Akiva worked in the charity sector and property management before joining the legal team at Landlord Action. He has helped countless landlords get back possession of their property from some of the most difficult tenants.”
Alex Nolan, Senior Training Manager at NRLA, provides expert training on HMO management, tenancy processes, and rental sector legislative updates.
Alphaletz is designed to be a simple, cost-effective solution to these problems. Their mission is to free you from the burden of spreadsheets and paperwork, so you can free up time and keep an eye on your profits.
Partner at Xeinadin. Xeinadin is a leading provider of accountancy services and business advice for small and medium-sized enterprises and individuals across the UK and Ireland.
Established in 1860 to care for abandoned animals, Battersea aims to never turn away a dog or cat in need of help. In 2023, we helped 2,529 dogs and 2,450 cats across our three centres. Our work means we see day-to-day the many animal welfare issues facing dogs, cats and the people who care for them.
In thirty years buy-to-let beat the S&P 500, returning 22 times its original investment. A Sunday Times article argues the payday is ending
Landlords have been warned that getting the new Form 4A rent increase process wrong could invalidate or delay a proposed rent rise.
The number of homes available to rent across England has plunged by at least 15,500 in just three months, new analysis finds.
Property experts have warned that Andy Burnham’s promised crackdown on rogue landlords could damage relationships and lead to good ones selling up.
A property management duo has been hit with a £100,000 fine for renting out a property with a catalogue of serious problems.
Leading organisations including Phil Spencer back the campaign, which seeks to give landlords more time to pay their Stamp Duty.
HFIS is deeply saddened to announce the passing of Mike Morgan, a key figure at Property Redress and Client Money Protect
Comments follow new research that reveals rise in tenants being evicted as their landlords prepare to sell up.
What Landlords need to know now! Protection from discrimination to be a key component of the new Act
Aunberin Saddique is the first landlord in the UK to make the undertaking under the Digital Marketing, Competition and Consumer Act 2024.
New Economics Foundation says Private Rented Sector Database must be a major tool to fund and direct enforcement.
The government has vowed to carefully dismantle Grenfell Tower behind its white outer wrapping to “respect the unique circumstances of the tragedy".
Former enfant terrible of the publishing world, James Brown, has revealed his tips for successful holiday let.
A landlord has been fined for failing to clear a huge pile of fridges from the front garden of his empty rental property.
Regular property inspections and maintenance help landlords prevent costly repairs. Budget 1% of property value yearly and follow seasonal checklists
Private landlords are earning an average of £17,665 a year – although profits are much slimmer, according to the latest figures.
The expensive dangers for 'amateur' landlords who don't realise their regulatory responsibilities have been revealed during a Tribunal hearing.
Property investors are invited to sign up for a unique property investor network event next month examining the Renters' Rights Bill.
Hillingdon Council has agreed to consider additional licensing after residents raised concerns about growing problems in the London borough.
West Northamptonshire Council has proposed a new forum to prepare its HMO landlords for likely new rules as the council reviews its approach this kind
A Labour MP has urged the government to stop landlords from 'cashing in' on retrofit grants.
They are “plugged out”; why tenants are struggling to charge their electric vehicles
Universities are a key driver of BTL activity and lending as more landlords choose to invest in areas with large student populations.
A former tenant who murdered her landlord and stabbed his cat to death has been given an indefinite hospital order.
Antony Clifton, 52, was sentenced to 46 weeks in custody after he carried out the work while falsely claiming to be a member of the Gas Safe Register
County Durham hopes to restrict HMO conversions across the county amid fears that rising numbers are impacting communities.
Landlord Sales Agency turned tough landlord sales around fast. Five tricky properties sold in under 28 days.
MPs are continuing to push the government to prevent landlords from making guarantor requests.
New figures have busted the myth that build-to-rent (BTR) homes are pricier than the PRS for many tenants.
A surprising number of lettings agents are in the dark about the reforms set to transform the sector under the Renters’ Rights Bill.
mydeposits’ Total Property platform has raised a staggering £300,000 for youth homelessness charity Centrepoint since its launch last May.
New official buy-to-let lending figures have revealed an extraordinary revival in the landlord market.
Comments are made after landlords in the city is ordered to pay £10,000 after ignoring HMO licensing conditions for a property.
A landlord who asked his tenants to only shower once a week and limit cooking to light meals has been landed with a £17,574 Rent Repayment Order.
The private rented sector now has a new champion for their sector in the form of James Cleverly, who has been appointed shadow secretary for housing.
Comments made by Conservative housing spokesperson in Lords as Renters' Rights Bill nears becoming law.
Luton Council is to face yet another legal challenge in its attempt to introduce a long-delayed selective licensing scheme.
Benefits landlord Mick Roberts has slammed Nottingham Council for its inflexible stance on licensing fees for homes he’s trying to sell.
The government is to hand councils the power to carry out secret inspections on private rental properties
Tenants in Scotland have been told to fight back against private landlords by urging MSPs to keep their commitment to robust rent controls.
Generation Rent has called for a complete overhaul of the deposit system amid claims that it is failing renters and lining landlords’ pockets.
One councillor's 'slum' comments have spurred several industry figures to fight back against poor perception of HMOs.
Law Society chief and evictions expert say reforms are too late, too little and won't reduce evictions case backlog.
A council-run scheme to help people facing homelessness access private rented homes is proving a success.
Total Property sponsored the Landlord Investment Show, highlighting landlord concerns over the government's removal of pet protections in rental laws,
Scotland’s new Housing Secretary has been warned not to push rent controls over housing growth.
Landlords in the North East are being urged to sign up for charity boxing event, Rumble with the Agents.
Commercial landlords thought they had escaped the kind of tenant empowering measures being meted out to residential landlords - not so fast
The Renters’ Rights Bill won’t receive Royal Assent until after the parliamentary summer break.
Landlords celebrated 40 years of Portsmouth & District Private Landlords Association (PDPLA) with a garden party for old and new members.
Local authorities will be able to enter private rented properties without informing landlords in advance.
Landlords could get caught out by tougher rules around discrimination unless they evidence legitimate reasons.
Planning red tape has caused a slowdown in build-to-rent (BTR) schemes that risks undermining investor confidence, according to the new Build to Rent
The government risks creating uncertainty and conflict between landlords and tenants unless rules are clarified soon.
Many tenants are staying put for much longer due to their struggle to find rentals and the prospect of paying higher rents for a new property.
Blogger and former Tory politician says new pet acceptance rules legalise trespass by livestock.
A rogue landlord has been fined £23,500 for knowingly failing to license one of their properties in Haringey.
The LandlordZONE podcast sat down with Nationwide's Landlord Lending Chief to talk EPCs and what they mean for landlords.
Landlords in Scunthorpe have called for judicial reform after their bid to challenge an upcoming selective licensing scheme failed.
Millions of landlords will have to renew their Electrical Installation Condition Reports in the coming months, warn electrical certification body.
Disgruntled residents in York have backed a petition to clamp down on the number of short-term lets in the city.
A firm has been handed a £14,000 fine for renting out a dangerously unsafe house to vulnerable tenants.
A landlord has been lambasted for offering a room to rent with the condition that the tenant must look after two cats.
Letting agents across the UK have expressed fears about landlords quitting in their droves ahead of the Renters’ Rights Act.
A pet campaigner has warned that it will be a travesty if the government fails to overturn a House of Lords decision to reject plans for pet insurance
Landlords in Guernsey have warned that new minimum standards brought in this week to make rental homes safer will spark a PRS exodus.
One tried and trusted way to maximise profit is to buy undervalued property, you can then compound the gain by adding value
Scores of landlords leaving the sector are exacerbating a significant lack of rental properties
Long-standing MP Clive Betts is banging the drum for build-to-rent (BTR) through a taskforce that aims to boost the number of properties in the sector
Warrington leader makes comments as council launches plan to rein-in HMO numbers within town.
Bethen Abraham highlights two areas of the Renters' Rights Bill that have yet to be clarified by Ministers.
Paddy Jackman says sector's needs 'falling between' cracks as Government pushes ahead with renting reforms.
Court case highlights ongoing problem of legal firms that claim to be 'authorised' to help landlords evict tenants when they are not.
Landlords across Wales can now take advantage of a scheme that lets them lease their property to the local council for up to 20 years.
Scotland’s landlords have urged its government to pause additional stamp duty payments in a bid to alleviate its housing emergency.
Darlington looks set to be the latest council bringing in tougher rules to control the growth of small HMOs.
Minister explains why pet damage insurance will not be mandated, and says current deposit of five weeks 'enough'.
A gang of cannabis farm operators, drug dealers and people smugglers have been jailed.
Wigan council says rise in number of smaller HMOs within its borders means new powers to scrutinise new applications are needed.
The practice of property flipping to make a profit is under serious threat from both higher tax and lower house price rises.
Awaab’s Law: What it means for private landlords and the future of property standards
The Renters' Rights Bill now looks more likely to be passed before the summer recess.
HMO landlords face paying out £1,570 for a licence when Camden Council renews its additional scheme in December.
A new body will help decide rents in a bid to prevent over-loading the tribunal service with rent disputes.
A landlord has been found guilty of illegally letting two ‘party flats’ after neighbours complained about excessive noise.
Lobbying group says tenant Bridget Chapman's experiences of a sudden rent rise is proof controls are needed.
The Government has increased its support for tenants who face eviction as its looming reforms bring in greater rights for private
A landlord who thought he could ignore council warnings over his property has been fined £10,000.
Labour has revealed more details of the new minimum standards private landlords will have to meet.
AdvoCATS has launched initiative after Labour decided inexplicably not to allow landlords to require tenants to take out pet insurance.
Lord Hacking tells housing minister Government is 'plain wrong' in its insistence on banning fixed-term tenancies.
Government reveals it is about to consult on a new Decent Homes Standard that will apply to private as well as social landlords.
Housing minister says asking students to commit before Christmas to a tenancy the next year is unfair.
The LandlordZONE podcast invites one of the agents who has been leading the charge to temper Ministers' reforming zeal.
The bill is designed to afford tenants more protections, but could it lead to them being ‘forced out’ of their homes?
The HMO that AM PM Estates managed in Slough was found to be dirty and in a poor state of repair inside and out, including a
More landlords are selling up than buying new properties to rent, a new Savills report highlights.
The Government has, following feedback from various property and other industry bodies, delayed the 'big switch off'.
In an unusual move, a Midlands local authority has added the four men to the national rogue landlords database.
Robust tenant referencing will be increasingly important for landlords when the Section 8 process becomes more protracted.
Labour's bewildering decision to U-turn on requiring tenants to have pet insurance has been slammed.
New research reveals how higher yields make licensed HMOs much sought after among investors.
All landlords in Greater Manchester will be expected to sign up for the Charter scheme which is the first of its kind in the UK
Brighton & Hove Council has given the go-ahead for a crackdown on short lets in a bid to reclaim homes.
A letting agent who was fined for letting a room in an unlicensed HMO has won his appeal.
Landlords in Scotland have been urged to get to grips with new damp and mould rules as Awaab’s Law comes into force next week.
The government has pledged to introduce an independent regulator for property agents and caps on fees for leaseholders.
As energy bills rise, landlords and homeowners can save £175 yearly with simple heating checks and minor adjustments before winter.
Councils are to get new powers to take over empty and derelict homes in a bid to tackle the housing crisis.
Landlords need more certainty around paying for improvements to meet planned new energy efficiency standards, the NRLA warns.
Medway Council has given the go-ahead to new selective and additional licensing schemes which go live next January.
UK surveying faces a demographic crisis as 46% plan to exit in a decade, prompting firms to recruit and train new talent pools.
After 5 months it’s neither an exodus nor business as usual for buy-to-let landlords. We’ve had the proponents and the detractors. Who’s right so far?
Great Yarmouth Council has radically altered its selective licensing scheme conditions after a challenge by landlords.
The Welsh government has been urged to consider phasing out Land Transaction Tax (LTT) and offer landlords low-interest loans for retrofit.
Landlords are being advised to strengthen checks after reports that rental properties are being used as short-term brothels.
Four months in, the Renters’ Rights Act has brought fewer market shocks than expected: rents are steady, investment continues, and issues are minor.
Bradford and Breckland councils are the latest authorities to voice concerns over HMO spread.
Landlords have largely complied with EPC rules, but many appear to have done only enough work to bring properties up to the legal threshold.
Wallasey and Birkenhead in Merseyside were the most competitive rental markets during July and August, reports Rightmove.
Lib Dems propose 150k annual social homes, rent-to-equity schemes, and urgent safety reforms to fix unregulated temporary housing.
What do you need to know about the latest version of the Housing, Health and Safety Rating System?
More than three-quarters of self-managing portfolio landlords regularly delay non-urgent maintenance work, a new survey finds.
Landlords in Orkney have been offered loans of up to £25,000 to renovate their empty properties to help the housing shortage.
Agents group believes the government should step in when councils fail to meet a minimum number of proactive inspections and enforcement actions.
A landlord has lost an appeal against a decision refusing to evict a tenant who owed £8,554 in rent arrears.
Older renters are more stretched than younger renters, with the over-70s spending 46% of their income on rent, according to new data.
A Bristol landlord has been ordered to pay a total of £58,271 after he failed to carry out improvements to his unlicensed HMO.
About 562 properties are being lost from the market every day in the third quarter of 2026, the highest rate since 2016.
Landlords have earned £22 for every £1 invested in the 30 years since the UK’s first buy-to-let mortgage launched.
Only about 10p of every £1 increase in Local Housing Allowance appears to have fed through into higher rents, according to a think-tank.
Do landlords have the whole story when they discuss the merits of their letting agents?
A landlord has been told to pay tenants more than £28,000 after he tried to prevent them providing information about his unlicensed HMO.
A potential tax on holiday lets could cost landlords an average of £5,000, wiping out annual profits, says a lettings firm boss.
Industry leaders have renewed calls for more effective regulation of the UK lettings market.
Claims that landlords are fleeing England’s PRS aren’t supported by the latest evidence, according to new analysis.
The Bank of England has left interest rates unchanged for the sixth consecutive time despite price rises accelerating.
Landlords must brace for the December rollout of mandatory state registration, reshaping the compliance landscape under sweeping Renters' Rights refor
Landlords have been given a new checklist of housing standards to help them identify defects that could lead to fines.
Some tenants are delaying their first month’s rent payment until weeks after they have moved in, warns a letting agent.
Landlords who own some of the most expensive rental properties could be exempt from signing up to the new national PRS database.
Telford and Wrekin Council has put its planned additional licensing scheme on hold after landlords launched a legal challenge.
New data reveals half of tenant maintenance reports arrive out of hours, with essential services seeing heavy spikes.
Some commentators have argued that the takeover of OpenRent by private equity group CVC reflects a step change in the landscape for letting agents in
Landlords wanting to convert homes into small HMOs in North Tyneside could soon need to apply for planning permission.
Durden & Hunt expands its South Essex footprint with the acquisition of established local agency Diggins & Co.
Tribunals are generally giving landlords most of what they asked for in rent increase cases since the Renters’ Rights Act.
Houses are dominating rental demand across England, accounting for almost two-thirds of properties attracting high levels of tenant interest.
UK house prices fell 0.4% annually to £298,468, driven by a standoff between stubborn sellers and cautious buyers.
Higher mortgage rates locking renters in for longer and continued low investment by landlords is set to drive rents up 4-5% by the end of the year.
The director of a letting agency who used his business to run 19 cannabis factories has been jailed for more than eight years.
The government should tread carefully when deciding what data can be shared from the new PRS Landlord Ombudsman, a property expert has warned.
Rising swap rates are driving up buy-to-let mortgage rates by 25-40 bps, leaving thousands of landlords facing major refinancing hurdles.
Repairing with occupied tenants is a nightmare for landlords and tenants; can landlords demand that tenants leave for the duration of repair work?
A landlord has challenged Thurrock Council over selective licensing rules which he says could
Complex and outdated: as fiscal pressures mount, is the UK private rented sector heading for major property tax reform?
Over 1 in 3 pensioner households could be renting by 2044, creating a major demographic shift for landlords and the PRS.
In the Renters’ Rights Act era, live-in landlords must avoid ambiguous DIY contracts to prevent lodger disputes in court.
The Renters’ Rights Act means landlords operating as a company face different rules than landlord owners
Nottingham landlord Mick Roberts has hit out at the “stone age” court system after a possession order blunder.
Tenants’ groups, MPs, and housing activists held a demonstration in Parliament Square calling for rent controls and new council houses.
HMRC’s Valuation Office is to take responsibility for determining challenges to rent increases in England to help free up tribunals.
Landlords in the West Midlands will need to start registering themselves and their properties on the new PRS database from 15 December.
Direct payments should be triggered by life events rather than arrears to prevent unnecessary evictions, suggests a leading landlord.
This year is on course to become the biggest on record for new additional and selective licensing scheme launches.
Millennials and Gen Z will represent 62% of landlords within a decade, according to new research.
What surprises will the budget deliver for landlords, especially for those who are retirees?
Landlord Action founder Paul Shamplina will share practical advice on being a professional landlord at a free event later this month.
Landlords will have to sign up to a mandatory short-lets registration scheme in England from next March.
Green Party deputy leader Mothin Ali has been revealed as a landlord – despite his party voting to abolish private landlords last year.
The Renters' Rights Act turns letting into an evidence game: strict proof, £40k fines, and tight rules favour pros over amateur landlords.
Rising costs and the Renters' Rights Act drive a massive landlord exit, slashing rental supply and leaving tenants to pay the price.
Landlords dodge bidding bans by inflating asking rents to force downward bidding wars - a tactic risking £40k fines if caught.
Comprehensive Documentary information is vital if your £10,000 cap claim is to be successful
The PRS isn’t equipped to be the primary safety net for the most vulnerable, says Portsmouth landlord leader Martin Silman.
With new valuation rates still undecided, leaseholders need to weigh potential future savings against today’s certainty, says Vanessa Griffiths.
Reform UK has promised to look into making homes built on brownfield sites free of stamp duty, CGT and tax on rental income for 10 years.
Surprising new figures show that about £750 million could be sitting in the tenancy deposit system as dormant or otherwise unclaimed.
A new report from Paragon Bank reveals that experienced HMO landlords are continuing to invest in these types of rentals
Shadow Housing Secretary Katie Lam has laid into MHCLG for making life harder for landlords.
A landlord has been told to repay £17,244 after a metal staircase collapsed beneath one tenant in her unlicensed flat.
HMO expert Vann Vogstad says landlords need effective tools to police behaviour in order to raise standards in the HMO sector.
Croydon Council has postponed its additional and selective landlord licensing schemes just before they were due to launch.
Political control does not neatly predict whether a council has an Article 4 Direction or refuses more HMO applications, according to research.
Rising Conservative star Katie Lam has been appointed as the party’s new Housing, Communities and Local Government Secretary.
Landlords’ expenses have risen by more than twice as much as their rental income during the past five years, according to HMRC figures.
Leasing Scheme Wales, which allows landlords to rent out properties via their local authority, is to shut down in March.
Private bailiffs in England and Wales will need to be accredited under new laws announced by the government.
The Renters' Rights Act means extra load on an already creaking service. Will the planned changes alleviate the problems landlords are facing?
The NRLA has called for a deferred annual investment allowance that would encourage landlords to provide long-term stable housing.
Section 21 ends: Paul Shamplina and Paul Sowerbutts reveal the rush, mistakes and challenges landlords now face under the new regime.
Build-to-rent landlord Legal & General could face a whopping multi-million-pound rent repayment order.
HMRC will start signing up landlords who it believes should already be using Making Tax Digital (MTD) for Income Tax from next week.
Renters in the capital have reported that some landlords are encouraging ‘inverse bidding wars’ to get round new rental rules.
Landlord and property developer Rob Stewart is on a mission to prompt a rethink of how to solve the housing crisis.
Landlords blame tax – not regulations - as the biggest barrier to investment, according to the latest poll.
A letting agent has been accused of failing to return the deposits of more than 100 tenants, according to a BBC investigation.
Future-proof your rental with energy upgrades, flexible spaces, parking, outdoor areas and HMO potential to attract tenants.
Rent caps can reduce rental supply, discourage maintenance and leave some families in homes that don’t meet their needs, finds new research.
Landlords and agents are still getting new pet rules wrong, with campaigners warning of unlawful tenancy clauses and costly mistakes.
Nottingham landlord Mick Roberts battles Barclays over mortgage errors causing bad credit, higher rates, and tenant fallout.
The trade association that represents short-let landlords says the Airbnb economy contributed �27.7 billion to the UK economy during 2021 and has helped create some 500,000 jobs, latest data shows. The UK Short Term Accommodation (https://ukstaa.org/" target="_bl
Large areas of the country will be without vital legal advice to prevent eviction if the government cant get law firms to take part in its Housing Loss Prevention Advice Service, the Law Society has warned. The scheme, which gives free legal aid advice for people facing repos
MPs have slammed the Governments proposed reforms to the private rented sector (PRS) within its looming Renters Reform Bill, calling for Ministers to wake up to its unintended consequences. Their report, published this morning, also makes the point that most tenants are not w
Tenants group Generation Rent has backed the DLUHC select committees call to close a loophole in proposed Section 8 reforms. It says the governments plan to ban Section 21 evictions but still allow landlords to evict tenants when needing to sell or move back into a prop
A government minister has admitted that landlords could quit the market unless upcoming changes to EPC rules are implemented carefully. In a Lords debate to discuss the challenges of achieving net zero, https://www.landlordzone.co.uk/tag/lord-callanan/" target="_blank"
Peterborough plans Article 4 Direction trial to curb smaller HMOs, following Leicester’s expansion of similar controls across more city neighbourhoods
A Rugby councillor is trying to drum up opposition to HMOs with an online petition calling for an Article 4 direction in the town. John Slinger (main picture) believes too many family homes are being turned into HMOs by landlords who often dont have the communitys best int
Redditch MP Rachel Maclean is the latest housing minister to arrive through the revolving door at the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities. The newcomer replaces previous housing minister Lucy Frazer, https://www.landlordzone.co.uk/news/breaking-housing-
Spreadsheets. Theyve been around since 1979 and have served the property industry well since their inception. However, with legislation like Making Tax Digital coming into play in 2026, were seeing Landlords slowly transition from using outdated equipment to more modern an
Economic headwinds facing the construction industry put the brakes on the build-to-rent sector last year. Build cost inflation and labour shortages meant that it only grew by 14% in 2022 adding up to 242,548 homes in planning, under construction or completed - compared to a
Arun Council introduces Article 4 direction in Marine, Hotham, River wards, requiring planning permission for small HMOs to maintain housing quality.
A leading ethical repair firm has shamed a rogue plumber who charged an 85-year-old woman £1,500 to repair a water pipe.
Falling house prices and rising mortgage rates, coupled with a cost of living crisis, which inevitably results in higher incidences of rental arrears, are scaring off potential new investors in buy-to-let. But new investments in the right locations could be an astute move for ne
A former Generation Rent campaigner is now working as an advisor shaping private rented sector policy at the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities. Caitlin Wilkinson - policy advisor for the private rented sector - was policy and public affairs manager at the camp
Landlords and the wider rented sector face more uncertainty after it was announced this morning that housing minister Lucy Frazer, who has only been in post since October last year, is to become secretary of state at the new department of Culture, Media and Sport. In private at
The Tories should take the blame for the landlord exodus and crisis-hit private rental sector, according to one leading investment guru. Financial columnist and author Matthew Lynn says that for the last decade, the party has been in an all-out war against buy-to-let landlords,
A rogue Liverpool landlord has been fined £30,000 for failing to get licences for two student HMOs three years after it was fined 45,000 for similar offences. Trophy Homes, which claims to operate within the 'luxury' student, co-living and general rental sectors, admitted
Bank of England warns landlord exodus from rental sector as taxes and policies drive investors away, worsening housing supply crisis.
The future of new rented accommodation in the UK will be developments where all facilities including transport, shops and services including schools are all within 15 minutes of a tenants property, it has been claimed. This comment was made during a https://www.savil
Landlords are calling on the Government to review how they are taxed after new figures reveal the devastating impact higher levies are having on the private rented sector. The National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA) says new research conducted on its behalf by co
Two out of three HMO landlords in Portsmouth plan to call it quits this year, largely prompted by the launch of an additional licensing scheme in September. Portsmouth & District Private Landlords Associations survey found that this would mean a loss of 348 rooms which, e
A Government investigation into damp and mould in the social housing sector has disclosed initial findings which show a significant number of homes in the social sector are affected by this problem. On Thursday (2 February) the Regulator of Social Housing (RSH) published a <a hr
The property industrys Rumble with the Agents charity event is to host its eighth evening of boxing and fund-raising in North London on Thursday 22nd June, it has been announced. <figure id="" class="w-richtext-figure-type- " data-rt-type="" dat
The Bank of England has raised interest rates for the 10th consecutive time as it battles inflation - a move likely to hit thousands of investors with variable rate mortgages and those forced to renew fixed-rate deals. The base rate has gone up by half a percent to 4%, the highe