The article reports early evidence that landlords are increasing advertised rents in response to the Renters Rights Act, particularly because bidding wars are being banned and in-tenancy rent rises are harder to impose. It also argues that broader rental demand has normalised, with fewer enquiries per property and a market increasingly shaped by affordability and turnover rather than a fresh surge in demand.
The Environment Agency has announced two further arrests in its ongoing investigation into large-scale illegal waste dumping at a site in Kidlington, bringing the total number of arrests to six. The site was previously closed by court order and has since been fully cleaned, with more than 22,000 tonnes of waste removed.
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.
A property management specialist argues that replacing leasehold with Commonhold would not, by itself, resolve the underlying causes of poor resident outcomes. The article calls for stronger regulation, better governance and improved standards within the existing system rather than a wholesale tenure change.
The government has published research on reservation agreements, with the article noting that estate agents have given the idea a cautious reception. The extract suggests the topic is being considered as part of wider discussions around property transaction practice.
New research from the Home Builders Federation says nine in ten local authority planning departments in England and Wales are operating below full staffing capacity. The report links these shortages to slower decision-making, with major application determination rates and Section 106 completion times both cited as evidence of pressure on the system.
A building at Charing Cross Station has been granted Grade II listing, which may affect proposed refurbishment plans by Hopkins. The designation recognises the architectural significance of the Terry Farrell-designed landmark and introduces additional constraints for any future works.
The Environment Agency has updated its guidance on CEN and ISO monitoring methods for discharges to water, including the addition of new standards for several pollutants and the replacement of the PFOS/PFOA standard with one for PFAS. The document notes that some updated methods, including those for biochemical oxygen demand and total nitrogen, supersede previous versions.
The Land Registry has updated Practice Guide 21, which covers how to prepare and complete transfer forms for complex or unusual transactions. The change clarifies that when multiple transfers are being submitted, separate applications must be prepared and lodged for each transfer.
Cityside has submitted plans for an 88-home residential scheme in Wilmslow on 10 acres of Green Belt land, which it says meets Grey Belt criteria. The proposal includes a landscape-led layout with a shared meadow, orchard and 45% affordable housing, but the application has not yet been validated by Cheshire East Council.
The National Leasehold Campaign has urged the prime minister to bring forward the proposed £250 cap on ground rents, arguing it would provide more immediate and certain financial relief to leaseholders than the government’s plug-in solar initiatives. The group also called for faster leasehold reform, a shorter timetable for ending ground rents, and protections against additional fees linked to energy-saving measures.
Propertymark is warning letting agents and landlords that local licensing requirements are expanding while penalties for non-compliance have increased under the Renters’ Rights Act 2025. The article highlights growing council consultations on selective and additional licensing, Article 4 Directions affecting HMOs, and the forthcoming PRS Database as part of a more complex regulatory landscape.
