BUY2LET.COM CALLS FOR AST REGISTER TO ROOT OUT ROGUES & QUANTIFY THE MARKET

November 17, 2015

Buy2Let.com has launched an online petition via the UK Parliament portal, calling for a national register of buy-to-let private rental properties. Just as owner-occupier property transactions are recorded and analysed via the Land Registry, we are campaigning for a register of transactions by buy-to-let investors, to help quantify the market and root out the rogue landlords.

Despite recent attempts by Government and The Bank of England to stifle the buy-to-let sector, the acute shortage of homes and increasing house prices means that the private rental sector continues to pick up the slack.

We frequently see reports and statistics on the owner-occupier market, but the lack of reliable, comprehensive data on the private rental and buy-to-let sector means no-one – including politicians, mortgage lenders and estate agents –  has a clear picture of what is happening in the market. In much the same way as a mortgage charge is registered on traditional house sales, we think there should be a similar requirement for buy-to-let purchases.

The buy-to-let sector generates over £100bn in transactions every year, so it’s vital that we capture the true scale of this important market, and at the same time, use the data gathered to identify and stamp out malpractice and rogue landlords.”

Buy2Let.com is the first portal of its kind to list genuine buy-to-let properties for sale, allowing investors to search and compare properties – which are categorised as vacant, tenanted, and HMOs  – by annual yield; something which current owner-occupier property portals cannot offer.

To view and sign the AST Register Petition, visit: http://bit.ly/ASTPetition

You May Also Enjoy

Breaking News

Applicant budgets remain stable and rental prices in line with historic norms

Ratio of new renters per instruction rose by 5.1% from 8.9 to 9.4 applications per instruction. Average rental prices declined by 4% in November 2025, remaining closely aligned with November levels observed over the past four years. Year-to-date, average rental prices are 2% higher in 2025 compared to 2024.   New data from Foxtons, London’s…
Read More →
Estate Agent Talk

The Impact of Increasing Lease Conversions on Estate Agents in 2026

2026 is shaping up to be a watershed year for the property market. Economic pressures, shifting demand and regulatory changes are converging to create a surge in lease conversion applications. For estate agents, this “perfect storm” will reshape the portfolios they manage and redefine their role in advising landlords. Mustafa Sidki of the construction team…
Read More →
Breaking News

First-time buyers help drive the most home moves for three years

Zoopla forecasts 1.5% house price growth for 2026 Housing sales hit 1.2 million over 2025 despite Q4 Budget slowdown More sales doesn’t mean faster price growth – house prices rise just 1.1 per cent (vs 1.9 per cent in 2024) The hottest markets for price growth across Britain are the Scottish Borders (TD postal area…
Read More →
Breaking News

Mortgage Lending Statistics – December 2025

Latest findings The outstanding value of all residential mortgage loans increased by 0.9% from the previous quarter to £1,733.7 billion, and was 2.9% higher than a year earlier. The value of gross mortgage advances increased by 36.9% from the previous quarter to £80.4 billion, the largest increase in new advances since 2020 Q3, and was…
Read More →
bank of england interest rate
Breaking News

Bank of England interest rates decision – Thoughts from the Industry

The Bank of England has just announced its decision to cut the base rate to 3.75%, the first cut seen since August of this year. This decision comes after inflation (CPI) dropped to 3.2% in November (from 3.6% in October), slowly edging towards the Bank’s 2.0% target. The Monetary Policy Committee voted 5-4 in favour…
Read More →
Breaking News

A Winter Rate Cut to Thaw the Market

By Kevin Shaw, National Sales Managing Director, LRG Today’s reduction in interest rates is very welcome news – for homeowners, buyers, property professionals, and no doubt Government ministers. This warming news is set against a chilly backdrop: unemployment has increased to 5.1%, while the November Budget tightened the fiscal screws. Inflation, however, has eased to…
Read More →