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The Renters’ Rights Act 2025 has officially become law, marking one of the most significant shake-ups to England’s rental market in decades. Having now received Royal Assent, the Act aims to create a fairer, more transparent system for both landlords and tenants — but it also introduces new responsibilities and compliance requirements for property owners.

At Anthony James Estate Agents, we’re committed to helping our clients understand what this means in practice and how to prepare for the changes ahead.

Landlords have a duty of care to keep buy-to-lets in a fit and habitable state, as detailed in the Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018, the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 and the Housing Act 2004. Responsibilities include preventing mice and rats from entering the property and addressing an infestation that is a result of sub-standard living conditions.

When it comes to fashionable places to live in the UK, one current location is having its moment: the Cotswolds. This designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty sits between Bath, Cheltenham, Oxford and Stratford-upon-Avon, covering 790 square miles.

The Government has just launched two consultations on how it could change the property buying and selling process in England and Wales. It has acknowledged that the process is too slow, too costly and too fragile. 

September marked a return to our normal routines after the summer break. Were our minds refocused on finding a new home? How have values changed? Here’s a summary of the property market as we head into the last third of 2025.

The significance of the 22nd September probably escaped your notice but you may already be feeling its effects. It’s the date the Autumn Equinox fell this year and from now until the Spring Equinox, nights will be longer than days.

New analysis has revealed an interesting shift in the purchasing habits of first-time buyers. Instead of buying a traditional starter home – a studio, a one-bedroom flat or a small terraced house – Barclays found a third of first-timer purchases are semi-detached homes.

Earlier this year, Aviva published the results of its survey on how we use our garages. Of those UK garage owners questioned, 28% said they hardly ever used their garage to park their car. 

And just like that, the seasons have changed. Meteorological summer officially ended on 31st August and wet, windy weather moved in without hesitation. While we’re keeping everything crossed for a return to calmer, drier conditions, there’s no escaping that autumn is here.

There are a few signs that autumn is on the horizon (Halloween decorations in the shops, anyone?) and the change in season heralds a change in property focus. September is a peak period for home movers, so what kind of market awaits buyers, sellers and renters? Here’s how August shaped the property industry.

Over the years there have been a number of ‘light touches’ touted as a way to impress potential property buyers. The aroma of freshly baked bread and brewing coffee? Great for making your property feel homely and masking less attractive whiffs. A neatly-folded pile of clean, fluffy towels in the bathroom? An easy way to give off five-star hotel vibes. Fresh flowers and a fully-stocked fruit bowl? They draw attention away from less desirable areas and add colour to a drab space.

Keeping tenants safe is of paramount importance and there is legislation that ensures the UK’s privately rented homes are fit for habitation. An important milestone in England has brought one area of safety back into the spotlight.