According to recent research conducted in April 2025, more than a third of UK landlords may be operating without proper insurance cover, leaving them vulnerable to financial loss.

The data shows that 25% of landlords do not have any landlord-specific insurance, while an additional 12% are unsure if their existing policy provides adequate protection. Among those with insurance, nearly two-thirds had not reviewed or updated their policy in the past year.

This trend of underinsurance comes as the private rental sector faces growing pressure from rising operational costs, incoming regulatory reforms, and increasing risk exposures, including property damage, legal disputes, and rent loss. The findings suggest that many landlords may rely on standard home insurance policies, which often exclude tenant incidents, exposing them to significant liabilities.

The upcoming Renters’ Rights Bill is expected to introduce additional legal responsibilities, while insurers are tightening policy terms and increasing premiums, particularly for properties in high-risk areas. Despite this, nearly one-third of landlords surveyed expressed low confidence in their insurance’s ability to cover essential risks such as tenant-caused damage, legal expenses, or loss of rental income.

The data points to a knowledge and engagement gap, with cost-conscious landlords potentially selecting policies based on price alone, without assessing the suitability of cover. Industry experts are urging landlords to regularly review their insurance policies and ensure coverage aligns with the current value of their assets and the realities of modern property letting.

According to Lloyds Bank’s latest survey, UK business confidence declined in April, falling 10 points to 39%. While this marks a slowdown after a strong first quarter, sentiment remains higher than at the start of the year and above the 20-year average of 29%.

The shift was driven by a drop in economic optimism, which fell to 28%, the lowest level this year. Fewer businesses expect improvements in the broader economy, reflecting ongoing concerns over global trade dynamics and market volatility.

Trading outlooks remain relatively strong despite a seven-point dip to 50%. Confidence around hiring also edged slightly, but remains among the highest post-pandemic levels. Pay expectations eased modestly, though projections for larger wage increases are broadly unchanged from last year.

More firms plan to raise prices, with price expectations climbing seven points to 68%. The share of businesses expecting to cut prices held steady at 2%.

Sector performance was mixed. Construction saw the steepest confidence decline, down 22 points. Retail and services also slipped, while manufacturing held steady. Regionally, most areas saw flat or declining sentiment, though the North East and East of England bucked the trend with notable gains.

Amazon is piloting its low-cost shopping feature, Haul, in the UK, marking the service’s first international expansion beyond the US. The move positions Amazon more directly against budget e-commerce challengers like Temu and Shein.

Haul is a mobile-only channel offering products priced at £20 or less, with most under £10. It will appear within the existing Amazon app and is being tested with a limited group of users ahead of a wider rollout in the coming weeks.

The offering includes incentives such as free delivery on orders over £15 and a 5% discount for orders above £50. However, delivery times can extend up to two weeks, a departure from Amazon’s typical speed.

For Amazon’s UK operation, this signals a strategic pivot toward the value segment, an area where rival platforms have gained significant ground by undercutting traditional marketplaces. The test may also help Amazon gauge consumer appetite for price-capped, lower-margin goods within its core ecosystem.

Haul has previously attracted regulatory attention in the US over its handling of import tariffs, but Amazon has since stated it would not display these costs to customers. The UK launch avoids this issue entirely for now.