Your weekend roundup of top news and views

Bank Rate left unchanged as rate-setters weigh persistent inflation against economic uncertainty and the Gulf crisis.

Click here to read Wait-and-see policy as Bank keeps rate on hold at 3.75% – industry reaction.

HMOs are filled with ‘wrong ’uns’ but it’s their management that is the real problem, says Reform MP Lee Anderson.

Click here to read Reform calls for regulation of landlords and HMO agents.

The latest transaction figures from HMRC show a big drop from last year, but a small monthly rise.

Click here to read Property deal numbers fall by more than 40%.

Out-of-date thresholds are dragging more buyers into the Stamp Duty tax net, says Coventry Building Society’s Jonathan Stinton.

Click here to read Lender calls for reform after Stamp Duty tax take hits £15.2bn.

First-time buyers are opting for larger homes rather than flats, according to David Fell, Lead Analyst at Hamptons.

Click here to read Flats are falling out of favour – research.

Research from Rightmove points to huge uncertainty among renters ahead of the Act coming in this week.

Click here to read Letting agents face Renters' Rights Act 'storm' as tenant uncertainty peaks.

Access Legal’s Mike Connelly says it is currently the “strongest buyer's market in a generation”.

Click here to read Sellers slash prices by 22% to get deals over the line.

Firms are underestimating how exposed they are going to be under the new rental rules, says Alto’s Nick Shaw.

Click here to read Letting agents risk £7k fines for Renters’ Rights rule breaches.

The Letting Partnership’s Chris Mason says 41% of agents don’t know payments can’t be taken before agreements are signed.

Click here to read Agents unaware of new rent in advance rules as May deadline looms.