Why the digital rules on right-to-rent matter more now after the Renters’ Rights Act
A government-backed alternative has been launched in Guernsey to help tenants finance the upfront cost of finding a rental home.
Another Merseyside council has voted to bring in tougher rules around HMO conversions.
Landlords have urged the Chancellor to use his first Budget Statement to announce a shake-up of Capital Gains Tax to support the PRS.
Landlords are facing growing scrutiny over overheating, with several councils finding excess heat hazards exclusively in private rentals.
Under the Renters’ Rights era, landlords using Section 8 Ground 14 for tenant eviction must build strong, impact-focused evidence.
Another financial squeeze on landlords in the Budget could prompt rent increases, property sales and cause some landlords to quit.
Landlord investment in the PRS appears to be weakening, with higher mortgage costs making buy-to-let increasingly challenging.
A young professional just starting out in London on an entry-level salary can expect to hand over an estimated two-thirds of their gross pay
Letting companies accounted for almost two-thirds of property firms wound up in the five working days before last year’s Budget.
While ONS tracks Manchester at 1.2%, Zoopla and regional metrics show broader North-West growth leading the UK at up to 4.4%.
Two-thirds of rental properties use a letting agent, the highest proportion for two years, as demand for full property management services grows.
Brighton & Hove Council has been forced to halt plans for its new selective licensing scheme following a legal challenge.
Rightmove unveils AI comparison tool built with Google Cloud, driving 2x higher lead enquiries for agents and landlords.
A housing commission has called on the government to legally rule out rent controls and amend the Renters’ Rights Act.
More than one in five HMO tenants have felt unsafe at some point during their tenancy because of a housemate, according to new research.
A former letting agency boss has been handed a suspended prison sentenced after defrauding landlords and tenants out of more than £48,000.
Property tribunals published 237 rent repayment order decisions in 2025, up from 194 in 2024 – with the vast majority about licensing.
The government estimates that extending Awaab’s Law to private rented homes will result in annual net costs to landlords of £42.2 million.
Average gross buy-to-let yields have reached their highest level for more than 15 years, according to Paragon Bank.
Under the new rules on damp and mould, it’s vital you have the records to back up your story
Stoke-on-Trent City Council is bringing in new planning controls to stem the growth of HMOs across the city.
mydeposits and Centrepoint win gold at the Corporate Engagement Awards after raising over £500k through a tenant interest donation scheme.
A landlord has been fined £26,000 after he left the mother of a newborn baby and child with disabilities without heating or hot water.
Landlord and agent groups have urged the government to get the details right as it moves closer to implementing Awaab’s Law in the PRS.
A major institutional BTR landlord has moved its property management in-house as it details big expansion plans.
More tenants are chasing fewer homes as landlord instructions remain scarce, according to UK letting agents.
Three property firms have been expelled from The Property Ombudsman after failing to pay compensation to landlords and a homebuyer.
Are company lets in England a legitimate and workable alternative or a hidden trap?
Spain’s experience of trying to tackle its housing crisis has highlighted the potential impact of tighter regulation on the PRS.
Greater Manchester has launched the Better Renting programme in a bid to improve landlord compliance.
The average UK room rent has hit a new high of £769 per month as year-on-year rental supply fell -4.7%.
Concerns have been raised about which software products are currently ready for landlords to use.
Shadow Housing Secretary Katie Lam has reportedly backed scrapping the Renters’ Rights Act.
Liverpool councillors are set to bring in new planning controls across the city to manage the growth of HMOs.
The average number of investment properties owned by landlords in England and Wales has increased to 18 – a 50% increase from this time last year.
A landlord and his company have been told to pay £246,000 for serious fire safety failures at two residential properties in Lancashire.
The NRLA has slammed the upcoming private rented sector database as a “costly mess” which will only provide an extremely limited service.
Official data says PRS has never been bigger, but agents report that home rentals are vanishing. Landlords tell us they are selling up. Who is right?
Barnet Council has started targeting unlawful HMOs in a series of evening raids across the London borough.
Green Party leader Zack Polanski has called for a three-year emergency brake on rents to end 'fear and uncertainty' in the PRS.
A letting agent has been fined £8,600 for issuing a six-month fixed-term tenancy agreement in breach of the Renters’ Rights Act.
Landlords have been urged to check that a digital identity provider is specifically approved for Right to Rent.
Tenants facing eviction will have access to expanded free legal advice paid for by £16 million in new funding.
A landlord company director has had an £11,000 personal penalty for housing offences cancelled by the Upper Tribunal.
New Scottish housing rules effective 6 October bring strict Awaab's Law timelines, shorter succession periods, and higher wrongful termination fines.
In thirty years buy-to-let beat the S&P 500, returning 22 times its original investment. A Sunday Times article argues the payday is ending
Landlords have been warned that getting the new Form 4A rent increase process wrong could invalidate or delay a proposed rent rise.
The number of homes available to rent across England has plunged by at least 15,500 in just three months, new analysis finds.
Property experts have warned that Andy Burnham’s promised crackdown on rogue landlords could damage relationships and lead to good ones selling up.
A property management duo has been hit with a £100,000 fine for renting out a property with a catalogue of serious problems.
Landlords in Scotland have been urged to get to grips with new damp and mould rules as Awaab’s Law comes into force next week.
The government has pledged to introduce an independent regulator for property agents and caps on fees for leaseholders.
As energy bills rise, landlords and homeowners can save £175 yearly with simple heating checks and minor adjustments before winter.
Councils are to get new powers to take over empty and derelict homes in a bid to tackle the housing crisis.
Landlords need more certainty around paying for improvements to meet planned new energy efficiency standards, the NRLA warns.
Medway Council has given the go-ahead to new selective and additional licensing schemes which go live next January.
UK surveying faces a demographic crisis as 46% plan to exit in a decade, prompting firms to recruit and train new talent pools.
After 5 months it’s neither an exodus nor business as usual for buy-to-let landlords. We’ve had the proponents and the detractors. Who’s right so far?
Great Yarmouth Council has radically altered its selective licensing scheme conditions after a challenge by landlords.
The Welsh government has been urged to consider phasing out Land Transaction Tax (LTT) and offer landlords low-interest loans for retrofit.
Landlords are being advised to strengthen checks after reports that rental properties are being used as short-term brothels.
Four months in, the Renters’ Rights Act has brought fewer market shocks than expected: rents are steady, investment continues, and issues are minor.
Bradford and Breckland councils are the latest authorities to voice concerns over HMO spread.
Landlords have largely complied with EPC rules, but many appear to have done only enough work to bring properties up to the legal threshold.
Wallasey and Birkenhead in Merseyside were the most competitive rental markets during July and August, reports Rightmove.
Lib Dems propose 150k annual social homes, rent-to-equity schemes, and urgent safety reforms to fix unregulated temporary housing.
What do you need to know about the latest version of the Housing, Health and Safety Rating System?
More than three-quarters of self-managing portfolio landlords regularly delay non-urgent maintenance work, a new survey finds.
Landlords in Orkney have been offered loans of up to £25,000 to renovate their empty properties to help the housing shortage.
Agents group believes the government should step in when councils fail to meet a minimum number of proactive inspections and enforcement actions.
A landlord has lost an appeal against a decision refusing to evict a tenant who owed £8,554 in rent arrears.
Older renters are more stretched than younger renters, with the over-70s spending 46% of their income on rent, according to new data.
A Bristol landlord has been ordered to pay a total of £58,271 after he failed to carry out improvements to his unlicensed HMO.
About 562 properties are being lost from the market every day in the third quarter of 2026, the highest rate since 2016.
Landlords have earned £22 for every £1 invested in the 30 years since the UK’s first buy-to-let mortgage launched.
Only about 10p of every £1 increase in Local Housing Allowance appears to have fed through into higher rents, according to a think-tank.
Do landlords have the whole story when they discuss the merits of their letting agents?
A landlord has been told to pay tenants more than £28,000 after he tried to prevent them providing information about his unlicensed HMO.
A potential tax on holiday lets could cost landlords an average of £5,000, wiping out annual profits, says a lettings firm boss.
Industry leaders have renewed calls for more effective regulation of the UK lettings market.
Claims that landlords are fleeing England’s PRS aren’t supported by the latest evidence, according to new analysis.
The Bank of England has left interest rates unchanged for the sixth consecutive time despite price rises accelerating.
Landlords must brace for the December rollout of mandatory state registration, reshaping the compliance landscape under sweeping Renters' Rights refor
Landlords have been given a new checklist of housing standards to help them identify defects that could lead to fines.
Some tenants are delaying their first month’s rent payment until weeks after they have moved in, warns a letting agent.
Landlords who own some of the most expensive rental properties could be exempt from signing up to the new national PRS database.
Telford and Wrekin Council has put its planned additional licensing scheme on hold after landlords launched a legal challenge.
New data reveals half of tenant maintenance reports arrive out of hours, with essential services seeing heavy spikes.
Some commentators have argued that the takeover of OpenRent by private equity group CVC reflects a step change in the landscape for letting agents in
Landlords wanting to convert homes into small HMOs in North Tyneside could soon need to apply for planning permission.
Durden & Hunt expands its South Essex footprint with the acquisition of established local agency Diggins & Co.
Tribunals are generally giving landlords most of what they asked for in rent increase cases since the Renters’ Rights Act.
Houses are dominating rental demand across England, accounting for almost two-thirds of properties attracting high levels of tenant interest.
UK house prices fell 0.4% annually to £298,468, driven by a standoff between stubborn sellers and cautious buyers.
Higher mortgage rates locking renters in for longer and continued low investment by landlords is set to drive rents up 4-5% by the end of the year.
The director of a letting agency who used his business to run 19 cannabis factories has been jailed for more than eight years.
The government should tread carefully when deciding what data can be shared from the new PRS Landlord Ombudsman, a property expert has warned.
Rising swap rates are driving up buy-to-let mortgage rates by 25-40 bps, leaving thousands of landlords facing major refinancing hurdles.
Repairing with occupied tenants is a nightmare for landlords and tenants; can landlords demand that tenants leave for the duration of repair work?
Akiva worked in the charity sector and property management before joining the legal team at Landlord Action. He has helped countless landlords get back possession of their property from some of the most difficult tenants.”
Alex Nolan, Senior Training Manager at NRLA, provides expert training on HMO management, tenancy processes, and rental sector legislative updates.
Alphaletz is designed to be a simple, cost-effective solution to these problems. Their mission is to free you from the burden of spreadsheets and paperwork, so you can free up time and keep an eye on your profits.
Partner at Xeinadin. Xeinadin is a leading provider of accountancy services and business advice for small and medium-sized enterprises and individuals across the UK and Ireland.
Established in 1860 to care for abandoned animals, Battersea aims to never turn away a dog or cat in need of help. In 2023, we helped 2,529 dogs and 2,450 cats across our three centres. Our work means we see day-to-day the many animal welfare issues facing dogs, cats and the people who care for them.
With over 170 locally-managed offices of letting and estate agents nationwide, Belvoir can provide you with the best service and advice to suit your needs
Ben is the Chief Executive of the NRLA. Prior to taking up his position at the NRLA, Ben was the operations director at Touchstone, part of the Places for People housing group, and was also the managing director of a leading deposit scheme in Northern Ireland. Ben is also a landlord.
David Coughlin is a Cambridge University graduate with more than 20 years’ experience trading property across the UK. Known for maximising and reinvesting capital gains, he has built a substantial property portfolio and is widely regarded as a leading figure in the UK property sector. He has been recognised by the press as one of the UK’s most successful businesspeople and entrepreneurs, noted for both the scale of his property interests and his long-term, strategic approach to the market. David played a key role in raising standards within the quick house sales sector. He was a founding member of the National Association of Property Buyers, working in consultation with The Property Ombudsman to help establish best-practice guidelines for the industry. His stated aim is to challenge traditional approaches and reshape how property is bought and sold in the UK, with a focus on transparency, professionalism, and better outcomes for all parties involved.
CEO of Hamilton Fraser
Helen has been writing about property for many years and as well as writing for LandlordZONE and other property industry titles, has worked for Trinity Mirror’s local newspapers, and started her career at the Brighton Argus.
The HFIS group started as a niche insurance broker focused on the private rented and aesthetic sectors in 1996. Now an established company of over 11 brands and services to the industry, the HFIS group includes Total Landlord, six time award winner of ‘Best Landlord Insurance Provider’ and Hamilton Fraser, ‘Best Specialist Insurance Provider 2023’. Over the years, they have grown to include government authorised schemes such as mydeposits and targeted acquisitions, extending our roots through partnerships with trade bodies and regulatory organisations.
Kim has a strong background in the lettings industry, having worked in Property Management since 1999. Starting out as a Property Manager, she then worked her way through the ranks, spending several years at Countrywide Plc, before receiving her promotion to Director of Property Management and joining Romans in 2018. Now as Group Director of Property Management for LRG, Kim oversees the running of a large, national team who serve circa 60,000 tenancies across the UK, whilst developing the division’s range of services for new and existing customers.
The Landlord Sales Agency retains unrivalled experience in the landlord property sales industry having purchased over 300 buy to let properties over the last 15 years. Their expert knowledge provides them with a unique understanding of the challenges you face, both in running your properties and selling a property portfolio.
Since 1999, LandlordZONE® has been the UK’s leading landlord website, providing property news, advice, legal information and insight for the rental property industry. With over 60,000 members worldwide, LandlordZONE brings an online community of landlords and agents together and provides them with a forum for public discussion on the latest property news. Supporting the journey of a landlord is at the heart of what we do – the website provides free access to comprehensive, educational and reliable information that landlords can utilise throughout their landlord journey. We are dedicated to the publication of unbiased and factual news reporting, working with various property professionals to create a trustworthy, professional and respected community for anyone interested in property.
Leaders is one of the UK's premier estate and letting agents, with more than 100 branches across the country offering a host of property services.
Maria is a journalist who oversees the operations of LandlordZONE behind the scenes, producing clear, well-researched, and engaging content focused on the private rented sector. Alongside her editorial work, she manages advertising partnerships, working closely with clients to develop effective campaigns that align with their goals and resonate with LandlordZONE’s broad audience. Her role bridges editorial and commercial strategy, ensuring a consistent and high-quality experience for readers and advertisers alike.
MFB is an award-winning mortgage broker covering all areas of property finance, including buy to let, commercial, and homebuyer mortgages, as well as development and short-term finance. With over 33 years of experience, our team’s knowledge and expertise are unrivalled, making us the broker you can trust. We pride ourselves on our 4.9-star Trustpilot rating and strive to deliver excellence for every single client. When you work with MFB, we take the stress out of your mortgage application process. As a whole-of-market mortgage broker, we’ll find you the best rate for your needs, giving you confidence in your property finance decisions. We proudly recommend MFB as LandlordZONE's official Mortgage Broker Partner, recognising its expertise in the field.
Michael Lever is a commercial property specialist with a career spanning more than five decades, with particular expertise in rent reviews, lease renewals, business tenancies, and shop property. Educated at the City of London School, he began his professional career in 1967 at Montagu Evans in London before joining his late father’s firm, Fineman Lever & Company, chartered surveyors, in 1971. In 1975, Michael established his own practice, pioneering a specialist focus on rent review and lease renewal work. Originally based in Harrow, North West London, he later relocated his office to Ledbury, Herefordshire, while continuing to advise on properties primarily across London, the South East, and North West England. Alongside client work, Michael has made a longstanding contribution to professional practice and market understanding through extensive writing on rent reviews, business tenancies, and commercial property. Since the late 1970s, he has published a series of influential pamphlets and booklets on rent review methodology, negotiation psychology, auctions, and retail investment, many of which have been widely cited and adopted across the profession. His work has been referenced in legal texts and academic commentary, reflecting its impact on industry thinking. Michael’s writing and commentary have appeared in leading property, legal, and business publications, including the Financial Times, Estates Gazette, Property Week, Retail Week, Investor’s Chronicle, and professional journals serving solicitors, surveyors, and arbitrators. In 1995, he was awarded a prize for an essay on the future of town centres and retailing in a competition sponsored by Marks & Spencer, and in 1996 he received a Certificate of Academic Standing from the The Law Society. He has also served as a guest editor and contributor across a range of professional platforms and newsletters, and since 2022 has written regularly for the LandlordZONE monthly newsletter and contributed to its commercial property forum. Michael is known for a tailored, analytical approach to rent reviews, combining technical expertise with commercial insight. His services are frequently recommended by chartered surveyors, solicitors, accountants, and business advisers, and many clients have worked with him on a long-term basis.
mydeposits was founded in 2007, giving landlords, agents and tenants an alternative to the other two deposit protection schemes. Now, over a decade later, mydeposits are proud to still giving you a choice by offering all two types of deposit protection, insured and custodial.
The National Landlord Investment Show is the UK’s Number One landlord & property investment exhibition. Our shows connect thousands of landlords, investors & property professionals and are a beacon for anyone with an interest in buy-to-let or the private rented sector. We have everything you could conceivably need as a landlord or potential investor, including Legal Advice, Finance Suppliers, Investment Opportunities, Tax Experts, Property Management, Education & Mentoring, Proptech, Furnishings / Decor and myriad other helpful services.
CEO of the UK's largest franchised property inventory management and property compliance reporting company - No Letting Go and CEO of Kaptur Software, mobile data collecting software for the property industry. A passionate supporter of the property industry. Previously developed the largest and most successful RE/MAX estate and letting agency in Kent and co-founded Search24 a specialist conveyancing search reports business.
Nigel Lewis is a property journalist and editor with more than 25 years’ experience across national newspapers, magazines and online media. He has worked on a variety of titles, including the Daily Mail, and has edited Channel 4’s A Place in the Sun and Location, Location, Location magazines. From December 2019 to January 2026, Nigel led content at LandlordZONE. His previous senior roles include head of content positions at PrimeLocation and Zoopla, and he has appeared on TV and radio including the BBC, LBC and Radio 5 Live. He writes and edits property content for a range of platforms, with a focus on the private rented sector.
Paul Shamplina is the founder of Landlord Action.
Paul Sowerbutts is Head of Legal at Landlord Action and a highly experienced property litigation and housing law specialist, with more than 20 years’ experience in private practice.
We are a consumer redress scheme, authorised by the Government since 2014, to provide an impartial service that considers consumer complaints about a variety of property related issues. All property agents who carry out estate, lettings and property management work, have a legal responsibility to belong to a redress scheme and, if at any point, the consumer feels the service one of our members has provided falls short of what is expected, they may be able to raise a complaint. We also provide redress for other property professionals which includes landlords, and we offer dedicated tenancy mediation helping to resolve tenancy issues and prevent cases needing to go to court. Please note the Property Redress Scheme is not a regulator or an enforcement agency.
RWInvest is an award-winning property investment company with over 17 years of industry experience and an extensive track record of successfully completed housing projects.
Sean Hooker is the Head of Redress at Property Redress. He is a Qualified Adjudicator (ACIArb), CEDR Accredited Mediator and has a Professional Award in Ombudsman and Complaints Handling Practice (Queen Margaret University and Ombudsman Association).
In-depth knowledge of tenancy deposit schemes, end of tenancy deposit resolution and complaint handling. With over 11 years in the industry and an understanding of some of the challenges faced by landlords, agents and tenants my training focuses on best practice evidence for negotiation, early resolution and adjudication.
I have been a qualified solicitor since 2010 and have worked with HFIS since 2012. With nearly two decades of experience in the lettings industry, I oversee the day-to-day operations of several key schemes at HFIS, including the mydeposits tenancy deposit protection scheme, Property Redress - the government-authorised consumer redress scheme for sales, lettings, and property management agents, and Client Money Protect, the largest client money protection scheme for independent property agents. Throughout my career, I have worked at the forefront of the significant regulatory and industry changes that have shaped the lettings sector over the past decade.
Having built up a small portfolio of these properties he managed them alongside his full-time career in further and higher education. Tom subsequently founded the first landlord website in the UK back in 1999 – LandlordZONE – and is also a recognised writer on the subject of residential and commercial property. Tom has been a regular contributor to real estate journals, blogs, and a speaker at property events for nearly 20 years and now spends his time researching and writing articles for LandlordZONE. He is also regularly quoted in articles.
Starting as an insurance broker in 1996 specialising in property and medical indemnity insurance, these two sectors remain at the heart of everything Total Landlord does. With over 25 years’ experience, Total Landlord continues to raise industry standards, deliver outstanding customer service, and find innovative and practical solutions for their customers’ unique needs. Total Landlord have always been there to help to support the things that matter most and provide a lifetime partnership with our customers.
Recognised as an industry expert within the private rented sector, Victoria speaks, trains and advises landlords and agents helping them navigate the changing landscape under the Renters Rights Act. Victoria has been a portfolio landlord in the north east for 19 years. She operates two property businesses in the North East and owned her own estate agency from 2014 until 2022, before selling the business and becoming a professional advisor to landlords and agents alike across the country. She is a regular speaker with the National Residential Landlord Association (NRLA) across England and a panellist for the National Landlord Investment Show. Victoria runs workshops and speaks regularly for Newcastle and Northumberland Councils, providing invaluable advice and support to thousands of landlords navigating challenging compliance and legislation under the Renters Rights Act. She is a Mediator for the Property Redress Scheme and works alongside the legal team at Landlord Action advising on evictions and debt recovery. Victoria was awarded the Best Real Estate Agency MD in 2022 and SME Managing Director of the Year in 2022.
Section 21 ends: Paul Shamplina and Paul Sowerbutts reveal the rush, mistakes and challenges landlords now face under the new regime.
Paul Sowerbutts and Sonia Rai discuss disability discrimination risks in possession claims and Equality Act defences landlords must consider.
Selling a rental after section 21 is abolished? This podcast explains the new Ground 1A under the Renters’ Rights Act.
On the latest episode of the LandlordZONE podcast, barrister Sonia Rai joins us for an in-depth discussion on pets in rented accommodation.
Nigel Lewis talks with The Mortgage Work’s Dan Clinton and Nationwide’s Andrew Harvey on PRS trends, regulation and lender support.
Future-proof your rental with energy upgrades, flexible spaces, parking, outdoor areas and HMO potential to attract tenants.
Buy-to-let can deliver rental income and long-term growth, but success depends on choosing the right location and planning costs.
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