Page 194 – Property118

Accord cuts its buy to let rates again

8th August 2024

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 soar to 10-year high

8th August 2024

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 […]

Housing law expert Phil Turtle discussing landlord enforcement and civil penalties

Call to replace selective license schemes with a Jersey-style model

8th August 2024

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 […]

Landlords, You Can’t Sell Up! New Rules on Evicting Tenants Within 2 Years

7th August 2024

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 […]

Woman smiling in professional portrait for property market news article

UK house prices rise despite market challenges

7th August 2024

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 […]

House and percentage symbol balanced on wooden seesaw representing mortgage rates.

More BTL lenders announce rate cuts and new products

7th August 2024

Buy-to-Let by Foundation is among a slew of lenders to unveil new products and rate cuts designed to appeal to a wider range of landlords. The new offerings include: Limited Edition Products: Two new limited edition fixed-rate deals, one for borrowers with a strong credit history and another for properties with a high Energy Performance […]

Selective licensing schemes see landlord costs soar – Direct Line

7th August 2024

Landlords across England are facing an increasingly heavy financial burden as local councils ramp up selective licensing schemes, research reveals. English councils are charging landlords almost £700 on average to obtain mandatory selective licenses, with costs varying wildly across the country. According to the study by Direct Line, Leicester city council tops the list with […]

Students sitting around a coffee table

Just one in six university campus rooms are affordable for students

7th August 2024

Just 17% of on-campus university rooms in the UK are classed as affordable for students – that’s one in six available rooms, Generation Rent reveals. It says the research highlights a severe shortage of budget-friendly accommodation. And universities are accused of ‘raking it in’ as landlords despite claiming to care for their students’ ‘wellbeing’. The […]

Row of Victorian terraced houses in London symbolising strong buy-to-let investment potential

Tenants are searching further afield for a home amid rental shortage

7th August 2024

The UK’s rental market remains intensely competitive, with tenants facing a perfect storm of surging demand, dwindling supply and escalating rents, Rightmove says. Its research reveals a stark picture of a private rented sector (PRS) that’s out of kilter with tenant demand – and more landlord investment is need. While the number of enquiries per […]

Home with energy rating label illustrating need for efficiency upgrades in PRS properties

Labour confirms its EPC plan for landlords – Propertymark calls for ‘incentives’

7th August 2024

Labour has confirmed plans for rented properties to achieve a minimum Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) grade C by 2030. Miatta Fahnbulleh, the Under Secretary for Energy Security and Net Zero, confirmed the initiative, emphasising the government’s commitment to reducing fuel poverty. In a written question, Green MP Ellie Chowns asked: “To ask the Secretary of […]

NRLA backs landlord database plan

6th August 2024

The National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA) has thrown its weight behind government plans for a new landlord database, insisting it could be a tool to weed out criminal landlords. However, it warns against unnecessary red tape for responsible landlords. As a member of the Lettings Advisory Board, the NRLA has helped shape proposals for the […]

property prices, rents,

Landlords using OpenRent to lose Rightmove access

6th August 2024

Landlords using OpenRent to find tenants will lose Rightmove access, it has been announced today (6 August). Rightmove says it has ended its partnership with OpenRent, meaning private landlords using the online letting agent will no longer be able to advertise their properties on the UK’s largest property portal. The decision follows a breakdown in […]

Gardener pruning fruit tree branch with secateurs and gloves

Is tree pruning the responsibility of the landlord or tenant?

6th August 2024

Hi, a long term tenant of mine has requested I pay for the pruning of a couple of trees that are on the property, specifically an apple and acer tree. This request is unusual for me, as I have never covered the cost of tree pruning before. Unless the trees are in a dangerous condition, […]

Potential CGT changes could cost landlords £11,000

6th August 2024

The UK’s landlords could be £11,000 worse off on average if capital gains tax (CGT) rates are adjusted to match income tax rates, research reveals. Quilter, a wealth management and financial advisory firm, says this potential change, although not mentioned in Rachel Reeves’ recent House of Commons speech, could be part of broader measures to […]

pic of a block of flats

Flats emerge as the top buy to let investment

6th August 2024

Falling property values and soaring rents make flats the most profitable option for landlords, according to new research. The findings from Inventory Base show that flats currently offer the highest returns for BTL investors. Despite a slight decrease in average flat prices, rental values for flats have surged by 9.3% annually, outpacing all other property […]

Landlords fear Labour government as demand outstrips supply

6th August 2024

Supply and demand are still out of balance as landlords worry about what a Labour government might do. Propertymark’s Housing Market Insight report reveals demand continues to outstrip supply, with around nine new applicants registered for each available property in June 2024. The report also reveals rents fluctuate by market and region, but most members […]

Rough sleeping in London surges as charities demand action

6th August 2024

The number of people sleeping rough in the capital rises as charities call on the government to do more. According to the Combined Homelessness and Information Network (CHAIN), 4,223 people were sleeping rough in London from April to June 2024, up from 3,272 in the same period last year – an increase of 29%. The […]

Housing Minister speaking on leasehold and commonhold reforms

Labour: Landlords can’t evict tenants if it makes them worse off

5th August 2024

Labour is looking to prevent landlords from evicting tenants who have nowhere else to live, the Telegraph reports. It says government ministers will propose imitating a French scheme which has ‘hardship tests’ that must be followed before an eviction is allowed. The rule effectively bans evictions that would leave a tenant worse off. Supported by […]

Sublet Registration fees?

5th August 2024

Hi, I’m looking for advice on sublet registration fees. Case law appears to indicate that if ‘classified’ as registration fees , the rights of redress via 1st tier tribunal do not apply? (Robinson and Green vs Simarc). Does this mean freeholders can charge whatever they wish for ‘registration’? Is there any guidance on rolling/periodic tenancies […]

Can I change title deeds for small industrial estate?

5th August 2024

Our company has a small industrial estate with 8 units, these were all built upon land that is registered to my parents as the land was originally purchased to use for my father’s engineering business. Over a period of 35 years, he has built 8 units which are now individually let and the income is […]