What recent Trustpilot reviews reveal about the challenges landlords are facing

admin    Uncategorized     agents

Property118

What recent Trustpilot reviews reveal about the challenges landlords are facing

One of the most interesting aspects of running Property118 is that we speak to landlords at every stage of their journey.

Some are still actively acquiring properties. Others are reducing debt, selling selected assets, planning for retirement or thinking about how to pass wealth to the next generation. What often surprises me, though, is that regardless of portfolio size, many conversations begin in exactly the same way.

“I don’t know what to do for the best.”

That uncertainty has become increasingly common over the last few years. Taxation has changed. Regulation has increased. Borrowing costs are higher than many landlords became accustomed to during the era of ultra-low interest rates. At the same time, many portfolios have become highly valuable on paper whilst producing relatively modest levels of income relative to the equity tied up within them.

Against that backdrop, it is perhaps unsurprising that more landlords are seeking a second opinion before making major decisions.

Several recent Trustpilot reviews provide an interesting insight into the type of conversations taking place during Property118 consultations and, more importantly, the value that landlords appear to derive from them.

One reviewer, who described themselves as owning a portfolio of four buy-to-let properties, explained that the portfolio was not delivering the level of return he had originally expected when they purchased the properties.

After speaking with me, they wrote: “Jonathan’s thoughts and insight were excellent. He drew on his experience to help me look at the situation from a completely different angle, which was exactly what I needed. It genuinely felt like a lightbulb moment.”

That phrase, “a completely different angle”, struck a chord with me because it reflects something we see regularly.

Many landlords spend years focusing on acquisition strategies, financing structures, tax changes and operational issues. What they rarely do is step back and ask whether the portfolio they have today is still capable of delivering the lifestyle, retirement income or legacy they originally intended it to provide.

Sometimes the answer is yes. Sometimes the answer is no.

Either way, clarity tends to emerge once somebody challenges the assumptions that have been driving previous decisions.

Another recent reviewer highlighted a different aspect of the consultancy process.

Writing about their consultation, they commented: “Jonathan was extremely thorough and explained everything clearly. He was able to zoom out and examine all the moving parts of the different businesses whilst also providing the reasons and steps required to make changes and restructure.”

This review highlights an issue that many landlords face as their affairs become more complex.

A property portfolio rarely exists in isolation. It often sits alongside trading businesses, pensions, family considerations, inheritance planning objectives and existing borrowing arrangements.

Decisions made in one area can create opportunities or problems somewhere else.

Looking at one piece of the puzzle without considering the wider picture can sometimes produce the wrong answer.

What many landlords really need is not another product recommendation or another opinion on interest rates. They need somebody to help them understand how all the moving parts interact and what consequences may follow from different courses of action.

A third reviewer described a consultation with Property118 consultant Swati in much simpler terms:

“I had an incredibly helpful meeting with Swati and felt under no pressure but very enlightened by the end of it.”

The review itself is brief, but the words “under no pressure” are particularly important.

Landlords are naturally sceptical when approaching advisers because they worry that every conversation is ultimately leading towards a sales pitch. That concern is understandable. Most people have experienced situations where advice appears to be driven by the solution somebody wants to sell rather than the problem they are trying to solve.

The purpose of a Property118 consultation is different.

The objective is not to persuade landlords to adopt a particular strategy. The objective is to help them understand the options available to them and the implications of those options. Sometimes that leads to further work. Sometimes it does not. What matters is that the landlord leaves the conversation with a clearer understanding of their position than they had beforehand.

When I look across these reviews, despite the very different circumstances of the individuals involved, a common theme emerges.

• None of the reviewers praise a product.
• None of them focus on tax savings.
• None of them talk about sophisticated structures.
• Instead, they talk about clarity, perspective, understanding and confidence.

Perhaps that should not be surprising.

Most landlords are perfectly capable of making decisions once they understand the available options. The real challenge is often identifying those options in the first place and understanding which are most closely aligned with their personal objectives.

For many landlords today, that may be the most valuable service of all.

LEARN MORE

Thank you for the TrustPilot reviews

Thank you to everyone who has taken a few minutes out of their day to share their experience. Every review helps us build credibility, reach more landlords and continue our mission of facilitating the sharing of best practice within the UK private rented sector.

If you haven’t yet had a chance to leave a review, or would simply like to read what other members have said, you can do so via the link below:

https://www.trustpilot.com/review/www.property118.com

The post What recent Trustpilot reviews reveal about the challenges landlords are facing appeared first on Property118.

View Full Article: What recent Trustpilot reviews reveal about the challenges landlords are facing

Leaseholders clash with lobby group over leasehold reforms

admin    Uncategorized     agents

Property118

Leaseholders clash with lobby group over leasehold reforms

Leaseholders have slammed a “shadowy lobbyist group” for its last-ditch attempt to derail leasehold reform.

The National Leasehold Campaign (NLC) has hit out at a freeholder group for challenging the government’s reforms and threatening legal action.

The move comes as the government has announced a range of leasehold reforms, including a legal right for leaseholders to request fast broadband connections and a simplified process for converting leasehold flats to commonhold.

Direct opposition to government’s leasehold reforms

A story in The Times reveals that public relations (PR) firm Spreckley launched a group called Justice for Property Rights, made up of “small property investors, retirees, shared freeholders and long-term savers”, which was set up in “direct opposition to” the government’s leasehold reforms.

It was formed because “public debate has become overly focused on a small number of large estates and institutional investors”.

However, The Times reports that Spreckley declined to disclose who is paying for its work on the campaign.

It said Justice for Property Rights is “funded by private individuals and SMEs, not large landowners or institutional freeholders”. The firm added that the funders did not wish to disclose their identities.

Lawfare by vested interests

The NLC have criticised the “faceless group” for trying to derail the government’s reforms.

Katie Kendrick OBE, founder of the National Leasehold Campaign, said: “This isn’t grassroots campaigning, it’s lawfare by vested interests using anonymous fronts to protect profits and delay justice for millions of leaseholders.

“It is frankly astonishing, but entirely predictable, that yet another anonymous campaign group has emerged at the eleventh hour to threaten legal action against long-overdue leasehold reform.

“There is a clear and growing pattern. Time and again, loosely defined groups present themselves as ‘property rights or ‘freeholder’ campaigners yet refuse to disclose who is funding or driving them. They remain faceless instead of standing openly behind their positions and appear only when reform threatens their interests.

“When shadowy groups appear at the eleventh hour, it’s not democracy, it’s lawfare designed to stall reform and protect vested interests.”

She added: “The public must not be distracted by anonymous voices seeking to defend outdated privileges. Leaseholders have waited long enough.

“The government must stand firm, resist this lawfare, and accelerate the delivery of leasehold reform to finally bring this broken system to an end.”

Longstanding inequities of leasehold

The news comes as the Housing, Communities and Local Government (HCLG) committee has scrutinised the government’s draft Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill, saying it needs to go further.

In response to the bill, the committee welcomed protections for leaseholders but warned that key recommendations previously made by the Law Commission are missing from the draft legislation.

Florence Eshalomi MP, chair of the HCLG Committee, said: “Millions of leaseholders have been waiting too long for successive governments to tackle the unfair leasehold system, cap ground rents, and put homeowners in control of the management of their buildings.

“It is vital the government now recognises this urgency by bringing forward revised legislation to deliver justice for leaseholders as soon as possible.

“I urge the government to introduce the final bill in autumn 2026 so this will be the Parliament which finally tackles the longstanding inequities of leasehold.”

The post Leaseholders clash with lobby group over leasehold reforms appeared first on Property118.

View Full Article: Leaseholders clash with lobby group over leasehold reforms

Landlord rent incomes hit record

admin    Uncategorized     agents

Property118

Landlord rent incomes hit record

Landlords are seeing higher annual rent income as longer tenancies and happy renters continue to underpin the private rented sector.

Research firm Pegasus Insight found that the average annual landlord income has reached a record £89,000.
That’s up £14,000 in a single quarter and £16,000 higher than a year before.

Its latest Landlord Trends research found that income rebounded in Q1 2026 after a brief dip in Q4 2025.

PRS remains strong

The founder and managing director of Pegasus Insight, Mark Long, said: “Much of the debate around the PRS focuses on regulation, taxation and the challenges facing landlords, but these findings are a reminder that the market’s underlying fundamentals remain strong.

“The increase in rental income is significant, but what is perhaps more important is the quality of that income.”

Other research suggests that, while rental income is rising, its quality may matter more, with longer stays, high satisfaction and low moving intent brings income stability.

He added: “While affordability pressures remain a concern and landlords continue to face rising compliance and operating costs, demand for rental housing remains robust.

“These findings suggest that, despite the uncertainty surrounding future regulation, the core relationship between landlords and tenants remains remarkably resilient.”

Landlord income is up

The landlord income figure is now more than one-fifth higher than 12 months ago.

The firm links the rise to strong tenant demand, long tenancy lengths and high occupancy levels.

The findings come alongside its Tenant Trends research, which shows that many renters are staying put.

The average tenant has rented for around eight years and has spent more than five years in their current home.

Tenants are staying longer

The data also shows that two thirds of tenants said they intend to remain in their current home when their tenancy agreement ends.

More than two-thirds described their recent rent experience as positive.

And 76% said they were satisfied with the service provided by their landlord or letting agent.

Alongside the rise in rent income, the average landlord portfolio is now valued at £1.69 million, Pegasus says.

The post Landlord rent incomes hit record appeared first on Property118.

View Full Article: Landlord rent incomes hit record