Buy-to-Let & Landlord News Round-Up | Nov 24, 2025

Budget Watch-Outs for Landlords

With the Autumn Budget just days away, several potential PRS-related measures are widely speculated:

• National Insurance on rental income – a Treasury-tested option that would significantly reduce net yields for individual landlords.
• Capital Gains Tax changes – possible rate rises or another reduction in the annual exemption.
• Funding model for the new Landlord Register & PRS Database – likely via new landlord fees, possibly per-property.
• FHL & incorporation clampdowns – signals that tax advantages for holiday lets and “roll-over” incorporation could be tightened.
• Property upgrade incentives – grants or tax offsets for damp, mould, insulation and heating improvements remain a possibility.

What this means for landlords: With nothing set in stone yet, and multiple initiatives soft tested via leaks, keep your eye out on Wednesday and expect the unexpected!

Buy-to-Let Mortgage Rates: Sharp Improvements at the Short End

BTL mortgage rates continue to soften, with some genuinely competitive options emerging:

• Several specialist BTL lenders are now offering 2-year fixed BTL deals from around 2.6%–2.9%, often with reasonable arrangement fees.
• These rates are much more accessible than the ultra-low specialist headline deals (e.g., a 2.20% product with a 7% fee).
• Mainstream lenders continue to price most 2-year fixes in the 3.3%–4.5% range depending on LTV and borrower profile.
• Product availability is rising, suggesting growing lender confidence and more choice for landlords looking to remortgage or restructure portfolios.

What this means for landlords: The short end of the BTL market is becoming more attractive again. For landlords facing remortgage deadlines, now is a sensible time to review options - but ensure you calculate the effective cost of each deal (rate + fee + stress test) rather than relying purely on the headline APR.

Fines of up to £7,000 for Discriminating Against Benefit Claimants or Families

• New rules under the RRA mean landlords and agents can face £7,000 fines for unlawfully excluding benefit-claiming tenants or families with children from viewings, applications or listings.

What this means for landlords: Review all advertising and application processes - remove “No DSS/No Benefits/No Families” language immediately. Ensure you can evidence fair screening criteria (affordability, references, credit). Bear in mind that this does not mean that a Landlord cannot choose an applicant that is in a better financial position, for instance than someone on benefits.

But bear in mind…

Two-Thirds of English Councils Have Not Prosecuted a Single Landlord in Three Years

• New analysis shows that despite 300,000+ tenant complaints in 2022–24, 66% of councils issued zero landlord prosecutions. Budget cuts and lack of specialist staff are key factors.
  

What this means for landlords: Enforcement has been low - but with the Renters’ Rights Act, councils gain expanded powers from Dec 2025, making future enforcement more likely. Get ahead now: licensing, documentation, and property conditions should be fully compliant before the new RRA regime begins.

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