Landlord press review: February 2026
Like every month, Rentila offers you an overview of the main real estate news of interest to landlords and tenants. This month, we focus on: Rental listings hit record low as landlords exit UK market; House prices rise 0.3% in January; Four in 10 landlords plan to refinance buy to let mortgages; London’s rental supply rebounds as tenant competition cools; More than 200,000 UK homes owned by overseas buyers… Happy reading and… renting!
The market
Half of UK homes rise in value in 2025
Most homeowners checking their house price last year saw values edge higher, although where you live mattered more than ever.
An analysis shows that half of the UK’s 30 million homes increased in value during 2025.
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Rental listings hit record low as landlords exit UK market
The UK private rented sector is facing a deepening supply crisis as rental listings fall to record low levels, with a growing number of landlords choosing to exit the market, according to new analysis.
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The coastal locations where properties are losing value
Coastal properties are often popular with retirees or those who want to escape the hustle and bustle of cities, but high house prices have been a deterrent for many.
However, this could be changing as fresh data reveals house prices dropped in some of the most popular seaside towns by as much as 6.9% in 2025.
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House prices rise 0.3% in January
Annual house prices grew 1% in January, with values rising 0.3% on a month-on-month basis after seasonal adjustment.
According to Nationwide, the modest uplift marks a reversal from December, when yearly growth slowed to 0.6%.
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House prices may dip if govt hits 1.5m new homes target
Around 300,000 new homes have been finished since Labour took power.
The government is due to unveil a housing strategy in the very near future that is meant to encourage different housebuilding models to those used by large developers.
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What will happen to house prices in 2026?
UK house prices are expected to rise by 3% in 2026, despite recent increases in borrowing costs and economic uncertainty. While stronger-than-expected UK data has pushed mortgage rates higher in recent weeks, the prospect of lower rates later in the year is one factor supporting price growth.
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Average UK house price reaches £300,000 for first time
The average price of a house in the UK has risen above £300,000 for the first time, as buyers have returned to the market after a December dip.
The milestone will be welcomed by homeowners who, on average, will have seen the price of their property reach new highs.
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Rental market shifts as tenants grow more price-conscious
The latest rental data from Propertymark points to a seasonal cooling across much of the UK, with average rents falling month on month in most regions as post-Christmas demand eases.
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UK housing market showing early signs of recovery
The UK housing market is showing early signs of recovery, even as activity remains subdued and regional disparities widen, according to surveyors.
A net balance of 15% of professionals reported a fall in new buyer enquiries in January…
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UK real estate asking prices stay stable — but is it really a good time to buy?
UK house asking prices were effectively unchanged in February after a strong start to the year, offering what analysts describe as a potential window of stability for both domestic and international buyers…
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House prices fall 0.7% in December after disappointing end to 2025 for housing market
The UK housing market stumbled to the end of 2025, as the latest figures from the government’s House Price Index revealed a monthly dip in values and a slowdown in momentum across much of the country. Average house prices fell by 0.7% in December, underscoring a subdued close to the year, even as annual growth remained in positive territory at 2.4%…
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Mortgage
Home buyers return as mortgage rates fall and housing choice widens
Home buyer confidence is improving as mortgage costs ease, bringing more people back into the housing market, although activity remains below last year’s opening pace.
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Major UK bank launches new 2% deposit mortgage for first-time buyers
A major bank has launched a new mortgage product designed to help some first-time buyers onto the property ladder with a deposit of just 2 per cent.
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Four in 10 landlords plan to refinance buy to let mortgages
Four in 10 landlords are planning to refinance their buy to let property over the next year, research from Paragon Bank has found.
It says that 39% of landlords expect to remortgage or switch products during 2026.
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Markets expect UK interest rates to bottom out at 3.0% in Q1 2027
Investors polled by the Bank of England expect the central bank to steadily cut its main Bank Rate to a low of 3.0% by its March 2027 meeting, down from 3.75% after Thursday’s interest rate decision, a survey showed.
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Why did the bank stick to 3.75% and what does it mean?
The Bank of England has held interest rates at 3.75%, saying that it needed to keep inflation under control.
It followed a split vote among the rate-setting committee, with five members voting to keep rates unchanged and four preferring a cut.
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Fixed-rate mortgage prices barely moved
Moneyfacts found that the typical two-year fix price was 4.86%, unchanged from last week.
The average five-year fixed rate rose by 1bps to 4.97%.
The overall flat nature of fixed-rate mortgages this week does not mean pricing was not dynamic.
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What could upcoming inflation figures mean for interest rates in the UK?
Most economists are forecasting Office for National Statistics (ONS) data to show Consumer Prices Index (CPI) inflation fell back sharply to 3% in January from 3.4% in December.
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Rent
London’s rental supply rebounds as tenant competition cools
Tenant competition in London’s lettings market eased at the end of last year as a pickup in available homes to rent began to rebalance conditions for renters and landlords alike.
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What do renters look for in Short-Term lets in the UK?
Short-term lets are currently a popular option for property investors in the UK. Buying property for Airbnb can provide benefits such as potentially stronger yields (due to typically higher fees to rent out the property), high demand in the right UK areas, and a more flexible investment strategy.
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Fewer buy-to-let landlords increased rents last year
Just over half (51%) of buy-to-let landlords increased rents over the past 12 months, down slightly from 53% in the previous survey, according to The Deposit Protection Service (The DPS).
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Advice
Five ways first-time buyers can prepare to step onto property ladder in 2026
Aspiring first-time buyers looking to enter the housing market this year may be able to make their experience go more smoothly by taking certain steps to prepare, according to a property expert.
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Most landlords are unprepared for May’s Renters’ Rights Act
Three-quarters of landlords have made no preparations for the abolition of Section 21 ‘no fault’ evictions, as the Renters’ Rights Act reforms approach in May, research reveals.
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Other
Homeownership costs poised to rise sharply
Since Liz Truss’s brief period in office in 2022 and the infamous so-called mini-budget delivered by her short-lived chancellor, Kwasi Kwarteng, many homeowners have seen their mortgage costs rise sharply.
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More than 200,000 UK homes owned by overseas buyers
There are 202,568 homes in the UK that are now registered to owners based outside the country, research reveals.
The findings from Enness Global show that the total has barely shifted over the past 12 months, rising by just 0.02%.
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Government claims EPC C targets will help tenants
The government claims it is “standing up for tenants” by introducing EPC C targets for landlords, despite concerns over the costs involved.
The government also said landlords should provide clear communication to tenants about minimum energy efficiency standards.
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Landlords profitable but nervous ahead of Renters’ Rights Act
Most landlords remain profitable, but confidence is under strain as the Renters’ Rights Act edges closer, research reveals.
The findings show 85% of landlords are currently making a profit from their portfolios, with just 6% reporting losses.
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Government clarifies deposit rules under Renters’ Rights Act
The government has published new guidance on deposits when giving notice to tenants.
The latest clarification comes as the Renters’ Rights Act comes into force on 1 May 2026.
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A third of property sales take longer than 17 weeks
In its latest housing insights report covering December, the trade body covering estate agents, lettings and other property professionals found that transaction timescales are tailing downwards but remain “persistently high”.
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Landlords Brace for Impact as UK Introduces New 47% Income Tax Rates
These changes, announced by Chancellor Rachel Reeves, aim to close the tax gap between earned income and unearned income from assets. But as the tax rates climb, experts warn of potential long-term consequences for the housing market.
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Landlords devote 31 hours of ‘sweat’ every month to property management
Letting property is proving far from passive, with landlords dedicating huge amounts of time alongside financial investment to keep portfolios running.
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