News

Industry body calls for investment over legislation to support PRS

More investment not legislation is needed for the private rented sector, says Propertymark.
The industry body says the private rented sector remains challenging and the Renters’ Rights Bill must strike “a workable and fair balance” for landlords and t…

Paragon unveils limited-edition five-year BTL deals

Paragon Bank has introduced a range of limited-edition five-year fixed rate buy to let mortgages featuring attractive rates and flexible fee options.
The products offer landlords a choice between nil, 3% and £3,995 arrangement fees.
Landlords can also…

Rents cool down in December after record-breaking year

Rents in England dipped again in December, marking the fifth consecutive month of rental cost reductions, according to the Goodlord rental index.
This follows a record-breaking summer of price rises.
It says that December’s rents were down by ne…

Scotland’s housing emergency will worsen without rent controls – Green Party

Scotland’s housing emergency will worsen in 2025 without rent controls, the Green Party says.
Along with ‘robust’ rent controls, the Greens also demanded last month that tenants should be protected ‘permanently’ from eviction in the w…

Do I need to pay the selective licence admin charge if my tenant is moving out?

Hi, I applied for a selective licence back in September, and only now has the council sent the invoice for Part A (£375), which I understand legally covers the ‘admin’ costs for the pre-draft licence assessment.
Over Christmas

Gas boiler ban dropped but homes could still be forced to switch to heat pumps

Plans to ban new gas boilers by 2035 will be scrapped, but nearly all homes must install a heat pump.
According to the i newspaper, a ban on gas boilers being installed in newly built homes will be confirmed later this year

Landlord and proud?

Hi, I have been a landlord for nearly two decades and it has been more demanding than my corporate job.
For much of my working life, I worked for corporates ending my career at one of the world’s top insurance companies and was credited with thei…

UK house prices in 2025 will grow despite economic challenges

The recent rise in annual house price growth which saw prices reach their highest point since November 2022, stands in stark contrast with news of the fastest decline in manufacturing output in 11 months, Knight Frank says.
The firm’s head of UK …

Scotland’s BTL market collapses as rent controls bite

There’s a lesson for private sector landlords in England with data showing that Scotland’s buy to let market is collapsing after rent controls were implemented.
According to the Daily Telegraph, the number of Scotland’s landlords inve…

London rents will rise slightly as market adjusts – Chestertons

London’s private rented sector is experiencing a period of moderation, with Chestertons forecasting rent increases of just 1.5% – that’s slightly lower than predicted inflation – in 2025.
This follows a year of slower rent growt…

More homes on sale with higher EPC ratings

Research reveals that 60% of all homes reaching the market over the past year held an EPC rating of C or above – an increase of 1.6% compared to the previous year.
The findings from epIMS

Young homeownership on the rise – but inequality widens

Young millennials are more likely to own homes than older millennials were at the same age, but rising homeownership rates are largely benefiting wealthier households, research reveals.
According to Resolution Foundation, homeownership rates among youn…