With the British Summer sizzling, it isn’t just the weather that has been making landlords sweat.

Thousands of landlords exiting the Private Rented Sector (PRS) are discovering the hard way the time, cost and effort of evicting tenants and running empty property to sell with vacant possession.

The landlord in this case study already knew he didn’t have the time or inclination to evict tenants and wait for a high street sale to complete. And with tenants keen to assert their needs first, he wanted a solution with minimum friction. 

He had already tried to sell to a cash-buying company that assured him his tenants wouldn’t need to know until after the sale and the experience had left him burnt.

They didn’t buy. They tried to sell. But, by trying to keep the sale secret, the only buyers they could market to were investors who, without competition from owner occupiers to drive up the prices, offered him less than 80% of vacant possession value.

While others keep tenants in the dark, we take a completely different, collaborative approach. We engaged with the tenants directly, brought them into the loop, and treated them with respect.

It isn’t always the easiest approach and can be confrontational if handled incorrectly but we are expert mediators, we understand the anxieties tenants face and know the value of having the option to sell with vacant possession should we need to.

In just 22 days, with two cash buyers competing against each other and owner occupiers, the bidding war that ensued pushed the sales price way beyond all expectations, on condition the sale completed with vacant possession.

Not only will our seller receive £12,000 more than he expected; with us managing the conveyancing and solving any problems that might arise, the seller can sit back and enjoy the sunshine while we do all the hard work, knowing:

• We will take full responsibility for arranging vacant possession
• The sale is secured by a non-refundable deposit from the moment an offer is accepted
• The money he receives will not be affected by any expense we incur to arrange vacant possession
• He will receive rent right up to completion date

You won’t get a higher price for the service, and any company promising you 100% market value is hiding a huge list of costs that are going to come during or after the sale. That’s not the case with us. It’s what makes us different.

We believe in complete transparency and take pride in going above and beyond, rain or shine, to deliver results that outshine expectations. 

Our sellers normally walk away with 85 – 90% of vacant value in return for a faster, more reliable sale than high street agents can offer. But if a property exceeds all expectations, like above, it could be more.

We solve every single problem, no matter what it is – no hassle, no stress and the entire sale managed for you including keeping or relocating tenants, EPCs and repairs.

 If you are feeling the heat and want to explore a positive, respectful, way out, avoiding tenant drama and long court delays get in touch with our team today.

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You have a limited company owning rental properties and are due to inherit rental properties from your parents? Read on.

How your parents structure their will should be influenced by your future plans for those properties. Get it wrong and you could face an unexpected tax bill.

The starting point is simple:

Do you plan to sell the inherited properties, or keep them long term?

If the plan is to sell, it will often make sense for you (and any siblings) to inherit the properties personally.

Why?

Inherited property is generally rebased to market value at the date of death, so if you sell shortly afterwards there may be little or no CGT to pay personally.

That can leave you with tax-efficient sale proceeds available for reinvestment.

For example, you could introduce the proceeds into your limited company as a director’s loan, allowing future tax-free withdrawals of those funds.

Yes, this route may involve selling costs and then buying costs again (legal fees, mortgage fees and SDLT/LTT/LBTT on replacement purchases), but the tax position can still be attractive.

The decision should depend on practical investment considerations:

• Do the inherited properties fit your investment strategy?
• Are they in the right location?
• Do they generate the yield you want?
• Would you rather recycle capital into different assets?

But what if the plan is to keep the properties long term?

This is where planning becomes important.

If you inherit the properties into your limited company, either directed by the will or via a deed of variation, you are effectively moving value into the company.

That value increases the company’s shareholding value and, at some point in the future, extracting that value personally is likely to involve tax.

In simple terms:

Inherit personally + sell = potentially tax-free capital available to reinvest

Inherit via company + hold long term = value stays within the company structure

If the company sells an inherited property, there may be little or no corporation tax on historic growth up to the inheritance date because the property is inherited at market value. However, extracting sale proceeds personally may trigger dividend tax (or another form of extraction tax).

By contrast, if you inherit personally, sell, and lend the proceeds to your company, you create a director’s loan account, which can generally be drawn back tax free in the future.

That said, if your intention is genuinely long-term hold, it may still be preferable for the company to inherit the property directly.

Where siblings are involved, planning becomes more important

Jointly inheriting one property can create complications.

Where possible, it is often cleaner to split assets so siblings inherit separate properties rather than co-owning each one.

Another option may be a jointly owned company structure. For example, a subsidiary company to your investment company could be established with family member shareholdings and this company could inherit the properties.

Timing and will planning matters

One trap to avoid is partial inheritance on first death.

For example, one parent leaving their share of a property directly to a child on first death can create complexity. It may not be possible to refinance the properties.

In many cases, it is simpler for the surviving spouse to inherit first, with the generational transfer happening on second death.

Be careful relying on a deed of variation after death

I often see families trying to “fix” matters after death using a deed of variation to divert inherited property from an individual beneficiary to a limited company.

This can work smoothly for unencumbered properties.

However, where mortgages are involved, additional tax issues can arise.

In broad terms, if a company effectively takes on mortgage debt connected with the inherited property, SDLT/LTT/LBTT can potentially arise because the mortgage may be treated as consideration.

This can catch families out.

There are specific reliefs and exemptions available for inherited property in certain circumstances, but the position can change depending on whether the property is inherited directly or diverted through a deed of variation.

The drafting of the will is also important.

Normally, a mortgage secured on a property passes with the inheritance and the beneficiary refinances if needed.

However, if the intention is for the estate to redeem the mortgage before the property passes, the will should expressly provide for this (“contrary intention” wording). Of course, the estate must have sufficient liquid assets available.

The key point?

Do not wait until after death to think about this.

Proactive planning can help ensure:

• the inheritance ends up where you actually want it,
• unnecessary SDLT/LTT/LBTT is avoided,
• future extraction taxes are minimised,
• and inheritance tax planning opportunities are not missed.

The right answer depends on your long-term strategy, family circumstances and whether the properties are intended for sale or long-term hold.

LEARN MORE

A conversation worth having?

If you are weighing up your own strategy, it is worth stepping back and reviewing how everything fits together.

These conversations are typically most useful for landlords with established portfolios and relatively modest borrowing who are beginning to think about how their assets will serve them over the next phase.

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Piecemeal legislation needs to end to tackle London’s housing crisis, claims a landlord group.

Speaking at the London Housing Conference, chief executive of the National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA), Ben Beadle, claimed investment in the private rented sector is key to tackling the housing crisis.

The news comes as the government have announced emergency measures to tackle London’s housing crisis.

Under the measures, sites will now qualify for a fast-track planning route if they deliver 20% affordable housing, down from the previous 35% target.

End to the piecemeal approach to policy and taxation

According to the NRLA, 28% of London households rent privately, while data from the English Housing Survey shows the number of private rented homes has fallen by 8%.

Mr Beadle told the conference that a range of factors, including the 3% stamp duty surcharge on additional properties, are acting as barriers to improving housing supply in the capital.

Speaking after the event, he said on the NRLA website: “This was a really positive event, bringing together stakeholders from across the housing industry and beyond to explore innovative ways to tackle London’s housing crisis.

“I think we all agree we need more good quality, affordable housing of all tenures, and this event was about the positive steps that can be taken to help make that happen.

“A good start, I believe, would be an end to the piecemeal approach to policy and taxation that we have seen in recent years, along with the creation of a considered and comprehensive strategy for the private rented sector.

“I now look forward to continuing discussions with these industry leaders and other key stakeholders to further explore proactive solutions to the crisis and encourage long-term investment.”

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Four buy to let lenders have announced a raft of mortgage changes including a 4.19% two-year tracker and a 4.74% limited-edition five-year fix.

Commercial cases are in the mix too as InterBay cuts owner-occupier rates by up to 40 basis points, while Coventry for intermediaries has reduced selected BTL rates by up to 16 basis points.

The Mortgage Works has introduced three two-year tracker products for new and existing buy to let customers, each available up to 65% loan-to-value (LTV) with a 1% fee.

Its purchase and remortgage tracker, with a free valuation, is priced at 4.19%.

A remortgage-only version with a free valuation and free legal work is available at 4.29%, while an existing customer switcher product is priced at 4.19%.

The lender has also cut selected two-, three- and five-year fixed rates by up to 0.15 percentage points across its buy-to-let and let-to-buy ranges.

TMW’s BTL rates

TMW’s five-year fixed purchase and remortgage product at up to 75% LTV has fallen by 0.15 percentage points to 4.39%, with a 3% fee.

Another five-year fix, available up to 65% LTV with no fee, has been reduced by 0.10 percentage points to 4.97%.

For existing customers, a five-year fixed switcher at up to 65% LTV has been lowered by 0.05 percentage points to 4.29%, with a 3% fee.

Its no-fee two-year fixed switcher at up to 75% LTV has fallen by 0.13 percentage points to 5.27%.

Keir Fraser, TMW’s lead manager, said: “These latest cuts across our buy to let range are a welcome boost for landlords, especially at a time when cost pressures continue to remain front of mind.”

Shawbrook and TML lower rates

Meanwhile, Shawbrook and The Mortgage Lender (TML) have announced changes to their buy to let propositions, with TML introducing a limited-edition five-year fixed product from 4.74%.

The TML product is available with either a 2% or 5% completion fee and includes a free valuation.

The lender has also cut selected two- and five-year fixed rates by up to 15 basis points, with five-year fixed HMO rates now starting at 5.06%.

Shawbrook has reduced selected specialist BTL rates by up to 25 basis points.

Rates for single lets between £150,000 and £2.5m now start at 4.84%, while HMO and multi-unit freehold block products of up to 10 units start from 4.89%.

TML has also changed its multi-loan offering and removed the £150 application fee across all expatriate products.

Daryl Norkett, Shawbrook’s director of real estate proposition, said “These latest enhancements across both the Shawbrook and TML buy to let propositions are designed to provide brokers with more opportunities to support their landlord clients, whether through lower pricing, greater product flexibility or broader accessibility across specialist lending scenarios.”

InterBay’s commercial change

InterBay, part of OSB Group, has refreshed its commercial mortgage range, cutting rates across its owner-occupier products by up to 40 basis points.

The lender has introduced lower pricing for loans above £2.5m and adjusted its pricing at lower LTV tiers.

It has also removed EPC-related restrictions from its commercial offering.

The lender’s head of commercial lending, Marc Callaghan, said: “Brokers are dealing with increasingly varied commercial cases, so having clarity and confidence in how a deal can be structured is key.

“This refresh is about giving them a proposition that works for the realities of the current market and supports them in delivering the right outcome for their clients.”

Coventry’s BTL rates drop

Coventry for intermediaries has also reduced selected buy to let rates by up to 16 basis points, with revised products for new and existing customers.

The lender’s head of intermediary relationships, Jonathan Stinton, said: “Brokers are telling us that many clients are focused on keeping monthly payments as manageable as possible.

“By reducing rates on higher‑LTV products, we’re aiming to provide extra support where it can make a difference.”

For assistance with any type of buy to let (BTL), property or commercial finance please complete the contact form below:

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Landlords must issue the Renters’ Rights Act information by the end of this week or face a £7,000 fine.

The government explain a copy of the information sheet must be given to every tenant named on the tenancy agreement.

The government have warned if landlords do not provide the information sheet to tenants before 31 May 2026, they could face fines of up to £7,000.

Act fast before the deadline

The government says the information sheet must be given to tenants if the tenancy was created before 1 May 2026 and is an assured or assured shorthold tenancy.

The document outlines key changes introduced by the Renters’ Rights Act, including the abolition of fixed-term tenancies and new rules on rent increases.

According to the government, where a landlord uses a letting agent to manage the property, the agent is responsible for providing the information sheet to the tenant, even if the landlord has already done so.

Neil McGimpsey, group chief operating officer at Lomond, said letting agents must act before the deadline at the end of this week.

He said: “We’ve already seen some of the changes from the Renters’ Rights Act implemented, but there are more to come.

“By the end of May, tenants must receive the Renters’ Rights Act Information Sheet 2026. Where a property is managed by an agent, responsibility for issuing this rests with the agent, regardless of whether the landlord has already provided it. Failure to supply tenants with the sheet by the deadline could result in fines of up to £7,000.

“Time is also running out for landlords to provide their tenants with written terms by 31 May if they previously had a verbal agreement.

“For letting agents, this is a critical moment to maintain close contact with landlords, ensure information is distributed correctly, and retain clear records of all communications. Getting this right from the outset supports compliance and avoids complications later.”

Proof of delivery

Lettings platform Goodlord explain proof of delivery of the information sheet will be essential.

In a blog post, Goodlord explains: “For most existing tenancies, landlords are not required to issue new agreements. Instead, they must provide tenants with the official Information Sheet by 31 May 2026.

“The document can be served digitally or in hard copy, but proof of delivery will be essential. Missing the deadline could expose landlords to penalties of up to £7000, making this one of the first practical compliance tests under the new legislation.”

The government has warned that emailing or texting a link to the PDF is not valid.

Nathan Emerson, CEO of Propertymark, explains that an attachment of the information sheet is valid, but sending a link is not.

He said: “With the publication of the Renters’ Rights Act Information Sheet 2026, letting agents across England will be required to ensure that all tenants named on a tenancy agreement receive this information, regardless of whether the landlord has provided it. Failure to provide each tenant with the Information Sheet by 31 May 2026 could result in fines of up to £7,000.

“The Information Sheet must be provided either as a physical hard copy or electronically, such as via email. It is important to note that simply sharing a web link to the information sheet will not meet the required communication standards.

“Letting agents should also maintain comprehensive records of all communications to support any potential complaints or future audit requirements.”

A copy of the Renters’ Rights Act information sheet can be found by clicking here.

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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.

The findings come as government figures on leasehold dwellings show leaseholders are facing a “cliff edge”.

Millions of leaseholders have been waiting too long

The report by the HCLG committee welcomed the government’s decision to cap ground rents at £250 per year but said the measure should come into force in 2027, rather than two years later.

It also raised concerns that several key recommendations previously made by the Law Commission are missing from the draft bill.

These measures, which were included in the government’s manifesto commitments, would make it easier and more affordable for existing leaseholders to convert to commonhold.

The committee warns that without them, commonhold risks becoming an “unattainable escape for homeowners trapped in the leasehold system.”

The report sets out a series of recommendations for technical changes to help commonhold work as intended in the interests of homeowners.

In particular, it suggests that conversion to commonhold should become the default outcome of collective enfranchisement.

Florence Eshalomi MP, chair of the Housing, Communities and Local Government (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.

“The government’s draft bill takes a significant step towards delivering these objectives, but in our report, we set out a blueprint for how the final bill can meet leaseholders’ expectations and deliver on previous government pledges.”

Deliver justice for leaseholders

Ms Eshalomi added the government must fast-track the bill by Autumn 2026.

She said: “Leaseholders across England and Wales have worked hard to get on the property ladder, yet for far too many the leasehold system has turned the homeownership dream into a living nightmare.

“A growing number are concerned that, without urgent reform, they will be trapped in homes with rising costs and ultimately unable to sell.

“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.”

Till death do us part clause

The National Leasehold Campaign (NLC) also welcomed the report but said the government’s proposed 40-year transitional period to zero ground rent is too long and should be reduced.

The committee has challenged the government to justify the length of the transition period or bring it down to 20 years.

Co-founder of the NLC, Catherine Williams, said: “A 40-year wait is effectively a ‘till death do us part’ clause. It tells leaseholders they will be paying for nothing for most of their adult lives. That cannot possibly be justified.

“Even 20 years is a compromise, but it gives people some realistic hope of seeing change in their lifetime. Forty years does not.”

Industry reaction to report

Dr Kion Ahadi, chief executive of LEASE, the government-funded, independent body providing free legal advice on leasehold in England and Wales said: “We welcome the publication of the Housing, Communities and Local Government (HCLG) Committee’s report on the draft Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill which recognises the scale of change now underway across leasehold and commonhold reform.

“Any legislative oversight or scrutiny that helps deliver substantial and much-needed change towards a fairer housing system is to be welcomed.

“The draft Bill addresses some of the most damaging features of leasehold, including high and escalating ground rents.

“More fundamentally, it signals a decisive shift away from leasehold as the default form of home ownership. Moving towards commonhold and making it easier to convert existing buildings where leaseholders choose to do so, has the potential to give homeowners genuine control, security and long-term certainty over their homes.

“We support the Committee’s recommendations aimed at accelerating the pace of change for leaseholders. However, careful and thoughtful implementation will be essential to ensure practical solutions are found for complex issues.”

Changes will not be quick

Mark Chick, ALEP director and senior partner at Bishop & Sewell LLP said: ‘The Committee is right to welcome the draft Bill, but also right to call for greater realism. This is important legislation, but it is not a switch that will turn leasehold off the moment the Bill is passed.

“The changes certainly will not be quick. In practice, it may be several years before commonhold is mandated and, across parts of the market, it could be closer to a decade before commonhold is fully embedded and widely understood.

“Customer education and expectation management is vital to avoid consumers opting for commonhold on the basis that it is ‘easy’: leaseholders need to know what the Bill will do, what it will not do immediately and what further legislation or regulation may still be needed.

“Homeowners will need to understand not only the advantages of commonhold, but also the responsibilities that come with membership of a commonhold association, collective decision-making and long-term building management.”

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With the British summer sizzling, it isn’t just the weather that has been making landlords sweat.

Between mounting red tape, opportunist tenants and aggressive council enforcement, many property owners are looking for a smooth, dignified exit from the private rented sector (PRS) in search of an easier way to make money with less risk and more profit than the PRS since the Renters’ Rights Act.

One such landlord in London, feeling the heat, wanted a clean, quick exit from the PRS and minimum friction with tenants keen to assert their needs first.

He had already wasted time trying to sell to a cash-buying company that claimed he could sell without having to tell his tenants. But, because they were unable to advertise the property to owner occupiers, the biggest investor offer they could find was so far below vacant value, it was too much of a compromise to accept.

A Fresh Approach: Proudly Transparent and Open

That is when he came to us. While others keep tenants in the dark, we take a completely different, collaborative approach. We engaged with the tenants directly, brought them into the loop, and treated them with respect.

It isn’t always the easiest approach and can be confrontational if handled incorrectly, but we are expert mediators, we understand the anxieties tenants face and know the value of having the option to sell with vacant possession should we need to.

We have 100% success rate at arranging vacant possession, typically without having to resort to bailiffs, and always without tenants choosing not to pay rent as a reaction to their landlord selling.

By getting them on board rather than freezing them out, the tenant drama melts, and it allows us to advertise properties we sell to owner-occupiers and mortgage buyers who are willing to pay vacant property value and push up the prices investors must pay.

Sizzling Competition, Cool Results

In just 22 days, with two cash buyers competing against each other and owner occupiers, the bidding war that ensued pushed the highest offer up by more than £12,500 over our highest expectations, on condition the sale completed with vacant possession!

Best of all? Not only did we turn down the heat for our seller, because of our fair fee structure, almost £12,000 of that unexpected bonus will go directly into the seller’s bank.

And with us managing the conveyancing and solving any problems that might arise as part of our superior service, no other estate agent provides, the seller can sit back and enjoy the sunshine while we do all the hard work, knowing:

• We will take full responsibility for arranging vacant possession
• The sale is secured by a non-refundable deposit
• We deliver on our claims
• The money they receive will not be affected by any expense we incur to arrange vacant possession and they will receive rent right up to completion date.

Refreshingly Reliable, Like A Breath Of Fresh Air

You won’t get a higher price for the service, and any company promising you 100% market value is hiding a huge list of costs that are going to come during or after the sale. That’s not the case with us. It’s what makes us different. We believe in complete transparency and take pride in going above and beyond, rain or shine, to deliver results that outshine expectations.

Our sellers normally walk away with 85 – 90% of vacant value in return for a faster, more reliable sale than high street agents can offer.

We solve every single problem, no matter what it is – no hassle, no stress and the entire sale managed for you including keeping or relocating tenants, EPCs and repairs.

If you are feeling the heat and want to explore a positive, respectful, way out, avoiding tenant drama and long court delays get in touch with our team today.

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The government has confirmed it is working with councils to support the use of information from the Private Rented Sector (PRS) Database in carrying out enforcement action against landlords.

In response to a parliamentary written question, Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Housing, Baroness Taylor of Stevenage said the database will collect a range of information as part of the Renters’ Rights Act.

As previously reported by Property118,  the government says the PRS Database fee will be “fair and proportionate”, and has hinted at combining the registration process for the PRS Database and the Ombudsman, but has not confirmed whether landlords will need to pay separate fees for each.

Carry out enforcement action

Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town asked: “To ask the government whether, as the Private Rented Sector Database introduced in the Renters’ Rights Act is rolled out regionally, provision has been made for inspections to take place to verify the information provided by landlords.”

Under the act, all landlords will need to sign up for the database, which will include information about their properties that tenants can access.

In response, Baroness Taylor of Stevenage said: “We are working closely with local councils to support them in using the information that will be provided by the Private Rented Sector Database in their enforcement activities.

“Through guidance, we will encourage local councils to verify the information recorded on the Database and carry out enforcement action as appropriate during the regional rollout.

“The Database will collect a range of information which will be confirmed through secondary legislation. We are continuing to explore which key performance indicators will help us to assess whether the Database is meeting its objectives.”

Landlords could face a fine

According to the government’s Renters’ Rights Act roadmap, the PRS Database will include, at a minimum:

• landlord contact details, including information covering joint landlords
• property details, including full address, property type (flat or house), number of bedrooms, number of households or residents, and whether the property is occupied or furnished
• safety information, including gas, electricity and Energy Performance Certificates, to help ensure tenants are aware of property safety and energy efficiency standards

Councils will also gain the power to take enforcement action against landlords who fail to register on the PRS Database.

If a landlord lets or advertises a property without it first being registered on the database, they can be issued with a civil penalty of up to £7,000 or a £40,000 fine if they provide fraudulent information to the database.

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Leaseholders are being forced to gamble as campaigners urge the government to act now.

The National Leasehold Campaign (NLC) says the latest figures on leasehold dwellings show leaseholders are facing a “cliff edge”.

The NLC is calling on the government to cap ground rent at £250 immediately, rather than waiting two years, and to accelerate the transition to commonhold.

Impossible position to be in

According to government figures, there were 4.8 million individual leases registered against more than four million households in England in 2023–24.

The average length remaining on all leases was 480 years, while the average remaining on the shortest leases was 458 years.

However, more than a quarter of a million households are now at or below the 80-year threshold.

The National Leasehold Campaign (NLC) says this means around 10% of leasehold homes are in the 80-year “danger zone”.

Kaite Kendrick, co-founder of the NLC, said: “The 80-year trap is not theoretical, it is happening right now to hundreds of thousands. Leaseholders are being forced to gamble: act now and pay inflated costs, or wait and risk falling off a financial cliff edge. That is an impossible position to be in.

“The latest figures make clear that the trajectory of leasehold reform is not yet changing, and must do so urgently if they are going to end leasehold. What we are seeing is not a system in decline, but one that is persisting.”

Nothing has fundamentally changed

The figures also show that in London, 39% of homes are leasehold, while in the North West the figure is 30%, with 70% of those properties being houses.

The National Leasehold Campaign (NLC) says this demonstrates that leasehold is not just a flat issue or a “London” issue, but one affecting families across the country.

Cath Williams, co-founder of the NLC, said: “Leasehold continues to have a stranglehold over our housing market. People’s lives are on hold; their homes are effectively controlled by a system they cannot escape from.

“Until these reforms are fully delivered, nothing has fundamentally changed for leaseholders.”

The NLC is urging the government to abolish marriage value and remove the 80-year cliff edge immediately, prioritising protections for existing leaseholders rather than just future buyers.

It is also calling for an accelerated transition to commonhold and for ground rents to be capped at £250 now, rather than in two years’ time.

Jo Darbyshire, co-founder of the NLC, said: “Leaseholders do not have the luxury of time. Every single day of delay more homes become unsellable, and more families are pushed closer to financial crisis.

“This is not just a policy issue, it is a national housing injustice hiding in plain sight. If the government is serious about ending this feudal system, then the pace, priority and direction of reform must change now. Leaseholders have waited long enough.”

Years of uncertainty

The news comes as an industry body has welcomed the government’s leasehold reform plans to phase out leasehold flats, but warned that existing leaseholders must be properly protected during the transition.

According to Propertymark, 94% of leaseholders regret buying a leasehold property, while 76% of property agents say leasehold flats are becoming harder to sell.

Timothy Douglas, head of policy and campaigns at Propertymark, said: “Consumers have faced years of uncertainty and frustration with leasehold properties, from escalating charges to difficulties selling their homes.

“A move to commonhold has the potential to create a fairer, more transparent system that gives homeowners greater control and confidence.

“It’s important, however, that existing leaseholders are protected during the transition and that buyers fully understand how commonhold will work in practice.”

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The housing sector has reacted to the Scottish government’s new cabinet after it scrapped the standalone housing secretary post.

Shirley-Anne Somerville was appointed Housing and Social Justice Secretary after John Swinney was re-elected as First Minister.

A housing charity has criticised the SNP’s decision to merge the housing brief into a wider portfolio, arguing that it sends the wrong message while Scotland remains in a housing emergency.

Incredibly deflating

Gordon Llewellyn-MacRae, assistant director at Shelter Scotland, said: “It is incredibly deflating to see housing downgraded from a specific Cabinet post to a shared portfolio and the standalone housing minister effectively downgraded to a junior role.

“Playing ‘hokey cokey’ with a dedicated minister in then out of the cabinet does nothing to build confidence that ending the housing emergency remains a top priority for the new government.

“At Shelter Scotland, we of course look forward to working with Shirley-Anne Somerville on the Scottish government’s housing emergency action plan. We broadly support their plan for more homes, protecting homelessness rights and tackling the racism and bias in our housing system. She is experienced at juggling the competing demands of Scotland’s social security system and worsening housing emergency.

“But without a dedicated seat at the table, housing organisations will need to keep speaking out if we are to see manifesto pledges turned into action.”

Finding ways to tackle Scotland’s housing emergency

Scottish Association of Landlords chief executive John Blackwood said the Scottish government must work with landlords to tackle the housing crisis.

He said: “SAL is pleased to welcome the new Cabinet Secretary to her role, and we extend our thanks to Mairi McAllan for all the work she did with this crucial portfolio.

“In this time of housing crisis, landlords, tenants, and government must view ourselves as partners in getting people into homes and not as adversaries.

“Having previously worked with Ms Somerville, we look forward meeting with her and finding ways to tackle Scotland’s housing emergency.”

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