Page 183 – Property118
gas boiler

Who is reponsible for repairing a boiler under a government grant scheme?

17th July 2024

Hi all, can anyone advise on this issue? The tenants a few years ago had a new boiler fitted on a government grant scheme, the boiler keeps breaking down and after £££££ of repairs with new parts it still seems to be having issues. More than three gas fitters have advised they cannot find the […]

pic of electrician testing a fuse board property118

Should I evict a tenant with mental health issues refusing an electrical inspection?

17th July 2024

Hi, my elderly mother has had a tenant for the last 18 years and receives payment from the council through housing benefits. The tenant was great and was pretty much the perfect tenant. Unfortunately, over the years, her mental health has declined significantly. She has become extremely paranoid and refuses to let anyone into the […]

bailiff

BBC programme tells tenants to stay put until bailiffs arrive?

16th July 2024

Hi, available on BBC iPlayer is the programme ‘Morning Live’ from 12th July 2024, where Matt Allwright advises tenants to remain in their homes until the bailiffs arrive, rather than risk becoming intentionally homeless You can watch the whole piece from 19:30 on BBC iplayer here >> https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m0020z12/morning-live-series-6-12072024 He also says that the Department of […]

landlord question uk SDLT property118.com

Is stamp duty fair in the UK?

16th July 2024

Hi, the property market in the UK has had a roller coaster of prices over the last 4 decades and continues to fluctuate no matter what political party is in power. Each successive government continued to benefit from using the property market as a way to bring some sort of confidence to the financial institutions […]

Gateshead consults on selective licensing – while Brent urges landlords to comply

16th July 2024

Gateshead Council is inviting residents, landlords, letting agents and businesses to weigh in on proposals for new selective licensing schemes. It claims to be a pioneer in selective licensing since 2007, and it now wants to extend the existing selective licensing zone. Plus, the council wants to introduce additional licensing for Houses of Multiple Occupancy […]

Propertymark representative promoting landlord support in upcoming Welsh Budget

Propertymark backs Welsh Government’s housing plans

16th July 2024

Propertymark has welcomed the Welsh Government’s commitment to improving housing in Wales. Tim Thomas, the organisation’s policy and campaigns officer, said the organisation is pleased to see a focus on building safety and homelessness. It had previously collaborated with the government on building safety and is hopeful the new Building Safety Bill will deliver better […]

Surge in older renters and rise of portfolio landlords – TMW

16th July 2024

There has been a big change in the UK’s private rented sector (PRS) with a dramatic increase in the number of tenants aged between 55 and 64 who are choosing to rent. This figure has surged by 80% over the last 10 years, research from The Mortgage Works (TMW) reveals. London leads the growth in […]

New homes under construction on a Build to Rent housing development site

£20bn boost for Build to Rent market as investors shift focus

16th July 2024

The UK’s Build to Rent (BtR) sector is set for a £20bn cash injection over the next decade, according to a new report by Savills. This shift in focus from investors highlights the growing maturity of the market, the real estate firm says. While £35bn of institutional investment has delivered 100,000 BtR homes in the […]

Lendlord logo representing property finance and landlord tools.

Transform Your Investment Strategy with Lendlord’s New Deal Analyser

16th July 2024

Investors, rejoice! Lendlord has unveiled its latest tool to revolutionize your property investment experience—the enhanced and new Deal Analyser. Designed for property investors who demand precision and efficiency, this tool provides instant, comprehensive insights into any potential deal. Here’s why you need to integrate it into your property investment strategy today. Instant Results for Instant […]

Property118 Action Group founder member badge supporting the campaign defending landlords from unfair HMRC actions

Save Property118, Protect Landlord Rights

15th July 2024

Property118, a lifeline for countless landlords, is under attack. Unjustified targeting of our business model threatens to leave landlords in the cold and erodes trust in the property industry. We need your urgent support to fight back. Property118 has been accused of promoting tax avoidance schemes, a claim we vehemently deny. HMRC’s follow-up actions have […]

pic of a question mark as landlord asks question about the AST when someone transitions property118

Long duration ASTs to combat proposed changes?

15th July 2024

Hi, I understand the new Labour government will quite soon look to end ASTs, as the Tories almost executed this within the defunct Renters (Reform) Bill. If you have a reliable current tenant or a promising new one with excellent references (though unproven), how smart is it to use a Deed instead of an AST […]

Council housing crisis looms as authorities call for action

15th July 2024

England’s largest council house landlords are raising the alarm about the future of council housing because of a financial crisis In a report by 20 of the largest local authorities, they say that years of ‘erratic national policy changes’ and an ‘unsustainable financial model’ have squeezed council budgets. An independent analysis predicts that councils will […]

Failed AST renewal letting fees?

15th July 2024

Hi, the letting agents found tenants for my property, and we agreed on a 12-month AST. I paid the letting fee as we had agreed in the Confirmation of Marketing. Over the year, the Bank of England raised interest rates several times, which increased my mortgage costs. In the tenth month, we asked the tenants […]

landlords news fire break wall insurance tax property118.com

Tenant preventing access to flat?

15th July 2024

Hi, one of my tenants is refusing me access to his flat to carry out the mid-year fire alarm system/equipment checks. There are four self contained-flats in the building. The tenant was cooperative until I increased his rent earlier this year. Since then he has been notoriously difficult. The way he writes his email are […]

Portrait of a business leader in suit and tie

Scotland urged to match Labour’s housebuilding target

15th July 2024

The Scottish government needs to mirror Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ recent proposal to build 1.5million homes in the next five years, one leading lettings firm chief says. David Alexander, the chief executive of DJ Alexander Scotland, says the target will be helped by easing planning restrictions and supporting property developers. He adds that Labour’s ambitious goal […]

Mayor promotes Good Landlord Charter to improve housing standards in Greater Manchester

Landlords can now sign up to Greater Manchester’s Good Landlord Charter

15th July 2024

Greater Manchester has announced that it aims to build 75,000 new homes during the next parliamentary term and will improve the PRS with a ‘pioneering new deal’ for landlords and tenants. The Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, says the council can meet the target with government help. And the country’s first Good Landlord Charter […]

London rents down despite 14-year spike

15th July 2024

Average rents across London have skyrocketed over the last 14 years, according to a new report. Flat-share website SpareRoom reveals rents in the capital have surged from £542 in 2010 to £983 in 2024, marking an 81% increase. For the rest of the UK, rents have risen from £440 in 2010 to £740 in 2024. […]

UK house prices dip as sellers target summer buyers

15th July 2024

House prices in the UK saw a small dip in July as sellers adjusted their strategies for the summer market, according to the latest Rightmove House Price Index. The average asking price dropped by 0.4% (-£1,617) to £373,493, exceeding the typical July fall of -0.2%. Rightmove suggests this dip reflects sellers aiming to capture buyer […]

deposit damage

What Can a Landlord Do if the Cost of Repair Exceeds the Deposit Held?

15th July 2024

When a tenant vacates a rental property, it’s not uncommon for the landlord to discover damages or the need for repairs that exceed the amount of the security deposit held. This situation can be particularly challenging, as the deposit is intended to cover such costs. However, landlords do have options to recover additional expenses. One […]