Whether you’re a homeowner, tenant, landlord or prospective investor, it pays to keep abreast of the latest UK property news. Here are some of the most recent headlines.
Nationwide HPI: annual house price growth halves in September
Nationwide’s House Price Index (HPI) is a widely followed measure of UK house price movements.
Nationwide’s latest release for September showed annual UK house price growth slowing markedly. Key findings included:
- annual house price growth halved from 1.6% in August to 0.8% in September, the weakest rate since December 2025;
- prices fell by 0.2% month on month after seasonal adjustment;
- Northern Ireland was the strongest-performing region in Q3 2026, with prices up 5.9% year on year, while East Anglia was the weakest, with prices down 0.7%; and
- terraced properties were the strongest-performing property type, with prices up 1.8%, while flat prices were essentially unchanged compared with a year earlier.
Making Tax Digital: November deadline nears for landlords
Landlords and sole traders already using Making Tax Digital (MTD) for Income Tax must send their second quarterly update to HMRC by 7 November 2026.
In an article published on 25 September, Propertymark reminded those already using MTD – generally sole traders and landlords with qualifying income over £50,000 – to ensure their digital records are up to date and submit the quarterly update through compatible software.
Quarterly updates summarise income and expenses for the tax year to date. They are not tax returns or tax payments, and corrections to earlier records can be reflected in a later cumulative update.
The rules will extend to more sole traders and landlords:
- those with qualifying income over £30,000 must use MTD for Income Tax from April 2027; and
- those with qualifying income over £20,000 must use it from April 2028.
Qualifying income is broadly the combined gross income from self-employment and property before expenses are deducted. Landlords should check HMRC guidance or speak to their tax adviser to confirm whether and when the rules apply to them.
Rental reforms prompt landlords to consider rent rises and selling
The Negotiator reported on 1 October on a Deposit Protection Service survey of more than 1,000 landlords carried out shortly after the Renters’ Rights Act was implemented in May.
The survey found that 68% of respondents planned to increase rents on some or all of their properties. Landlords cited legislation as the main factor behind planned rent increases, followed by maintenance costs and other risks.
The Act ended Section 21 evictions, introduced rolling tenancies and limited rent increases to once a year. The survey also found that the proportion of landlords intending to sell some or all of their portfolio had risen from 53% in October 2025 to 56% in May 2026.
Among the reasons respondents gave for considering an exit were legislation, returns, mortgage costs and retirement. The findings reflect the intentions of landlords surveyed rather than establishing how the wider private rental market will respond.
New rules introduced for digital Right to Rent checks
New rules for digital Right to Rent checks in England came into force on 1 October 2026, according to the National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA).
Landlords still have several ways to carry out a Right to Rent check, including manual document checks and the Home Office online service. However, if a landlord chooses to use a digital verification service provider for a digital Right to Rent check, the provider must be a registered Right to Rent Digital Verification Service Provider (RtR DVSP).
If facial recognition technology is used to confirm a prospective occupier’s identity as part of the check, it must also be provided through a registered RtR DVSP. The landlord remains responsible for ensuring the prescribed Right to Rent requirements are met and for retaining the required evidence.
This article is for general information only and does not constitute legal, tax or financial advice. Rules and requirements can change, so check current official guidance or seek professional advice where appropriate.
