Landlords Stories

Debt Collection for Landlords “No Win No Fee”

13/04/2013

I have negotiated a “No Win No Fee” debt collection service for landlords. It constantly amazes me how many landlords post stories on our forums of tenant debts which landlords have mentally written off. Stories range from rent arrears, tenants who have absconded whilst in arrears to horror stories of damage caused by tenants to… Read more

PureLocation.com – Useful for online due diligence for landlords?

27/03/2013

I’m looking for a few experienced landlords to write a review in the comments section below based on whether they think PureLocation.com could be useful for online due diligence for landlords. I’m overseas this week lapping up some sunshine and R&R, otherwise I would do it myself. I will of course take a closer look… Read more

Benefits tenants and the effects on landlords insurance

21/03/2013

We have one buy to let property and a friend mentioned in passing that our landlord insurance policy may not be valid on that property if the tenants are claiming unemployment benefits. Having contacted my insurance brokers they confirm that that is the case and want to charge us £236 for another policy. I spoke… Read more

Bankers advice resulted in collapse of my property business

09/03/2013

IRHP stands for Interest Rate Hedging Protection. So how can a form of “protection” result in the collapse of a business you may well wonder? It’s ‘Heads I Win Tails You Lose’ – but from who’s perspective? The following story was submitted by Jon Welsby, a victim of the banks mis-selling of Interest Rate Hedging Protection.

Creating opportunities by letting to pet owners

05/03/2013

At present I let several on my properties to tenants with pets. Being a pet lover myself I have always been open to doing so. However, as a landlords I accept there are risks and over the years I have worked out a system which makes me feel comfortable letting to pet owners. This also… Read more

Static Shocks in my rental property – what can I do?

My former home has been rented out for the last three years to a great set of tenants who would like to stay there long term. However, I fear they will move on because they keep getting static shocks. I’ve checked this out for myself and totally sympathise with them but I don’t know what to do…. Read more

Mortgage Express Right to Consolidate

14/02/2013

I have been a buy to let mortgage broker for several years and recently heard the most alarming story in my career regarding the Mortgage Express Exit strategy and their “right to consolidate”. I was contacted by a long-standing client recently as he had had a disturbing conversation with  Mortgage Express.  After calling them in… Read more

HMO Investment Dilemma – READERS QUESTION

12/02/2013

Leamington Spa based landlord Steve Gibson has asked us to post the following HMO Investment Dilemma. “I live in Leamington Spa which is a popular location to rent for students of University of Warwick. As a pension investment my wife and I have recently started looking at purchasing a house to let to students. On… Read more

Rental Gazumping in London

10/02/2013

That ‘G’ word is back in town! Yes, boys and girls, Rental Gazumping in London is here and knocking on the front door of every potential tenant! The former and current scourge of the property sales has transgressed over to the private lettings sector and is showing no sign of leaving. Such is the massive… Read more

Innovative New Lettings Portal in Free Trial Phase

Landlord and Guest House owner Cosmo Anayiotos has launched an innovative new lettings portal to enable landlords to maximise their rental returns. As Cosmo is a member of The GOOD Landlords Campaign and also made a very generous donation  we felt we owned it to him to share some of the details of his new… Read more

Agreement to Letting Fee now being charged by Mortgage Express

Is Rob’s mortgage lender pulling a fast one by charging him an “Agreement to Letting Fee” or has he been lucky so far and actually got a relatively fair deal? Rob’s email as follows:- “I own with a flat with a £225k residential mortgage on it from Mortgage Express. Six years ago I purchased a… Read more

Gateshead landlord murdered over rent arrears

05/02/2013

A Judge in a Newcastle Upon Tyne has sentenced a man named Karl Bestford to life imprisonment and a minimum term of 22 years for the murder of Gateshead landlord Simon Meech. Described by other tenants as being “the perfect landlord” Mr Meech had visited his flat to discuss rent arrears amounting to hundreds of… Read more