Page 189 – Property118
Welsh flag featuring the red dragon symbol of national identity

Lack of Welsh housing data sparks NRLA campaign for annual housing survey

27th August 2024

The NRLA is calling for a regular Welsh housing survey to help future housing policy decisions. The NRLA says there should be a Welsh housing survey similar to the English Housing Survey that has been run annually in England since 1967. The last Welsh Housing Conditions survey was carried out in 2017/18. Welsh private rented […]

Matt Hutchinson discussing the government’s second homes policy and housing shortage

Renters struggle with renting budgets as costs soar

27th August 2024

Renters are having to find an extra £312 per year to cover the cost of rent that exceeds their budget, according to a new survey. Research by SpareRoom shows a big gap between what renters plan to spend on rent each month and what they actually end up paying. Across 216 towns and cities in […]

Rental market race: Gloucester leads, Middlesbrough lags

27th August 2024

With rental demand soaring, competition for properties is fierce and data from OnTheMarket highlights the extreme disparities in how quickly rental homes are being snapped up. The platform’s new ‘Transaction Speed Index’ has Gloucester as the fastest market, with properties being let in just 14 days. However, Middlesbrough is the slowest market, with tenants taking […]

E-Bikes in Rental Properties: Key Considerations for Landlords

27th August 2024

As e-bikes and scooters become an increasingly popular mode of transportation, both for personal use and for tenants who work as local food delivery riders, landlords must navigate the unique challenges these electric-powered vehicles present in rental properties. While e-bikes offer tenants a convenient and eco-friendly way to commute, their presence introduces potential risks that […]

How to Transform Assets into Recurring Cashflow

27th August 2024

Are you ready to unlock the full potential of your assets and create a predictable stream of recurring income? If so, WealthBuilders want to share something exciting. On Wednesday 28th August, WealthBuilders will be hosting a live webinar showcasing a simple, proven process anybody can follow to build reliable income from assets. WealthBuilders has been […]

Pic of Birmingham on a map where council wants landlords top licence their rented properties property118

Council tenant pleads guilty to subletting home on Airbnb

27th August 2024

A council flat tenant has admitted to unlawfully subletting his home by advertising the property for rent on Airbnb. Reza Sherafaty, 39, pleaded guilty to three counts of tenancy fraud at Birmingham Magistrates Court on August 15. The court heard that Birmingham City Council discovered Sherafaty had rented out the council home in Selly Oak […]

Grade II Listed Building – How to turn a profit?

27th August 2024

My mother is breaking up with her husband and will have the property to herself by around April 2025. This is obviously not 100% definite just yet, but her divorce solicitor is almost certain that this will be the outcome in return for her paying her ex-husband an amount and not taking any benefit from […]

A hand holding a bunch of keys

Tenants not allowing access for leak repairs?

27th August 2024

Hi Everyone, There has been a leak from my property into the flat below for a week now. The Managing Agent has arranged for contractors to go out, but the tenant keeps making appointments and then saying they are not available. Also, the estate agent has managed to mislay/lose the key and fob and I […]

Property118 Incorporation Client Speaks Out

23rd August 2024

When the letter from HMRC landed on my doormat, I barely gave it a second thought. It seemed like just another piece of bureaucratic correspondence. But as I unfolded the paper and scanned the contents, the words “compliance check” hit me like a punch to the gut. My casual indifference evaporated, replaced by a chilling […]

Knight-themed Landlord Crusader logo symbolizing landlord advocacy

Why councils can’t run private rented homes – after another failed landlord fiasco

23rd August 2024

Every private landlord in the country must know that their local council is hopeless and doesn’t understand the private rented sector – but did you know that they couldn’t run a bath? I’m talking, of course, about the not-so-shocking news that another private landlord organisation created by a council has hit the buffers. So, well […]

landlord news holiday let tax property118.com

Holiday let landlords face tax crunch

23rd August 2024

The clock is ticking for furnished holiday let landlords as government plans to abolish the favourable tax regime from April 2025 are forcing owners to reconsider their future. On 29 July, the government unveiled draft legislation ending the Furnished Holiday Letting (FHL) tax benefits. From 6 April 2025, landlords will lose key tax advantages. Interest […]

Portrait of a business leader in suit and tie

Rent controls in Scotland: ‘Unworkable and unaffordable’

23rd August 2024

The Housing Scotland Bill must be scrapped or significantly amended, a leading property firm warns. DJ Alexander, Scotland’s largest lettings and estate agency, says that the proposed rent controls will do more harm than good. A recent report by the Institute for Economic Affairs (IEA) found that rent controls have consistently failed to achieve their […]

Business professional in light blue blazer smiling against grey background

Landbay unveils new AVM-powered BTL products

23rd August 2024

Buy to let lender Landbay has introduced a fresh line-up of two-and five-year products, available through its automated valuation model (AVM). It joins Together and Molo as the latest BTL lenders to lower rates for landlords. This new AVM range offers rates starting at 3.74% for two-year standard options at up to 75% loan-to-value (LTV). […]

Council sparks confusion by processing selective licences after scheme end date

23rd August 2024

A local authority continued to process selective licence applications despite the scheme ending months before. London Property Licensing flagged an error to Hackney Council about the licensing scheme end date on their website, which showed 30 October 2023. The council admitted the mistake, stating the schemes actually ended on 30 September 2023, but continued issuing […]

Renters pay higher prices for furnished apartments yet most dislike the furniture

23rd August 2024

Renters are paying 20% more per month on average for a furnished apartment compared to an unfurnished one, according to new data. Research by furniture retailer MADE reveals choosing a pre-furnished apartment now costs about £261 more per month, or £3,129 a year, compared to an unfurnished two-bedroom. The study also reveals more than 73% […]

Chancellor delivering a speech on Britain’s economic future

Labour slammed for planned social housing rent rise

23rd August 2024

Chancellor Rachel Reeves is set to reveal a big increase in social rents to help accelerate the construction of affordable homes. However, campaigners warn that this move could leave tenants vulnerable to rising rents and increased financial strain. According to the Financial Times, Ms Reeves plans to allow social rents to rise annually for the […]

Lender urges government support for landlord EPC upgrades

22nd August 2024

Skipton Group has called on the government to introduce incentives and support for landlords to upgrade their properties to meet new energy efficiency standards. Under government plans, all rental properties must achieve an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of Band C by 2030. However, research by Skipton reveals significant challenges facing landlords. It found that […]

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Rents start falling in major cities as rental inflation slows

22nd August 2024

Rents in major UK cities are beginning to fall for the first time in years – the pace of rental inflation is now at its lowest level in nearly three years. According to research from Zoopla, cities like London, Brighton, Glasgow, Nottingham and Worthing have seen a decline in rents. Plus, a third of London’s […]

Labour’s ‘Freedom to Buy’ mortgage scheme faces criticism

22nd August 2024

Doubt is being cast on Labour’s proposed ‘Freedom to Buy’ mortgage guarantee scheme after an analysis of Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) data. Wealth management firm Quilter says the scheme may not effectively support prospective first-time buyers. Since its inception in April 2021, the current mortgage guarantee scheme has facilitated just 44,368 mortgages, with 86% (38,323) […]

Accord and TMW lower BTL rates

22nd August 2024

Accord Mortgages has reduced its buy to let rates again – the second rate cut this month. The intermediary-only lender has lowered rates by up to 0.20% across all loan-to-values (LTVs) up to 75%. The new range is available now and includes competitive fixed-rate options for both remortgages and new purchases. The lender’s BTL mortgage […]