As winter sets in, many landlords brace themselves for the annual battle against damp, condensation, and black mould. But there's a surprisingly simple solution that could save you and your tenants a lot of hassle: small portable dehumidifiers. 

How did the Budget land with the property sector, and what are the key takeaways for landlords? Here, we look at the announcements in more detail and unpack the new opportunities for property investors in 2026.  (Article kindly written for us by our favoured mortgage broker, MFB)

What do you do when you arrive at your property and find more people living there than you expected?  In the past it was your problem and if you approached PCC they would tell you to fix the problem or risk enforcement action, as it would be you in breach of licence or planning conditions.

The good news is PCC have written a useful reminder we can all use in our tenant and licensing paperwork at the start of a tenancy and when needed thereafter to make responsibilities and legalities clear. 

Landlords across Portsmouth are reporting growing confusion and inconsistency in how council tax exemptions for student tenancies are applied.  We have created guidance based on the experience of a number of members.

The Renters' Rights Act 2025 introduces changes that are particularly disruptive for the student lettings sector.

Historically, fixed-term assured shorthold tenancies (ASTs) aligned neatly with the academic year, allowing predictable turnover and maintenance windows.

Under the new law, ASTs will be abolished and replaced with Assured Tenancies. Students will be entitled to end the contract when they choose (by giving 2 months notice), and they cannot be held to a 10 or 11 month fixed term. Someone falling out with housemates or disenchanted with their course might give notice to end the tenancy in November, or in March if their course ends or they are too stressed to face exams.

There are nuances in the new rules that are crucial for any student landlord to understand such that a 'notice to quit' can be served by one co-tenant in a joint tenancy but only withdrawn if all co-tenants agree.

Student landlords need to prepare already now for challenges around tenancy length, possibility of irregular turnover, and possession, whilst fully detailed Government guidance is not expected for several months.

The Renters' Rights Act has introduced significant changes in how private landlords should treat requests from tenants to keep companion animals. Legal expert David Smith and charity voices from the Society for Companion Animal Studies (SCAS) agree the law marks a shift — but emphasise different priorities. 

What is clear from David Smith's analysis is that it is not about you, and your views on pets do not matter - it is a question of the properties suitability for the particular pet. Landlords now need a clear, consistent, and evidence‑based approach that balances property protection with tenants' wellbeing.

End of S21 - Good News For Poor Landlords?

Unhousing the Norm: Disability, Pets and the Politics of Home (SCAS)

 'Money Claim Online' (MCOL) is cheap and easy to use with clear guidance on .gov.uk website.

It is worth doing - not only as it helps flag the debtor with a CCJ - but also from time to time a debtor's circumstances will change drastically within a few years. Then if the debt attached to the CCJ interferes with, say, a mortgage application, they might come back to clear the debt at some point in the future even if the creditor never pursues collection after the claim is determined.

So if you have a tenant leave in arrears, use MCOL - you may get the money but even if you don't, it lowers the risk for other landlords and the more of us that use it, the less we are likely to get caught out by a serial rogue tenant.