Latest Property News | Warwick Estate Agents

Details: Published: 11 June 2026; Hits: 347

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has confirmed the broad timetable for the next phases of the Renters Rights Act.

With the substance of the Act having been introduced on May 1, the government says phase 2 will begin “later this year”.

Late 2026 onwards – A Private Rented Sector Database 

A government statement tells tenants: “This is a register of all landlords and rental properties in England, so you can check who you’re renting from. The new online database will be rolled out gradually by area from late 2026, showing who is renting out homes across England. 

“You’ll be able to check your landlord and see if they’re properly registered once it is live in the area you live. “

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Late 2026 onwards –  A free complaints service 

The government says: “A new independent Private Landlord Ombudsman will help renters sort complaints against landlords quickly and fairly, without needing to go to court. It will also support landlords with tools, guidance and training on handling complaints from tenants early. “

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Late 2026 onwards –   Warmer and safer homes 

The statement goes on: “Government is also continuing work to improve living conditions in privately rented homes. Consultations will inform their timelines. 

New rules in the future will raise the standard of rented homes – tackling damp, mould and dangerous conditions. Landlords will need to fix serious hazards faster and make homes more energy efficient, helping tenants stay warm and cut bills. 

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The MHCLG then moves to longer term developments, headed ”This is what is coming”

Quick landlord action to fix hazards 

“The government is looking to extend Awaab’s Law to private rentals – forcing landlords to act fast when homes are unsafe. A consultation on how best to do this will be launched soon, so private tenants can benefit from protections like those already supporting social housing tenants.”

Greener homes by 2030 

“By 2030, all privately rented homes must meet new energy efficiency standards (EPC rating C or better) unless exempt. That means better insulation, lower bills and greener living. “

Decent Homes Standard by 2035 for private rentals 

“For the first time, the government will introduce a Decent Homes Standard for privately rented homes – a clear set of rules to make sure every rented property is safe, warm and in good repair. 

“This new standard will help raise the bar across the board, giving renters confidence that their home meets basic safety and quality rules – and giving councils more power to crack down on landlords who don’t meet them. “

Details: Published: 28 May 2026; Hits: 380

Rental yields across the Private Rented Sector have stabilised with average gross yields edging up to 6.5% in Q1 2026 from 6.4% in Q4 2025, according to Pegasus Insight.

Overall profitability remains solid, with 84% of landlords describing their lettings activity as profitable, though this marks a second successive quarterly decline as the gap between income and rising operational costs continues to narrow for some.

The proportion of loss-making landlords eased back to 4% in Q1, down from 6% in Q4 2025, suggesting the picture remains manageable for the majority despite an increasingly demanding operating environment.

Performance continues to vary meaningfully across portfolio types. Landlords operating Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) are again the standout performers, recording average yields of 7.6% — well ahead of the market-wide figure.

At the regional level, the North West is generating the strongest returns, with average yields of 7.1%, while London-based landlords continue to achieve the lowest, at 5.3%, reflecting the capital’s higher acquisition costs relative to rental income.

Tenant demand underpins income stability

Despite the pressures facing landlords, tenant demand continues to provide a broadly supportive backdrop.

More than half of landlords, 58%, rate current tenant demand as strong, though this figure has eased by 15 percentage points compared with the same period a year ago, reflecting a gradual softening in the intensity of demand as the market rebalances.

The typical renter has now been in their current property for an average of 5.3 years, a figure that has been gradually rising, and two thirds say they plan to stay beyond their current agreement, intending to remain for a further 4.3 years on average.

Just 17% of tenants plan to leave their current property, with most citing personal circumstances such as relocating or upsizing rather than dissatisfaction with their tenancy.

Over two thirds rate their recent rental experience as positive – a figure that has held steady year on year.

Mark Long, founder and managing director of Pegasus Insight, comments: “The stabilisation of yields at 6.5% is a more encouraging signal than it might first appear.

“Coming after a period of gradual softening, it suggests the sector has found a degree of equilibrium, at least for now, even as regulatory complexity and cost pressures continue to intensify.

“What the data consistently shows is that profitability is increasingly a function of portfolio structure.

“HMO landlords, those with larger portfolios and those operating through limited company structures continue to demonstrate greater resilience, while more traditionally structured portfolios have less of a buffer as costs remain elevated.”

Details: Published: 26 May 2026; Hits: 383

Fewer than a third of landlords are fully aware that the Renters’ Rights Act bans advance rent payments of more than one month, according to new research from LRG.

The survey of 650 landlords and tenants across England and Wales found that 43% know the rules have changed but remain uncertain of the details, while 26% say the restriction is news to them entirely.

The findings come from LRG’s Spring 2026 Lettings Report, which draws on responses from landlords and tenants to examine how the private rental sector is adapting to the most significant legislative overhaul in a generation.

The Renters Rights Act abolishes fixed-term tenancies, introduces Assured Periodic Tenancies and bans advance rent payments beyond one month.

These changes represent a fundamental shift in how the private rental market operates – yet the majority of landlords are still getting to grips with what they mean in practice.

The concern is not that landlords oppose reform. It is those provisions designed to protect tenants that are already producing consequences that may work against the very people they were intended to help.

With advance rent restricted, 58% of landlords expect to receive more borderline or higher-risk applications – including 18% who anticipate significantly more.

Only 10% expect the quality of applicants to improve. Rather than opening the market to a wider range of tenants, the restrictions risk making landlords more cautious, not less.

The agency says the effect on landlord behaviour is already visible.

Some 38% of landlords say they are either reconsidering whether to continue letting at all or have become significantly more selective about who they accept – a meaningful tightening of the market at precisely the moment more tenants need access to it. A further 6% say they are slightly more selective.

The single most common response, cited by 42% of landlords, is to rely more heavily on their letting agent to screen applicants, underlining how central professional expertise has become to keeping the market functioning.

LRG insists that the risk of supply shrinking further is not theoretical.

It cites the English Private Landlord Service as revealing that the proportion of landlords intending to reduce their portfolios has risen steadily in recent years.

LRG’s own data adds a further dimension: 70% of landlords say they would not consider letting to a local council or housing association, and fewer than 1% currently do so.

For tenants who cannot compete in the open market, this effectively closes off one of the few alternative housing routes available to them.

Allison Thompson, chief lettings officer at Leaders – part of LRG – comments: “The Renters Rights Act has some genuinely important protections for tenants, and we support the direction of travel. But the data should give policymakers pause.

“When more than half of landlords expect to see higher-risk applications as a direct result of removing advance rent, and 17% are considering leaving the sector altogether, we have to ask whether the rules are working as intended.

“The tenants who most need stability are the same ones who will struggle most if supply contracts further. Agents have a critical role to play right now – helping landlords navigate the changes, stay in the market, and keep letting to a wide range of tenants.”

Details: Published: 08 May 2026; Hits: 451

Owners of older homes may have to spend an average of £10,700 to reach Energy Performance Certificate band C.

Band C is widely considered to be the minimum level of ‘good’ energy efficiency in a property and by the start of October 2030 all privately rented homes must reach this level.

Now an analysis by the Nationwide shows that to improve older properties, particularly those built before 1919, to band C is around £10,700. This is based on 2024 costs.

Properties built more recently tend to be more energy efficient, so fewer improvements are required in order to bring them up to C standard.

For example, the average cost to update a property constructed between 2003 and 2013, currently rated D-G, to C standard is just £2,500.

Detached and terraced houses continue to see the highest costs to improve to band C, while the cost to upgrade purpose-built flats is much lower.

Again, this is likely to reflect that relatively few measures will be required to update these, given that only a very small proportion are currently rated E-G.

While purpose-built flats make up nearly 30% of the private rented stock, a further third are terraced houses, which will require more investment to reach C standard.

Differences in the age and property type of the housing stock by region drive variations in the average cost to update a property.

The latest English Housing Survey data suggests the West Midlands and South West have the highest costs, while the costs tend to be lower in the North of England, in particular the North East.

The Nationwide urges caution when comparing the costs and benefits of making energy efficiency improvements, given the significant variation seen across location, age and type of property.