Winkworth has warned that ongoing legal and advisory costs linked to High Court proceedings involving its chair and former chief executive are likely to reduce full-year 2026 profit before tax materially below market expectations. The interim results also show mixed trading, with lettings revenue up and sales revenue down, while the company says underlying performance remains resilient.
EIG’s latest Property Auction Insights shows the residential auction market expanding across most UK regions, with sales up in 12 of 13 regions in the first half of 2026. Flats are taking a larger share of auction activity, and the report highlights that lease terms, service charges, cladding, building safety issues and major works continue to influence buyer appetite and mortgageability.
BTG’s latest Red Flag Alert Index reports rising financial distress across the UK real estate and property services sector, with both critical and significant distress increasing year-on-year in Q2 2026. The article links the deterioration to planning delays, regulatory and policy pressures, high borrowing costs and wider economic uncertainty, with estate agencies and property management firms particularly affected.
Research from Hamptons suggests the surge in buy-to-let company incorporations may have peaked, with new formations falling in 2026 as fewer existing landlords transfer properties into limited company structures. The article also notes continued growth in the total number of buy-to-let companies and accelerating rental growth, particularly outside London.
Zoopla reports that UK rental supply fell in July for the first time in three years, with enquiries per listing rising and average rents increasing again. The report attributes the tightening market mainly to scarcity of available homes, with regional pressures strongest in London and parts of northern England, while Wales has seen a relative easing in growth.
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 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.
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 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.
The article reports that former Prime Minister Gordon Brown has cautioned Andy Burnham and Chancellor John Healey against increasing property taxes in the upcoming Budget, arguing that property is already taxed heavily. It also notes discussion of possible reform to existing taxes such as Stamp Duty and Council Tax, alongside speculation about a proportional property tax and the Mansion Tax.
New research from LRG suggests more landlords are asking for guarantors where prospective tenants do not meet standard affordability checks, as rent-in-advance safeguards are reduced under the Renters’ Rights Act. The article also highlights low tenant awareness of professional guarantor services and the potential impact on rental demand and tenant choice.
