Page 99 – Property118
Two houses split in half with a wrench holding a UK pound coin, Labour logo

Labour squeezes landlords as housing market hits North-South divide

15th May 2025

Labour continues to squeeze landlords financially, amid signs the government could go further to increase its overall tax take from the housing sector. According to Acadata House Price Index, the housing market remains steady despite stamp duty changes back in April. According to the house price index, the average sale price of a home in […]

Coins stacked and a model house on top, Paragon logo

Buy to let yields surge to 14-year high – Paragon

15th May 2025

Landlords across England and Wales are reaping the highest rental yields in over a decade, with new data from Paragon Bank showing an average yield of 7.11% in April 2025. This marks the strongest return since February 2011, when yields edged slightly higher at 7.12%. The figures, drawn from Paragon’s lending records, reflect a steady […]

Welsh logo with Welsh Government alongside a compensation sign and a building in the background

Welsh government drops controversial no-fault eviction compensation plan

15th May 2025

Industry bodies welcome “common-sense decision” from Welsh government to drop tenant compensation proposals. Under proposals by the Senedd Local Government and Housing Committee, tenants facing a no-fault eviction would have received the last two months’ rent free as compensation. However, the Welsh government has rejected the proposals, saying it “could cause tenants to delay securing […]

Damaged old brown leather sofa against a wall

Wear and tear rules are ‘outdated’ as remote working surges

15th May 2025

The shift to remote working has transformed how homes are used, but rental laws lag, causing disputes and financial strain for tenants and landlords alike, a report reveals. According to Inventory Base, furnishings in rental properties, such as carpets and sofas, are deteriorating 30% faster than before the pandemic due to increased home use. With […]

Fire extenguiser in a home with smoke, Swindon Borough Council

Council criticised by regulator for failing housing standards

15th May 2025

A council with more than 800 fire safety checks outstanding and which failed to track damp and mould cases has been criticised by the Regulator of Social Housing (RSH). It has handed Swindon Borough Council a C3 grading – which means there are ‘serious failings’ in the landlord’s service delivery – after an inspection revealed […]

Justice scales and person writing at a desk

Landlords urged to shape the future of High Court possession proceedings

15th May 2025

Landlords and property professionals are being urged to take part in a survey aimed at gathering critical insights into how the High Court can better deliver property possession enforcement. Propertymark, in collaboration with the High Court Enforcement Officers Association (HCEOA) and other industry partners, says the process needs to be reformed. The questionnaire, crafted by […]

Multi coloured small figures surrounding a wooden model house with HMO on the roof and a red question mark

I am considering converting at least one HMO to Asylum Seekers?

15th May 2025

I have had 3 HMOs in Brighton since 2007 and have exclusively rented to the student market. I use an agent as I live out of the area. For most of this period, I have been confident of fully letting the properties each year with little difficulty The market has certainly become more difficult due […]

Evicition notice with a red cross, stacked boxes in the background

Reform vows it will get tough on ‘profiteering migrant landlords’

14th May 2025

Reform has launched a campaign to protect British tenants from being evicted by landlords cashing in on lucrative government contracts to house illegal migrants. The party, which secured 31% of the vote and 42% of seats in the May 1 local elections, accuses Labour and past Tory governments of enabling a ‘betrayal on a biblical […]

A person sitting infront of stacks of coins at a desk with a justice hammer and Penalty

Lords blast Renters’ Rights Bill enforcement penalties and lack of scrutiny time

14th May 2025

Members of the House of Lords warn that new enforcement financial penalties in the Renters’ Rights Bill will hurt small landlords and need to be fair. Lord peers debated until 1am in the morning in the final week of the Renters’ Rights Bill, committee stage with the final debate taking place today (Wednesday 14 May) […]

A person with a magnifying glass in front of a laptop with digital images coming out, and letting agents wording

Letting agents warned of fines under new sanctions rules

14th May 2025

New rules coming into force today will affect all letting agents across England. The government is making it mandatory for letting agents to carry out sanctions checks on all prospective landlords at the point of instruction, and on all tenants before a tenancy agreement is finalised. Failure to comply with the rules, even by mistake, […]

Map of engalnd with a pin in the scouth and a thumbs up

Southern landlords most confident about BTL’s future

14th May 2025

Landlords in southern England are markedly more hopeful about their buy to let (BTL) ventures compared to their counterparts in the Midlands and north, a study reveals. The survey by Landbay, which gathered insights from landlords managing around 2,000 properties, highlights a regional divide in sentiment. In the south, 23% of landlords express a positive […]

People walking over a bridge towards a model of a house saying the words Loan

Bridging loans have the edge over buy to let deals – claim

14th May 2025

Bridging loans are emerging as a more robust option for property investors compared to buy to let mortgages in today’s higher interest rate landscape, one specialist lender says. According to Octane Capital, which examined bridging trends and Bank of England figures, there was a significant narrowing of the cost gap between the two financing methods […]

A lake and woodland area with people walking by

The UK’s most affordable town for family homes revealed

14th May 2025

Glenrothes in Fife, Scotland, has emerged as the top destination for families seeking budget-friendly homes, according to Zoopla. It says an average three-bedroom house priced at £136,900, requiring monthly mortgage payments of £540, offers a serene lifestyle an hour from Edinburgh. The platform’s study highlights that eight of the 10 most cost-effective towns for families […]

A person holding a calculator touching an image of a digital home and blue and white arrows pointing down

Buy to let mortgage searches plummet

14th May 2025

The buy to let mortgage sector has experienced a sharp decline, with searches last month dropping to 14.74% of the total market – the lowest since tracking began in January 2020, research reveals. According to Twenty7tec, this marked a stark contrast to the previous month, when BTL activity was near record highs. It says that […]

A view of the town Salcombe in Devon

Council decides to own social housing again after 25-year hiatus

14th May 2025

North Devon Council will re-enter the social housing sector for the first time in 25 years, launching its own housing company to address local needs. The decision follows strong public support and a new housing plan. The council’s Strategy and Resources Committee greenlit the initiative after a six-week public consultation earlier this year, where 84% […]

A person holding a renewal sign above a UK bank notes

Landlords risk financial ruin over licensing lapses

13th May 2025

Landlords who make a minor selective licensing mistake, such as missing a renewal notice, can be plunged into severe financial distress, with penalties reaching astronomical sums, one expert warns. Local councils, which are intensifying their enforcement of selective licensing schemes, are imposing hefty fines that threaten landlords’ economic stability. Phil Turtle, a property compliance specialist […]

Wooden people figures in a circle, holding hands in the outdoors with text, rent controls

Most Scots back rent controls – Poll

13th May 2025

It might not surprise many landlords in Scotland, but a poll organised by the Scottish Greens shows that most people support rent controls. The survey shows that 74% of respondents endorse restrictions on rent rises, while 83% view current rent rates as disproportionately high relative to earnings in Scotland. However, the Scottish Association of Landlords […]

Sell written onto small building blocks next to a model house and questions marks in the background

Landlords looking to sell as tenant demand grows – Propertymark

13th May 2025

As the Renters’ Rights Bill draws ever closer, more landlords are deciding whether to sell, according to an industry body. According to Propertymark’s Housing Insight report, a growing number of landlords have been leaving the market in recent years due to regulation and financial pressures. The Renters’ Rights Bill is currently going through the Lords’ […]

People working on a plumbing devise and EPC graph

Government to train thousands of retrofit workers but EPC C targets may be ‘impossible’

13th May 2025

The government have announced plans to train more than 18,000 retrofit professionals to meet energy-efficiency targets. The National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA) has welcomed the news but says more work needs to be done to support landlords to meet those targets. Ed Miliband, Energy Security and Net-Zero Secretary, has proposed all private rented properties need […]

A person tying on a laptop sitting on a Welsh flag

Welsh housing survey set for next year as NRLA calls for regular landlord surveys

13th May 2025

The Welsh government have announced a Welsh housing survey will take place next year. Propertymark and the National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA) have campaigned for a housing survey similar to the English Housing Survey to provide accurate data. The NRLA have welcomed the survey but says the Welsh government should introduce regular landlord surveys. Provide […]

Row of houses in a London street, with Big Ben in the background and a red arrow on stacks of coins

London’s renters face eviction surge because of rising costs not behaviour

13th May 2025

A leading law firm has raised concerns about a sharp rise in landlord possession claims across London, pointing to a cost-of-living crisis facing renters – and not their behaviour. Higgs LLP says that despite falling property prices in the capital, tenants are struggling to cope with escalating rents, stagnant wages and persistent inflation. These factors […]