The article reports that proposed Government reforms could end insured tenancy deposit schemes, prompting many landlords to consider custodial schemes or deposit alternatives. Survey results cited by Zero Deposit suggest a sizeable minority of landlords would adopt alternative products, while most would move to custodial arrangements if the current model changed.
New research cited in the article suggests rental growth has accelerated in most regions of England since the Renters’ Rights Act was implemented in May, although the national average rate has remained unchanged. The strongest increases were reported in the West Midlands and North West, with London also showing faster rent growth and continued tenant demand.
The article reports that a new national landlord registration service in England will launch on 15 December, beginning in the West Midlands and then rolling out regionally. Registration will become a legal requirement for landlords, with deadlines extending to November 2027, and future rules will also require registration of unoccupied properties before marketing. The piece also notes that HMRC’s Valuation Office will take over initial decisions on rent increase challenges, while tenants continue to use the First-tier Tribunal during the transition.
Propertymark warns that landlords and letting agents are facing a more complex licensing environment, with higher civil penalties for Housing Act offences and expanding local licensing schemes across England. The article also highlights the forthcoming PRS Database and the risk of rent repayment orders where properties are left unlicensed.
The article reports that eviction disputes are increasing across the private rented sector, with landlords seeking vacant possession more often and tenants more frequently challenging notices. A law firm attributes the trend to worsening economics for landlords, including tax changes, refinancing costs, compliance burdens and uncertainty over future energy standards.
Propertymark has urged Northern Ireland’s Department for Communities to revise the Warm Healthy Homes Fund so that support for private rented homes is based on the property’s energy efficiency rather than the tenant’s income. It argues that the current approach could exclude some of the least efficient homes from funding, even where improvement is most needed.
New research from Pegasus Insight suggests that 26% of landlords experienced rent arrears in the past year, a figure that has fallen from its 2020 peak but remains significant. The report also highlights persistent void periods, especially among larger portfolios and HMO operators, against a backdrop of ongoing inflationary and regulatory pressures.
England’s register for short-term and holiday lets is set to be fully operational by March 2027, with the Government saying it will strengthen regulation and improve visibility over how homes are being used. The article also notes related policy changes affecting holiday lets, including the abolition of the Furnished Holiday Lets tax regime and wider local authority powers over second homes.
The New Homes Ombudsman received a sharp increase in complaints over the past year, with cases rising from 593 to 1,802 and a higher proportion of decisions favouring homeowners. The report also shows increased compensation awards, more early resolutions, and ongoing concerns about defects ranging from finish issues to more serious structural and fire-safety failures.
The article argues that the Government’s planned High Value Council Tax Surcharge, branded by the author as a mansion tax, will create significant valuation and administrative challenges for high-value homes in England from April 2028. It highlights likely disputes over threshold-based valuations, the potential need for internal inspections, and the burden this could place on surveyors, valuers, lawyers and tribunals.
The National Leasehold Campaign is urging the Prime Minister to accelerate the promised £250 ground rent cap for leasehold properties, framing it as an immediate cost-of-living measure for leaseholders. The article argues that many households would see more certain and direct savings from a ground rent cap than from the Government’s recently promoted plug-in solar initiative.
A survey of lettings professionals found that the Renters’ Rights Act has increased administrative workload for most firms, with compliance and record keeping identified as the main pressure point. The report also highlights fragmented technology use, manual data handling and concerns about maintaining profitability while meeting new requirements.
