North London agent argues that seemingly endless extra burdens on landlords and letting agents is slowly asphyxiating a once healthy market. As the Autumn budget looms, HM Treasury has been ‘leaking’ various tax increase proposals, which it hopes will plug the Chancellor’s self-engineered £40-50 billion fiscal hole. The latest, to…

It has emerged that Chancellor Rachel Reeves pounded the streets in her own constituency calling for selective licensing – the same kind of licence that she failed to secure for her own home, through a mix-up with the lettings agency.  Reeves was shadow chancellor in 2023 when she joined the…

An agent says the controversy over licensing and Chancellor Rachel Reeves illustrates how complicated the whole licensing system is. That’s the view of Richard Bryce, co-founder of estate agency House Collective.  On Wednesday it was revealed by the press that Reeves had committed a strict liability crime under section 95…

Prime Minister Sir Kier Starmer says there’s no need for an inquiry into how Chancellor Rachel Reeves unlawfully let her family home without the necessary licence. Last evening the story broke in the Daily Mail that the Reeves family home in south London was let after Labour won the General…

A prominent wealth management firm says Labour’s plan to impose new property taxes is ‘the final nail in the coffin’ for property investment. Rathbones is giving the warning in response to recent reports that the Treasury is examining various options for property taxes ahead of the Budget – including a…

A high profile market commentator is warning that tenants will ultimately pay the price for new rental taxes proposed by the government. Jonathan Rolande says actual and proposed changes to the private rental sector – the Renters Reform Bill, the 5% stamp duty surcharge, higher mortgage costs and bow possible…

Agents are bracing themselves for the already-complicated private rental sector to become still more complex – and some fear the red tape could stifle the industry. The Property Outlook Report 2025 has been written by industry supplier Reapit and reveals that over-regulation tops the list of agents’ concerns.  Nearly 60% of respondents…

Property industry welcomes Nationwide report revealing 9% growth in England’s housing over past decade, scotching claims nation doesn’t have enough homes. England’s housing stock has grown by 9% over the past decade to reach 25.4 million dwellings, according to the Nationwide’s latest figures within its ‘The changing face of housing…

Several high profile figures have applauded the Chancellor’s plans to overhaul the property tax system and target wealthier home owners. The shock news that Chancellor Rachel Reeves (main image) is planning to scrap Stamp Duty and replace it with a property tax paid by sellers has garnered much support within the property industry,…

The official figures show that although more landlords are evicting using Section 21 ahead of the Renters’ Rights Bill, court bottlenecks remain. Landlords and letting agents are waiting even longer to repossess properties, latest Government evictions data reveals. Published by the Department of Justice, the figures covering April to June…

MPs last night sent the Renters’ Rights Bill back to the House of Lords having disagreed with all the amendments. Peers had introduced changes to the controversial legislation such as having an additional deposit for pets and allowing a landlord to regain their property to house a carer for themselves…

Property experts scheduled to appear at an upcoming National Landlord investment Show have outlined a likely timetable for the progress of the Renters Rights Bill into law. The Bill returns to the House of Commons on Monday September 8 with high expectation that the government wants it passed into law…