Your Weekly Property Round-Up: Budget Reaction, a Cooler Market and the New Landlord Register

Week ending 30 October 2026 | David James Estate Agency, Bromley

It’s been a busy week in property. The Autumn Budget landed, fresh house price and mortgage figures were published, and the Government released new guidance on the national landlord register. Here’s what it all means for sellers, landlords and anyone involved in block management in Bromley, Beckenham and across Kent.

In the news: how the new landlord register will work

The headline: the Government has published guidance on the national register of landlords, which comes in under the Renters’ Rights Act. The big point for landlords is that lettings agents can be given the job of providing and uploading the property details and documents, so it doesn’t all have to land on your desk.

The key points from the guidance

• Landlords register themselves and their properties. They’ll sign in with a GOV.UK One Login, and there’s a paper application for anyone without digital access.
• Agents can take on the detail. A landlord must start the registration, then if your agent agrees can delegate information such as the number of tenants, licensing details, rent and included bills, and compliance certificates to their lettings agent. 
• The fee is £65 a year. It won’t attract VAT and will be tax deductible.
• Rollout is regional. Registration begins on 15 December 2026 and runs to 14 November 2027, region by region, starting with the West Midlands. Each region has a three-month window, and in this first phase only properties that are let (or become let) need to be registered. Property information must be provided within 28 days of registering.
• Registration numbers will eventually be mandatory on listings. In future, empty properties will need to be registered before they’re advertised.
• Penalties are real. Up to £7,000 for failing to register, and up to £40,000 for knowingly or recklessly providing false or misleading information.

A word of caution from the industry

Larger agencies have raised concerns about the workload. During a committee hearing, the Shadow Housing Minister said that, based on 30 minutes per property and around 70 data points each with no bulk upload facility, a 10,000-home portfolio could take 714 working days to load. The Government’s own estimate is 10 minutes per property. Whatever the final figure, the lesson is the same: the sooner your records are in order, the smoother registration will be.

What this means for our landlords

We’re making sure every property we let or manage has up-to-date compliance certificates, tenancy details and contact information, ready for when your region opens. If you’d like us to handle registering the details for you, just ask (additional fees will apply).

Lettings: Budget changes and a new way of renting

Tax on rental income is going up. In his first Autumn Budget, Chancellor John Healey confirmed a further 2% on income tax paid on rental earnings from April. That takes the basic rate on rent to 24%, the higher rate to 44% and the additional rate to 49%. He defended the move on BBC Radio 4, saying he was protecting earned income. Industry voices have warned it could push some landlords to sell and put upward pressure on rents. On the positive side, there was good news on Capital Gains Tax, with landlords spared a hike that had been feared.

Renters’ Rights Act, six months on. New research from Goodlord suggests agents are confident but concerned in the first months under the new rules. That matches what we see: Section 21 has gone, most tenancies are periodic, rent can be increased once a year, and tenants can challenge increases. Good referencing and clear paperwork matter more than ever. We check employment and income, credit history and previous landlord references on every applicant.

Our advice for landlords this week

• Speak to your accountant about the April tax change before you make any decisions.
• Check your rent against the local market, so any increase is fair and evidenced.
• Don’t sell or exit on the strength of headlines. Come and talk it through with us first. 

For tenants: report repairs early. Managed properties have our 24-hour maintenance reporting system.

Sales: a quieter market, and why pricing matters

The latest national figures point to a cooler market:

• Nationwide: annual house price growth slowed to 0.5% in October, down from 0.8% in September and the weakest since January 2024. Prices were flat on the month, with the average UK home at £273,566.
• Bank of England: mortgage approvals fell for the third month in a row to 53,400 in September (from 54,800 in August), below the six-month average of around 58,800. The average rate on new mortgages edged up to 4.63%. Remortgaging with a different lender rose to 42,600 approvals.
• The cause: Nationwide points to geopolitical tension pushing up energy prices, expectations of higher interest rates, and weaker consumer confidence. Its economist still sees reasons for longer-term optimism, including resilient growth, stable employment and rising real incomes.

The Budget also kept the “mansion tax” threshold at £2 million, which means it won’t affect most homes in our area.

What this means if you’re selling

Buyers are cautious and watching mortgage costs closely, so the homes that sell are the ones priced realistically from day one. Our tips:

1. Price it right. An overpriced home can sit on the market and end up selling for less.
2. Present it well. Professional photography, a clear floorplan and an honest description make a difference.
3. Be ready for the legal side. Gather your title documents, EPC and certificates early.

If you’re thinking of moving, a free, no-obligation valuation is the best way to see where your home stands today.

Block and estate management: reform is coming, but nothing has changed yet

Leasehold reform is still on the horizon. The draft Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill, published in January 2026, proposes making commonhold the default for new flats, capping ground rents (the draft figure is £250) and making it cheaper for leaseholders to buy their freehold or extend their lease. The full Bill hasn’t yet become law, so nothing has changed for now.

What blocks can do now

• Check your sinking fund. Planned maintenance is far easier when funds have been built up gradually.
• Keep records in order. Insurance, fire risk assessments, service charge accounts and major works consultation paperwork should be up to date.
• Winter checks. Gutters, communal heating and external lighting are best looked at before the weather turns.

If you’re an RTM company, freeholder or leaseholder and would like a no-obligation chat about how your block is managed, we’d love to help.

Quick takeaways

Let’s talk

Whether you’re selling, letting or managing a block, we’re here to help, with no minimum-term agreements and no pressure.

• Free, no-obligation valuations, with evening and weekend appointments available by arrangement
• Pop in and see us: 187c Southborough Lane, Bromley (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm)
• Visit: djames.co.uk

Doing property, properly.

David, Sue and Team

This round-up is for general information only and isn’t legal, tax or financial advice.