This week’s top headlines: 700 formerly rented homes put up for sale every day and Mortgages could rise by over £3,000 a year due to Trumpflation.
Explore these and other major industry updates below:
700 formerly rented homes put up for sale every day
Research by Savills shows that around 700 former rental homes are being listed for sale each day across Great Britain, reflecting growing pressure on buy-to-let landlords from rising regulation, mortgage costs and the upcoming Renters’ Rights Act.
The trend is especially strong in London, although some properties are still returning to the rental market under new landlord ownership rather than leaving the sector entirely.
L&C Mortgages launches new logo and brand identity
L&C Mortgages has unveiled a new brand identity aimed at making the broker more recognisable and trustworthy for homebuyers.
As part of the rebrand, it has introduced a new character called Lucy to guide customers through the mortgage process, with the firm saying the changes reflect its focus on friendly, expert advice in an increasingly complex market.
Mortgages could rise by over £3,000 a year due to Trumpflation
New analysis from Moneyfacts suggests homeowners could face mortgage bill increases of more than £3,000 a year if inflation surges due to ongoing global conflict and rising energy prices.
The Bank of England’s worst-case scenario could see interest rates climb sharply, pushing mortgage repayments significantly higher and putting further pressure on affordability for borrowers.
Tandem appoints Walters as head of sales and distribution as Brookes announces retirement
Tandem Bank’s director of second charge sales, Nigel Brookes, has taken planned early retirement after more than 10 years with the business, during which he helped grow its second charge offering and launch Tandem Connect.
Laura Walters, who has been with the bank for 13 years, has been promoted to head of sales and distribution as Tandem looks to continue expanding in the growing second charge market.
Market Harborough expands mortgage team with two specialist BDMs
Market Harborough Building Society has strengthened its mortgage team with the appointment of two specialist business development managers, Victoria Taricska and Parveen Kumari-Reynolds.
The society said the hires support its continued expansion and growing demand for specialist lending, particularly following its recent move into the Scottish market.
Renting now cheaper than buying, says Rightmove
Rightmove says renting has become cheaper than buying for the first time since June 2025, as rising mortgage rates push average monthly repayments above rental costs across Great Britain.
While buying remains more affordable in areas such as Scotland and the North East, higher house prices in London and the South East continue to make homeownership significantly more expensive than renting.
Jump in number of estate agents seeking qualifications ahead of reform
The number of estate and letting agents seeking professional qualifications has risen sharply, with bookings for Rightmove’s property exams up 128% year-on-year ahead of possible government reforms introducing mandatory qualifications.
Industry bodies say the growing demand reflects increasing consumer expectations and a wider push to improve professionalism and trust across the property sector.
Landlords and second home buyers driving stamp duty receipts
Analysis by Paragon shows that second-home and buy-to-let purchases now generate the majority of stamp duty receipts in more than half of English local authorities, despite higher tax surcharges introduced to curb demand.
The data suggests landlord activity has shifted towards cheaper northern regions, with concerns growing that this could create uneven investment, housing shortages and rising rents in other parts of the country.
84% of landlords are still turning a profit: Foundation
Latest research from Foundation suggests most landlords remain profitable, with 84% reporting profits and average rental yields rising to 6.5%, despite ongoing cost and regulatory pressures.
While confidence appears to be stabilising and landlords are increasingly planning for regulation and portfolio growth, the sector still faces challenges such as void periods, arrears, and a notable proportion of landlords considering selling properties.
Principality lifts rates by up to 15bps as Vida and Rely reprice
Lenders are continuing to adjust pricing in a volatile mortgage market, with Principality Building Society set to increase rates by up to 15 basis points across parts of its buy-to-let, holiday let and residential ranges.
At the same time, Rely and Vida have temporarily withdrawn buy-to-let products to reprice, while Halifax and BM Solutions recently cut rates, highlighting ongoing uncertainty and frequent shifts in mortgage pricing conditions.
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