News Archive January 2026

Think of an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) as your property’s energy report card. It gives you a clear, at-a-glance idea of how much the bills might be, grading the building from A (the best) down to G (the worst). It’s just like the multi-coloured stickers you see on a new...

You've probably seen mortgage deals advertised with a minimum deposit of just 5%, and that figure is the starting line for most first-time buyers. It’s the key that gets your foot on the property ladder. But in reality, the amount you'll actually need can be a bit more nuanced. Decoding the...

Tenant background and credit checks are, without a doubt, the single most powerful tool a UK landlord has to protect their property investment. This isn't just about dodging rent arrears; it's about setting the stage for a stable, long-term tenancy and sidestepping the nightmare of property damage. Why Rigorous Tenant Screening...

So, what exactly is an HMO? You’ve probably heard the term, but the definition can feel a bit technical. Put simply, a House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) is a property rented out by at least three people who are not from one single ‘household’ but share facilities like the kitchen or...

Thinking about how to rent a room in my house? You're not alone. It's a savvy move many UK homeowners are making to bring in some extra cash – often enough to take a real chunk out of the mortgage payments. By becoming a live-in landlord, you can turn an...

Letting a room in your house can be a fantastic way to bring in some extra cash. Thanks to the UK's Rent a Room Scheme, you can earn up to £7,500 per year tax-free. But it’s not just a simple financial transaction. It means sharing your personal space, getting to...

A solid template for rent agreement is your first line of defence. It’s the document that sets clear expectations and legally protects your investment from day one, transforming a simple handshake into a binding contract that defines everything from rent payments to tenant responsibilities. Getting this right isn't just paperwork; it’s...

A solid short term rental contract template is the most important tool for any UK landlord, homeowner, or HMO manager. It’s not just a bit of admin; it’s a legally binding document that sets clear expectations, protects your property, and stops disputes before they even start. This guide gives you...

Figuring out how much rent you can charge isn't a dark art. It really boils down to three things: knowing the local market inside out, honestly assessing what your property offers, and making sure your numbers add up. Get this right, and you'll set a competitive price that pulls in...

Successfully renting out a spare room breaks down into three simple stages: preparing the room and figuring out a competitive price, creating a cracking advert that people actually want to click on, and finally, sorting out the tenancy with proper viewings and paperwork. Get this process right, and you'll find...

A rent increase letter is simply the formal, written notice you send a tenant to let them know their rent will be going up from a specific date. This isn't just a piece of paper; it's a vital part of managing your property professionally, making sure your communication is clear,...

A solid tenancy agreement isn't just a formality; it's the very bedrock of a successful landlord-tenant relationship. This guide is all about moving beyond risky, generic templates and treating your agreement as a clear roadmap that sets out expectations from day one. We’ve packed it with practical, downloadable UK tenancy...

Running a proper reference check on a potential tenant isn't just paperwork; it's the single most important thing you can do to protect your property investment. Think of it as the essential due diligence for your rental business, a process that helps you dodge costly mistakes and future headaches by...

Yes, subletting is legal in the UK. But—and it's a big but—it nearly always hinges on one crucial thing: getting your landlord's written permission first. Going ahead without that consent is what's known as 'unauthorised subletting', and it can land you in serious hot water, potentially even leading to eviction. It’s...

Before you even think about scrolling through listings, hitting pause to figure out your budget and non-negotiables is the single most important thing you can do. Getting this groundwork done first stops you from wasting time on rooms that are completely wrong for you, ensuring you only view places that...

So, you're looking to rent a room or property. It’s natural to wonder what checks landlords actually carry out. In short, it boils down to two main types of checks: those on you, the prospective tenant, to make sure you're a good fit, and statutory safety checks on the property itself...

A tenancy deposit scheme is a government-authorised service that securely holds a tenant's deposit for the duration of their tenancy. Think of it as a neutral third-party that safeguards the money, ensuring it's returned fairly when you move out. This system isn't just a good idea—it's a legal requirement for...

First things first: before you even think about handing over the keys, you need a solid tenancy agreement. This document is the single most important tool for protecting your investment and setting crystal-clear expectations from day one. To get it right, you'll need to gather all landlord and tenant details,...

Before you even think about writing an advert or setting a rent price, you need to make one fundamental decision: are you renting out a spare room in your own home, or are you letting a completely separate property? This single choice sets the entire stage. It determines your legal responsibilities,...

Nailing the right rent for your room is a classic balancing act. Price it too high, and you’re staring down the barrel of an expensive void period. Go too low, and you're literally giving money away each month. The trick is to stop guessing and start calculating. The best way I’ve...

Imagine being able to cover almost all your monthly living costs with a single, predictable payment. That’s the simple idea behind bills included rent, a rental setup that’s becoming increasingly popular, especially with students and young professionals who need certainty in their budgets. What Does "Bills Included" Actually Mean? Think of it...

Figuring out how much rent to charge is a balancing act.You need to cover your own costs, of course, but you also have to stay competitive with what’s happening in your local market. A common rule of thumb you’ll hear about is the 1% rule, which suggests your monthly rent should...

Think of a house share tenancy agreement as the official rulebook for your shared home. It’s a legally binding contract that spells out the rights and responsibilities for both the landlord and every single tenant, making sure everyone is on the same page and protected. This document is your first...

An Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) is a bit like the multi-coloured energy label you see on a new fridge or telly. It gives a property a simple, standardised score for its energy efficiency, so everyone can see at a glance how costly it's likely to be to run. What an EPC...

For any UK landlord, treating the government's budget as mere political background noise is a surefire way to get into financial trouble. Think of yourself as the captain of a ship—your rental portfolio. The annual budget is the shipping forecast; it warns you of changing tides, shifting currents, and potential...

The Renters' Rights Bill uk, known officially as the Renters (Reform) Bill, is shaping up to be the biggest shake-up of the UK's private rental sector in more than thirty years. It’s a landmark piece of legislation designed to rebalance the scales between landlords and tenants, creating a rental market...

The Renters' Reform Bill has finally become an Act of Parliament, receiving Royal Assent on 24 May 2024. But hold on – this doesn't mean everything changes overnight. For landlords and tenants, this is the starting pistol, not the finish line. The most significant changes won't kick in straight away. Your...

The UK rental market is in the middle of its biggest shake-up in a generation, and the Renters (Reform) Bill is right at the heart of it. These massive renters rights bill updates are all about creating a rental landscape that’s fairer and more secure for everyone involved—tenants and landlords...

Let's be clear: the Renters Rights Bill is the single biggest shake-up to the UK’s private rental market in more than 30 years. This is landmark legislation, and it’s designed to create a much fairer system by finally ending 'no-fault' Section 21 evictions, bringing in a mandatory Property Portal for...

Big changes are coming to the private rental market in the UK, and they’re all wrapped up in a landmark piece of legislation: the Renters Rights Bill 2025. This isn't just a minor tweak to the rules; it's a fundamental overhaul designed to create a fairer, more secure system for...

The UK’s new Renters Rights Bill is set to be one of the biggest shake-ups to the private rental market in a generation. It’s designed to fundamentally rebalance the relationship between landlords and tenants, aiming for a fairer, more stable system for everyone involved. At its heart, the bill is about...