Mark Alexander’s 20 Hot Tips for Property Investors

I’ve put together a secret page called “20 Hot Tips for Buy to Let Property Investors”.

This page contains links to my favourite articles and blog series’ I have added to Property118 over the last two years. In these articles I share ideas on how property investors can save money, minimise risks and maximise returns. read on

How to create incentives for the PRS to grow

Mark Garner, a regular reader of Property118 has very kindly written in to share these thoughts on simple changes the government could make to incentivise the necessary growth of the UK’s Private Rented Sector. What do you think?

To increase the size of the UK PRS the Government need to change their current policy on:-

Pensions – Allow SIPP’s to purchase residential property. Isn’t it crazy that we can invest our retirement funds into high risk Caribbean resports but not into providing much needed housing in the UK? read on

Should Landlords Buy Life Insurance?

What will happen to your rental properties if you suddenly pass away?

For landlords, it is more important than ever to protect both your rental properties and your family’s future. read on

Shawbrook Bank slash arrangement fees and rates

Shawbrook Bank specialists in commercial and BTL finance have reduced their arrangement fees to 1.70% a saving of 0.80%, and their rates by up to 0.60% across their term product range.

Big advantages Shawbrook have over many other commercial lenders is their desire to lend with far less onerous stress testing compared to high street banks, Interest Only for commercial and BTL property and lending directly to Limited companies. read on

Repeat Fraudulent Tenants – A Landlords Story and Cry For Help

The following Landlords Story about “Repeat fraudulent Tenants” came from a landlord who wishes to remain anonymous but who would also very much appreciate any advice you can offer.

“I let a property to a couple found through agents last year. They have failed to pay any rent since then, save for the deposit and the first month’s rent on securing the tenancy. read on

Tracking down a bad tenant – advice sought please

I have a single rental property which I bought in 2009. I refurbished it to a good standard and rented it to a young couple using an agent on a tenant find basis. The agent took the deposit. I allowed them to have dogs at the property.

The young lady and dogs left, and a new young lady arrived, as did chinchillas. read on

The Great North Property Auction – 6th Feb 2013 – Download Catalogue

The Great North Property Auction is on Wednesday 6th February 2013 and will see 67 properties going under the hammer from £9,950 – £289,950. read on

Most tenancies end dispute free reveals My|Deposits

Findings from my|deposits reveal that the majority of tenancies end without any issues over the return of the tenant’s deposit.

Last year approximately 99% of my|deposits members returned their tenant’s deposits either in full (60%), or with deductions agreed by the tenant (39%), without the need to involve the scheme. read on

Can landlords spread rental profits between spouses and minimise tax?

One of our readers has sent in the following email and is looking for ideas that other landlords have used to minimise tax by spreading rental profits between spouses.

Mark Alexander has shared a few thoughts, but would like to point out that he’s not a qualified tax adviser. Therefore, we have also included a contact form for you to get in touch with the accountants Mark uses. He’s also invited their landlord tax expert, Neil Barlow, to comment. read on

The Green Deal goes live today – landlords urged to check it out

The National Landlords Association (NLA) is reminding all private residential landlords to familiarise themselves with the Green Deal and begin making energy efficiency improvements to all relevant properties, as the Government formally launches the scheme today (Monday 28th January.)

The Green Deal is the Government’s vehicle to make the UK’s housing stock more energy efficient. The NLA is warning that after 2016, landlords will be unable to refuse a tenant’s reasonable request for Green Deal improvements. Furthermore, under the new legislation, landlords will be forbidden to let any properties found to have a poor Energy Performance Rating (F or G rated) after 2018. read on

No inventory ………. oh Dear!!

Accidental Landlords question regarding “no inventory”

I have taken over as the landlord of a property after a divorce. Before this I was never involved in the property business!! Anyway the house was purchase about three years ago and the first tenants that took the property are still in situ. My issue is that I have no evidence of the state of the property prior to the tenant occupying it and I am worried that if they now left and the house was in disrepair I would have not claim against the deposit because I cannot prove what state the house was given to them. read on

Landlords and Tenants Becoming more Energy Conscientious

The number of energy inefficient properties owned by landlords is steadily decreasing, according to research from the Association of Residential Letting Agents (ARLA).

In December 2012, 61% of landlords reported that they had no properties rated F or G in terms of their energy efficiency, an increase of 11% on the year before. read on

Stamp Duty set to triple for 10% of UK home buyers

Around 80,000 people in England and Wales, 10% of the market, could find themselves paying three times more Stamp Duty this year as the average property price looks set to breach the £250,000 mark.

For these buyers, Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) will jump up from 1% to 3%, a massive increase from £2,500 to £7,500. The Government will need to urgently re-evaluate the 1% Stamp Duty ceiling which has remained unchanged for over 15 years whilst the average price of a house has increased three fold from £79,242 to £249,958. read on

Spam attack on Scottish Association of Landlords

We suspect that hackers have been busy trying to get into our systems over the last 48 hours via a spam attack of Scottish Association of Landlords membership enquiry forms hosted on our systems.

They didn’t manage to get in of course as our security is incredibly robust. However, we first noticed this when somebody sent in a very strange message including a cake recipe. read on

Property Auctions – Download their catalogues FREE

	Download Barnes Property Auction Catalogue for 28.02.2013 Per instructions from East Midlands Housing Group, Mansfield District Council, executors, Beneficiaries, trustees and other sources Barnes Chartered Surveyors is holding a collective sale of investments and “property with potential” of immediate interest to speculators, builders and investors on Thursday 28th February 2013 at the Towers, Botany Avenue, Mansfield, Notts NG18 5NG commencing 3pm prompt. read on
	Auction House Cumbria Property Auctions – 21st & 22nd Feb 2013 42 lots are going under the hammer on 21st and 22nd February 2013 in the Auction House Cumbria sale. Lots 1 through 26 are properties in North Cumbria where the auction will take place at carlisle Racecourse, Durdar Road, Carlise CA2 4TS and will start at 2pm on Thursday 21st Feb 2013 read on
	Parsons Son & Basley Property Auction East Sussex – 21/02/2013 Parsons Son & Basley are auctioning 10 properties at the Banqueting Suite, Hove Town Hall, Norton Road, Hove BN3 3BQ Thursday 21 February 2013 at 3pm. To download a copy of the catalogue please complete the form below. read on
	Acuitus commercial property auction 14th Feb 2013 The freehold ground rent interest in Sentinel House in Norwich’s Surrey Street comes up for sale at the Acuitus commercial property auction on February 14 2013 together with an additional 41 lots. The current ground rent from the 104,000 sq ft office building (pictured left) is £100,000 pa and it is being offered for sale with a guide price of £2.25m. read on
	Paul Fosh Auction sale of Llanhilleth Rugby Club The former club house of an illustrious south Wales Valleys rugby club which is going under the hammer could be ripe for conversion, says auctioneer Paul Fosh. The Llanhilleth Rugby Club building (pictured left), on Commercial Road, Llanhilleth, near Abertillery, is to be sold at auction next month (February 14).
	Auction House Devon and Cornwall Auction – 14th Feb 2013 Auction House Devon and Cornwall are delighted to announce their next property auction will be held at 2pm on Thursday 14th February 2013 at Lewtrehchard Manor, Lewdown, Oakhampton, Devon EX20 4PN read on
	Nottingham Property Auction – 13th Feb 2013 HEB Chartered Surveyors are holding their first Nottingham property auction of the year on 13th February 2013. There are 17 properties going under the hammer with guide prices from £20,000. read on
	Louis Taylor Property Auction Stoke on Trent 12/02/2013 Louis Taylor are holding a property auction consisting of 12 lots with guide prices from as little as £35,000 at 7pm on 12 February 2012. The venue for the auction is 66 Trinity Street, Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire ST1 5NB read on
	The Great North Property Auction – 6th Feb 2013 – Download Catalogue The Great North Property Auction Wednesday 6th February 2013 will see 67 properties going under the hammer from £9,950 – £289,950. Read on
	Clive Emson Auctioneers – Property Auctions 4th to 7th February 2013 Clive Emson Auctioneers are holding their first auctions of the New Year on 4th-7th February offering 116 Lots. Download their auction catalogue by completing the form below. The four auctions cover land, commercial and residential properties across southern England, from Kent to Cornwall and to the M4 corridor. read on
	AWA All Wales Property Auction 4th to 7th Feb 2013 Download the AWA auction catalogue for the national public auction of residential, commercial, agricultural property and land. read on