Call of Section 24 When the Section 24 finance cost restrictions began to bite, many landlords were forced to confront something they had long put off: whether their property portfolios were still viable in the long term. It was no longer just a question of rising interest rates or falling yields. The […]

Some headlines make you look twice. In this case, a landlord effectively transferred an entire risk away from themselves for less than the price of a coffee , and the courts agreed it was valid. The case involved a rent-to-rent arrangement, where the superior landlord (the property owner) leased the property to an operator, who […]

A legal expert has accused a council of “abuse of power” over its failure to give prior warning before introducing new rules for Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs). Bolton Council has introduced an immediate Article 4 direction, meaning landlords can no longer convert family homes into HMOs for three to six occupants without applying for […]