The rental market continues to shift, with new rules, rising rents and affordability pressures all shaping landlord decisions. July is a good time to review your property and your plans.

One of the biggest talking points this week has been the 11% week-on-week drop in sales agreed and a drop of 2% on the average asking price of a newly listed properties. While some seasonal softening is entirely normal during the summer holiday period, the scale of this fall has caught the attention of the property industry.

The rental market is still growing, but the way properties are managed has changed. August is a useful time for landlords to review tenancies, rent processes and record-keeping.

The UK housing market continued to shift in favour of buyers throughout May, as transaction levels softened slightly and supply continued to outweigh demand in many areas. While headlines may focus on small percentage changes, the underlying story is far more significant.