The Labour government have announced thousands of homes will be built across the country due to simpler planning rules, but one industry body warns that easing planning rules alone won’t solve the housing crisis. Deputy Prime Minister and Housing Secretary, Angela Rayner, says the current system makes it far too difficult for smaller builders to […]

Landlords and tenants are being warned about a “ticking time bomb” kitchen appliance that can cause thousands of pounds in damage. Landlord Licensing & Defence has revealed a surge in fires caused by air fryers, including a recent case where £80,000 worth of damage was done to a customer’s kitchen. The firm warns that, despite […]

Goodlord is boosting its rent protection and legal expense insurance, aiming to shield landlords from the complexities being introduced into the PRS by the Renters’ Rights Bill. The firm says its revamped insurance package offers robust safeguards and increased financial backing for new policies and renewals under Goodlord and Vouch. The upgraded insurance includes a […]

Hi all, I’m genuinely curious how you all are managing everything as landlords these days. Just want to compare notes with others in the same boat. Lately, it’s been getting a bit overwhelming trying to stay on top of everything: EICRs, EPCs, gas safety checks, rent payments, tenant messages, and those lovely late-night maintenance requests […]

There has been a 15.8% rise in build to rent (BTR) completions, reaching 127,156 homes by the end of Q1 2025, up from 109,847 in Q1 2024, research reveals. The findings from Inventory Base highlights that the sector faces challenges as construction activity has notably declined. The data reveals a 14% drop in BTR units […]

The government has announced the biggest changes in the way Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) are assessed in more than a decade. However, whilst landlord organisation iHowz has welcomed the change, it warns of a lack of information, particularly around Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES), and claims even the government realises the 2028 deadline for EPC […]

The cost of renting in England has climbed for the fifth month running, with the average tenancy now priced at £1,226, one rental index reveals. The data from Goodlord shows this marks an almost 1% increase from April’s £1,216, setting a new high not seen since October 2024. However, this uptick signals the start of […]

The UK’s housing market has come back to life, with May marking the most active month for home sales since the 2021 pandemic surge, research reveals. According to Zoopla’s latest House Price Index, a combination of increased property listings, and improved mortgage affordability has spurred buyers and sellers into action, pushing sales agreements to a […]

Proposed new tax measures which could target landlords could aggravate the UK’s housing shortage, warns one property expert. David Alexander, the managing director of DJ Alexander Ltd, Scotland’s largest lettings and estate agency, was responding to media speculation. That’s centred on Chancellor Rachel Reeves who is thought to be exploring revenue-raising options for the government’s […]

Eight years after the Grenfell Tower fire, the impact is still being felt by thousands of innocent leaseholders who continue to struggle with the financial and emotional consequences of ongoing changes and delays. Many leaseholders are still living with the repercussions of the cladding crisis and the subsequent building safety regulations, facing delays in remedial […]

House prices across the UK experienced a slight rise in annual growth in May, reaching 3.5%, compared to 3.4% in April, one index reveals. According to Nationwide, on a monthly basis, prices climbed by 0.5%, reflecting a seasonally adjusted rise from the previous month’s 0.6% decline. The average home now costs £273,427, up from £270,752 […]

The Regulator of Social Housing has issued a damning judgement against the London Borough of Brent, highlighting huge deficiencies in the council’s ability to meet essential safety and quality standards for its tenants. This comes a week after the council announced a crackdown on private landlords and the standards of homes in its area with […]

News that Brent Council’s enforcement teams have carried out door-to-door inspections to find ‘criminal landlords’, should send shockwaves through the private rented sector. According to the Property118 story, these teams are targeting unlicensed properties, offering waste management guidance, and addressing anti-social behaviour while ensuring homes are free from health or safety risks. But in today’s […]

Buy to let mortgage brokers have revealed a strong preference for recommending five-year fixed-rate mortgages to landlords, though shorter-term options are gaining ground. The survey from Landbay shows that 83% of brokers advocate fixed-rate deals, with 42% specifically endorsing five-year fixes. In contrast, only 17% support tracker mortgages, and just 3% recommend 10-year fixes. Providing […]

Landlords could be missing opportunities to secure cheaper green mortgages by not updating their Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) assessments after making energy-saving improvements to their properties, a study reveals. The research from Paragon Bank, which surveyed more than 500 landlords, has also led it to declare that the 2030 EPC deadline is ‘unrealistic’. The bank […]

A new online resource to help keep private tenants in their homes and not be made homeless has been unveiled by a council. The site, ‘Call us first’, has been introduced in Wolverhampton and replaces the council’s former ‘Rent with Confidence’ scheme. The council says there’s an accessible interface with dedicated sections for landlords, agents […]

The Housing Ombudsman has sounded the alarm on a deepening crisis in England’s social housing sector which could lead to ‘social disquiet’. The warning comes after a revelation of a staggering 474% increase in complaints about substandard living conditions in social housing. The findings, detailed in the Ombudsman’s latest Spotlight report, ‘Repairing Trust’, expose systemic […]

First-time buyers are vanishing from the market due to stamp duty changes, according to new data. Research by Alto reveals a 55% drop in offers from first-time buyers this quarter compared to the same time last year. In April, the government cut stamp duty relief for first-time buyers, reducing the tax-free threshold from £425,000 to […]

The John Lewis Partnership (JLP) has won its appeal to redevelop its Waitrose store in west Ealing, paving the way for 428 new homes, including 83 affordable rentals. The project is part of JLP’s strategy to optimise its property assets to deliver much-needed housing – an issue which helped the government inspector to give approval. […]

Labour has confirmed that landlords can pass the cost of mandatory EPC upgrades onto tenants – which could see renters paying £4,000 a year more, the Daily Telegraph reports. Despite the Energy Secretary Ed Miliband’s insistence that landlords will not put up rents to pay for the EPC costs, a minister says landlords have grounds […]

One in three landlords (32%) is either uncertain about the validity of their Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) or they lack a valid one entirely, putting them at risk of substantial fines, research reveals. Direct Line business insurance says the potential penalty for non-compliance is £30,000. Since June 2020, the Electrical Safety Standards in the […]