We already know there’s more regulation coming for investors.
If you haven’t heard, the HHSRS changes started on 23 June 2026. HHSRS is the Housing Health and Safety Rating System, which councils use to assess hazards in rented property. If you are a bit hazy on this, look out for a separate article explaining what it means.
Then from late 2026, the PRS database starts to come in, with the landlord ombudsman following as part of the same phase.
By 2030, privately rented homes within scope are expected to need an EPC C, unless a valid exemption applies.
Then by 2035, the new Decent Homes Standard is due to apply to the private rented sector as well.
Taken together, it means investors are going to face even more regulation, even more paperwork, and even more scrutiny.
Not all at once, but steadily enough that it would be unwise to ignore.
I know this is not exactly uplifting, but this is where we are, and the good news is that there may be an opportunity in it.
Why do I say that? Because when the rules become more demanding, the gap between organised investors and disorganised investors gets wider.
For years, many investors have mainly looked at the obvious numbers: price, rent, yield, mortgage cost, refurb budget and potential uplift.
All these are still important, but now we also need to think much harder about condition and the cost of keeping a property compliant.
This isn’t as exciting as finding a property below market value, but it is increasingly part of knowing whether the deal works.
A cheap property is not cheap if it needs £25,000 spending just to make it decent, warm, safe and financeable, unless those figures are built into the purchase price.
A tired property may still be a very good buy.
A cheap and cheerful terrace may still make sense.
But the figures need to include what the property actually needs, not just what we would like it to need.
That is where some investors may get caught. They will price the property as if it only needs paint, carpets and a new kitchen.
Then, over the next few years, they may discover it also needs ventilation improving, insulation upgrading, heating sorting, records organising, and possibly more than they expected.
That can destroy the numbers.
The organised investor can take a different approach.
Before offering, it might make sense to look at the property through the eyes of a council officer, a valuer, a future buyer, and a tenant.
Would anything obvious concern them?
And when refurbishing, it will be worth thinking one step ahead.
If the property is empty anyway, what else can I improve whilst I’m at it?
This is not glamorous property investing, but it is practical property investing.
Some investors will decide they have had enough and sell, and some will stay but do the bare minimum.
Others will use the changing rules as a reason to buy better, refurb better, and run their properties properly.
That may become a real advantage.
Here’s to successful property investing.
Peter Jones
Author, property investor and ex-Chartered Surveyor
PS. By the way, if you’d like a deeper dive into property investing based on the real-life experience of an investor who has built a substantial multi-property portfolio, my popular e-book, The Successful Property Investor’s Strategy Workshop, explains how I built my own portfolio from scratch and the principles that can help you do the same.
For more details please click here: https://thepropertyteacher.co.uk/the-successful-property-investors-strategy-workshop
