Amendments and Arrears: UK Rental Market Update (16 October 2025)

Date of report: 16 October 2025 (UK)

This week’s property news highlights a market under growing regulatory and financial pressure. The government is pushing through last-minute planning reforms to fast-track housing and infrastructure projects ahead of the November Budget, while property heads are calling for stamp duty cuts to revive first-time buyer demand. Landlords and agents are being urged to prepare for longer eviction timelines under the forthcoming Renters’ Rights Bill, and councils are cracking down on dodgy landlords, signifying intensifying local enforcement. With the impending Budget on the horizon, the private rented sector faces a critical few months for compliance, policy, and profitability.

The Top Headlines:

1) Planning Bill: last-minute amendments to speed housing and infrastructure

The government has brought last-minute changes to its Planning & Infrastructure Bill aimed at curbing council “blockers”, reducing judicial-review delays and accelerating the building of reservoirs, wind farms and large housing schemes. All part of a push to generate economic growth and extra tax revenues ahead of the November Budget. Source

2) Agents told to act on arrears ahead of Renters’ Rights Bill

Currently, due to court delays, from the point an eviction notice is served, landlords already wait on average 27.9 weeks to repossess a property. With the Bill in its final stages, industry voices say extended arrears thresholds (moving from 2 to 3 months) could lengthen possession timelines further. Source

3) Homebuilder calls to scrap stamp duty for first-time buyers

Bellway’s CEO urged the government to remove stamp duty for first-time buyers and initiate incentive schemes, such as a longer-term deposit support scheme and discounts, highlighting weak demand and affordability barriers since temporary reliefs ended. Source

4) Council cracks down on rogue landlords with £180,000 in fines

Hounslow Council has fined landlords and letting agents more than £180,000 for breaches including unlicensed HMOs, poor property conditions, and illegal rentals. The council says it will continue its prosecution efforts as part of its drive to raise housing standards and protect tenants. (Source)

5) 'Make or Break' for the property market under the next Budget

The next Budget is critical for the UK property market, with potential changes to stamp duty, capital gains, and council tax under review. Rachel Reeves is. considering replacing stamp duty with an annual tax on properties worth over £500,000. (Source)

Landlords & agents: Now is the time to get ahead of change. Tenant retention and satisfaction are more important than ever, especially with longer arrears periods making eviction and re-letting slower and costlier. Ensuring properties are well-maintained and supported by efficient systems to manage repairs, communication, and compliance is key to holding onto good tenants and protecting income. Now more than ever, landlords and agents are adopting digital tools to simplify operations and stay organised.

If compliance is on your agenda, contact LightWork AI or book a demo today.