I’ve just remortgaged one of my buy-to-let properties with The Mortgage Works who told me that far from needing my rent to cover my mortgage by an extra 25 per cent, it now needs to cover it by an extra 45 per cent.  The change really threw me and meant that I ended up putting in extra equity to the property to pull the loan-to-value and rate down.  I have four other buy-to-lets, all of which are due to be remortgaged fairly imminently but I am still in the period where I'll need to pay early repayment charges to remortgage now. 

An Englishman's home is his castle, except sometimes, it's not his castle, it's his landlord's castle.   One in five families living in the UK now rents their home - and the number is rising. But who are Britain's landlords and how do they invest? We talk to some of those helping to house generation rent.

For many buy-to-let looks an attractive income investment in a time of low rates and stock market volatility. Climbing house prices, rising rents and improving mortgage deals are tempting investors - although they will need a big deposit. Read This is Money's top ten buy-to-let tips

In the same week as the holy grail of savings accounts, Santander's 123 account halved its rate to 1.5 per cent, research suggests landlords can earn returns up to 6.9 per cent. A combination of low property prices and strong demand for rental accommodation in student cities in the north of England means landlords are raking in almost 7 per cent a year. But experts have warned that it's not a get rich quick scheme. Letting property requires knowledge and understanding of local markets, tenant demands and the laws that govern rental provision.

Figures tracking student buy-to-let properties across the UK show that in fact returns of 6 per cent or more are common. Sunderland is top of the pile, with landlords making 10.6 per cent on average, according to expert firm Property Partners. So for every £1,000 you put into a property to buy it, you'll get back an extra £106 each year in rent.

For the first time ever landlords can list their properties to rent on both Zoopla and Rightmove without paying up front fees. LetMe, an online lettings agent, has just launched a service giving landlords the option of paying no fees at the outset, receiving 12 months rent in advance and having a guarantee that the condition of their property on the tenant's departure will be equal to the condition at the start of the tenancy. It includes listing as many properties as they like for no charge on both major property portals with LetMe claiming the overall deal is 'free'.

Declining ownership is seen as another sign of property market in crisis, but is this true? Ed Mead, of estate agents Douglas and Gordon, joins the Property Show, to look at the state of the market and whether prices will keep rising. And as an experienced agent he also answers the question many of us will have asked: 'How on earth do people afford London homes?'

Most homeowners rely on an estate agent to buy or sell a property, but now many seeking privacy are turning to a new kind of ultra-discreet professional. Increasing numbers of properties are being bought 'off market' without the traditional for-sale board or advertising. Buying and selling this way, using a 'buying agent' used to be the preserve of the rich and famous.

Buy-to-let lenders are temporarily pulling loans for borrowers with small deposits until the dust from the Brexit vote settles. They are doing this to stop landlords slipping into negative equity if house prices fall - something on which experts are divided.

Buy-to-let landlords are set to be hit with more costs from April when an extra 3 per cent stamp duty charge is introduced. The change will add thousands to property purchases whether you are an individual landlord or a company. We outline the major changes to look out for.

Bricks and mortar have provided stellar returns for many people over the past couple of decades, prompting many to rely on property as their pension. We set the stock market against the property market.