Landlord press review: May 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: The southern towns and cities where house prices are falling even more than in London; Scotland lags UK housing boom despite cheaper homes; Nearly half of UK homes fail to sell amid high pricing; Homeowners spend 21% of income on mortgage payments; Landlords warn of rent hikes as reforms loom; Locations where it typically takes longer to sell a home than last year revealed… Happy reading and… renting!
The market
Property industry reacts to latest house price and rent data
UK house prices rose by 1.2% in the year to February, up slightly from 1% in January, according to the latest data from the Office for National Statistics.
The figures also point to a continued easing in rental growth.
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The southern towns and cities where house prices are falling even more than in London
Londoners are not the only homeowners seeing their properties fall in value, according to the latest data from Zoopla.
The property portal says that average prices in every city in southern England were lower than they were a year ago at the end of March.
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Homes must be a top focus for the next Scottish Government
The different parties are making a myriad of pledges. Looking across them, many recognise the importance of safe, secure and sustainable homes, and the urgent need to tackle the housing emergency.
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Average UK house price fell by 0.5 per cent last month
The average UK house price fell by 0.5 per cent month on month in March, according to an index.
It was the first monthly fall of 2026, with increases of 0.8 per cent in January and 0. 3 per cent in February.
Across the UK, the average house price in March was £299,677.
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UK house price growth rises to 3%
Annual UK house prices rose by 3%, up from 2.2% in March, while prices increased by 0.4% month on month after seasonal adjustment, Nationwide data reveals.
The lender put the average UK house price at £278,880 in April, compared with £277,186 a month earlier.
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Scotland lags UK housing boom despite cheaper homes
Scotland has fallen behind the rest of Britain in the race to buy homes, despite offering the most affordable property in the UK.
The industry warning comes as mortgage lending surged across the UK last year — but barely shifted north of the border, raising concerns about what is holding Scotland back in a national housing emergency.
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Potential opportunities for first-time buyers as house price growth slows
The weakening in house price growth could present some opportunities for people looking to step on the property ladder as Halifax said that average prices paid by first-time buyers are at their lowest levels seen so far this year.
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Nearly half of UK homes fail to sell amid high pricing
Zoopla and Mortar Research found that 44% of UK homes listed for sale in the past three years did not sell. Of those, 34% of owners later admitted to setting overly high asking prices, while 53% of successful sellers had to reduce their price.
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UK rental market shows growing regional divergence in latest figures
The latest rental market figures point to an increasingly fragmented picture across the UK, with some regions continuing to see strong rental growth while others move into decline.
Scotland recorded one of the strongest monthly increases, with average rents rising from £1,123 to £1,167…
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UK property taxes highest among major economies
The UK has the highest property tax burden of any major economy with rising business rates continuing to increase pressure on property owners and occupiers.
The UK ranks first globally for property taxes as a share of GDP and second for overall property tax revenues according to a research.
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Scottish housing market resilience ‘threatened by multiple headwinds’
Scottish house prices increased by 1.3% in the year to 31 March 2026, behind general inflation but marginally ahead of overall UK house price movements, according to the latest UK House Price Index.
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Mortgage
Bank of England keeps interest rates at 3.75%
The Bank of England has held interest rates at 3.75%, with uncertainty persisting due to the conflict in the Middle East.
The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) opted for a cautious approach, voting 8–1 to keep rates unchanged.
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Higher mortgage rates fail to slow down home sales
Despite higher mortgage rates, the housing market remains resilient, with homes selling as fast as last year across more than half of UK regions.
Northern England regions and Scotland are seeing the fastest price growth and shortest sales times…
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UK mortgage approvals hit four-month high as buyers rush to lock in rates
UK mortgage approvals rose to 63,531 in March, the highest since November 2025, as buyers and homeowners rushed to secure lower borrowing costs ahead of expected interest rate hikes. Remortgaging with a different lender also jumped sharply to 51,300, while average house prices hit a record £278,880 in April.
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Homeowners spend 21% of income on mortgage payments
UK Finance analysis shows big regional differences in how much gross household income borrowers commit to initial mortgage repayments – a key measure of affordability.
At a UK level, homebuyers spend on average just over a fifth (21.3%) of their gross income – the highest level since 2008.
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UK mortgage rates could surge to 6.75% in worst-case scenario
UK homeowners face the risk of mortgage rates climbing to 6.75% if oil prices remain above $120 a barrel and inflation peaks at 6.2% due to ongoing Middle East tensions. The Bank of England’s worst-case modelling suggests this could add over £3,000 annually to typical mortgage repayments.
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Four in 10 landlords plan to remortgage this year
Landlords with mortgages could face a busy year of refinancing as thousands of them plan to review their buy to let loans in the face of higher costs and regulatory change.
A research found that 39% of landlords plan to remortgage within the next 12 months.
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First-time buyers remain under pressure from mortgage mayhem
Data shows that mortgage product choice has contracted by around 10% since the start of March, with higher loan-to-value (LTV) deals (10% or less deposit or equity) falling by 14%, which Moneyfacts says is a blow to first-time buyers in particular.
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Inflation drops to 2.8%: what it means for brokers, borrowers and rates
Following the news that UK inflation fell to 2.8% in April, mortgage and property industry leaders have shared their reaction to what could be a significant moment for borrowers, brokers and the wider housing market. While the drop may ease pressure on the Bank of England ahead of its next base rate decision, experts warn that ongoing geopolitical instability, affordability challenges and consumer uncertainty…
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Rent
Landlords warn of rent hikes as reforms loom
Private landlords are warning that the upcoming Renters’ Rights Act, taking effect on 1 May, will push them to sell properties, reduce rental supply and drive up rents. The legislation will scrap no-fault evictions, cap rent increases, ban bidding wars, and switch to rolling tenancies.
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Rachel Reeves eyes landlords as soft target with plans to introduce rent controls
The Guardian is reporting that the Chancellor Rachel Reeves is considering imposing a year-long rent freeze on landlords as a special measure to alleviate the cost of living crisis caused by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
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Cheaper for Britons to rent than buy after mortgage rates rise ‘sharply’
It has become cheaper to rent a home in Britain than to buy, following a sharp rise in mortgage rates since the war in Iran, new figures show.
The cost of a typical new mortgage payment has overtaken the average rent for the first time since June last year…
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Labour’s disastrous rental market intervention
Labour’s Renters’ Rights Act came into effect yesterday, heralding a seismic shift in the property market. It drastically curtails the rights of landlords to evict tenants, limits rent increases and removes fixed-term tenancies. The Government claims it will bring down the cost of living.
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PRS needs investment not rent controls
The news that secretary of state for housing Steve Reed has dismissed any prospect of rent controls across England will be welcomed by many directly involved in providing much-needed housing stock within the private rented sector.
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Nearly half of landlords say they will raise rents in next 12 months due to Rachel Reeves’ tax hikes
Nearly half of landlords will increase rents over the next 12 months as a result of Labour tax rises, according to a new poll.
The National Residential Landlords Association found that 46 per cent of its members planned to charge their tenants more in the next year…
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UK rents rise 3.5% as house prices stall – ONS
The average UK private rent was £1,381 in April after a 3.5% annual increase, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) reveals.
It says that annual rent growth edged up from 3.4% in March, with rents rising across all four UK nations.
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Advice
What landlords and tenants need to know about Renters’ Rights Act that kicks in on 1 May
On May 1st, the Government’s Renters’ Rights Act will come into force, giving tenants the biggest increase to their rights in a generation.
Much-feared by landlords but long-awaited by some tenants, these measures will kick in for England from 1 May, with some some of the rules also being extended to Scotland and Wales.
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What can home buyers do to speed up their property chain and complete a deal?
As many home buyers will recall, saving for a deposit and finding the right property are far from the only stresses experienced when moving.
The next stage of the purchasing process can frequently involve a “chain”, and that can make consumers feel unease and uncertainty.
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Getting mortgage ready: how to best inform buyers in 2026
In the first half of 2026, the UK housing market has seen something of a bumpy ride. Increasing rates – data shows the average two-year fixed mortgage rate has climbed to 5.75% – means it has been a stressful time for aspiring homeowners, many of whom are looking to navigate the journey to home ownership for the first time.
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Other
Locations where it typically takes longer to sell a home than last year revealed
The average length of time to sell a home is just a day longer than a year ago despite elevated mortgage rates, although in London homes are taking nearly a week longer to be snapped up typically, according to a property website.
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Renters’ Rights Act raises uncertainty for student accommodation
Under the Renters’ Rights Act, renters will be able to end their tenancy at two months’ notice and fixed-term tenancies will be abolished.
The changes could mean that tenancies which would previously have ended automatically in June will now depend on the new notice requirements and possession grounds.
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Landlords brace as Renters’ Rights Act comes into force
A research found that 70% believe the RRA will have a negative impact on their lettings business while 77% expect it to harm the market overall.
These concerns are already translating into behavioural change.
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Government insists landlords should not evict tenants before Section 21 ban
The government claims “there is no need for landlords to evict tenants” ahead of the Renters’ Rights Act.
In a written question, Baroness Taylor of Stevenage claims landlords “should give tenants the housing security they deserve”.
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Landlords in England at risk of £19,000 bill under Labour crackdown
Hundreds of thousands of UK landlords risk a £19,000 bill under a Labour Party crackdown. Under the new rules from the Renters’ Rights Bill, Section 21 “no-fault” evictions will be scrapped.
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HMO and flat-share tenant swaps warning issued
A deposit protection provider says letting agents and landlords are likely to face more cases where one tenant leaves a shared home and another moves in while the same tenancy continues.
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What actual problem did the Renters’ Rights Act fix?
The vitriol directed at landlords has resulted in laws that protect rogue tenants to a quite remarkable degree, delaying their inevitable removal, often at the expense of the landlord’s health and well-being.
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Home repossessions edge higher but remain below long-term averages
The number of homeowner mortgaged properties repossessed rose by 3% in the first quarter of 2026 compared with the previous three months, according to UK Finance.
A total of 1,250 homeowner properties were repossessed during the quarter, up 2% on the corresponding period last year.
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Number of properties auctioned rises 9.5% year on year
The number of properties listed at auction rose by 9.5% year on year to 3,433 lots in April, new data has shown.
But higher levels of stock put pressure on the rate of successful sales, according to the latest national figures from Essential Information Group (EIG).
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EPC C targets push landlords towards the exit
Nearly a quarter of landlords plan to sell or reduce their property portfolio due to EPC C targets, according to a new survey.
following the King’s Speech announcement of an Energy Independence Bill, many landlords are now weighing up the cost of upgrading properties to meet EPC C targets.
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