The article reports that the Chancellor will not raise Capital Gains Tax in the upcoming Budget, avoiding a potential increase in landlords’ CGT liabilities. It also notes that landlords still face wider tax and regulatory changes, including higher property income tax rates from April 2027, expanded Making Tax Digital requirements, and reforms under the Renters’ Rights Act.
A survey reported by August suggests that most landlords are unaware of the forthcoming landlord register and ombudsman linked to the Renters’ Rights Act. Awareness of other tenancy reforms is higher, but the article highlights a significant communication gap ahead of the planned rollout from December.
The article discusses LMS and its senior figure Matt Hahn as a key driver behind efforts to modernise home buying and selling in England and Wales. It highlights the National Property Transaction Network (NPTN), which aims to bring brokers, lenders, agents and conveyancers onto a shared digital platform and support forthcoming government reforms.
Research cited in the article suggests a significant proportion of letting agents lack confidence in identifying suspicious client money transactions, with more than a third saying they could not reliably spot fraud. The report also indicates that agents perceive fraud risk to be increasing, with AI-enabled impersonation and deepfake scams seen as a growing threat alongside more traditional phishing and landlord or tenant impersonation.
Pegasus Insight research indicates that landlord use of lettings agents has risen to a two-year high, with two thirds now using an agent for some or all of the letting process. The increase is being driven mainly by demand for full property management, as landlords face growing regulatory complexity and higher time commitments in managing rental portfolios.
The article criticises a Government proposal to shorten the qualifying period for Empty Dwelling Management Orders from two years to six months, arguing that this would significantly expand state intervention in privately owned empty homes. It notes that existing powers already allow councils to address derelict or problematic properties and suggests the policy would raise concerns about property rights and proportionality.
Industry bodies and agents are warning that new housing delivery in Scotland is under severe pressure, with rising construction and finance costs, alongside additional policy burdens, pushing many schemes to pause or abandonment. The article also cites a decline in private sector new-build starts and says the housing emergency in Scotland is worsening, with Glasgow highlighted as particularly affected.
The article argues that a new first-time buyer support scheme will have limited impact unless Stamp Duty is reformed. It says current tax settings are discouraging investors and developers, contributing to weaker market confidence and slowing the delivery of new homes.
The Government has launched a consultation on extending Awaab’s Law beyond social housing to the private rented sector, with potential coverage also for certain temporary, supported and care-related housing. The proposal would impose legally binding deadlines for landlords to address dangerous damp and mould, building on existing duties to deal with serious health and safety hazards.
Taylor Wimpey has stopped building new homes in London, saying the viability of new schemes has become fundamentally broken and that development costs have risen to prohibitive levels. The company cited policy-related cost pressures, including the requirement for a second staircase in high-rise buildings over 18 metres, alongside a broader decline in expected London completions.
The Property Ombudsman has expelled three registered property businesses after they failed to pay more than £1,000 in redress awards. The cases involved complaints about tenancy handling, a missing survey report and delays in transferring deposits and rent, with the Ombudsman stressing that compliance with awards is mandatory.
