Prop Home

16/10/2026

Your rental property could be losing you money, even when the rent is paid on time.

A full rent payment every month doesn't automatically mean your investment is performing as well as it could.

Empty periods, unnecessary maintenance costs, tenant turnover and inefficient management can all eat into your returns.

The question is: are you focusing too much on what comes in, and not enough on what you actually keep?

We've explored where landlords could be losing money and why effective property management can make a difference.

How closely do you monitor the true cost of running your rental property?

 Why smarter property management could improve your returns without increasing the rent.  Your tenant pays £1,500 a month. That's £18,000 a year.  Sounds good. But how much of that money are you actually keeping?  Between empty properties, unnecessary maintenance costs, poor tenant retentio...

14/10/2026

How is a landlord supposed to know which Making Tax Digital software to choose?

There are currently 128 products listed for landlords' UK property income - the problem is that they don't all offer the same functionality.

Some can already handle the year-end tax return, others have that functionality still in development, while some don't offer it at all.

For a landlord who works with numbers every day, that might be relatively straightforward to assess, but for plenty of landlords, it won't be.

They own a rental property, understand their investment, and might be perfectly capable of managing tenants and making decisions about their property. But that doesn't mean they know how to compare accounting software, understand MTD requirements or work out exactly what they need to submit.

That raises a bigger question: how much responsibility should landlords be expected to take on themselves when the rules are becoming increasingly technical?

Professional advice and good software can certainly help, but landlords still need to understand what they're signing up for and choose a system that actually meets their needs.

Landlords, have you started looking at MTD software yet? How are you deciding which one to use?

12/10/2026

Landlords and tenants don't have to be on opposite sides.

Research by Yorkshire Building Society, which surveyed 4,000 UK adults, found that most private renters describe their landlords in positive terms and recognise the important role they play in providing homes across the country.

That's not a view we hear bout very often in the news.

There's always plenty of discussion about conflict between landlords and tenants, and of course, problems do arise. Not every tenancy runs smoothly, and landlords must meet their responsibilities.

Yet plenty of landlord–tenant relationships work well.

A landlord who responds to maintenance issues, communicates clearly and treats tenants fairly can make a real difference. Equally, tenants who pay rent reliably, look after the property and communicate openly help build a positive relationship.

A good tenancy should be a partnership, not a battle between two sides.

Landlords - what do you think makes the biggest difference to a successful long-term tenancy: communication, reliability, mutual respect or something else?

09/10/2026

Fewer rental properties, more rules, and higher penalties - is it any wonder some landlords are reconsidering property investment?

Recent figures reported show that the number of properties available to rent in England fell by 12.1% between Q2 and Q3 2026, from 127,696 to 112,190. That's more than 15,500 fewer available rental properties in a single quarter.

The figures raise questions about the pressures facing landlords, particularly as the private rented sector adjusts to the Renters’ Rights Act and an increasingly complex regulatory environment.

Landlords are having to consider changing legislation, compliance requirements and potential financial penalties alongside mortgage costs, taxation, maintenance and energy-efficiency improvements.

For some, the numbers may simply no longer add up. Others who might previously have considered investing in property could decide the responsibilities and risks just aren't worth taking on.

Of course, the fall in available rental properties doesn't prove that regulation is the sole reason behind the decline, there are several factors influencing landlords' decisions.

The bigger question is whether the growing demands of being a landlord could discourage investment at a time when people still need somewhere to rent?

07/10/2026

❓Would you spend thousands upgrading your rental property, or would you sell up instead?

With the 2030 EPC deadline approaching, some landlords could be facing a difficult decision.

Government estimates suggest the average cost of improvements could be around £5,400 per property, with some facing bills of up to £10,000.

For landlords with several properties, that could mean a substantial investment.

The recent discussion around the new requirements raises an important question: will some landlords decide the money is better spent elsewhere and sell their properties rather than carry out the work?

We can understand why some might reach that conclusion. Property investment has to make financial sense, and the cost of improvements needs to be weighed against the potential return.

Our view? Landlords shouldn't wait until 2030 to work out whether their properties are worth keeping.

Assessing the likely costs now gives them time to consider their options, whether that's improving the property, budgeting for the work or deciding to sell.

With the deadline still a few years away, there's time to make an informed decision rather than a rushed one.

Landlords, if your property needed thousands of pounds in EPC improvements, would you invest in it or consider selling?

05/10/2026

The Prime Minister wants tougher action against rogue landlords. Responsible landlords shouldn't have anything to fear from higher standards.

In his party conference speech, Prime Minister Andy Burnham pledged to give councils new powers to take control of properties in poor condition and bring them into public housing. He said landlords who refuse to improve their properties could face action, including councils acquiring those homes if necessary. Further details of the proposed powers have yet to be announced.

We fully agree that rogue landlords and poor property standards should be tackled. Tenants deserve safe, well-maintained homes, and landlords who neglect their responsibilities should be held accountable.

Good landlords who look after their properties and tenants have nothing to fear from higher standards.

The challenge is keeping up with changing legislation, compliance requirements and property standards while managing the day-to-day demands of a rental property.

At Prop Home, we make it our business to stay fully up to speed with the latest legislation and regulations, helping our landlords remain compliant and advising them on the best way forward.

Good property management makes a difference. If you have a good managing and letting agent looking after you, these changes shouldn’t be something to worry about.

Want peace of mind with your rental property? Contact Prop Home today.

02/10/2026

562 rental properties a day are leaving the private rented sector.

That's the latest figure from TwentyCi, and we think the bigger question isn't simply why are landlords leaving?

It's what happens when they do?

Every landlord who sells up is making an individual decision about their own investment, but collectively, thousands of properties leaving the rental market means fewer homes available to rent.

Some will be sold to other landlords, others will become owner-occupied homes. Either way, the number of properties available to private renters can fall.

We understand why an individual landlord might decide the numbers no longer work - rising costs, tax changes, increasing regulation, mortgage rates and the cost of maintaining a property can all affect the decision.

What we're less sure about is whether the market can keep losing rental properties at this rate without it having wider consequences.

Landlords - do you think the current level of landlords leaving the rental market is sustainable?

30/09/2026

42% of landlords surveyed aren't confident they understand energy efficiency exemptions.

That matters because when improving a property to meet energy efficiency requirements could mean spending thousands of pounds, knowing whether an exemption applies to your property can make a significant difference.

But there’s another part that can easily get overlooked - having the evidence.

It’s not necessarily enough to believe your property qualifies for an exemption. You may need to be able to demonstrate why.

That could mean keeping records of improvement works, costs, reports, recommendations or other relevant evidence.

So the question isn't simply “Do I need to get my property up to the required standard?” It’s also “Does an exemption apply to me, and can I prove it?”

With regulations changing and further energy efficiency requirements coming into focus, this is another area where landlords need to know exactly what applies to their properties.

Landlords - is understanding the rules and exemptions your biggest concern, or is it actually the cost of meeting the requirements?

28/09/2026

Landlords shouldn’t have to be property regulation experts.

If you own a rental property, you have a responsibility to understand the rules and keep the property compliant.

That’s not up for debate.

What we question is the expectation that landlords should know every single regulation, legislative change, deadline and new requirement affecting their properties.

The regulatory landscape doesn’t stand still. Requirements change, guidance is updated, new legislation comes in. And of course the responsibility for getting it right ultimately remains with the landlord.

For someone managing a small portfolio alongside a career, family and everything else, keeping up with every detail can become a significant job in itself.

Owning a rental property shouldn't require you to become a full-time property regulation specialist.

Landlords should know their responsibilities, they shouldn't necessarily have to know everything.

Where do you stand on this? Is keeping up with every regulatory change simply part of being a landlord, or has the expectation gone too far?

25/09/2026

Thinking about becoming a landlord? Before you let your first property, make sure you’re not making one of these common mistakes.

From underestimating your legal responsibilities to overlooking the ongoing costs and management involved, there are plenty of things that can catch new landlords out.

The good news? Most are easy to avoid when you know what to look for.

We’ve put together the Top 5 Mistakes New Landlords Still Make - and How to Avoid Them.

Read the full blog to find out what they are and how to avoid costly mistakes from the start.

Becoming a landlord can be a rewarding investment, but it also comes with plenty of challenges including legal responsibilities, financial commitments and ongoing management. Many first-time landlords underestimate what'sactually involved, and even small mistakes can lead to unnecessary costs, compl...