Minister for Housing, Paul McLennan, MSP, has outlined proposals to introduce a rent cap linked to the Consumer Price Index as part of the Housing (Scotland) Bill. Propertymark has campaigned robustly against the introduction of rent controls since the Scottish Government first enacted them as part of emergency measures under the Cost of Living Act, including launching a legal challenge against that legislation. We are continuing our engagement with policy makers to assert that alternative policy must be developed to improve affordability in the private rented sector (PRS).

In the summer budget of 2015, Chancellor George Osbourne, announced his intention to limit the ability of landlords to claim tax relief on finance costs including mortgage fees and mortgage interest payments. Despite the significance of Section 24, it is not clear how landlords have been impacted or of their future intentions. The English PRS is in a state of flux and this research is important to identify and address the challenges.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer delivered his Spring Budget on 6 March 2024, likely to be the last before a General Election. Whilst a cut in Capital Gains Tax on property transactions will be welcomed, the sector will be disappointed that key measures, such as stamp duty breaks for last time buyers, increasing mortgage availability and a suspension of the 3% stamp duty land tax premium on buy-to-let purchases have been overlooked.

Richard Worrall, NAVA Propertymark President, who has been involved with property sales for almost 38 years looks back at 2023 and shares what valuers and auctioneers should look out for over the coming 12 months.

In updated guidance issued on 26 June 2023, HM Treasury has confirmed that the commitments from lenders to support mortgage holders will not extend to buy-to-let borrowers.

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt MP has announced a set of measures designed to provide support to residential mortgage customers as interest rates continue to climb. The plans do not include any specific measures for buy-to-let investors.

The Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Committee has reviewed the White Paper outlining the UK Government risks undermining its own proposed tenancy reforms with MPs in the Committee debate agreeing on areas and concerns Propertymark has highlighted. 

In our written submission to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) call for evidence we highlight concerns in the net zero review. The review outlines the UK Government’s ambitious plans to be Net Zero by 2050.

Propertymark has been working with stakeholders including Scottish Association of Landlords (SAL), National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA) and Scottish Land and Estates (SLE) to obtain legal opinion on the Scottish Government’s rent freeze and eviction ban legislation.

Propertymark are feeding into the UK Government at a range of levels on different issues. In a current industry roundtable on refugee access to the Private Rented Sector (PRS) we are discussing key issues for those in the Homes for Ukraine sponsorship scheme.

Enacted in England and Wales on 28 June 2022, the Building Safety Act 2022 gives many leaseholders, for the first time, legal protection from unfair bills to make their homes safe.

Research reveals the full extent of landlords’ exit from the PRS (private rented sector) indicating the rate at which the sector is shrinking.

The Levelling Up Committee’s Report highlights too many leaseholders will fall through the cracks of the UK Government’s ‘piecemeal measures’ to protect leaseholders from the costs of building safety remediation.

During the Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Committee session on building safety remediation and funding, Michael Gove — Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities — confirmed leaseholders who own “a string of properties” would not be protected.

New powers announced by the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities will allow cladding companies to be sued and subject to fines for defective products, as protections for leaseholders are extended.

In a letter to Michael Gove, the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, Propertymark is seeking urgent clarification that financial support to fix dangerous cladding will be made equally available to all affected leaseholders, including buy-to-let landlords.