Rental Property Archives - Fleet, Hartley Wintney, Odiham McCarthy Holden Estate Agents

Renters’ Right Act Ready Landlord?

March 9, 2026March 9, 2026 by John Holden

If you’re a residential landlord not yet ready for May 1st., we can help and here are some useful insights…

We are helping hundreds of our landlord clients to prepare for the may 1st changes, but there are many residential landlords who are being impacted by too many commentators scaremongering about the new Renters Rights Act, so this news item is a summary to try and provide some clear information about the key factors a Landlord needs to be aware of.

With the right professional agent support there isn’t anything a landlord needs to be worried about.

At McCarthy Holden we shall be implementing these changes in line with the Government’s phased timeline and we aim to provide our Landlords with a seamless transition from May this year.

In essence the new law aims to rebalance rights between tenants and landlords by strengthening safety and security for those renting, tightening the overall standard of rental properties, and simplifying dispute resolution.

The main changes include the following;

Abolishment Of ‘no-fault’ Section 21 Evictions

Section 21 ‘no-fault’ evictions will no longer be available for use from 1st May 2026. For a Landlord this means that gaining possession of their property will only be possible through a defined set of approved grounds under Schedule 2 of the Housing Act 1988 by mean of serving a Section 8 notice citing specific grounds and the notice period shall vary depending on the ground being relied on.

Occupation By The Landlord Or Family

It will be possible to gain possession in circumstances where a landlord or close family member wishes to move into the property. This cannot be used for the first twelve months of a tenancy and the Notice period shall be at least 4 months.

Sale Of The Property

Possession will be possible in circumstances where a landlord needs to sell the property, however, this again, cannot be used for the first twelve months of a tenancy with a Notice period of at least 4 months being required.

Rent Arrears

If a tenant has at least three months rental arrears (please note this must both be at the time notice is served and at the time of a possession hearing), then a landlord can move to gain possession of the property after serving a Section 8 with 4 week notice period.

There are also other grounds within Section 8 , both mandatory and discretionary for reasons of possession.

What Happens With An Existing AST Tenancy

On the 1st May 2026, if you currently have a tenant in situ with an Assured Shorthold tenancy (AST), this tenancy shall automatically become a ‘statutory periodic tenancy’ from this date and after this date the tenant shall be able to give 2 months notice at any time. A landlord however, will only be able to give notice for specific reasons and not to end before a tenant has been allowed to live in the property for at least 12 months.

Rental Increases

Shall only be able to be administered via the service of a Section 13 notice. These notices cannot be served more than once within a 12 month period and a landlord must provide at least 2 months notice of the increase if the rent is paid monthly. If a tenant wishes to challenge a rent increase, they can do so by applying to the first tier tribunal.

Introduction Of A New Decent Homes Standard

With mandatory repairs, timelines and minimum energy efficiency requirements (EPC band C target for private rentals within a phased timetable, expected 2028).

Establishment Of A National Landlord & Letting Agent Registration And Licensing

All landlords will be required to register on the database prior to renting out their property and this will include providing all compliance documentation (Gas Safety, EICR, EPC etc). Local Authority powers are being enhanced with Sanctions for rogue landlords, including fines, civil penalties and criminal sanctions for severe breaches.

Pet Policy

As of the 1st May all pet requests must be considered and It will be difficult to say no pets, apart from specific reasons (ie: head lease does not permit).

Our Professional Lettings Team Are Here To Help

At McCarthy Holden our Landlords are looked after by real people who live and work locally, with whom you can speak to on the phone so no bots or algorithms to delay or frustrate service delivery. We believe our Landlords experience the difference and benefits.

Our professional team are always available by phone or email, so if you are a Landlord who wants a one to one reliable service, call us on 01252 622550 for a free property valuation and advice about renting property.

Buy To Let – Squeeze Or Opportunity For Landlords?

June 20, 2025 by John Holden

Let’s start with the bad news, then dig a little deeper to uncover what’s really happening beyond the usual headlines

Following a wave of Government policy changes and rising costs, the buy‑to‑let segment is feeling the pinch. In addition Stamp duty on second homes has jumped and upcoming EPC C energy efficiency standards (effective by 2030, possibly earlier in 2028), will create extra costs for a Landlord in some cases.

Yet, the market is far from collapsing. Since April 2025, UK rents have continued to climb, albeit at a slower pace—up roughly 7 % year-on-year UK wide.

Some small-scale or accidental landlords are exiting the sector, squeezed by cost, regulation, and compliance pressures—yet returns remain buoyant in yield-rich regions, supported by persistent tenant demand and potential lower borrowing costs.

The Shift

In many cases however, these changes are prompting landlords—especially higher-rate taxpayers—to shift into company status. That shift is backed up with some interesting facts at Companies House.

Over 400,000 companies registered solely to hold BTL properties as of February 2025

In 2024 alone, about 61,500 new limited company BTL businesses were founded — a 23% rise from 2023

No doubt landlords shifting to a company status are influenced by Limited companies offering full deduction of mortgage interest, paying corporation tax on profits, and enjoying more flexible expense claims.

It is estimated that there is about 680,000 buy-to-let properties held in a limited company structure across England and Wales, with the number rising every year. Not all of them are new rental properties – many are being moved from personal names into a limited company owned by the same landlord

In summary, the growth in BTL companies is real and substantial. Driven by tax changes, shifting investor behaviour, strong mortgage volumes, and regional yield opportunities, the UK’s BTL sector has undergone rapid corporatisation. While momentum may ease if costs rise (e.g. stamp duty hikes), current indicators suggest the trend will continue for professional landlords.

For insights into the residential rental market and advice from professional property consultant contact our lettings department by phoning 01252 622550.

A Landlord Focused Agency

At McCarthy Holden our landlords are regarded as one in a million, perhaps unlike in the very large corporate agents where a Landlord could easily become just one in a million.

Because our Landlords are looked after by real people who live and work locally, people who you can speak to on the phone and people who are taking the responsibility of looking after your property, our Landlords experience the difference and benefits.

Our professional team are always available by phone or email and guess what, there are no online bots or automated telephone systems to get in the way of good communication.

So if you are a Landlord who wants one to one reliable service, telephone 01252 622550 for a free property valuation and advice about renting property.

We’re Recruiting

March 5, 2025 by John Holden

Right now we are recruiting for personnel across residential sales and residential lettings specialities, so if you already work in estate agency or, if your are in a service based career and looking for a change, then take a look at our immediate needs and consider sending your CV to us as soon as possible.

Some of the jobs available include the following potential opportunities.

Residential Sales

Our thriving residential sales business need more people who can excel at house sales and customer service.

Job opportunities include an exciting position for a Property Consultant / Sales Negotiator / Estate Agent to join their team, with offices currently based in Fleet, Hartley Wintney and Odiham. Possible candidates include people who may be an existing estate agent or people who are looking for a career change. We want people with sales and communication skills underpinned with attributes such as work ethic and a desire to succeed. Salary will be commensurate with experience and is comprised of basic salary plus commission.

Residential Lettings

We are considering expanding our busy residential lettings business and in preparation for this we want to talk to people who already work in the residential lettings sector. From trainees to managers we want to hear from you, especially those who are or soon to be ARLA qualified.

If you are thinking of a career move, then think about joining out lettings team.

McCarthy Holden People

As an independent, family run company, we have built our reputation based on honesty, integrity and a deep understanding of the local property market. As such, we are looking for additional team members who share our commitment to these values.

A summary of skill based and personality attributes for either residential sale s or residential lettings is as follows.

• Previous experience in estate agency is desirable, but definitely not essential.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• A customer-first attitude with a strong focus on delivering high-quality service.
• A genuine interest in property and the local area.
• A full UK driving license and access to a car / your own vehicle.
• A self-motivated, proactive approach to work.

What To Do Next

If you would like to be considered for joining the McCarthy Holden team then please forward a cover letter with your application and CV as applications without this covering letter will not be considered.

Send your application to Jill Wood using her email jwood@mccarthyholden.co.uk

December Magazine With Market Insight

December 24, 2022 by John Holden

What an extraordinary year, defined on a global level with Mr Putin’s destruction and misery when he decided to invade Ukraine in February, introducing unimaginable suffering to the Ukrainian people and also introducing a backdrop of uncertainty across economic activities from stock markets to property markets around the world.

In the first few months the prospect of a stock market and property market downturn had to be considered, but this didn’t happen in the UK and………. You can read the 2022 review by clicking the image below which will take you through to our online digital Magazine In The Country & Town.

Browsing through our property and lifestyle magazine you will be able to see some of the finest property in the area, available to buy or rent as well as read some engaging editorial content.

Some articles are shown below and a click will take you through.

We wish all of our clients / customers / suppliers and magazine readers a very happy Christmas and an uplifting 2023

Electrical Regulations 2020 for Private Rental Sector

July 7, 2020May 6, 2020 by admin

Essential excerpts:

This legislation imposes duties on landlords to have an electrical installation inspection and test, carried out by a qualified person, at least every 5 years. Other duties include:

i) Obtain a report from person conducting the inspection and supply this report to the tenant within 28 days of the inspection/on date of occupation by new tenant/and prospective tenant on request.

ii) The landlord must also supply the local housing authority with a copy of the report within 7 days of receiving a request for a copy.

iii) The landlord must retain a copy of the report to give to the inspector who will undertake the next inspection.

iv) Where the report identifies remedial work, the landlord must complete this work within 28 days or any shorter period if specified.

v) The landlord must supply written confirmation of the completed remedial works to the tenant and the local housing authority within 28 days.

vi) If the local housing authority finds that landlords are in breach of their duties they may impose a fine up to £30,000.

How to comply:

If we fully manage your property, and your property falls under the first time period requirement, then as part of our ongoing compliance we will be organising this over the coming couple of months. If you wish to arrange your own electrical inspection, please inform us by 22nd of May that this is your intention.

We have been speaking to Pinnacle Electrics who carry out the majority of electrical work for McCarthy Holden managed properties and they have provided us with the following pricing structure to complete the inspection and report to the required standard:

Initial charge – (assessing the consumer unit, incoming supply, protective bonding etc) £118.80 inc vat (£99.00 +vat)
Subsequent charge per MCB* (each Miniature Circuit Breaker requires testing) £27.60 (£23.00 +vat)

*Please note that in general most properties have between six to eight MCBs

Please see Appendix 1 below for further information

Where Pinnacle Electrics are unable to undertake the works for any reason, we shall endeavour to source a similarly priced electrical contractor who is qualified to carry out such checks in the same way.

COVID-19 implications:

Currently, there has been no alteration to dates expected in the regulations and as such we need to prepare and proceed with the inspections and ensure procedures and precautions are taken by both inspector and tenant.

Pinnacle Electrics have provided us with their Covid-19 policy (please email Danielle Goodyear if you would like to review). The highlights are social distancing will be observed, latex gloves and face masks will be worn from the beginning of the visit and discarded safely at the end, anti-bacterial gel is used before and after gloves. We will also be asking tenants to follow similar steps and to prepare the area to minimise contact on objects from the inspector.

Property management service variances:

If your property is not managed by McCarthy Holden you will still be required to undertake this work and provide us with a copy of the report as soon as completed together with proof of rectification works.

If we currently collect the rent for you, we can also organise for the inspection and report to be carried out so please contact Danielle Goodyear in property management.

Should you have any questions in relation to the above, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Yours sincerely

Nicky Bremner (MARLA)
Lettings Director
01252 622550

Appendix 1.

Miniature Circuit Board (MCB) in red tested and under subsequent charge

RCD and Main Switch in blue not tested seperately.

House Market Comment and Covid-19

June 3, 2020March 22, 2020 by admin

After a week of extraordinary events, full of contrasts and extremes, this news item provides insight into the impact of Covid-19, at a time when house sellers, landlords, buyers and tenants alike are naturally concerned. Chairman and Managing Director John Holden, provides a shop floor snapshot of recent events and details about forward planning for the months ahead.

Today's Insight – Tomorrows Plans

These times are undoubtedly a time of extraordinary contrasts and extremes, where decisions made one day are buffeted by the events of a new day.

A time where yesterday’s commitments are questioned and where planning for the future is sometimes about considering a worse case scenario.

But the extraordinary thing about the last few days and weeks, is that whilst as a business leader I have to prepare for my worse case business planning, I wake up every morning to a still busy day ahead on all fronts creating property transactions on lettings and property sales.

This last week’s trading typifies the juxtaposition between planning for the worse, but still experience the best in terms of trading for now. In just the last few days we have seen properties exchange contracts, we have arranged new homes sales on properties from around £360,000 in Bagshot through to multiple deals in the £2m. to £5m. country house sector, conducted viewing in the £4m. to £5m. sector, watched many existing sales in progress to exchange of contracts, and we have seen many new lettings being agreed in preparation for a move in next week, and finally we had a diary full of property viewings for this Saturday. Extraordinary activity in the circumstances.

Do you have a country house for sale? We have a waiting list of buyers looking right now.

Timing A Move

We think that some house buyers and sellers will simply elect to have a delayed completion when the moment of exchanging contracts arrives in the coming weeks, this way both parties secure and achieve their moving objectives but only delay the actual move in day.

Home Working

Things will undoubtedly slow down a little and very soon our staff will be working from home, where we can continue with new house sales, transaction chasing and management and valuations with the benefit of technology using Zoom for example. Phone call and emails will be diverted to our personnel working from home very soon.

Minimising Risk When Showing A House

We are aware that vendors and landlords are worried about even the smallest risk of virus transmission, so when we meet buyers or tenants to show them around a client’s property we will be giving them / asking them to wear latex gloves so that things like door knobs, stairs and kitchen equipment are not touched with bare hands.

Whilst we are, as always, delighted to see people, we ask them not to be offended that we won’t be shaking hands and will be keeping a safe distance. In some cases we may not be able to offer drinks or refreshments as we would normally, but instead we will offer you hand sanitiser and facilities to wash your hands during your time together.

Our public announcement about our operational approach to work was distributed to the public recently and is available at this link

Please do subscribe to our newsletter which will be distributed up to twice a week by email (subscription is free and you will find informative content about property, finance and general lifestyle features). There is a pop up sign up on our home page.

It seems that despite Covid-19, the will and sheer determination of people to lead as normal a life as possible is a winning formula for overcoming life’s extraordinary events.

We are available to help our customers and the local community, so do please contact you local branch by phone or email at any time. Business is operating as usual in every respect and we remain committed to the well-being of our staff and customers at this difficult time.

John Holden

Chairman and Managing Director – McCarthy Holden