Landlords Warnings – Will You Survive the Mayhem?

Landlords Warnings – Will You Survive the Mayhem?

21:16 PM, 26th July 2013, About 11 years ago 15

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Have you read the book recently published by Mary Latham yet?Mary Latham

I’ve been talking to Mary about some of the topics in it this week and O – M – G this is going to ruffle feathers!!!

This is certainly not your bog standard “how to buy to let” book by all accounts, but if you know Mary you’d never expect that of her either. If that lady has a bee in her bonnet best stand well back I can tell you.

I have to confess to not having read the book yet as I’ve been off on tour around Eastern Europe but I will be getting hold of a copy very soon as it’s been getting some amazing reviews.

I could have done with having this book with me whilst flying to Russia or the Czech Republic over the last few weeks. We all know how boring flights can be don’t we? I’ve also heard that reading this book is a great way to avoid getting DVT as it will get your heart pumping LOL.  As there are just 147 pages of content is just about right to read on a flight, a long journey or if you are off to a nice beach this year ….

Based on the reviews I’ve already read I am looking forward to getting stuck in yet slightly pensive at the same time. When an ordinarily optimistic landlord like Mary Latham, who has with 40+ years experience in being a landlord, says she see’s the storm clouds gathering and explains why we should ALL take notice.

The book is available as a paperback for £4.64 including delivery and just £1.36 if you are happy to read it on Kindle or the Kindle App for iPad. Either way, click here to order your copy.

Reviews posted on Amazon.co.uk

5.0 out of 5 stars An essential read for those wanting a balanced view of the property market in the UK,
A detailed thoroughly researched book from an experienced landlord.

This book although in some parts quite technical covers the parts that all the get rich quick schemes manage to miss out. The questions that they ask you to save to the end of their presentations and never manage to answer and the risks that many will look into – when they come to it.

Mary covers the latest legislation, the impact of austerity measures, the banking crisis and the topics that would be almost unbelievable if it were not true! (Landlords being charged thousands to dispose of their tenants rubbish bins and recycling) to the impact of Universal Credit on Landlords and those that are unfortunate enough to have to claim benefits.

Some say the combination of these factors will create the perfect storm and others a tornado that will impact our lives significantly. Whatever boat you’re in this book is essential reading to ensure you understand the facts and then put countermeasures in place to ensure you are not a victim of this crisis. Written by a true expert and recognised as such by the National Landlords Association and Homestamp – ignore this perspective from a full time landlord at your peril.

5.0 out of 5 stars A well worth read!

As an established landlord I was unsure whether the book would be worthwhile to me. How wrong could I be!!! I benefited from an insight into a seriously experienced property guru who briefed the reader in a clear and coherent way of real life experiences, past and present legislation as well as money saving tips and references for landlords. The money I have already saved by following just a one of her expert tips has already compensated for the cost of the book twenty fold. Unlike a text book, the author writes in a light hearted way but with an underlying seriousness. I would unreservedly recommend this book to any landlord whether they are a novice just starting out or a well established agent/landlord.

Lots more equally positive reviews here.

When you have read the book yourself please do me a favour and post a review in the comments section below as well as on Amazon.

PLEASE buy this book (and READ IT!), if for no other reason than to help me say thank you to Mary for posting over 600 helpful comments on this website alone!  We are talking about less than a fiver people – COME ON!

This is the link to Amazon to BUY THE BOOK

PS – best to do it now whilst you remember.

Mary Latham


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Comments

1:43 AM, 27th July 2013, About 11 years ago

Shame it can't be sponsored by the CML and issued with every mortgage application.
After all an application may be made and one generally has 3 months to take up the offer.
Reading this book will probably deter lots of aspirant LL from taking up the offer when they realise the true nature of what they are getting into!!!
Ah!......................I have just identified a problem......................................the CML will NOT wish LL aspirants to know about the info in this book as lots of BTL mortgages may not go through once the book has been read by the aspirant LL!!.........................................OR am I being too cynical here!?
I think most LL get into the industry; completely naive.
The ones that succeed learn very quickly about the problems and go onto flourish.
I doubt there is one single LL that as a new entrant knew then what they know now; but consider what they know now to be vital to running their investment business.
I wonder how many new LL will even bother to any research as it is all so easy isn't it!?
After all how hard can it be collecting rent from someone who wants to live in your rental property!!??

Jayne Owen

14:10 PM, 29th July 2013, About 11 years ago

I read Mary's book earlier this month, and it will be Property Bookshop's review of the month in the August edition of YPN. Paul Barrett is absolutely right in his comment above - it should be essential reading for all existing and potential landlords. I have included the most relevant edited highlights from the full review below:

"I decided to review this book before even reading it. Usually, that is a major no-no as not all books make it on to Property Bookshop's review pages. But having seen Mary’s contributions on more than one online forum over the past couple of years, I knew that she would have something worthwhile to say. I even set it aside for a short while, savouring the anticipation of getting stuck in.

Intelligent Words from an Influential Landlord

Though not a particularly easy read – there is quite a lot to take in – it is intelligent, considered and backed up by facts, research and by Mary’s considerable experience as an influential landlord in the UK residential lettings market. There is a biography of her background in property at the beginning, which left me somewhat awestruck. Though, as mentioned above, I have interacted with Mary online for some time and am aware of her current position, I had no idea of the extent of her past influence. Tempting though it is to go on to cover this in detail, the purpose here is to review the book.

On the face of it, the focus of ‘Will You Survive the Mayhem?’ is very much on the landlord and changing market factors that are going to impact upon that role. Underlying that though is the investor factor – if the property world is changing, how will that affect our investments? Should we change our strategies? Stop altogether and invest in another asset class? There is probably no need to go that far, but the points in the book do give us something to think about.

There are no easy answers, and ultimately we have to make up our own minds. What this book does, I think, is to give us a ‘State of the Market’ report. It is part statement of fact, part opinion, allowing us the space to draw our own conclusions. You may not necessarily agree with everything in the book, but it will make you think and prompt you to form your own opinion of the situation.
The book is relevant to everyone involved in property, from those who are new to investing, to portfolio landlords, professionals in the field, brokers and lenders. For professionals such as surveyors, estate agents, brokers and lenders who do not hold any investment property of their own, it might provide an interesting window into the challenges that landlords are facing today."

Mary Latham

15:22 PM, 29th July 2013, About 11 years ago

Thank you so much Jayne. If I had written my own review I could not have done it better. My motive in writing this book was to make landlords/property investors aware of the many issues that are coming at us. I do not want to discourage people from investing in property for rent - far from it without us this country is in big trouble - but I do want to raise their awareness. What they do with that information, if anything at all, is up to them.

I am going to start my next book next week and thanks to Mark Alexander I will be working with a publisher. I was delighted when he told me that my book was 3,254 on the Bestsellers list and that this is excellent for a new and unknown writer. Not quite a "shop in Iceland" Mark hahahaha but your point was well made.

I have been very privileged to have been given feedback from people who I respect , including Jayne and I will take all their comments into account when I write book 2 which will be easier to read because of their help.

I would welcome any comments on my book, good or bad, because I am on a new learning curve and I want to write books that people find helpful and informative and I can only do that with your help.

Follow me on Twitter@landlordtweets

Deb

18:54 PM, 29th July 2013, About 11 years ago

I have a copy of this book and from what I read so far it appears to be truthful and thought provoking. It's a very interesting read. Thanks Mary!

Mary Latham

19:33 PM, 29th July 2013, About 11 years ago

Reply to the comment left by "Debi Owen" at "29/07/2013 - 18:54":

Thank you Debbie please let me know your thoughts when you have finished it

Follow me on Twitter@landlordtweets

Jayne Owen

12:53 PM, 30th July 2013, About 11 years ago

Reply to the comment left by "Mary Latham" at "29/07/2013 - 15:22":

A pleasure Mary, and I hope you sell lots of books! I'm looking forward to book 2 already. Which publisher will you be working with? Just a bit of investigation on my part for the future ... 😉

Mary Latham

16:04 PM, 1st August 2013, About 11 years ago

This is one of the warnings I gave in my book.

Buy-to-let landlords are handing over more money to the taxman. HMRC’s take from landlords in income tax on their rental income in 2010/11 was up 13% on the previous tax year. Tax advice firm UHY Hacker Young said buy-to-let investors paid £2.02bn in income tax on their rental income in 2010/11, up from £1.78bn. The firm said this was due to HMRC’s growing scrutiny of property investors. There are two dedicated task forces looking at private landlords’ tax affairs, one based in the south-east and the other in Yorkshire. HMRC is also currently running a campaign under which people who have not declared a property sale (other than their main residence) are urged to come clean.

more here http://www.landlordtoday.co.uk/news_features/Taxman-gathers-in-more-money-from-private-landlords

Mary Latham

16:59 PM, 9th August 2013, About 11 years ago

Reply to the comment left by "Mary Latham" at "01/08/2013 - 16:04":

A lovely message on Twitter today

Follow me on Twitter@landlordtweets

My book, where I warn about the storm clouds that are gathering for landlords is here >>> http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1484855337

Mary Latham

17:56 PM, 12th August 2013, About 11 years ago

Another message on Twitter today, really gave me a boost and helped me to keep my head down on book two - I've written 4,000 words so far.

Follow me on Twitter@landlordtweets

My book, where I warn about the storm clouds that are gathering for landlords is here >>> http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1484855337

Mary Latham

18:50 PM, 16th August 2013, About 11 years ago

Wow my book has gone into the top 2,000 best sellers list today. I am SO happy. I am at 1,983 only 3 months after I published this book

follow me on Twitter@landlordtweets

My book, where I warn about the storm clouds that are gathering for landlords is here >>> http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1484855337

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