Chaos: Now Downing Street rules out rent freeze after backlash over ‘reckless’ rumours Property Downing Street has ruled out a rent freeze just hours after the Chancellor refused to distance herself from the policy while speaking in the Commons. The apparent kite flying sparked 24 hours of panic among residential landlords and economists, who dubbed the rumoured policy a would-be “disaster”. Reeves had reportedly been considering the policy to [...]
Reeves rent freeze: How did Chancellor turn to a Mamdani-style policy controversy? Property Reports of plans in Downing Street for a rent freeze came as a shock after a housing minister said Labour opposes the policy. Felix Armstrong explores why rent controls stoke so much controversy, from New York to Sweden. Rumours that Rachel Reeves is considering slapping a freeze on private rents shocked the property market on [...]
Reeves rent freeze proposal dubbed ‘disaster’ for renters and landlords Property Rachel Reeves has fuelled rumours she is considering a rent freeze as leading economists said the policy would be a “disaster” for renters and landlords. Addressing the Commons on Tuesday afternoon, the Chancellor was asked by a Labour MP to implement a freeze on private rents. “I will do everything in my power and use [...]
Majority of landlords to hike rent due to Reeves’ tax raid February 6, 2026 The majority of landlords increasing rents blamed Rachel Reeves’ new tax on property income from April next year, a survey has shown. According to the National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA), two thirds of landlords (65 per cent) raising prices over the next year cited the government’s plans to charge a two percentage point tax rate [...]
Starmer caps ground rents after fears of Rayner-led rebellion January 27, 2026 Sir Keir Starmer has introduced a cap on ground rents following fears of an MP rebellion led by the former deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner. The Prime Minister announced the new move – which will cap ground rents at £250 a year for leaseholders in England and Wales – on TikTok, saying it will “make [...]
Rent control law to ‘knock £11bn’ off commercial property January 8, 2026 New legislation introducing rent controls could lead to £11bn being stripped from commercial property values, fresh analysis has shown, in the latest blow to the confidence for investors. The government is proposing a ban on upward-only rent hikes on commercial property in a bid to support small businesses with costs. The proposed ban can be [...]
Landlords have just under six months to prepare for the Renters’ Right Bill November 13, 2025 The government has set a date for the commencement of the Renters’ Rights Bill, with landlords given just under six months to prepare for the wide-ranging changes. The bill, which will remove so-called no-fault evictions, strengthen tenant protections and digitalise the sector, promises to shake up the market for both landlords and tenants – with [...]
London house price growth to lag behind rest of UK until at least 2030 November 5, 2025 The capacity for house prices growing in London over the next five years is limited, according to property giant Savills, while Scottish and Northern prices are set to soar. By 2030, prices in the North West of England are expected to rise nearly a third to sit just 15 per cent below the UK average, [...]
Four in 10 Londoners ‘ready to quit capital’ over housing costs November 5, 2025 Nearly half of the capital’s 25-45 year olds are ready to leave over unsustainably expensive housing, according to a new study. In fact, two in three are regularly borrowing money to pay housing costs, most commonly turning to credit cards, payday loans and family support, according to a new report from Pocket Living. “The pressures [...]
Experian to include rent payments in credit scores November 3, 2025 FTSE 100 giant Experian has announced plans to include rental payments in a major revamp of the formation of credit scores. The agency said it was overhauling its scoring system to better reflect “more of the everyday financial behaviours that matter” which included things “like paying rent or reducing overdraft use”. It follows a warning [...]