Landlords face £7,000 fines for missing document deadline this week

Landlords are being warned they could face fines of up to £7,000 if they fail to provide tenants with the government’s new Renters’ Rights Act information sheet by 31 May.

The legislation introduces major changes to the private rented sector, including the end of Section 21 evictions and stricter rules around rent increases and tenant protections, with further reforms still to come later this year.

RAW’s co-founder Parkes steps down as CEO

RAW Capital Partners co-founder Tim Parkes has stepped down as chief executive, with managing director Ben Nichols taking over the role as the specialist lender looks to continue its growth.

Parkes will remain involved as a senior adviser and chairman of the RAW Mortgage Fund board after helping build the business into a lender managing more than £200m in assets.

The Mortgage Works adds 2-year trackers and cuts fixed BTL rates

The Mortgage Works is launching new two-year tracker buy-to-let products while also cutting selected fixed rates by up to 0.15% across its range for new and existing customers.

The lender says the changes are designed to give landlords greater flexibility and support amid ongoing cost pressures, with all tracker deals including the option to switch to a fixed rate without early repayment charges.

Broker activity jumped in Q1 on impact of Iran war: Imla

Mortgage brokers experienced a sharp rise in activity during the first quarter of 2026, with increased remortgage and purchase demand driven largely by market volatility linked to the Iran conflict and rising swap rates.

Despite weaker overall lending figures and softer confidence in the wider mortgage market, brokers remained relatively optimistic about their own businesses as they helped borrowers navigate uncertain conditions.

Omni Protect hires Butler as head of protection development

Omni Protect has appointed protection industry veteran Dave Butler as its new head of protection development, bringing more than 25 years of experience from firms including L&G, AIG, Zurich and Vitality.

In the newly created role, Butler will help expand and develop the company’s protection proposition as it continues to grow following its launch earlier this year.

ModaMortgages expands BTL range with new limited edition 2-year fixes

ModaMortgages has expanded its buy-to-let offering by launching new limited edition two-year fixed-rate products, with rates starting from 3.54% for single properties and 3.64% for HMOs and multi-unit blocks.

The lender says the move is designed to give landlords more flexibility alongside its existing five-year fixes, with products available up to 80% loan-to-value and a range of fee options.

Rental yields stable and 84% of landlords in profit: Pegasus

Average rental yields have remained steady at 6.5% in Q1 2026, with 84% of landlords still reporting profitability, according to Pegasus Insight.

While returns vary by region and property type, particularly favouring HMOs and landlords in the North West, the data suggests the private rented sector remains broadly stable, supported by strong tenant demand and relatively long tenancies.

Half of FTBs unaware they could borrow up to £40k more: MAB

Half of first-time buyers are unaware that their borrowing power may have improved in recent months, with some potentially able to access up to £40,000 more than a year ago, according to Mortgage Advice Bureau research.

The findings suggest many renters are still relying on outdated assumptions about deposits and affordability, despite greater lending flexibility and the availability of low-deposit mortgage options.

Coventry, Hanley and Keystone make rate cuts

Coventry for Intermediaries has cut selected residential and buy-to-let rates by up to 16bps, including first-time buyer deals with cashback, while Hanley and Keystone have also reduced pricing across residential and specialist ranges in response to improving market conditions and lower swap rates.

At the same time, InterBay is withdrawing its commercial and buy-to-let products ahead of a new simplified range launch.

Overall, lenders are actively repricing and reshaping product availability rather than moving in a single direction.

Housing committee says leasehold reform must go further

A cross-party committee has urged the government to strengthen its Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill, warning that current proposals do not go far enough to protect leaseholders.

MPs called for tougher limits on ground rents, stricter controls on service charges, and the creation of an independent regulator for property management agents.

They also pressed for faster timelines on reforms, arguing many leaseholders remain trapped in properties facing rising costs and limited control.