Archive

Last month, I wrote about what’s in store for the private rented sector in 2022 and, like most commentators in our...

The Welsh Government has set out how the housing law in that country is set to change significantly from July 15...

Bromsgrove is a classic rental market. The Worcestershire market town is enveloped by green space but is just a thirty-minute commute...

Propertymark chief executive Nathan Emerson has given his prediction as to what the big issues will be in the 2022 lettings...

I am the Chair of PLAN - the Portfolio Landlords Action Group - which had its formal launch this week. People...

The relationship between the overwhelming number of good landlords and local authorities tends to be limited or possibly non-existent. With the far...

This week’s Budget saw the Chancellor loosen the Treasury’s purse strings in a number of areas.  Yet this was a quiet Autumn...

A landlord is going to court to try to recover £150,000 allegedly owed by an agency in the form of guaranteed...

Rik Smith, Head of Tenant Services at Goodlord, outlines in this tips piece how agents can support tenants with rising energy...

The government needs to beef up enforcement if it wants to address rogue landlords who put tenants at risk, says the...

A Citizens Advice and Students Union study into student accommodation in its patch says there should be an additional licensing scheme...

There’s been a wholesale lifting in standards of investment and quality in the private rental sector thanks to landlords, and in...

An operator in the co-living rental niche in London has recorded an average 44 per cent annual growth over the past...

The private rental sector is in slow retreat according to a new analysis by Nationwide-owned specialist lender, The Mortgage Works. Nationwide chief...

Paragon Bank has launched a range of 80 per cent loan to value buy to let mortgages specifically for properties with...

The National Residential Landlords Association says it backs a report by MPs sharply criticising EPCs and urging more effective modern energy...

The Budget has received short shrift from landlords and tenants, as Chancellor Rishi Sunak appeared to miss out the private rental...

The changes to Mortgage Interest Tax Relief and impact on your wallet Before April 2017 landlords with a mortgage on their buy-to-let...

Social renters have the lowest life satisfaction and experience the greatest anxiety according to analysis by a property management firm.  Lettings company...

The Rent Smart Wales quango, now five years old, has been sharply criticised by the National Residential Landlords Association.  A report commissioned...

When 2020 began one of the biggest issues most landlords faced was the ending of tax relief introduced over four years...

A property industry accreditation service is asking whether it’s now time for the government to offer grants to help landlords through...

The trading standards team charged with policing lettings and estate agents is to investigate whether a new guideline on referral fees...

A rental property consultancy says its experience this year convinces it that the Coronavirus crisis has led to more stable tenancies. Apropos...

A new report from respected specialist mortgage provider Paragon Bank shows that retiree renters and those in the upper-middle age category...

The growth in the number of landlords and property investors in the UK has been astonishing over the last three decades....

With new regulations and rules now in place for landlords, our in-house property experts outline their 10 essential safety requirements for...

Despite another national lockdown seemingly on the horizon, the property market remains resilient, with the stamp duty holiday and other initiatives...

The government has launched an official consultation on proposals to make the private rental sector more energy-efficient - and they include...

Is a new short-let accommodation provider in the capital likely to prove a further threat to traditional landlords? Stayo - described as...

The number of new prospective tenants continued to increase last month, reaching an all-time high, according to ARLA Propertymark’s latest PRS...

One in eight properties sold for more than the original asking price in August as housing demand peaked following the chancellor’s...

A Delivery Hub will be set up by a new cross sector Future Homes Task Force, comprising of representatives from across...

A new strategy has been launched today by Westminster City Council to help raise standards for tenants who rent privately.  Westminster, which...

With activity in the market continuing to rise and the number new tenancies back to pre-pandemic levels, landlords are enjoying strong...

The Covid-19 pandemic has fundamentally altered almost every aspect of our daily lives, and the rental market needs to adapt to...

Following the decision to extend the tenant eviction ban until 20 September, apropos is calling on the government to show the...

A new tenancy mediation service for landlords and tenants has successfully resolved 50% of cases where the renter was willing to...

The National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA) has appointed a new legal counsel.  Housing lawyer and former Residential Landlords Association (RLA) policy director...

In a video interview for his Move iQ service, Phil Spencer speaks to Vanessa Warwick, co-founder of Property Tribes, active landlord...

The chancellor’s decision to order a review of capital gains tax, signalling a future raid on second homeowners, including buy-to-let landlords,...

The new £2bn grant scheme in England for projects such as insulation, unveiled yesterday by the chancellor Rishi Sunak as part...

New rules and how the Electrical Inspection Condition Reports (EICRs) requirements for rented homes in England are changing have sparked debate...

Who are you? My name is Benjamin Hall and I’m the Founder and Managing Director of LOFT. What services does LOFT provide? LOFT delivers...

An error in the processing of cross-border flows between Wales and England has resulted in the under-estimation of Wales’ net population...

A man deemed not to be a fit and proper person to hold a licence for a house in multiple occupation...

Do you think Covid-19 been a stress test for the property sector? Have you made knee-jerk decisions? Have you been adversely...

Buy-to-let landlords north of the border are urging the Scottish government to take into consideration the impact that the Covid-19 pandemic...

With buy-to-let returns continuing to beat all other mainstream investments, including commercial property, UK government bonds and cash, while remaining a...

With the number of new tenancies currently being agreed at an historic low, there is evidence to suggest that there will...

New electrical safety rules have been introduced to ensure that private tenants are protected.  New regulations, which were introduced yesterday, are designed to strengthen...

A survey of tenants suggests around one in eight private sector tenants have fallen behind with housing costs since the coronavirus...

Buy-to-let landlords in England will soon need to ensure electrical installation inspections and testing are carried out for all new tenancies...

Property Redress Scheme (PRS) has launched a tenancy mediation service for residential and commercial landlords, or their appointed letting agent, and...

With renters, landlords, buyers, and sellers being advised to delay their home moves if possible and not to allow new viewings,...

COVID-19 has presented a hugely challenging and uncertain time for everyone, with many landlords and tenants in desperate need of fresh...

The Government should consider postponing upcoming tax changes because of the COVID-19 outbreak, according to Apropos by DJ Alexander.  The property management...

Fresh research shows almost half of landlords are considering divesting their portfolios and leaving the PRS due to an increase in regulation...

Rishi Sunak's first Budget included new taxes for overseas property buyers, funding to remove unsafe cladding, fresh funds to support the...

The Guild of Property Professionals is calling on the new chancellor, Rishi Sunak, to use his Budget speech, which will take...

Labour’s proposals to introduce rent controls in London risks reducing the number of private homes available for rent, as landlords look...

The UK government has legally committed to going carbon neutral by 2050. That’s going to require a huge effort and significant...

Rental demand reached a record high of 88 prospective tenants per letting agency branch in January, up 57% from an average...

Boris Johnson’s emphatic December general election victory has triggered fresh optimism among buy-to-let landlords, despite tax and regulatory changes hitting their...

Most landlords will already be familiar with the Domestic Minimum Energy Efficiency (MEES) Regulations which came into force on 1 April...

The number of landlords in the private rental sector has fallen to a seven-year low, according to Hamptons International’s latest monthly...

The private rented sector ended 2019 strongly, with 27% of landlords experiencing an increase in tenant demand, according to the latest...

The Residential Landlords Association (RLA) and the National Landlords Association (NLA) are calling on the new chancellor, Rishi Sunak, to use...

A proposed Bill to protect private sector tenants by introducing measures to limit rent increases could drive many buy-to-let landlords out...

The latest data demonstrates the failure of government policy for the private rented sector, which in turn is having an adverse...

The cost of renting a home in Scotland continued to rise during the final quarter of 2019, new figures show.  The Scottish...

A new online calculator highlighting how much more rent landlords can make by letting to holidaymakers via Airbnb across a range...

The decision to delay the minimum energy efficiency standards deadline in Scotland has been welcomed by landlords as a ‘sensible one’.  The...

Is the UK on the brink of a mass landlord exodus? It may seem like an ominous question, but ask people...

There has been a significant increase in the number of buy-to-let landlords who are considering converting their property to a short-term...

The tax and regulatory changes introduced in recent years have led to an increase in the number of landlords exiting the...

Buy-to-let landlords are demanding change in next week’s Scottish Budget to help ensure rental price growth eases.  The number of tenants experiencing...

Buy-to-let landlords are becoming more frustrated by tax and regulatory changes in the private rented sector, according to fresh research from...

Buy-to-let landlords currently looking to buy property are targeting Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO) more than any other property type, according...

More than a third of buy-to-let landlords are planning to reduce the number of homes they rent out or exit the...

Renters have higher levels of harmful stress levels than homeowners, according to new research.  A survey of almost 4,000 renters by Shelter...

After yet another year dominated by Brexit uncertainty, political instability, tax, and regulatory changes, most buy-to-let landlords will be looking for...

Landbay has achieved a rather impressive 200% growth in lending volumes over the past 12 months.  The buy-to-let lender reports that recent...

With savers receiving poor returns from banks and building societies, thousands of people unsurprisingly continue to turn to residential property as...

Rents look set to rise across much of the UK next year owed in part to a further increase in the...

Rents in the PRS continued to grow at a modest pace in November, the latest figures from HomeLet show.  The data reveals...

The UK could be heading for a rental crisis, with experts dreading the prospect of a chronic property shortage in the...

The National Landlords’ Association (NLA) has once again called for the introduction of a properly funded housing court to cope with...

With more landlords selling properties than buying them, at a time when there is growing demand from tenants for rental properties, the private rental...

Thursday’s general election presents the main political parties with an opportunity to address voters’ concerns about housing, and not just focus...

How do you potentially balance property buying and management with a full-time job? What strategies have you developed to build wealth...

Which party will win the landlord vote?  Given that the mainstream parties all have policies that appear to work against BTL landlords,...

City of York Council has vowed to crack down on rogue landlords looking to exploit the housing market, as part of...

The main political parties have laid out their blueprints for government ahead of what is likely to be one of the...

Buy-to-let landlords looking to add to their portfolio should consider buying property in the North East of England where rents are...

The National Landlords Association (NLA) has slammed the Conservative Party manifesto for proposing nothing to encourage and support landlords to continue...

Labour’s general election manifesto promises to “transform” the UK with what some commentators view as the most ambitious - and most...

Labour’s proposals to introduce rent controls risks reducing the number of private homes available for rent, as landlords look to exit...

Despite the political and economic uncertainty, SafeDeposits Scotland has found that the vast majority of landlords north of the border remain...

Labour has launched its general election manifesto, promising to “transform” the UK with what some commentators view as the most ambitious...

The Liberal Democrats have launched their 2019 election manifesto, which sets out the polices the party aims to introduce should it...

Landlords’ confidence in the buy-to-let sector continues to fall with the majority less confident about the PRS than they were three...

Nottingham City Council has been criticised for targeting responsible landlords whilst doing little to clampdown on rogue operators in the local...

Marks Out Of Tenancy, a letting review website, has launched a digital service to help local authorities crackdown on unscrupulous landlords...

The mayor of London is being urged to forget about rent controls and instead focus on increasing the supply of rental...

Clydesdale Bank has reiterated its commitment to supporting buy-to-let landlords looking to invest in the PRS by announcing plans to focus...

Proposals for a national register of landlords have been rejected by the government.  A report on the joint research project between the...

With demand still far outstripping supply, buy-to-let remains an attractive asset class, but while the majority of landlords say they are...

Boris Johnson’s call for a snap general election on December 12 to try to settle the issue of Brexit took very...

The Residential Landlords Association (RLA) has compiled a manifesto that it hopes all political parties will take note of ahead of...

Ahead of next month’s general election, the Residential Landlords Association (RLA) is warning that any potential proposal to introduce rent controls...

There has been a further increase in the number of landlords exiting the buy-to-let market, according to new research by the...

There was a marginal drop in the number of tenants experiencing rent increases in September but they remained high overall, ARLA...

Unscrupulous landlords in the London Borough of Hackney face more stringent regulation after Hackney Council agreed to new property licensing powers...

Buy-to-let landlords and property enthusiasts will once again descend on the Olympia Conference Centre in London next month where they will...

The proportion of ‘accidental’ landlords has dropped year-on-year for the first time since 2014, fresh analysis shows.  One in 14, or 7.1%,...

With the government consultation on tenancy reform ending tomorrow, time is running out for landlords wishing to have their say by...

The government’s proposal to scrap the use of Section 21 notices to evict tenants has been poorly received by landlords, with...

The Build to Rent development pipeline has grown dramatically in recent years and there are clear signs of the sector becoming...

A new PRS interactive learning toolkit for local authorities to help them take action against rogue landlords and letting agents has...

The number of tenants experiencing rent rises hit yet another record high in August, the latest ARLA Propertymark PRS report shows. The...

Phases one and two of the Clippers Quay and Salford Quays Build to Rent (BTR) developments in Manchester have now been fully...

All the main political parties are targeting the Generation Rent vote ahead of a potential snap general election, at the expense...

The majority of landlords are most likely to source their next buy-to-let mortgage from their existing broker, new research shows.  According to...

Standards in the private rented sector have improved as buy-to-let landlords respond to legislation aimed at improving living conditions for tenants,...

Labour’s plan to introduce a rent cap has been slammed by ARLA Propertymark.  Labour has proposed capping rents and with Labour’s conference...

The newly formed National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA) has announced Ben Beadle as its new chief executive.  Beadle will become the organisation’s...

There was an increase in the number of landlords reporting growth in tenant demand in the third quarter of the year. Paragon’s...

A man deemed not to be a fit and proper person to hold a licence for a house in multiple occupation...

Landlords have backed a merger between the two largest landlord organisations in England and Wales, the National Landlords Association (NLA) and...

Buy-to-let landlords could benefit financially by catering their offerings towards the growing older renter and family tenant demographics, according to the...

The government has been attacked by a former member of the Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee for its “incoherent” approach...

Hundreds of buy-to-let landlords have expressed concerns for the future of the buy-to-let industry if Labour comes into power.  Boris Johnson is...

The Labour Party’s proposed ‘right to buy’ policy would have a devasting impact on the private rented sector and lead to...

The two largest landlord organisations in England and Wales, the National Landlords Association (NLA) and the Residential Landlords Association (RLA), have...

The number of tenants experiencing rent rises hit the highest level on record in July, according to ARLA Propertymark’s latest PRS...

The most reliable indicator of rental trends in the UK As the largest provider of deposit protection in the UK, our database...

More needs to be done to improve transparency and standards in the private rented sector, according to the Royal Institute Of...

Do you know how much your deposits should be? Since June 1 of this year, the government has capped deposits at...

The letting industry needs to do more to reduce moving stress for tenants and landlords by increasing awareness of some of...

There has been a sharp rise in the number of tenants experiencing rent rises following the introduction of the tenant fees...

There was £359.4m of institutional investment into the UK private rented sector in second quarter of the year, according to CBRE...

Introducing a ‘rogue landlords’ database without better enforcement would be a pointless exercise, according to the National Landlords Association (NLA). A rogue...

The mayor of London has called for additional powers so he can introduce rent controls in the capital. Sadiq Khan believes greater...

With the number of PRS regulations continuing to rise, technology is growing increasingly more important in aiding compliance and ensuring that...

Rental yields have increased to their highest level for two years, according to the latest edition of Kent Reliance for Intermediaries’...

Almost four out of ten adults would like to see the government introduce a fast track housing tribunal if the Section...

Jeremy Hunt and Boris Johnson, the two men competing to become the next Conservative Party leader, are being to urged to...

The Tory leadership contest is well underway with just two candidates - Boris Johnson and Jeremy Hunt - left in the...

The government needs to do more to provide tenants with better information on their rights and responsibilities if it is to...

Buy-to-let landlords need to minimise potential risks that make the difference between ‘profitable calm’ and ‘money-pit worry’ to help ensure that...

Private landlords will soon need to obtain a new licence to rent out property with multiple individually let rooms in Slough,...

Plans to introduce a new licensing scheme for privately rented homes in Barking and Dagenham has been approved by the government. Under...

There was a significant increase in the number of disputes under the Property Redress Scheme last year, according to the organisation’s...

Removing Section 21 could prove devastating for the private rented sector, with almost half of landlords and letting agents more likely...

Housing charity Shelter has launched a £600,000 fund in Greater Manchester today with a view to finding real-life solutions to the...

With more than 170 pieces of landlord legislation in place, property experts, Paul Shamplina and Kate Faulkner, have once again joined...

Buy-to-let landlords are being unfairly penalised for the housing crisis, according to a new report by the Institute of Economic Affairs...

The UK is facing a private rented housing crisis unless the government takes rapid action to stop landlords selling up, according...

New technology has been launched in an attempt to improve gas safety accountability in the private rental sector. The existing system makes...

The number of tenants experiencing rent increases dropped slightly in March thanks partly to a sharp rise in the number of...

Following the government’s recent announcement that it is to consult on ending Section 21 repossessions, the Residential Landlords Association (RLA) is...

Average asking rents in London rose to an all-time high of £2,091 a month in the first quarter of the year...

The government’s announcement earlier this week that there will be radical reforms of the PRS will not just create open-ended tenancies...

Abolishing Section 21 without making Section 8 fully “fit for purpose” will have dire consequences on our housing supply. This week, the...

The government is today proposing to consult on scrapping Section 21, so-called  ‘no fault’, repossessions in the private rented sector in favour...

With some landlords finding it harder to make a profit as a result of changes to buy-to-let taxation, remortgage activity looks...

Fresh guidance for local authorities to crackdown on rogue landlords has been unveiled by housing minister Heather Wheeler. Local authorities across the...

More needs to be done to stem the increase in short-term lets on Airbnb and similar platforms to ensure that there...

The slump in the UK home ownership rate from 73% a decade ago to just 63% today reflects the fact that...

The number of tenants experiencing rent increases in February rose to the highest figure since August, as supply of new property...

Tax and legislative changes have unsurprisingly left many buy-to-let investors with little alternative but to pass costs onto tenants by pushing up...

In a bid to improve relationships between letting agents, landlords, and tenants north of the border, fresh funding has been made...

The chancellor Philip Hammond has once again failed to deliver for private landlords, with yesterday’s rather low-key Spring Statement yet another...

Buy-to-let landlords believe that today’s Spring Statement provides the chancellor Philip Hammond with an opportunity to bolster activity in the buy-to-let...

The Ministry for Housing, Community and Local Government (MHCLG) has announced that £45.5m will be made available to help find homeless...

ARLA Propertymark has compiled some top tips aimed at novice landlords that some experienced buy-to-let landlords may also find useful. Peter Savage,...

The number of tenants experiencing rent increases in January rose for the first time since September 2018, according to ARLA Propertymark’s...

Landlords are being urged to seek guidance to ensure that they are clear on the ‘bombardment’ of regulatory changes that could...

Demand from new tenants in London’s private rented sector is rising at a time when the number of homes available to...

Tenants living in sub-standard rented accommodation need greater support, according to Neil Cobbold, chief operating officer of PayProp UK, who has...

The proportion of income spent on rent in the private rented sector has fallen from 35.4% in 2010/11 to 32.9% in...

Following the passing of Karen Buck’s Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018 into law, it is important that landlords are aware...

Cooperation has been identified as key to improving standards in the private rented sector (PRS), according to a report by Kate Faulkner,...

Rental prices in Scotland increased further in the fourth quarter of 2018, the latest data shows. The Scottish national average increased to...

A new multi-housing report reveals five trends that are set to dominate the private rented sector between now and 2025.   The...

There was a significant increase in the number of landlords exiting the rental market in December 2018 as rents increased for...

The proportion of income spent by private tenants on rents in England has continued to fall, according to an official report...

The government has committed to introduce mandatory five yearly electrical safety checks in the private rented sector. No time date has been...

With research showing that around 61% of privately rented flats in Scotland currently have common areas like stairways and roofs in...

Many people tend to hold off on buying property during times of uncertainty and that appears to be precisely what is...

UK rents are predicted to rise 11.4% in the next five years, according to a forecast by CBRE. Alongside fairly ‘moderate’ growth...

No Letting Go, one of the UK’s largest providers of inventory services, is calling for the introduction of MOT-style certificates to...

The introduction of the Private Residential Tenancy (PRT) in December 2017 has led to major changes in the industry in Scotland,...

More buy-to-let landlords are adopting a more professional approach to running their property business, as reflected by the number of people...

A new property management portal claims to be on a mission to raise the standard of the property industry by establishing...

Less than 1% of private tenancies in Northern Ireland ended in a dispute over the deposit in the 12 months to...

There has been a sharp rise in the number of tenancy deposits held across the UK, new figures provided by deposit...

The Minister for Family Support, Housing and Child Maintenance, Justin Tomlinson, will address the Residential Landlords Association’s (RLA) Future Renting Wales conference...

Nominations for the ATLAS (Accreditation & Training for Landlords and Agents Service) and LLAS (London Landlord Accreditation Scheme) Awards 2019 are now open...

Government benefit changes, including cuts to housing benefit, are to blame for increasing levels of homelessness from private rented housing, according...

Landlords and letting agents could be banned from charging fees to private rental tenants in Wales under plans for a new...

Renters in central London now face having to bid against each other, pushing rents up in the process, as a result...

This week’s announcement that landlords will need to pay the first £3,500 to make improvements to their properties to ensure they...

BTL landlords in parts of Sheffield must now apply to the council for a licence to let their properties after selective licensing...

Buying a property is cheaper than renting in every area of the UK, a recent study found, and yet a growing...

Philip Hammond has once again failed to reverse the previous chancellor George Osborne’s deeply unpopular tax reforms that have had far-reaching...

Landlord licensing schemes are popping up all over the UK as local authorities step up their efforts to clampdown on rogue...

Some 31% of private tenants saw their rent payments rise last month, up from 27% in September 2017 and 24% in...

Rental prices in the UK look set to increase as demand for property continue to rise, but the number of homes...

Thousands of vulnerable people facing homelessness look set to benefit from a new £20m initiative designed to help them secure a private...

Philip Hammond is coming under increasing pressure to reverse draconian tax changes applying to buy-to-let landlords. A number of landlords have been...

One third of landlords say they would be less likely to acquire property if three-year tenancies are made compulsory, according to...

Early bird tickets are now on sale for the Residential Landlords Association’s (RLA) next Future Renting Conference in Cardiff. The one-day conference,...

The number of tenants experiencing rent hikes in August increased to an all-time high of 40%, up from 31% a month...

Philip Hammond is being urged to use his Autumn Budget, which will take place on 29 October, to support investment in...

Rent prices in London are forecast to see strong growth following a significant drop in the number of homes available to rent...

The government remains committed to building more new homes, but their target of 300,000 a year is unlikely to be met. Sky-high...

Standards in the private rented sector have got better as buy-to-let landlords respond to a flurry of legislation aimed at improving...

The Home Office is to reconvene its Private Rented Sector (PRS) stakeholder panel on Right to Rent. The government plans to take...