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: UK rental prices continue upward trend; Scotland is leading the way in social housing; UK mortgage borrowing hit four-year high before stamp duty hike; Government’s rent caps ‘are a flawed policy’; Landlords see rent arrears rocket; 2028 EPC deadline could cut rental supply, warns UK Finance… Happy reading and… renting!
Cheaper mortgages and relaxed borrowing risks spike in house prices
Several lenders, including the majority of the ‘big six’ high street banks, have lowered mortgage rates in recent weeks, while several providers have relaxed their borrowing rules, so buyers can borrow more cash.
Continue reading
UK rental prices continue upward trend
Average rent per property inched up across the month as the market continues to grow. And voids held steady at 21 days, the same length of void period recorded in March, as demand remains consistent ahead of the peak summer months.
Continue reading
UK house prices show modest rise
The UK’s house prices edged up by 0.3% in April, reversing a 0.5% dip from March, bringing the average property value to £297,781, according to Halifax.
This marks an increase of nearly £900, with the annual growth rate climbing to 3.2%, the highest this year.
Continue reading
Property market sees a surge in buyer activity
There has been a robust upswing in buyer activity across England over the past year with nearly every county witnessing more potential homeowners, research reveals.
The study by an estate agency reveals the growth is down to improved market confidence and better mortgage accessibility.
Continue reading
Scotland is leading the way in social housing
Across the UK, the social housing sector has suffered from decades of underfunding, leading to a sharp decline in the construction of new properties. Policies such as the Right to Buy scheme have further depleted social housing stock, and successive governments in England have failed to replace sold homes at the same rate.
Continue reading
Landlords looking to sell as tenant demand grows
According to Propertymark’s Housing Insight report, a growing number of landlords have been leaving the market in recent years due to regulation and financial pressures.
Continue reading
UK asking prices hit record high but Britain enters buyers market
Spring is usually a busy season for selling a property, but the market already faced a rush of activity during the first quarter of 2025 as buyers looked to complete deals before stamp duty thresholds dropped.
Continue reading
Growth in demand relative to supply keeps UK house price growth in check
Despite an improving interest rate outlook, asking prices this spring will need to reflect the wide choice on offer for buyers.
An estate agency nudged up its 2025 UK house price forecast to 3.5% from 2.5% last week, thanks in part to cheaper mortgage borrowing rates.
Continue reading
Average UK house price climbs by £2,335 in May
The average price of a UK property coming to market has climbed to £379,517 in May, but the seasonal uplift is more subdued than usual, suggesting a market adjusting to increased supply and cautious buyer sentiment.
Continue reading
Over 6% rise in UK house prices
Average UK house prices increased by 6.4% to £271,000, in the 12 months to March 2025. This annual growth was up from 5.5% in the 12 months to February 2025, according to the latest UK House Price Index from the Office for National Statistics.
Continue reading
BOE set to cut interest rates within weeks – what it means for your savings, pension and mortgage
A wave of interest rate cuts could be on the horizon and for households juggling mortgages, savings, or retirement plans, the impact could be felt sooner than expected.
Markets are now pricing in a high chance of a rate cut in May, with more likely to follow later in the year, as economic uncertainty and global trade tensions shake forecasts.
Continue reading
UK mortgage borrowing hit four-year high before stamp duty hike
Mortgage borrowing in the UK surged to its highest level in four years in March, as buyers raced to complete property purchases before changes to stamp duty thresholds came into force at the end of the month.
Continue reading
Interest rates set to fall at fastest rate since UK’s financial crisis
The Bank of England is expected to cut interest rates from 4.5% to 4.25% next week in what would be the second rate reduction this year, having already dropped from 4.75% to 4.5% in February.
Continue reading
Nationwide cuts mortgage rates again including sub-4% for first-time buyers
For the first time since September 2024, Nationwide will be offering sub-4% rates for first-time buyers. The lowest first-time buyer rate is 3.94% and available on a two-year fixed rate product at 60% loan-to-value (LTV) with a £1,499 fee.
Continue reading
Buy to let mortgage searches plummet
The buy to let mortgage sector has experienced a sharp decline, with searches last month dropping to 14.74% of the total market – the lowest since tracking began in January 2020, research reveals.
Continue reading
Mid-May mortgage rate movements
Following the base rate reduction to 4.25%, a mix of firms including TSB, HSBC and Barclays have announced cuts to a range of borrowing offers.
HSBC has reduced mortgage rates across a number of its products, available from 19 May.
Continue reading
London rents rise to record high for 14th consecutive month
UK rental prices have reached new heights, with London leading the way at a record-breaking £2,698 per month. This marks the 14th consecutive month of new rent records for the capital.
Outside of London, the average advertised rent has also surged, climbing to £1,349 per month, another new high.
Continue reading
Two-thirds of renters say they have positive relationship with landlord
Around 66% of private tenants have a positive relationship with their landlord, a report has found.
Only 13% reported having a negative relationship, with the remainder saying it was neither positive nor negative.
Continue reading
Tenants are quitting tenancies early believing the Renters’ Rights Bill is already law
There appears to be a growing misconception among tenants that the Renters’ Rights Bill is already law to trigger a surge in early tenancy terminations.
They are doing so believing they can legally exit a tenancy with just two months’ notice.
Continue reading
Government’s rent caps ‘are a flawed policy’
Paul McLennan, Scottish minister for housing, said that: “There have been ongoing calls for further certainty on how rent controls will be implemented and how rents will be capped in areas where rent control applies. To respond to this, we are bringing forward this consultation to seek views on how the powers within the Housing Scotland Bill could be used…
Continue reading
Renters willing to break rules to be with their pets
Nearly a third of renters claim they would risk moving in a pet or partner without permission from their landlord, according to a new survey.
Data reveals a surge in demand for pet-friendly rentals, with over 1,300 people searching for them each month in the UK.
Continue reading
Ten rental property hotspots in England – where are rent costs rising the fastest?
Average asking prices for monthly rent in the UK have surged by more than 10 per cent in some towns and cities, according to Rightmove.
In its latest figures, the property website showed that the average asking rent for a property outside London now stands at £1,349 a month…
Continue reading
Landlords see rent arrears rocket
The average amount tenants owe landlords in unpaid rent has rocketed to £2,237 in the first quarter of 2025, a 23% jump from £1,818 the previous year, research reveals.
This figure reflects a 56% increase since Q1 2023, underscoring the financial strain facing the PRS.
Continue reading
London’s renters face eviction surge because of rising costs not behaviour
A leading law firm has raised concerns about a sharp rise in landlord possession claims across London, pointing to a cost-of-living crisis facing renters – and not their behaviour.
Continue reading
Is the landlord right to expect the tenant to pay for utilities during their tenancy?
Aside from the obvious differences between HMO and standard property tenancies, there are several potential pitfalls that can catch a landlord or agent off guard. Some of these issues only become apparent at the end of the tenancy when a deposit claim is rejected…
Continue reading
Landlords need to be aware of protected tenancies
Landlords have been warned about the challenges of reclaiming properties from tenants with protected leases.
The Landlord and Tenant Act 1954, introduced to balance landlord-tenant relationships, is currently under review by the Law Commission.
Continue reading
Why investment in buy-to-let still holds appeal
The latest Buy-to-Let Mortgage Market Update, published this month by UK Finance, which represents firms in banking and financial services, revealed that there were 52,648 new buy-to-let loans advanced in the UK in the fourth quarter of last year, worth £9.6 billion.
Continue reading
Landlord instructions fall as ‘unintended consequences’ of Renters’ Rights Bill hit home
Letting agents across the UK have seen a further decline in new landlord instructions, as more buy-to-let investors leave the rental market, with some citing concerns about increased regulations, and reduced flexibility in managing their properties.
Continue reading
2028 EPC deadline could cut rental supply, warns UK Finance
In response to a government consultation on improving minimum energy efficiency standards in the private rented sector, UK Finance argues the 2028 deadline could have severe consequences for the supply of rental properties.
Continue reading
Landlords head north for higher yields
Landlords are increasingly turning their attention to Northern areas, and if current trends continue, by 2033, most buy to let purchases will be in the Midlands and North…
The North offers more affordable properties, and better returns are offsetting the burden of higher stamp duty and mortgage rates.
Continue reading
Wear and tear rules are ‘outdated’ as remote working surges
The shift to remote working has transformed how homes are used, but rental laws lag, causing disputes and financial strain for tenants and landlords alike, a report reveals.
Furnishings in rental properties, such as carpets and sofas, are deteriorating 30% faster than before the pandemic due to increased home use.
Continue reading
Tenants prefer long-term rentals over short-term lets
There appears to be a strong preference among tenants for long-term rental agreements, casting doubt on the impact of the proposed Renters’ Rights Bill (RRB), which aims to eliminate fixed-term tenancies.
Continue reading
Labour is gearing up for a tax raid on landlords – claim
Chancellor Rachel Reeves is facing mounting calls from Labour MPs to impose new taxes on landlords, aiming to address a looming budget deficit without breaking the party’s promise to avoid tax hikes on ‘working people’.
Continue reading
Protect the environment. Reduce paper consumption and help save the trees as well as save money at the same time. 
