The article reports that asking rents have risen by 6% across 21 major UK towns and cities in the three months since the Renters’ Rights Act came into force, according to a Ringley Group study. It also says a significant share of private landlords have sold or tried to sell in the past year, contributing to a shrinking private rented sector and prompting calls for Budget measures to support rental-sector viability.
Savills reports that prime rents have continued to rise, with stronger annual growth in Prime Central London and outer London, while regional prime markets have slowed. The article says landlord caution around the Renters Rights Act, higher taxation and mortgage costs is constraining supply, particularly in lower rental bands below the £100,000 threshold.
Landmark’s Q3 2026 market overview says the housing market in England and Wales remains subdued but steady, with healthy stock levels and asking-price reductions not translating into stronger buyer activity. Rising borrowing costs, wider uncertainty and speculation ahead of the Autumn Budget are contributing to lower SSTC volumes, weaker search orders and fewer completions year-on-year.
The Regulator of Social Housing has taken enforcement action against Concept Housing Association after identifying serious governance, risk management and financial viability failings, including overdue financial statements and concerns about external arrangements. It has also launched an investigation into Hexagon Housing Association over possible failures against the Governance and Financial Viability Standard.
Nicholson Group has submitted plans to convert the vacant Grade II-listed former Pilkington canteen in St Helens into 45 flats. The adaptive reuse proposal follows an earlier, unimplemented 2008 approval for a smaller residential scheme and aims to balance heritage preservation with new housing use.
The Bank of England’s SONIA Stakeholder Advisory Group discussed potential changes to sterling money market data collection and the operational implications of extending RTGS and CHAPS settlement hours. The group also considered how longer settlement windows, possible weekend opening, and reporting deadlines could affect SONIA publication timing and market conventions.
Savills reports that prime rents have continued to rise in London and selected regional markets, with Prime Central London showing its strongest quarterly rental growth in two years. The article links tighter supply and landlord caution to the Renters Rights Act, alongside tax and mortgage cost pressures, while noting that affordability is limiting the pace of further increases.
The article reports that London rental growth has outpaced house price growth in most boroughs since the start of the year, with average rents rising while average house prices have edged down overall. It highlights particularly strong rental growth in boroughs such as Camden and Islington, alongside weaker sales market performance across much of the capital.
Manchester City Council is due to consider two major purpose-built student accommodation schemes on Charles Street, together delivering around 3,500 beds across seven buildings. Both proposals are recommended for approval and would involve substantial tall-building development adjacent to the Sister innovation district, with objections focused on scale, daylight and impacts on nearby public realm.
The government’s impact assessment for extending Awaab’s Law to private rented tenancies forecasts continued growth in England’s private rental sector, rising from 4.827 million households in 2026 to an estimated 5.378 million by 2035. It also notes uncertainty around landlord numbers due to limited recent data, while suggesting the sector may consolidate to support remediation work at scale.
The article reports criticism of Labour’s proposed changes to Empty Dwelling Management Orders, which would allow councils to intervene in empty homes after six months rather than two years. A property investor argues the policy is unlikely to work without funding for substantial repairs, particularly where homes are uninhabitable, and suggests grants may be a more practical approach.
The article argues that residential property transactions remain too slow and prone to fall-throughs, with delays driven by avoidable friction between agents, conveyancers, lenders and other parties. It introduces the Conveyancing Improvement Collective (CIC) as a collaborative forum aimed at identifying practical process improvements rather than assigning blame.
