News Headlines for UK Landlords
Landlords face tougher penalties as rent repayment orders expanded
Property118 Landlords face tougher penalties as rent repayment orders expanded The government has announced changes to rent repayment orders under the Renters’ Rights Act. New changes include offences for providing false information to the Private Rented Sector (PRS) Database and…
Estate agent predicts post-Christmas surge
An Oxfordshire estate agent is expecting the property market to reignite after Boxing Day. Brendan Kay (pictured), managing director of Parkers Properties in West Oxfordshire, said the “market is coiling and about to spring” after months of inertia driven by…
United Trust Bank vows to make 2026 ‘transformative’ with new director
United Trust Bank plans to increase its presence in the unregulated bridging market as part of ‘transformative’ plans for 2026. The lender also envisages driving growth in transferring refurbishment loans to buy-to-let. The bank went public on its plans after…
Social housing retrofitting in 2026.
Andy Sutton is co-founder and chief innovation officer at Sero 2026: Time to get on the right boat I believe 2026 is shaping up to be a pivotal year for the UK’s journey to Net Zero. Right now, the energy and construction sectors…
Buy-to-let lending to rise in 2026 and 2027 – but small landlords could be pushed out
A mortgage lender trade body is predicting steady increases in buy-to-let lending in the next two years, though the market is set to be professionalised thanks to the impact of regulation like the Renters’ Rights Act. The Intermediary Mortgage Lenders…
OPINION: 2026 predictions you can rely on
Russell Quirk on the year ahead for the UK property sector
Conveyancers blame system, not themselves, for property transaction delays
Conveyancers make several recommendations aimed at speeding up the house buying process
Comings & Goings
Snippets of industry news: Influential leaders join Digital Sparks advisory board; My Property Box expands senior leadership team;
Estate agency continues expansion with new acquisition
The deal represents the group’s 16th purchase
Cheaper borrowing to drive mortgage lending growth, says IMLA
Greater lending activity set to fuel property price growth
Foxtons teams up with IAG Loyalty to reward clients with Avios
Customers can collect up to 30,000 Avios by letting, selling or instructing Foxtons to manage a property
UK government eases wildlife rules to support housebuilding
The government said the changes form part of its wider planning overhaul, intended to support the delivery of 1.5m new homes during this Parliament
One in five second-steppers needed family or friends’ help to buy home
‘Second-steppers’ who had financial help received £81,000 on average towards purchasing their property
Generation Rent demands compensation for evicted tenants
Compensation for renters being evicted is one of its top demands in a new manifesto.
Fast-growing agency group makes 16th acquisition in seven years
North east England agency group My Property Box has snapped up an independent
Rents in Wales rising three times faster than UK average
Cardiff drives Welsh rent growth, outpacing London and Edinburgh
Rubbish! Landlords risk fines because TENANTS are fly-tipping
Sefton council on Merseyside has written to licenced landlords and managing agents
Landlords warned on smoke and carbon monoxide risks
More than 1,200 fires broke out in purpose-built flats during the past year where no fire alarm system was in place
Rental stock goes UP despite attacks on landlords – agency figures
A lettings agency says rental supply across Britain has actually increased over the past year.
Labour council introducing Gold Standard for ‘good landlords’
A London Labour council is introducing a so-called Gold Standard
Professional agents worth their weight in gold in 2026, says Propertymark
The body wants members to make their professionalism clear to the consumer in 2026.
The second crucial deadline for section 21 notices and Making Tax Digital?
Property118 The second crucial deadline for section 21 notices and Making Tax Digital? Most, if not all, landlords understand that from 1 May 2026, the section 21 route to exit the Private Rented Sector will cease to exist. But there’s…
High demand for London homes with EV charging points but supply remains low
Property118 High demand for London homes with EV charging points but supply remains low Demand for homes with electric vehicle (EV) charging points remains strong, but availability continues to lag far behind. Research from Foxtons shows buyer appetite across London…
Accidental landlords drive limited growth as sector confidence stalls
Property118 Accidental landlords drive limited growth as sector confidence stalls Carter Jonas has reported a subdued mood among private landlords, with most opting not to invest in rental homes. Its 2025 Private Landlords Report, based on a UK-wide survey of…
Landlord profits hit six-year high as yields reach a decade peak
Property118 Landlord profits hit six-year high as yields reach a decade peak The UK’s landlords are finishing the year with profits at a six-year peak and yields reaching their strongest level in more than a decade, research reveals. Pegasus Insight’s…
Massive rise in number of properties owned by foreign companies
The number of properties in England and Wales owned by overseas companies is 91,791.
Flatshare market booms as affordable housing decreases – fresh data
Room rents in Wales have risen 40% over the past five years from £419 to £586 per month
How to Protect Your Liquidity When Refinancing a Portfolio
Property118 How to Protect Your Liquidity When Refinancing a Portfolio Refinancing is a critical moment for landlords. It can unlock equity, improve terms, or restructure debt – but it can also create liquidity risks if not managed carefully. Rising rates,…
Labour warned by Generation Rent of alienating core voters without a rent freeze
Property118 Labour warned by Generation Rent of alienating core voters without a rent freeze Labour needs to act decisively and introduce a rent freeze in England now or risk alienating its core voters who helped deliver a landslide victory. Writing…
Anti-party technology being used by Airbnb to stop anti-social behaviour
Airbnb is activating what it calls “heightened anti-party technology” across the UK
Homes built near rail stations to get ‘default yes’, says government
New homes will get a ‘default yes’ when they are built around rail stations, the government announced in its National Planning Policy Framework published today. Homes built upwards in towns and cities will also generally be given the green light,…
Landlords risk fines, bans and bankruptcy – The answer?
Property118 Landlords risk fines, bans and bankruptcy – The answer? The conversation among private landlords has changed. It is no longer about yields, regulation or market cycles, it’s about survival. The publication of the government’s new civil penalty tables has…
Share of Freehold company in a real mess?
Property118 Share of Freehold company in a real mess? I own two properties in a development of 52. Each property owns 1/52nd of the freehold, so I own about 4%. I was also a director (1 of 5). In late…
Should I Invest In Property?
I get asked constantly why I continue to invest in property. The truth? It is the only proven path to both creating and protecting wealth. From tech billionaires to business tycoons, the smartest investors use real estate to lock in…
Landlords urged to prepare ahead of new council powers coming into force
Property118 Landlords urged to prepare ahead of new council powers coming into force A lettings agency is warning landlords may face “an unexpected Christmas surprise” as councils gain new investigatory powers. Under the Renters’ Rights Act, councils will, in certain…
FCA vows to liberalise mortgage rules
Regulator the Financial Conduct Authority has vowed to simplify mortgage rules in a bid to help more people to get on the housing ladder. The FCA said it would allow for more flexible products that reflect different working patterns, as…
Government warned not to weaken Biodiversity Net Gain
A mixture of environmental groups and other businesses have urged the government against getting rid of elements of Biodiversity Net Gain. It’s speculated the government could halt plans to extend the scheme to Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs) and remove…
The Cotswolds is top winter holiday let hotspot
Holiday let operators in the Cotswolds typically earn £4,600 during the winter months, making it one of the best places to own during the quieter period. In second place comes the Peak District, at £4,500, followed by Cumbria & the…
Property owned by overseas companies doubles in a decade
In the past 10 years the number of companies registered overseas has almost doubled, outlining how investors have been pushed towards that route by the current tax landscape. There are 91,791 homes owned by overseas companies, while the value of…
Less Autumn Budget and more Autumn Bodgit!
By Trevor Abrahmsohn, Glentree International After months of fevered speculation before the Budget, residential property transactions juddered to a halt. I always suspected that as ‘confidence arrives on foot and leaves by horse’, the feel-bad factor’ generated by the 4-5…
Does estate agency have a drinking problem?
As leaders, if we’re the ones saying, “go on, just have one,” are we actually part of the problem?
Estate agency numbers forecast to grow 4% in 2026
There were 25,665 active estate agency businesses in the UK in 2025, up 2% on the 25,155 recorded in 2024
What will happen to house prices in 2026?
Greater affordability, supported by stronger wage growth relative to house prices and improved access to higher loan-to-value lending, has helped to keep buyers active
Fast-growing estate agency brand acquires established firm
Estate agency strengthens its presence across the region
UK’s financial watchdog to consult on changes to the mortgage market
The FCA will focus on four key areas
Property firm must pay £200,000 after council recovers unpaid rates
The case is in the West Midlands
Time to exchange edges higher
The time to exchange continues to vary significantly by region
Lomond-owned KFH launches new website
Searching online is the beginning of so many people’s housing journey
Government launches Renters Rights Act awareness campaign
The guidance takes the form of a suite of notes explaining how different parts of the Act will work
Rental arrears hit three year low, reports upbeat Propertymark
The number of agents reporting problems with arrears decreased to just 1.7%.
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