EPCs are not fit for purpose: how is anyone supposed to make judgements about the cost-benefits of major investments like solar panels, ASHPs or external wall insulation when the final document that assesses their value is such a tick-box document...
I put "bills inclusive" on my houseshare adverts, but explain this means that £150 of their monthly payment goes towards their share of the bills, with a top-up payment required if the average over 3 months exceeds £150, and a...
If you have the money to buy, it sounds like a no-brainer to me: it's not the omly solution, but you'll have control and the freedom to upgrade the flats and fix the problems as you wish, then decide if...
Hello Peter, I can't really comment without a floorplan, some photos, and some idea of which way the floor joists run. Assuming you are just remodelling the internal space and not changing the curtilage of the building, there shouldn't be...
This is a specialist area, so I would consult a solicitor who has expertise in freeholds. I suspect you will have to offer the leaseholders an opportunity to buy the freeholds, as you are proposing a change of ownership from...
See discussion at https://www.property118.com/i-am-a-property-developer-ask-me-anything/44690/comment-page-19/#comments, which contains a link to an earlier discussion by Mark Alexander. When you find a buyer, why not rent the house to them until the six months are up, then they will be free to submit...
I agree with Romain: you need to arrange a Deed of Assignment, in which the new tenant agrees to take over the departing tenant's responsibilities in the existing tenancy agreement. All the other tenants and the landlord must agree and...
A new EICR and PAT every time a landlord buys a toaster or a microwave? Easy-peasy work for electricians, and what a ludicrous waste of time and cash for the landlord: £10 to buy a new toaster, and what, £80...
I rent out some HMOs to graduate sharers, and only increase rents during a tenancy if it's become a particularly long one and the rent is clearly out of line with what the other tenants are paying. I do this...
I would ask your grandfather to act as your mentor for the first year or two while you find your feet. You could have regular meetings at the house, perhaps with your mother too, to go over what has happened...
Penelope - wow, 30 people, well done! If you can, I would suggest you brief the sales agent beforehand about the arrangements for leasehold, freehold and management, as people are bound to ask. Also, do your own research to supplement...
The fee is of course outrageous and could be challenged: competitive quotes should ideally be obtained from a number of surveyors (offer to administer this yourself, to avoid being charged for the agents' time), and details provided of how Knight...
A simple manual barrier (two posts and a cross pole or swing gate) might be sufficient, if warning letters don't work. An online search for "manual parking barrier" throws up a lot of hits. Some of the options seem to...
Check your leasehold agreement and the terms of your management company's Articles of Association. However these normally regulate the behaviour of leaseholders between themselves, not the freeholder, so you may have no luck. Local residents are not normally entitled to...
Reply to the comment left by "Penelope Poore" at "03/11/2015 - 17:50": Penelope - I note from an earlier post that you are actually converting two flats into three. Won't the original flats be leasehold and have some kind of...
Hello Penelope, Check with your solicitor, or ask her to ask a colleague if she hasn't much experience with leaseholds, but I would say: 1. You could retain the freehold for yourself, over a 125 year lease, and charge the...
If you need to replace the doors or doing a major redecoration anyway, why not? There may be certain rules set by your council about fire doors and other fire protection measures if you are intending to let the house...
Reply to the comment left by "Abdul Khan" at "24/10/2015 - 19:45": Er, Abdul, how do we "veto" not paying tax correctly? They won't need to knee-cap us. All they have to do initially is take small numbers of landlords,...
Insurance companies are a law unto themselves; you really need to check with criteria each firm uses to calculate rebuild values, and stick to that. There's no point in thinking you know better than them, as they are always looking...
Sorry Penelope, I've not encountered this. A Google search on "mortgagee non-invalidation clause" threw up these two interesting hits which summarise the situation: see http://www.bakertilly.co.uk/publications/demanding-insurance-requirements-from-lenders.aspx and http://www.inhouselawyer.co.uk/index.php/insurance/7488-insurance-is-a-valuable-asset. Your insurer is effectively being asked to provide two insurance polices: one for...
7th April 2023, 3 years ago
EPCs are not fit for purpose: how is anyone supposed to make judgements about the cost-benefits of major investments like solar panels, ASHPs or external wall insulation when the final document that assesses their value is such a tick-box document...
Read More →23rd March 2023, 3 years ago
I put "bills inclusive" on my houseshare adverts, but explain this means that £150 of their monthly payment goes towards their share of the bills, with a top-up payment required if the average over 3 months exceeds £150, and a...
Read More →17th June 2016, 10 years ago
If you have the money to buy, it sounds like a no-brainer to me: it's not the omly solution, but you'll have control and the freedom to upgrade the flats and fix the problems as you wish, then decide if...
Read More →24th March 2016, 10 years ago
Hello Peter, I can't really comment without a floorplan, some photos, and some idea of which way the floor joists run. Assuming you are just remodelling the internal space and not changing the curtilage of the building, there shouldn't be...
Read More →19th November 2015, 10 years ago
This is a specialist area, so I would consult a solicitor who has expertise in freeholds. I suspect you will have to offer the leaseholders an opportunity to buy the freeholds, as you are proposing a change of ownership from...
Read More →19th November 2015, 10 years ago
See discussion at https://www.property118.com/i-am-a-property-developer-ask-me-anything/44690/comment-page-19/#comments, which contains a link to an earlier discussion by Mark Alexander. When you find a buyer, why not rent the house to them until the six months are up, then they will be free to submit...
Read More →16th November 2015, 10 years ago
I agree with Romain: you need to arrange a Deed of Assignment, in which the new tenant agrees to take over the departing tenant's responsibilities in the existing tenancy agreement. All the other tenants and the landlord must agree and...
Read More →12th November 2015, 10 years ago
A new EICR and PAT every time a landlord buys a toaster or a microwave? Easy-peasy work for electricians, and what a ludicrous waste of time and cash for the landlord: £10 to buy a new toaster, and what, £80...
Read More →9th November 2015, 10 years ago
I rent out some HMOs to graduate sharers, and only increase rents during a tenancy if it's become a particularly long one and the rent is clearly out of line with what the other tenants are paying. I do this...
Read More →6th November 2015, 10 years ago
I would ask your grandfather to act as your mentor for the first year or two while you find your feet. You could have regular meetings at the house, perhaps with your mother too, to go over what has happened...
Read More →5th November 2015, 10 years ago
Penelope - wow, 30 people, well done! If you can, I would suggest you brief the sales agent beforehand about the arrangements for leasehold, freehold and management, as people are bound to ask. Also, do your own research to supplement...
Read More →4th November 2015, 10 years ago
The fee is of course outrageous and could be challenged: competitive quotes should ideally be obtained from a number of surveyors (offer to administer this yourself, to avoid being charged for the agents' time), and details provided of how Knight...
Read More →4th November 2015, 10 years ago
A simple manual barrier (two posts and a cross pole or swing gate) might be sufficient, if warning letters don't work. An online search for "manual parking barrier" throws up a lot of hits. Some of the options seem to...
Read More →4th November 2015, 10 years ago
Check your leasehold agreement and the terms of your management company's Articles of Association. However these normally regulate the behaviour of leaseholders between themselves, not the freeholder, so you may have no luck. Local residents are not normally entitled to...
Read More →Reply to comment left by Penelope Poore at 03/11/2015 - 17:50
Reply to the comment left by "Penelope Poore" at "03/11/2015 - 17:50": Penelope - I note from an earlier post that you are actually converting two flats into three. Won't the original flats be leasehold and have some kind of...
Read More →3rd November 2015, 10 years ago
Hello Penelope, Check with your solicitor, or ask her to ask a colleague if she hasn't much experience with leaseholds, but I would say: 1. You could retain the freehold for yourself, over a 125 year lease, and charge the...
Read More →3rd November 2015, 10 years ago
If you need to replace the doors or doing a major redecoration anyway, why not? There may be certain rules set by your council about fire doors and other fire protection measures if you are intending to let the house...
Read More →Reply to comment left by Abdul Khan at 24/10/2015 - 19:45
Reply to the comment left by "Abdul Khan" at "24/10/2015 - 19:45": Er, Abdul, how do we "veto" not paying tax correctly? They won't need to knee-cap us. All they have to do initially is take small numbers of landlords,...
Read More →2nd November 2015, 10 years ago
Insurance companies are a law unto themselves; you really need to check with criteria each firm uses to calculate rebuild values, and stick to that. There's no point in thinking you know better than them, as they are always looking...
Read More →21st October 2015, 11 years ago
Sorry Penelope, I've not encountered this. A Google search on "mortgagee non-invalidation clause" threw up these two interesting hits which summarise the situation: see http://www.bakertilly.co.uk/publications/demanding-insurance-requirements-from-lenders.aspx and http://www.inhouselawyer.co.uk/index.php/insurance/7488-insurance-is-a-valuable-asset. Your insurer is effectively being asked to provide two insurance polices: one for...
Read More →Showing 20 of 122 comments