It has been a legal requirement since April 2007 for landlords to protect a tenants security deposit in one of the three government schemes or face a financial penalty, since 2015 not protecting a deposit in time would also render a section 21 notice invalid until the deposit was paid back to the tenant in […]

Setting a SMART goal and having a step-by-step strategy is the first thing anyone looking to invest in property needs to focus their attention on. SMART stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Time bound. It’s crucial to be precise with your goal and to have a step-by-step strategy in place before getting sidetracked by […]

The Mortgage Lender (TML) and CHL Mortgages have both announced rate cuts across their buy to let product ranges as competition in the sector intensifies. TML has reduced rates by 10 basis points on its five-year fixed 75% loan-to-value products and Portfolio Multi-Loan, with its five-year fixed product at 75% LTV and a 5% fee […]

Hi, I have a pregnant tenant who has raised a question of how do we ensure that the carbon monoxide levels in the house are at the required level. As her CO level has been measured by the hospital and was at 13 parts per million (ppm). For a non-smoking person it should be around […]

Hi, in need of some advice. I rent out a flat in a university town, very often to international students. I have an international student arriving in September who will be paying 6 months’ rent in advance (for the initial tenancy of six months which will be renewed all being well). My only concern is […]

An announcement last night (8 August) has upended Tuesday’s announcement that Rightmove had severed ties with OpenRent. The property portal giant has confirmed that the online letting agent has signed a new membership agreement. Rightmove said: “Further to the announcement on 6th August, Rightmove announces that OpenRent has entered into a new membership agreement. Our […]

In this informative video, Ranjan Bhattacharya tackles a common concern for developers and homeowners: neighbour complaints during permitted development. Do these complaints hold any weight, and should you be worried? We break down the rules and regulations surrounding permitted development, the potential impact of neighbour objections, and how to navigate these challenges smoothly. Whether you’re […]

Social and private landlord possession claims, orders, warrants and repossessions all increased dramatically between and April and June, government data reveals. When compared to the same quarter in 2023, landlord possession claims surged from 22,526 to 24,495 (9%), orders from 16,029 to 18,436 (15%), warrants from 9,957 to 11,172 (12%), and repossessions from 5,950 to […]

An industry body is “disappointed” over a lack of changes to the Scottish Housing Bill. Propertymark has criticised the Scottish government for not taking on board amendments suggested by various industry groups including the impact rent controls could have on the private rented sector. The Bill contains a package of policy reforms including introducing rent […]

Confidence in the rental market dips as landlords fear Labour’s housing policies. According to a poll by SpareRoom, 79% of landlords think Labour’s proposals to improve the rental market won’t work. Labour has promised to abolish Section 21 and plans to introduce hardship tests which will make it impossible to evict tenants. Only 19% of […]

Hi, almost a year after my sheltered building was decommissioned (by a council cabinet decision), I applied to buy my flat (Right to Buy). The council rejected saying the flat was still sheltered because the decommissioning had not been registered. When I objected, I was told that the property was still registered as ‘elderly property’ […]

We own two parking spaces worth about £15,000. We use the income, £1,800, to fund pension plans for our four grandchildren. The rent is paid to us which, of course, we include in our tax return with other letting income. We are thinking about transferring/gifting the spaces to our grandchildren (all under the age of […]

Hi everyone, I am in the process of selling my own home which I expect to take up to 6 months, but this could change either way in terms of time. I also own a flat around the corner that is let with the tenant coincidentally confirming they have purchased their own house and will […]

As a property professional, you’re always on the lookout for effective ways to maximise your returns while minimising costs and taxes. Enter the SSAS pension – a game-changer in the property investment world. A Small Self-Administered Scheme (SSAS) is a company pension designed for small to medium-sized businesses. It’s an incredibly flexible tool that offers […]

The UK housing market exhibited mixed fortunes in July as the private rented sector (PRS) continued to grapple with a widening gap between supply and demand. However, according to the latest RICS residential property survey, the sales market is showing tentative signs of recovery. RICS says that demand for rental properties persisted at a robust […]

Accord Mortgages has announced further reductions to its buy to let product range, with cuts of up to 0.15% across all loan-to-value tiers up to 75%. The latest changes see two-year fixed rates decrease by 0.15%, with reductions of up to 0.10% for three and five-year fixes. Landlord clients favouring tracker options will also benefit […]

Rental yields generated by landlords have hit the highest level since 2014, research from Paragon Bank reveals. The lender’s latest PRS trends report reveals that landlords saw an average of 6.3% in rental yields during the second quarter of the year. This figure marks a substantial rebound from the 15-year low of 5.2% recorded in […]

Hi, Until now I have been happy and confident with my landlord insurance packages and their level of cover. Moving forward, I have no certainty that insurances will be able to cover things like loss of rent, repossession aid and legal cover. Does anyone have any insight into this? If all the proposed government measures […]

Landlord Licensing and Defence chief Phil Turtle is urging the National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA) to back his proposal for a Jersey-style property licensing model. He believes this could revolutionise the private rented sector (PRS), providing a more efficient and cost-effective way to regulate landlords while potentially eliminating the need for selective licensing schemes. Under […]

In this crucial episode of Property Breaking News, Ranjan Bhattacharya and Andrew Roberts discuss the latest legislative changes affecting landlords: a new rule that prohibits evicting tenants within the first two years of a tenancy if you wish to sell the property. What does this mean for landlords facing financial difficulties, especially with fluctuating interest […]

House prices in the UK rose by 0.8% in July, halting a three-month plateau, Halifax reveals. The average property value now stands at £291,268, marking a £2,200 increase compared to June. Annual growth has also accelerated to 2.3%, the highest rate since January 2024. Despite this uptick, the lender cautions that affordability issues and limited […]