Mandatory smoke, heat and carbon monoxide alarms will be introduced to private rented sector properties in Northern Ireland. Under the Smoke, Heat...
Archive
![Rents may be rising again over the summer - new prediction](/upload/images/Shutterstock-only%20images/Property%20Market/Property-Value_400x310.png)
The latest Rental Index from PropTech platform Goodlord shows rents hit their highest levels since October over the last month. Rents across...
05 June 2024
From: Breaking News
![Get the Rent To Rent house in order, demands Propertymark](/upload/images/Shutterstock-only%20images/Property%20Market/PropertyNews2-400x310.png)
Propertymark has come out in support of the National Trading Standards Estate and Lettings Agency Team’s probe into Rent-to-Rent. NTSELAT has...
17 May 2024
From: Breaking News
![Politicians should realise how rent controls force landlords out - call](/upload/images/shutterstock_2144683563.jpg)
The pressure on rents for new tenancies in Scotland’s private rented sector have started to ease with all major cities now...
10 May 2024
From: Breaking News
![Demand slows as agents warn about unsustainable rent rises](/upload/images/Shutterstock-only%20images/Property%20Market/2_MortgageCalculated.png)
The latest market report from Propertymark’s lettings agents suggests the demand is slowing. The latest data - for March - shows that...
03 May 2024
From: Breaking News
![Agents urged to understand key tenancy agreement differences](/upload/images/Shutterstock-only%20images/Rental%20Market/Buy-to-let-400x310.png)
A call has gone out from an industry group for letting agents to be sure they know the distinctions between statutory...
01 May 2024
From: Breaking News
![Banned - Agency cannot let homes for four years; put on rogues’ database](/upload/images/shutterstock_2017550609(1).jpg)
A council has placed a Banning Order on a lettings agency operating unlicensed Houses in Multiple Occupation. Trophy Homes Ltd was hit...
29 April 2024
From: Breaking News
![Gove hits back at critics after Renters Reform Bill wins key vote](/upload/images/Shutterstock-only%20images/Property%20Market/PropertyNews-400x310.png)
Michael Gove’s Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities hit back overnight at critics of the government’s Renters Reform Bill. The Bill...
25 April 2024
From: Breaking News
![Almost No Reduction in Buy To Let Supply, insists think tank](/upload/images/Shutterstock-only%20images/Rental%20Market/Buy-to-let-2-400x310.png)
There’s been at most a one per cent reduction in landlords in the buy to let sector, a think tank claims...
08 April 2024
From: Breaking News
![Agents say 10 renters to every one property to let](/upload/images/shutterstock_1227135172(1).jpg)
The number of new prospective tenants registered per Propertymark member branch decreased from 97 in January to 89 in February -...
05 April 2024
From: Breaking News
![Voids and rents show market “isn’t cooling down anytime soon”](/upload/images/shutterstock_81193501.jpg)
Rents have risen seven per cent in the past year while voids have lengthened in the past month - although remain...
02 February 2024
From: Breaking News
![Double digit annual rent inflation for five quarters in a row](/upload/images/shutterstock_1338355010.jpg)
Average rents in Scotland for new tenancies in the private rented sector have risen by double digits for the fifth quarter...
19 January 2024
From: Breaking News
![2023 goes down as the year of record rents](/upload/images/Shutterstock-only%20images/Property%20Market/Buy-to-let-3-400x310.png)
London has seen the strongest rental growth over the last year according to an analysis by lettings agency Hamptons. The average rent...
27 December 2023
From: Breaking News
![More tenants now shop around, says high profile agent](/upload/images/Shutterstock-only%20images/Property%20Market/3%20CoupleMakingOffer-400x310.png)
A prominent London buying agent and property consultant says the slowly improving supply of rental property means more tenants are now...
11 December 2023
From: Breaking News
![Rental demand staying high despite approach of Christmas](/upload/images/Shutterstock-only%20images/Rental%20Market/RentalDemand-400x310.png)
The latest Rental Index from PropTech firm Goodlord has shown that year-on-year rents are up by 7.3 per cent across England...
06 December 2023
From: Breaking News
![Surprise as rents drop and voids increase as weather cools](/upload/images/Shutterstock-only%20images/Property%20Market/HousePrices_balancing-400x310.png)
Rents saw an autumn dip in October, following three months of rapidly escalating prices across England. According to PropTech firm Goodlord the...
03 November 2023
From: Breaking News
![Failure! Annual rent rise in double figures despite rent controls](/upload/images/Rental%20Market/RisingRents-400x310.jpg)
Average rents in Scotland for new tenancies in the private sector have risen by double digits for the fourth quarter in a...
31 October 2023
From: Breaking News
![Epic Fail - rents go UP in Scotland, despite government rent controls](/upload/images/Rental%20Market/New%20Rental%20Index-400x310.png)
Average rents in Scotland for new tenancies in the private rented sector have risen by double digits for the third time...
21 August 2023
From: Breaking News
![EPC targets threaten private rental sector if they are unchanged](/upload/images/Shutterstock-only%20images/Energy%20and%20Green%20Homes/Energy_Efficiency-400x310.png)
Stricter proposals for energy efficiency under review by the government risk damaging the private rental sector if they remain unchanged. That’s the...
26 July 2023
From: Breaking News
![OnTheMarket warns on downside of frantic lets market](/upload/images/Shutterstock-only%20images/Property%20Market/PropertyNews1-400x310.png)
OnTheMarket says the frantic lettings market of the past year or more is bad news for agents. In a trading statement to...
11 July 2023
From: Breaking News
![Energy efficiency targets ARE popular with rental sector - claim](/upload/images/Shutterstock-only%20images/Energy%20and%20Green%20Homes/Energy_EfficientHome-400x310.png)
According to new research from Mortgage Advice Bureau, two-fifths of landlords believe that new EPC requirements are important for the environment and will...
22 May 2023
From: Breaking News
![Franchise giant on the prowl for more lettings acquisitions](/upload/images/Shutterstock-only%20images/Property%20Market/Franchise-400x310.png)
A trading statement from Belvoir reveals that the franchise giant is on the look out for “good quality complimentary acquisitions”. A strong...
22 May 2023
From: Breaking News
![Speculation grows about future changes to EPCs](/upload/images/Shutterstock-only%20images/Energy%20and%20Green%20Homes/Energy_Efficiency-400x310.png)
Speculation is growing that the deadline for the private rental sector to meet new Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards for new tenants...
30 March 2023
From: Breaking News
![Agent reports ’normalising’ rental market as supply improves](/upload/images/Shutterstock-only%20images/Property%20Market/PropertyStats-400x310%20(1).png)
The latest market analysis by London lettings agency Chestertons, comparing January 2023 to the same month last year, shows the rental...
13 February 2023
From: Breaking News
![Actual rent rises may be below figures in surveys - claim](/upload/images/Shutterstock-only%20images/Property%20Market/AgentsWorking-400x310.png)
PropTech firm PayProp UK claims actual rent rises may be well below those suggested in some surveys. In response to the Scottish...
15 December 2022
From: Breaking News
![Rent rises for renewed tenancies far lower than for new ones](/upload/images/Shutterstock-only%20images/Property%20Market/House-pounds_400x310.png)
The average rent for a new letting has increased by £117 per month since last year, reaching £1,078 per calendar month...
09 December 2022
From: Breaking News
![Rental properties are getting smaller, claims new survey](/upload/images/Housing%20Market%20%26%20Property%20Images/CoinsHouses-2019-400x310.jpg)
Private renters’ average floor space per person in England has fallen by 16 per cent over the past 20 years while...
21 September 2022
From: Breaking News
![BBC reports on “unaffordable” rents for tenants under 30](/upload/images/library/BBC-logo400x310.png)
A series of BBC reports over the weekend highlighted what the broadcaster calls “a brewing cost-of-living crisis:” triggered by high rents. Citing...
22 August 2022
From: Breaking News
![Affordability is key to lettings going forward says agency chief](/upload/images/Housing%20Market%20%26%20Property%20Images/Balgores20.07.jpg)
A lettings agency chief says the rental market continues to be red hot but with affordability beginning to play a part...
16 August 2022
From: Breaking News
![Huge number of rented homes won’t make new EPC targets](/upload/images/Energy%20and%20Green%20Homes/utility%20bills%20-400x310.png)
Forty per cent of privately rented homes in England are unlikely to achieve the energy efficiency rating target set to become...
25 July 2022
From: Breaking News
![At Last! - gradual rise in supply but not enough to stop rent rises](/upload/images/Housing%20Market%20%26%20Property%20Images/BalgoresHousePrices.jpg)
The latest report from ARLA Propertymark shows that at last the average number of properties available for rent per agency branch...
25 July 2022
From: Breaking News
![Heatwave had no impact on even-hotter rental market - new analysis](/upload/images/Housing%20Market%20%26%20Property%20Images/SunsetImage-400x310.jpg)
Another analysis of the lettings market by PropTech firm Goodlord has shown that the intense heat is not confined to the...
21 July 2022
From: Breaking News
![Agents should identify homes with poor EPCs says Propertymark](/upload/images/Energy%20and%20Green%20Homes/Energyefficiency400x310.jpg)
Letting agents should consider how the properties they manage can become more energy efficient, says Propertymark. And they should tap into new...
01 June 2022
From: Breaking News
![PropTech partnership promises win-win for agents](/upload/images/PropTech%20%26%20Online/PropertyOnline-400x310.jpg)
A new PropTech link up pledges to be a win-win for agents, landlords and tenants. Muuvo, a platform which is free to...
17 May 2022
From: Breaking News
![Race For Space Is Over - tenants quit Home Counties for London](/upload/images/Locations/london.png)
London rents are rising at a record pace with growth being driven by tenants returning from outside the capital. That’s the suggestion...
16 May 2022
From: Breaking News
![Revealed - the London suburb where properties let in five days](/upload/images/Locations/LondonMap400x310-min.png)
A London agency says properties in its patch let in just five days. Draker Lettings in Fulham has just 22 available instructions...
12 May 2022
From: Breaking News
![New tenancies legislation debated at webinar next week](/upload/images/Housing%20Market%20%26%20Property%20Images/FemaleInvestor3-400x310-min.jpeg)
Propertymark members are to get a briefing on Northern Ireland’s new Private Tenancies Act at a webinar hosted by the trade...
05 May 2022
From: Breaking News
![Landlords’ market strengthens in prime London - rents up, voids down](/upload/images/Housing%20Market%20%26%20Property%20Images/london-property400x310.png)
The number of properties available for let in prime central parts of the capital has consistently trended down from the peak...
22 April 2022
From: Breaking News
![Rental sector energy crisis as average bills may hit £3,000 per year](/upload/images/Energy%20and%20Green%20Homes/EnergyLightbulb-400x310.png)
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is likely to add to fuel price pressures with a typical household annual bill now predicted to...
04 March 2022
From: Breaking News
![Lettings success helps Foxtons to upbeat trading performance](/upload/images/Logos/FoxtonsBoards-400x310.jpg)
The success of Foxtons’ lettings division has directly attributed to the London-focussed agency’s strong performance in the past year. A trading statement...
03 March 2022
From: Breaking News
![Agents Alert - years of legal and regulation changes ahead](/upload/images/new-story-stock-images/CourtImage-400x310.jpg)
A senior figure in an industry trade body says lettings agents are going to have their hands full dealing with legislative...
16 February 2022
From: Breaking News
![Huge rise in guarantors as Covid rattles lettings market](/upload/images/Coronavirus/Coronavirus6-400x310-min.jpeg)
The number of prospective tenants asked to provide guarantors ahead of renting has risen by a huge 36 per cent over...
14 February 2022
From: Breaking News
![Take That! Agency chief lets rip at flawed policies of government](/upload/images/Logos/BelvoirNEWESTLogo400x310.jpg)
The leader of one of Britain’s highest profile lettings agency operations has let rip at the government for what he calls...
10 February 2022
From: Breaking News
![London lettings strengthening but rents still below pre-pandemic](/upload/images/Locations/London400x310.png)
A prominent London buying agent says her property management team is letting out homes in the capital in a matter of...
03 February 2022
From: Breaking News
![Franchise group delivers 10% boost from lettings services](/upload/images/Logos/BelvoirNEWESTLogo400x310.jpg)
Lettings franchisees under the Belvoir banner delivered the group an additional 10 per cent management service fees last year according to...
01 February 2022
From: Breaking News
![London lettings some way from full recovery, says agency](/upload/images/Locations/LondonMapPins-400x310.jpg)
There’s still some way to go for the lettings market to return to its pre-pandemic best according to Knight Frank -...
18 January 2022
From: Breaking News
![Agents raise alarm over high cost EPC targets for rental sector](/upload/images/Energy%20and%20Green%20Homes/EnergyEfficiency-2-400x310.jpg)
ARLA Propertymark has fired a shot across the bows of the government as it aims to improve energy efficiency in the...
02 December 2021
From: Breaking News
![Average rent across UK hits record high for third month in a row](/upload/images/Rental%20Market/RisingRents-400x310.jpg)
The lettings market continues to boom, with HomeLet’s latest index showing average UK rents at a record high for the third...
06 September 2021
From: Breaking News
![The legal updates which impacted letting agents the most in 2021](/upload/images/adv-2021/sponsored-content/Legislate/Legislate%20360x280px.png)
How up to date is your knowledge on notice periods, pets in rentals, electrical safety inspections and lodgers? This year we’ve...
18 August 2021
From: Sponsored Content
![Huge pressure on lettings market from sellers temporarily renting](/upload/images/Housing%20Market%20%26%20Property%20Images/EmptyHomes-400x310.jpg)
A study by Hamptons shows that so far this year 10 per cent of new tenancies have been taken by someone...
16 August 2021
From: Breaking News
![Lettings income boost for agency network, with more to come](/upload/images/Rental%20Market/Tenancy-Agreement-400x310.png)
Lettings income has played a major part in the upswing in income for the Belvoir Group, reported to shareholders in its...
04 August 2021
From: Breaking News
![Agents hit back at Labour Mayor’s demand for rent controls](/img/default/lat.png)
ARLA Propertymark has hit back at a demand from London Labour Mayor Sadiq Khan that he be given the powers to...
12 July 2021
From: Breaking News
![Labour demands powers to control private rents](/img/default/lat.png)
London’s Labour Mayor, Sadiq Khan, has made a new call for power to cap private rents. He’s claimed that rents in the...
08 July 2021
From: Breaking News
![A record! Average UK rent over £1,000 pcm for first time](/img/default/lat.png)
The average UK rent now stands at a record £1,007 per calendar month - the highest ever, according to HomeLet. It’s up...
05 July 2021
From: Breaking News
![Super-strong rental market will last through summer and beyond](/img/default/lat.png)
The increasingly strong rental market is set to last throughout summer and beyond according to the latest analysis by PropTech platform...
03 June 2021
From: Breaking News
![Agents urged to create paper trail on electrical compliance](/img/default/lat.png)
Changes to electrical safety standards rules applying to existing tenancies came into force at the start of the Easter break and...
06 April 2021
From: Breaking News
![Government must offer buy to let sector a Green incentive - call](/img/default/lat.png)
The government’s embarrassing axing of the Green Homes Grant means there must now be a replacement to help the private rental...
30 March 2021
From: Breaking News
![Agent Alert - New electrical check regulations kick in next week](/img/default/lat.png)
The private rental sector has new electricity regulations taking effect next week, putting the emphasis on agents and landlords. The Electrical Safety...
26 March 2021
From: Breaking News
![“Supercharged growth plans” pledge by merged lettings giants](/img/default/lat.png)
Two franchise giants - Hunters and The Property Franchise Group - say their combined lettings book underpins their recent deal. In a...
25 March 2021
From: Breaking News
![Building Renovation Passports - MPs want these for rental sector](/img/default/lat.png)
An influential group of MPs has called for the replacement of “outdated” Energy Performance Certificates with new ‘Building Renovation Passports’. Currently EPCs...
23 March 2021
From: Breaking News
![Agencies cope with strong demand thanks to flexible PropTech - claim](/img/default/lat.png)
A PropTech supplier says rental market activity remains relatively robust through this third lockdown, with a 25 per cent drop in...
02 March 2021
From: Breaking News
![Energy Fightback: Petition argues against stricter rental EPCs](/img/default/lat.png)
An online petition is voicing opposition to government calls for ever-improving EPCs in the private rental sector. Nottingham landlord Tricia Urquhart has started the...
08 February 2021
From: Breaking News
![Agents’ alert over electricity checks as government digs in over deadline](/img/default/lat.png)
Letting agents have been told to document all arranging, planning and scheduling of work related to electrical checks in a bid...
01 February 2021
From: Breaking News
![Councils can’t enforce energy efficiency regs in rental sector - claim](/img/default/lat.png)
Propertymark has responded to the official consultation on the government proposals called Energy Performance of Privately Rented Homes in England and...
21 January 2021
From: Breaking News
![Rents begin 2021 on a high almost everywhere…except London](/img/default/lat.png)
The average rent in the UK, measured just before the turn of the year, is £979, showing a 2.7 per cent...
06 January 2021
From: Breaking News
The Tenant Fees Act 2019’s 12-month transition period came to an end on 31 May, prohibiting various payments and charges that...
16 December 2020
From: Sponsored Content
![Some agents have atrocious compliance failures, claims expert](/img/default/lat.png)
A lettings expert claims that many agents are failing to comply with appropriate legislation, rendering their landlord clients liable for legal...
27 November 2020
From: Breaking News
![What will the lettings market look like after lockdown ends?](/img/default/lat.png)
An exercise by PropTech company Goodlord has given an insight into what the lettings market may look like in parts of...
13 November 2020
From: Breaking News
![Agent urges landlords to speak out against expensive EPC rules](/img/default/lat.png)
Anger continues to mount over government plans to make rental properties more energy efficient, with one agent advising his landlords to make...
15 October 2020
From: Breaking News
![Stricter EPC regs - agents urged to tell government what they think](/img/default/lat.png)
A call to action has been sent to letting agents to make their voices heard about new EPC proposals from the Department...
12 October 2020
From: Breaking News
![How to ensure a smooth pre-tenancy process](/img/default/lat.png)
Making sure the check-in process for tenants is carried out in a smooth manner is more important than ever, in light...
07 October 2020
From: Sponsored Content
![Rent levels - London drops but most regions still rising](/img/default/lat.png)
The latest monthly rental index produced by insurance provider HomeLet shows a four per cent surge in the all-UK average rent...
06 October 2020
From: Breaking News
![It's Not On: Agents tell government new EPC targets can't be met](/img/default/lat.png)
New long-term targets for improving energy efficiency across the private rental sector simply are not realistic, the government has been warned. The...
02 October 2020
From: Breaking News
![Agents may be banned from advertising properties with poor EPCs](/img/default/lat.png)
A new proposal from the government says agents and portals will be banned from advertising rental properties with non-compliant Energy Performance...
01 October 2020
From: Breaking News
![Agents given Covid-secure guide on how to check-in students](/img/default/lat.png)
With college and university terms about to start, and ever-more diligence required over Coronavirus, the Deposit Protection Service is offering an...
11 September 2020
From: Breaking News
![Council identifies hundreds of rental units in energy efficiency clampdown](/img/default/lat.png)
A council says it's identified hundreds of rental properties within its boundaries which apparently do not comply with key energy efficiency...
02 September 2020
From: Breaking News
![Just grand! Average UK rent a whisker under £1,000 pcm](/img/default/lat.png)
The average rent across the UK is now £985 per calendar month, up some 2.1 per cent on four weeks ago...
02 September 2020
From: Breaking News
![Mandatory electrical checks in overdrive as tenant demand surges](/img/default/lat.png)
Letting agents are being warned they are likely to face a higher number of mandatory electrical checks as the sector expands...
20 August 2020
From: Breaking News
04 August 2020
From: Breaking News
![Good news - new tenancies bounce back to pre-pandemic levels](/img/default/lat.png)
New tenancies recorded by The Deposit Protection Service suggests the market is back almost to its pre-pandemic levels of activity. Data in...
23 July 2020
From: Breaking News
![Imminent surge of tenancies despite virus will challenge agents - claim](/img/default/lat.png)
There’s likely to be a further surge of new tenancies in the weeks to come, challenging agents’ ability to cope with...
22 July 2020
From: Breaking News
![Private rental units are government option for vulnerable people](/img/default/lat.png)
A £266m package of help to support vulnerable people into long term accommodation includes possible options to use the private rental...
21 July 2020
From: Breaking News
![Rents fall in most regions according to latest HomeLet figures](/img/default/lat.png)
Average rents in most regions of the UK have fallen slightly in the past month according to the latest HomeLet market...
10 July 2020
From: Breaking News
![Warning of ‘perfect storm’ for agents as new electrical checks arrive](/img/default/lat.png)
The arrival of mandatory enhanced electrical checks so soon after the chaos of the Coronavirus pandemic represents a perfect storm for...
23 June 2020
From: Breaking News
![Good news as lettings show “remarkable bounce back”](/img/default/lat.png)
PropTech firm Goodlord says there’s been “a remarkable bounce back” in the lettings sector since the market resumed. It’s been three weeks...
03 June 2020
From: Breaking News
![Testers' guide to electrical safety checks arriving next month](/img/default/lat.png)
Accreditation service NAPIT has produced a publication for the rental sector ahead of new electrical safety checks coming into force for...
03 June 2020
From: Breaking News
![Government issues guidelines for electrical checks from July 1](/img/default/lat.png)
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has issued guidelines ahead of new electrical safety checks coming into force for...
02 June 2020
From: Breaking News
![Virus: Safety of tenants is key responsibility of agents says government](/img/default/lat.png)
Tenants’ safety should be letting agents’ first priority in the new era of activity during the Coronavirus pandemic. In a new document...
14 May 2020
From: Breaking News
![New electrical safety standards here in July - new guide issued](/img/default/lat.png)
It’s only eight weeks to the start off the new Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector which come into...
06 May 2020
From: Breaking News
![Yet more regulation of rental sector on the way, predicts Propertymark](/img/default/lat.png)
Once the worst of the Coronavirus crisis passes there’s likely to be much more regulation of parts of the rental sector...
30 April 2020
From: Breaking News
![Agents must have complete records to avoid Corona complaints - claim](/img/default/lat.png)
A leading PropTech expert has urged lettings agents to improve their administration and paperwork if they want to avoid what could...
29 April 2020
From: Breaking News
![25% drop in new tenancies in prime London and SE - forecast](/img/default/lat.png)
Knight Frank is predicting that the number of tenancies agreed in the prime markets across London and the Home Counties in...
06 April 2020
From: Breaking News
![Reminder to agents - new MEES rules come into effect next week](/img/default/lat.png)
Despite the challenges being thrown up to the lettings sector by Coronavirus, this is a reminder that new MEES regulations on...
27 March 2020
From: Breaking News
![Are inventory clerks essential workers? Trade body seeks clarification](/img/default/lat.png)
The Association of Independent Inventory Clerks says it has contacted the government to see whether its members are deemed ‘essential’ and...
26 March 2020
From: Breaking News
![Agents Beware: All tenancies subject to ‘Human Habitation’ from tomorrow](/img/default/lat.png)
It’s easy to forget in the Coronavirus frenzy but from tomorrow, Friday March 20, all tenancies are to become subject to...
19 March 2020
From: Breaking News
![What is Section 8?](/img/default/lat.png)
With confirmation that Section 21 will be scrapped, how can agents get ready for life after no-fault evictions? The short answer is...
11 March 2020
From: Sponsored Content
![Students who rent urged to “go lawsuit crazy” from March 20](/img/default/lat.png)
An online student publication is urging readers who are tenants to “go lawsuit crazy” when the full provisions of the Homes...
06 March 2020
From: Breaking News
![Most of UK sees rent rises of 2% to 5% in past year](/img/default/lat.png)
The latest lettings market snapshot provided by HomeLet shows that the average rent across the UK as a whole is now...
12 February 2020
From: Breaking News
![Another New Rental Law: mandatory electric checks this year](/img/default/lat.png)
It looks almost certain that agents and landlords must ensure electrical installation inspections and testing are carried out for all new...