A landlord organisation is urging the government to introduce a student shorthold tenancy (SST) to protect the student rental market. iHowz warns the student rental sector is unique and any changes will cause uncertainty for landlords and students. Under the Renters’ Rights Bill, fixed-term tenancies will be scrapped and replaced with periodic tenancies. Uncertainty for […]

A Budget tax raid on landlords will see an exodus of investors from the private rented sector (PRS), one expert warns. Rachel Springall, the finance expert at Moneyfactscompare.co.uk, said: “The tax changes which have impacted the buy to let market have resulted in droves of landlords setting up limited companies to manage their portfolios. “The […]

A new scheme to help upgrade housing stock in Wales doesn’t include help for landlords. The Welsh government has launched a £70 million initiative to upgrade housing stock to support the country’s drive towards achieving net-zero emissions by 2025, but this does not include properties in the private rented sector. Propertymark has slammed the decision […]

When a tenant is evicted from a rental property, it is not uncommon for them to leave behind personal belongings. As a landlord, you might be unsure about your legal rights and obligations when dealing with abandoned goods. Legislation provides a framework to guide landlords through this process, most notably under the Torts (Interference with […]

Starting out in property investing is an exciting journey, with various strategies to explore. This guide will introduce five popular property investment strategies, each with unique demands on time, knowledge, and financial resources. We’ll look at single let properties, two types of HMOs, serviced accommodation, flips, and conversions. >> The Buy-to-Let Blueprint – Becoming an […]

Hi, I need some advice. I have a tenant who has had a stairlift fitted without my knowledge or consent she tried to stop me from coming in when I gave her a new tenancy agreement. I asked her who needed the stairlift, as to my knowledge, she’s fit and healthy. She says it’s for […]

The total value of homes in the sales pipeline has surged by 30% to £113 billion, driven by rising incomes and the lowest mortgage rates in two years to help make 2024 a bumper year. That’s according to Zoopla’s latest House Price Index which shows the number of new sales agreed has reached its highest […]

The Welsh government thinks landlords should complete a report for Rent Smart Wales every year to check if a property is habitable. The Welsh government also wants landlords to provide rent prices and explore the idea of making rental prices in different areas public. This is despite the fact that most people can already view […]

The Scottish housing market has continued to defy economic headwinds, with average house prices increasing by £13,001 in the past year, according to a leading property firm. DJ Alexander, Scotland’s largest lettings and estate agency, analysed the latest statistics and found that prices rose from £186,970 to £199,971 between September 2023 and August. This growth […]

Rent prices have soared within the last five years as renters struggle to find an affordable place to live, according to a new survey. Research by Go.Compare Home Insurance reveals that 65% of Britain has average rental costs above what is considered affordable for a typical single tenant. According to Go.Compare, the average monthly rental price […]

As the UK’s private rented sector (PRS) becomes increasingly competitive, tenants are facing financial burdens as they struggle to secure a property. A new report by tlyfe, a tenant app launched by OpenBrix, highlights the rising costs associated with lengthy rental searches. It says that the longer the search, the higher the cost of renting […]

Hello, six months ago, I rented three rooms in my house via a high street estate agent. Each single tenant has their own tenancy agreement. The first one that moved in set up bills in her name and split and collected the bills from other tenants. One of the tenants started living with his toddler […]

In 2001, Adam purchased a property for £97,000 in an area that wasn’t exactly desirable. His tenant situation wasn’t ideal either, but Adam did his best to keep things running smoothly. When his tenant passed away, Adam decided it was time to sell, but before he could, he was forced to spend thousands removing rubbish […]

The UK government has made bold promises to deliver 1.5 million new homes, but while that vision might sound like a solution to the housing crisis, there’s a hidden tax trap that could push existing landlords out of the market. Private landlords are facing crushing VAT burdens, paying 20% VAT on almost everything they spend […]

If you’ve been keeping an eye on the UK’s private rented sector, you’ve probably noticed a big shift happening: landlords are leaving the market in droves. This so-called landlord exodus is being driven by rising costs, unfriendly tax changes, and more regulations than ever before. And it’s not just landlords feeling the squeeze—this trend is […]

While much of the focus on landlord taxation falls on high-profile issues like Capital Gains Tax and Stamp Duty, there are a range of stealth taxes slowly draining landlords’ resources. These hidden costs often go unnoticed until they hit, leaving many landlords struggling to maintain profitability. Among the most punishing are the doubling of Council […]

Landlords facing mounting tax burdens should consider pushing for specific tax reforms that address the most pressing issues in the current system. With the 2024/25 Budget on the horizon, here are some key tax reforms that landlords should advocate for: 1. Restore Full Mortgage Interest Relief Problem: The phased removal of mortgage interest relief under […]

What if the UK’s Private Rented Sector (PRS)—once a thriving backbone of housing for millions of people—collapsed overnight? It might sound far-fetched, but the signs are already there. Landlords are leaving the market in droves, overwhelmed by crushing tax changes, impossible regulations, and rising costs. The very fabric of the UK housing market is unraveling, […]

The History of Dividend Tax Increases: George Osborne’s 2016 Budget and NIC Justification In the March 2016 Budget, George Osborne introduced significant changes to the taxation of dividends. The reasoning? The government argued that salaried and self-employed individuals paid NICs on their earnings, while dividends were not subject to NICs, creating an unfair advantage for […]

The Prime Minister has slammed landlords by not confirming they are “working people”. In an interview with Sky News, Keir Starmer struggled to define a “working person” but says people who earn income through property or shares are not working people. The issue is important because the Labour election manifesto promised not to raise taxes […]

It’s almost like something out of the novel 1984, when the evidence of your eyes is not to be trusted. I’m talking, of course, about housing minister Matthew Pennycook at the Renters’ Rights Bill committee hearing. He went to great lengths to downplay the landlord exodus saying there was no evidence for it. He does […]