Page 179 – Property118
Picture of William Reeves from Goodlord

Average UK rent tops £1,400 for the first time

31st July 2024

A perfect storm of soaring demand and limited supply of homes has pushed rents to unprecedented levels, according to the latest Goodlord Rental Index. The average cost of renting a property in England surged by 7.5% year-on-year, shattering previous records set just last summer. With the traditional letting peak underway, July saw rents jump 20% […]

Louisa Sedgwick, the managing director of Paragon Bank,

Paragon and Molo are the latest lenders to reduce BTL rates

31st July 2024

Paragon Bank has refreshed its product range, offering landlords more competitive buy to let mortgage options. Rates for single self-contained properties with energy efficiency ratings A-C begin at 3.89%, rising to 3.94% for homes with EPC D or E. These deals are available at 70% loan-to-value (LTV) with a 5% fee. ‘Landlords looking for two-year […]

Business professional in blue suit representing NRLA leadership on housing crisis.

London’s PRS boosts the UK’s economy by £14.6bn

31st July 2024

London’s private rented sector (PRS) is a key driver of the UK economy, contributing a substantial £14.6bn to the nation’s wealth, a new report reveals. A study by PwC, commissioned by the National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA) and Paragon Bank, underscores the PRS’s economic significance. The sector supports 128,000 jobs in the capital alone, highlighting […]

Angela Rayner unveils new mandatory housing targets

31st July 2024

Angela Rayner has warned that councils will be stripped of planning powers if they fail to meet housing targets. Under new plans announced by the Housing Secretary mandatory housing targets will increase from 300,000 to 370,000. Ms Rayner says councils that fail to meet targets will be compelled to build on low-value “grey belt” land, […]

pic of blocks showing a rent rise for a tenant property118

What’s the best approach for raising rent for a reliable tenant?

31st July 2024

Hi, I’ve got a good tenant who’s been paying £800 a month to rent my property. From research on Rightmove and also local feedback suggest that the going rate should be around £1,000 a month. I’m thinking of raising the rent by £75 a month, which would bring it up to £875. Is raising the […]

Zoopla’s boss predicts a shift to corporate landlords for the PRS

31st July 2024

The boss of property listings website Zoopla, Charlie Bryant, says that being a private landlord is no longer financially viable – and corporate landlords will move into the market. Speaking to the Telegraph, Mr Bryant, who leads Zoopla’s parent company Houseful, highlighted that individual buy to let investors are retreating from the private rented sector […]

A women at a laptop in a kitchen with her hands on her head in frustration

Management company appoints director without consent?

31st July 2024

Hi, I am a director of a management company. A month ago, I appointed a block management company which was suggested by one of the leaseholders as the previous one was not helpful and incapable of managing our flats. As I was told that I could not be the only director I asked another leaseholder […]

Bridging 101: Swift Access to Financial Flexibility

31st July 2024

In the ever-evolving landscape of property investment and personal finance, the ability to swiftly adapt and seize opportunities is crucial. Short-term bridging loans emerge as an indispensable tool for investors and individuals seeking immediate access to funds, providing a bridge between the present financial need and future financing solutions. What Are Short-Term Bridging Loans? Short-term […]

Pic of roofer repairing roof leasehold freehold property118

Landlords face £34,000 repair bill nightmare

30th July 2024

Landlords across the UK are potentially facing staggering repair costs, with new research revealing an astonishing 72 maintenance jobs per property ownership, totalling more than £34,000. Buy to let insurance provider Alan Boswell Group, in partnership with Compare My Move, has unveiled the most costly property damages, offering landlords crucial insights to shield their investments. […]

green belt

Labour’s housing plans won’t affect green belt

30th July 2024

The Labour government has committed to build 1.5 million homes during the next parliament and has pledged to adopt a strategic approach to the green belt. A new report by property consultants Carter Jonas explores what this means for green belt land. Labour intends to build on ‘grey belt’ land and brownfield sites rather than […]

£20M To Fix Housing Crisis?

30th July 2024

In this eye-opening episode of Property Breaking News, Ranjan Bhattacharya and Andrew Roberts investigate the claim that only £20 million a year is required to solve the UK housing crisis. Can such a modest budget really address such a massive issue? Join Ranjan and Andrew as they break down the numbers, examine expert opinions, and […]

As a Landlord am I entitled to receive a copy of Agent to Tenant emails?

30th July 2024

Hello everyone, I use a Letting Agent with full management services with a Landlord Agreement The agreement states that the Agent acts on the Landlord’s behalf. What I want to know is if I am entitled to receive copies of emails that my agent has sent to my tenant? Does this cause any kind of […]

HMRC allowable foreign travel expenses?

30th July 2024

Hi, I am considering selling a number of foreign BTL properties. Unfortunately, the paperwork involved will require multiple trips to the countries they are located in. I have been struggling to find what qualifies as a tax deductible expense for this. Is there a HMRC document that applies to my circumstance i.e. a private landlord? […]

John Lewis gets green light for its BTR scheme

30th July 2024

John Lewis Partnership has secured planning permission to transform its Bromley Waitrose site into a new community of 353 rental homes and an upgraded supermarket. The project, set to deliver a £70 million boost to the local economy, prioritises residents and workers in the area for the new homes. The development will also include public […]

Multiple estate agent boards showing properties for sale, sold, and to let in a UK street.

UK house prices set for 2% rise as market rebounds

30th July 2024

After a chilly 2023, the UK’s housing market is showing clear signs of warming up in 2024, with increased buyer activity and a growing number of homes for sale, one house price index reveals. According to Zoopla, house prices climbed by a modest 0.1% over the past year to £265,600, but it anticipates a steady […]

Hand separating wooden puzzle pieces symbolising a broken contract in an eviction context

Rent-to-rent possession?

30th July 2024

Hi, I have a guaranteed rent agreement aka rent-to-rent which ends in five months on a fixed end date. I am afraid I won’t get vacant possession on the end date as the agency I signed with has said they will put a new sub tenant in shortly before the agreement end date. This means […]

Property investors eye interest rate cuts

30th July 2024

Property investors are betting on interest rate cuts to fuel market optimism rather than worrying about political change or global tensions, according to a new report. Handelsbanken’s latest survey of landlords with an average of 35 properties each reveals more than half are buoyed by the prospect of base rate reductions in the coming months. […]

Deed of surrender – agent says I don’t need one?

30th July 2024

Hi, How can my agent think emails between myself and my tenant are sufficient when agreeing an early release from a tenancy? My tenant has been obstructive with regards access and I’ve had numerous issues, property damage etc. I will be happy to agree an early release (with a deed of surrender) and will self […]

Understanding Section 11 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985: Repairing Obligations

29th July 2024

The Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 is a cornerstone of English property law, providing essential guidelines for the maintenance and repair obligations of landlords. One of the most critical sections of this Act is Section 11, which outlines the specific duties landlords must adhere to regarding the repair and upkeep of rental properties. This article […]

No paperwork from court 11 days after I win Section 8 hearing?

29th July 2024

After gaining a section 8 hearing on 16 July .. the defendant didn’t attend – the judge awarded 14 days notice for the tenant to leave. The rent, my court expenses and the tenant’s deposit to me. That was 11 days ago! The PCOL system isn’t running. I haven’t received anything in writing to confirm […]

Person researching mortgage options on a laptop while taking notes

Foundation Home Loans and The Mortgage Lender reduce BTL rates

29th July 2024

Foundation Home Loans has unveiled a new limited-edition HMO product and reduced rates across its ‘Buy to Let’ and ‘Solutions by Foundation ranges, while The Mortgage Lender has also reduced its BTL offering. Foundation’s ‘Buy to Let’ brand has introduced a new five-year fixed-rate HMO product available up to 75% Loan-to-Value (LTV) at 5.74% with […]