Rentals Still Profitable for 84% of Landlords
A Foundation Home Loans study with Pegasus Insight shows 84% of UK landlords remained profitable in Q1 2026, with average rental yields climbing to 6.5%. Portfolio sizes rose to 7.3 units per owner and 39% plan to remortgage within a year. While 62% of owners of low‑rated EPC properties intend upgrades, tenant demand softened, with 43% reporting void periods and 30% seeing arrears. Despite this, 61% expect to raise rents by roughly 5.7% over the next twelve months.
Only ‘a Few Hundred’ Homes Available to Buy Above £15m
AgentWise reports only 180 UK homes—about $19 million each—are listed above £15 million, representing just 0.04 % of the nation’s housing stock. The ultra‑luxury segment is therefore extremely thin, especially compared with the abundant supply in lower price tiers. London dominates the market,...
Investors Exploit Landlord Exodus at Auction
Investors are increasingly buying tenanted rental homes at auction as the Renters’ Rights Act reshapes the market. Auction House reported a 70% year‑on‑year jump in such sales in April, with 46 properties sold versus 27 a year earlier. Sellers—often part‑time...
Mortgage Broker Agrees to Hand Out Facebook Competition Prize After Complaint
The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) intervened after a customer could not claim a £50 (≈$62) voucher from Mortgages One Stop, a trading name of The Right Mortgage Ltd. The broker agreed to honour the prize and the ASA closed the...
Rent Appeals Will Overwhelm Tribunals
The Renters' Rights Act has activated the Section 13 process, allowing tenants to challenge rent increases in tribunals. Research by RE:UK shows 2,944 appeals filed in three chambers over the past three years, but only one chamber recorded case duration and...
Liverpool Considers Extending Selective Licensing Scheme
Liverpool City Council has opened a consultation on the future of its selective licensing scheme, which expires in 2027. The current program, launched in April 2022, covers 16 wards and about 80% of privately rented homes, and officials say it...
LRG Strengthens Midlands Land Pipeline with New Graduate Hire
LRG has appointed Annabelle Pick, a first‑class Real Estate graduate from Nottingham Trent University, as a Graduate Land Consultant for its Midlands and South Yorkshire portfolio. Pick will handle site sourcing, planning research, bid management and reporting to landowners across...
Ministers Urged to Speed up Home Sales Reforms
The Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee has written to Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook urging the government to accelerate reforms to England and Wales’ home‑buying and selling process. The committee backs proposals such as upfront property information, digital data feeds...
ACORN Names Lambeth Candidates Who Fail to Back Its Housing Policies
ACORN, a community union, asked Lambeth councillors and candidates to endorse three housing measures—rent controls, a zero‑tolerance stance on rogue landlords, and ending the use of bailiffs for council‑tax collection—ahead of the May local elections. The Green Party, TUSC, Shake It Up...
Landlord’s Appeal Ends in Bigger Fine
Leeds landlord Mohammed Gulzar saw his financial penalty rise from £7,500 (≈$9,450) to £10,500 (≈$13,200) after a First‑tier Tribunal rehearing. The tribunal found multiple safety breaches—including a bypassed gas meter, defective fire alarms and inadequate fire protection—posed a high risk...
Agents Must Prepare for More In-Tenancy Swaps, Says Mydeposits
The UK’s Renters’ Rights Act is moving most leases to periodic tenancies, eliminating the fixed‑term breakpoints that agents traditionally use to reset responsibilities, manage deposits, and close out lets. Mydeposits warns that without these natural endpoints, in‑tenancy swaps—where a tenant...
Housing Secretary Hails Rent Reforms and Issues Warning to Rogue Landlords
UK Housing Secretary Steve Reed hailed the Renters’ Rights Act as the biggest tenant shake‑up in a generation. The legislation introduces mandatory eviction notices, rent‑cap provisions and stronger enforcement tools, backed by a £41 million (≈$52 million) fund for local councils to...
Affordability Issues Masked in Latest Housing Data, Lender Warns
Skipton Building Society’s chief executive warns that while UK house‑price inflation appears steady at 1.3% and the average home sits at £271,700 (≈ $345,000), affordability for first‑time buyers is eroding. Skipton’s Home Affordability Index shows only 12.1% can afford a property...
Sceptical Landlord Leaders Set Renters’ Rights Act ‘Three Tests’
The Renters’ Rights Act (RRA) took effect today, prompting the National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA) to outline three success criteria. NRLA chief Ben Beadle says the Act must give responsible landlords confidence, eliminate rogue landlords, and ensure courts handle possession...
Housing Secretary Accuses Greens of Hypocrisy on Housing
Housing Secretary Steve Reed accused the Green Party of hypocrisy, saying it publicly backs renters while blocking new housing. He cited data showing Green‑controlled councils have opposed or delayed at least 49,000 London homes, including affordable schemes. Reed framed the...
Generation Rent Urges Wavering Government to Press Ahead with Rent Freeze
Generation Rent is urging the UK government to enact a one‑year rent freeze, arguing it would save renters about £324 (≈ $410) a year and prevent a projected 1.9% rent increase that would add roughly £27 (≈ $34) per month. The campaign...
Bank Expected to Hold Bank Rate Today
The Bank of England is expected to keep its base rate at 3.75% as it releases its latest decision. Inflation remains at 3.3%, still above the 2% target, and the ongoing Middle East conflict is adding pressure through higher energy...
Agents Unaware of New Rent in Advance Rules as May Deadline Looms
The UK Renters’ Rights Act, effective 1 May, bans letting agents from demanding or accepting more than one month’s rent in advance and from taking rent before a tenancy agreement is signed. A Letting Partnership survey of 887 agents found 41%...
Estate Agent Issues Jobs Warning Due to Rates Bill
Independent estate agent TOR Estates, operating two Somerset branches, says its business rates have jumped more than 50% this year, rising from under £10,000 to £15,000 (about $18,800) annually. Coupled with the Renters’ Rights Act, the firm has lost 25%...
Flats Are Falling Out of Favour
Demand for flats in England and Wales is weakening as first‑time buyers shift toward houses, with 73% now preferring homes versus 65% in 2015. Rising mortgage rates above 5%, the end of Help to Buy and soaring service charges—averaging £2,405...
Street Releases “Game-Changer” AI Tool for Estate Agents
Proptech firm Street has launched Cortex, an AI‑driven customer interface that drafts personalized emails for every client in an agent’s database and replies automatically. The tool also extracts key information to update records and can schedule property viewings without human...
Government Denies Eviction Spike Ahead of Rental Reforms
Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook dismissed claims of a Section 21 eviction surge, pointing to Ministry of Justice data that recorded a 17% decline in accelerated possession claims for October‑December 2025 versus the previous year. In contrast, landlord‑focused firm Landlord Action reported a...
Lender Calls for Reform After Stamp Duty Tax Take Hits £15.2bn
Homebuyers paid roughly $19 billion in stamp duty during 2025‑26, a 9.2% increase from the previous year. The rise stems from the nil‑rate threshold dropping from $312,000 to $156,000 in April, pulling more mid‑range purchases into the tax net. Coventry Building...
Leasehold Homes Will Be “Harder to Sell’, Warns Lawyer
Leading property lawyer Caroline Wild warned that upcoming leasehold reforms could make existing leasehold homes harder to sell. The UK government’s “Moving to commonhold” consultation proposes banning new leasehold flats and prioritising commonhold developments. Wild argues the draft bill creates...
Tough Market for Sellers, Claims House Buying Group
House Buyer Bureau’s analysis of TwentyCI data shows UK sellers are under pressure, with asking‑price reductions jumping 10.8% year‑on‑year. Fall‑throughs rose 4.5% and market withdrawals increased 7.6%, indicating a fragile sales pipeline. While new listings grew modestly by 2.1%, many...
HMRC ‘Ramps up’ Scrutiny of Property Valuations
HMRC is intensifying its oversight of inheritance‑tax valuations, sending 14,631 cases to the Valuation Office Agency—a 23.5% rise from the previous year. The move follows record‑high IHT receipts of about $10.8 bn for 2025‑26, driven by soaring property prices and a...
Referral Fees Are a ‘Hidden Tax’ on Homebuyers
The Conveyancing Task Force and the Law Society are calling for an end to referral fees, labeling them a hidden tax that steers homebuyers toward paying conveyancers rather than merit‑based choices. These behind‑the‑scenes payments link estate agents, panel managers and...
Nine Out of Ten Homes Don’t Reach the Open Sales Market
New data from estate‑agent CRM provider Alto, cross‑referenced with ONS figures, shows that roughly nine out of ten newly built homes in England never reach the open sales market. Of an estimated 200,000 new‑build units slated for 2024/25, only 21,261...
Galbraith Boosts Agency Teams with Senior Promotions
Galbraith, a UK property consultancy, promoted Nick Ainscough and Alice Wilson to Director roles, underscoring its investment in both residential agency and rural services across Scotland and the north of England. The firm also elevated Susan Guthrie to Senior Associate,...
Councils Accused of Delaying Tenant Evictions
Councils across England are instructing tenants to remain in rented homes until bailiffs physically remove them, directly contradicting non‑binding government homelessness guidance. The practice leaves landlords waiting months for court orders and bailiff appointments, while arrears accumulate. Propertymark chief Nathan...
New Property Planning Report Service Aims to Reduce Fall-Throughs
Planning Decoder, a UK‑based startup, has launched a 48‑hour property planning intelligence report aimed at surfacing hidden planning issues that can derail residential sales. The service aggregates data from local authority records, appeal decisions, Companies House and policy documents, using...
Superior Landlords Can Be Fined for Unlicensed HMOs, Legal Experts Warn
The Renters’ Rights Act, effective 1 May 2026, expands HMO licensing liability to superior landlords such as freeholders and head lessees. Previously, only the immediate landlord could face rent‑repayment orders, a rule set by the Supreme Court in Rakusen v Jepsen. The new regime...
BLOG: Will AI Eat Your Job in Estate Agency? No – and Here’s Why
The blog argues that AI will not replace estate agents because the core of the job remains people‑centric—valuations, viewings, and relationship building require physical presence. While portals such as Rightmove and Zoopla have already disrupted marketing, AI is likely to...
“Bring Back Section 21,” Insists Female Director Marking 25 Years at Same Agency
Nicola Blake marks 25 years at Cavendish, rising from junior to director, and uses the milestone to call for the reinstatement of the abolished “no‑fault” Section 21 eviction notice. She argues that the upcoming Renters’ Rights Act will make it harder...
Landlords and Tenants £16k ‘Out of Pocket’ After Ombudsman Expulsions
The Property Ombudsman expelled six letting agencies, leaving landlords and tenants roughly $20,500 out of pocket. Three of the expelled firms had no active client‑money protection when they were removed, and the missing funds ranged from about $1,200 to $15,400....
Rent Control Campaigners March in Central London
Thousands marched in central London on Saturday demanding rent controls and a massive council‑housebuilding programme. The demonstration, organized by tenant groups, trade unions and housing campaigns, started at Soho Square and featured speakers such as former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn...
Second Homes Tax Loophole May Be Closed
Labour is reviewing rules that let second‑home owners reclassify properties as holiday lets to escape council tax, shifting them into the business rates system. Under current regulations, owners qualify for small‑business rates relief by renting the home at least 70...
Many Estate Agents ‘Fail to Check Buyers Have Funds in Place’
New research by the House Buyer Bureau reveals that 29% of homebuyers lack the necessary mortgage offer, deposit, or funds to complete a purchase when their bid is accepted. Over a third (38%) of buyers are never asked by estate...
Midlands Council Crackdown on HMOs Sparks Migrant Row
Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council in Leicestershire has proposed an Article 4 Direction that would require planning permission for new Houses in Multiple Occupation on several streets. The plan aims to curb overcrowding and related nuisances, but it has ignited a...
Letting Agents Plan to Raise Fees Ahead of Renters’ Rights Act
Letting agents are preparing to raise fees to offset the administrative burden imposed by the new Renters’ Rights Act, according to Goodlord’s survey of 2,650 market participants. Landlords already express frustration, with 59% citing high fees and poor value, and...
Landlords ‘Set to Pull More than 200,000 Rental Properties This Year’
Landlords in England are projected to pull more than 200,000 homes from the private rented sector in 2026, according to Pepper Money research. The Renters’ Rights Act accounts for 65,000 of those exits, representing about 5% of the total housing...
Investors Seek Share of ‘£30bn’ Leasehold Reform Losses
A coalition called Justice for Property Rights, comprising investors, retirees and freeholders, says the UK leasehold reforms could wipe out more than £30 billion (about $38 billion) in income. The group, now over 200 members strong, argues the reforms on lease extensions...
Embarrassment at Renting Hits at 29, Reveals Nationwide
Nationwide’s latest rental‑affordability report finds that 27 million UK renters feel embarrassed about sharing a home, with the sentiment peaking at age 29. A striking 69% say living alone is unaffordable, pushing the average age of shared‑living occupants up to 35....
Letting Agency to Repay £31,000 in Rent over Non-Compliant HMO
A First‑tier Tribunal ordered letting firm Mio Real Estate Ltd to repay more than £31,000 (about $38,000) after it sublet a six‑bedroom flat in Bethnal Green without the required HMO licence. The tribunal rejected the company’s claim that it was...
Winkworth Reveals Profit Down 11% and Warns This Year “Uncertain”
Winkworth reported an 11% drop in profit before tax to £2.11 million (≈ $2.7 million) and flat revenue at £10.74 million (≈ $13.7 million) for 2025. Franchise network revenue grew 6% to £68.7 million (≈ $87 million) and sales revenue rose 10% to £35.8 million (≈ $45.5 million). The firm opened four...
Purplebricks Brings Back Virtual Valuations
Purplebricks has reintroduced virtual house valuations, letting UK homeowners receive an initial price estimate via a video call with a local property expert. The service combines a live walkthrough with the firm’s proprietary valuation software that analyses local prices, sale...
Auction Market Outlook Is “Cautiously Optimistic” – Propertymark
The NAVA Propertymark Advisory Panel sees the UK auction market as "cautiously optimistic" after a strong start to 2026. In the first quarter, roughly 90% of lots offered were sold, with entry levels holding steady despite broader economic uncertainty. Data...
Mortgage Advice Bureau Snaps up HomeOwners Alliance in Ambitious Move
Mortgage Advice Bureau (MAB) has acquired HomeOwners Alliance (HOA), a high‑traffic digital platform that offers tools and guidance to homeowners and prospective buyers. The purchase lets MAB engage consumers at the earliest stage of the home‑buying journey, well before they...
BLOG: Letting Agents Are Essential Allies for Landlords
The UK’s new Renters’ Rights Act is reshaping the rental market, forcing landlords to formalise tenancy agreements, limit rent hikes and meet stricter health standards. Over 80% of landlords still self‑manage, but growing regulatory complexity is making that model unsustainable....
Average Room Rents Under £800 Found in only FIVE London Postcodes
SpareRoom data shows only five London postcodes now have average room rents below £800 (≈ $1,016), down from 81 in 2020. The cheapest areas are East Ham (E6), Manor Park (E12), Chingford (E4), Upper Edmonton (N18) and Forest Gate (E7). Average room rent across...