New research cited by Rushbrook & Rathbone suggests average rental void periods in England have shortened since the Renters’ Rights Act was introduced in May, falling from a peak of 24 days to 21 days. The article says landlords are adapting to the new legal framework and using the period to improve compliance and portfolio management, although voids remain longer than a year ago in some areas.
Loc8me has appointed Wesley Brown as Chief Operating Officer to support further expansion, integrate recent acquisitions and maintain service standards across its student lettings portfolio. The company says it now manages almost 10,000 student bedrooms in 19 university cities and is investing in leadership to scale operations more effectively.
Stoke-on-Trent council is proposing a major tightening of controls on houses in multiple occupation (HMOs), including an Article 4 Direction, ward-level caps on HMO concentrations, and a city-wide additional licensing scheme for smaller HMOs. The measures are intended to address resident concerns about the local impacts of high HMO density, including noise, waste and parking pressure.
Propertymark has warned that the planned national landlord register in England could add cost and administrative burden if it duplicates information already held in local licensing or other government systems. It supports the principle of a central register, but says the scheme must be workable, properly resourced and designed to strengthen, not replace, local enforcement.
Right to Buy sales in England rose sharply in 2025 to 2026, with 14,275 council homes sold, while replacement supply funded through receipts fell to 3,452 homes. The article links the increase to proposed reforms under the Social Housing Bill and notes that reduced discounts and tighter eligibility may prompt tenants to buy before further changes take effect.
The article explains that landlords with rental income above £50,000 are entering the first stage of Making Tax Digital for Income Tax, which requires digital record-keeping and software-based submissions to HMRC. It notes that missing the current deadline does not yet trigger penalties, but the grace period will end in the 2027/28 financial year, with traditional self-assessment due to phase out by 2028.
The article argues that the Renters’ Rights Act is already producing unintended consequences, including upward pressure on rents, reduced flexibility for tenants without guarantors, and new risks for landlords trying to sell rental properties. It cites early market data and industry commentary suggesting the reforms are reshaping behaviour before their full effects are understood.
Openmoove has launched a free material information service for agents and sellers, positioning compliance data collection as part of the normal valuation and viewing workflow. The company says the approach is intended to support the government’s wider homebuying reforms by front-loading information and reducing transaction friction.
Reigate and Banstead Borough Council is consulting on an Article 4 Direction that would remove permitted development rights for smaller HMOs, requiring full planning permission for conversions housing three or more people from more than one household. The council says the move is intended to manage rising complaints and allow closer scrutiny of location, design, accommodation standards and neighbourhood impact.
The article argues that conveyancing delays are being driven by inconsistent legal enquiries and complexity rather than issues with the property itself. It introduces the Conveyancing Improvement Collective, a practitioner-led initiative aimed at reducing unnecessary enquiries and addressing leasehold issues such as Mortgagee Protection Clauses, with input from agents and other property professionals.
The Property Franchise Group reported slower first-half growth after a strong prior year, with revenue and franchising income still rising but housing transaction volumes down 4% year on year. The group highlighted stable managed lettings numbers, ongoing support for network firms on the Renters’ Rights Act, and new AI-enabled products as part of its strategy.
Landlord Action reports a 28% year-on-year rise in landlord possession instructions ahead of the 31 July transitional deadline linked to the Renters’ Rights Act. The article also notes early patterns in the use of the revised Section 8 grounds, with rent arrears grounds currently the most common and sale-related possession claims also significant.
