Further reading
- New legislation confirmed included that the Leasehold Reform Act 2022 will be coming into force on 30 June. Most significantly, this will stop landlords charging ground rent for new long residential leases. In addition, new leasehold houses will be banned, ensuring that all new houses built from 30 June must be freehold.
- The government also confirmed that the planning system will be reformed in order “to give residents more involvement in local development”
- To abolish Section 21 of Housing Act 1988, which the government claims will provide security for tenants in the private rented sector and empowering them to challenge poor practice and unfair rent increases without fear of retaliatory eviction” while also strengthening landlords’ rights of possession introducing new and stronger grounds for repeated incidences of rent arrears and reducing notice periods for anti-social behaviour.
- A new ombudsman for private landlords will also be introduced so that disputes can be resolved without the need to go to court, which is often costly and lengthy, and ensure that when residents make a complaint, landlords can take action to remedy.
- Introduction of a new property portal that will “help landlords understand their obligations”, give tenants performance information to hold their landlord to account, as well as aiding local authorities.
- Before the Queen’s Speech the government had been expected to announce a new crackdown on second homes but so far no concrete details have emerged. It had speculated that councils would be allowed to increase council tax by 100% on second homes that are neither used nor let out by their owners for at least 70 days per year.
Essential Information Group - News and Information
Keep up to date with our latest news, case studies and what's going on in the property auction industry on our blog.
Buying at auction
25/03/2026
The Most Important Document in the Legal Pack? The One That’s Missing.
Legal packs are often treated as the definitive source of truth in a property transaction. But in reality, they are anything but complete. While they provide essential information, they are built to meet minimum requirements - not to offer full transparency. And in many cases, it’s not what’s included that creates risk, but what’s missing.
Buying at auction
24/03/2026
Guide Prices: Why Buyers Should Treat Them as a Guide to the Reserve
Guide prices are one of the most misunderstood elements of the auction process. Too often, buyers treat them as an indication of a property’s value, when in reality they are designed to signal something entirely different, the likely reserve. In an increasingly competitive and dynamic auction market, understanding this distinction is critical to making informed decisions and avoiding costly assumptions.
Buying at auction
23/03/2026
There’s So Much More Than the Aroma of Hot Coffee…
There’s so much more to selling a property than creating the perfect first impression. While details like fresh coffee, open windows, and careful staging can help set the scene, today’s buyers are looking for something far more important - clarity, confidence, and certainty. And that doesn’t come from how a property feels, but from how well it’s prepared behind the scenes.