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Starmergeddon: Election Twists and Economic Trends

8th July 2024

“I hope you realise that every day is a fresh start for you. Every sunrise is a new chapter in your life waiting to be written.” – Juansen Dizon Thank you to everyone who attended the Property Business Workshop on Thursday 4th July in London. It was a fantastic event. Now, let’s dive into a […]

Tenant deposit and rent arrears

How to recover rent arrears?

8th July 2024

Hi everyone, please can I get some advice on how to proceed. Tenants have an outstanding balance of around £3000 in rent arrears. The possession court date was around 3 weeks ago which the tenant chose not to attend, full possession was awarded with a money judgment order for court costs of £355 and arrears. […]

Housing Minister speaking on leasehold and commonhold reforms

Matthew Pennycook appointed as Labour’s Housing Minister

8th July 2024

Matthew Pennycook is Labour’s new housing minister, following Angela Rayner’s appointment as Housing Secretary and deputy leader. He is the MP who tabled an amendment to the Renters (Reform) Bill which would have prevented landlords from selling for two years after a tenancy had started. The MP for Greenwich and Woolwich said: “It is a […]

Landlords say election result will make no difference to plans

8th July 2024

Most landlords in the UK say that the election result which saw Labour enjoy a landslide victory won’t affect their investment plans, a survey reveals. Foxtons questioned more than 1,000 landlords before the election and found that 59% of landlords expect a new Labour government won’t have an impact on their decision to either expand […]

Propertymark policy head highlights concerns over the Renters’ Rights Bill’s impact on landlords and tenants

Prospective tenants struggle as reference failures rise amid Labour government concerns

8th July 2024

Propertymark members report many prospective tenants are failing reference checks as many are worried about a Labour government.   The latest figures from Propertymark’s Housing Insight Report reveal tenant demand has increased as rent prices fluctuate. According to the survey, rent arrears increased slightly in May 2024 at just under 3%. Demand for renting is […]

Millions of renters are in homes without fire alarms – claim

8th July 2024

Millions of renters in the UK don’t have smoke alarms in their rented properties, according to a new survey. The findings by Firechief Global found that 17% of tenants – which equates to more than two million people – are living in homes without smoke alarms. This number is even higher in Greater London (24%) […]

Starmer promises ‘change’ but no mention of the PRS

5th July 2024

In his first speech as Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer said his work begins ‘immediately’. Standing in Downing Street, he said: “Changing a country’s not like flicking a switch – the world is now a more volatile place. “This will take a while. But have no doubt that the work of change begins immediately. “Have […]

Knight-themed Landlord Crusader logo symbolizing landlord advocacy

Twist or bust? The dilemma facing UK landlords after Labour win

5th July 2024

Hi Angela Rayner, well done on beating a limping, exhausted, beaten Conservative party in the election. I imagine the rise of Reform was a last-minute scare, eh? And many of those famous Red Wall voters who still haven’t returned to the Labour fold. That’s the working class for you. Like me, they probably only know […]

Halifax House Price Index flat but still up 1.6% on the year

5th July 2024

The Latest Halifax House Price Index for June seems to have flatlined with a small 0.2% decrease on the month, but still 1.6% up overall on the year. The average house price for the UK now stands at £288,455 compared to £288,931 in May. Across the nation, Northern Ireland performed the strongest with annual growth […]

Keir Starmer at a Labour campaign event with supporters holding red signs and Union Jack flags

Landlords will face a Labour government keen on PRS reform

5th July 2024

Landlords will face a Labour government keen to reform the private rented sector (PRS) after it won a landslide victory in the General Election. Sir Keir Starmer will be the new prime minister, with deputy Angela Rayner set to make three housing policy announcements in the next few weeks. That will include the building of […]

HMO licensing vs planning: Confusion for landlords in Article 4 areas

5th July 2024

Landlords with HMOs (House in Multiple Occupation) in the UK face a complex situation when it comes to Article 4 areas, one expert warns. These areas restrict the automatic conversion of residences into HMOs, and navigating the licensing and planning processes can be confusing for landlords. Now Des Taylor from Landlord Licensing & Defence is […]

pic of a tenant signing tenancy contract property118

Request for possession on HMO?

5th July 2024

Hi everyone, I requested possession on a room in a HMO. I have today received a General Form of Judgement ordering me to respond by 19 July to following questions none of it makes sense. I have copied word for word so it is not my words that don’t make sense. My comments in brackets. […]

Paragon and Aldermore reduce BTL mortgage rates

5th July 2024

Paragon Bank and Aldermore have both announced interest rate cuts on their buy to let mortgage products, offering landlords greater choice. Paragon has reduced rates across its core BTL mortgage range by 15 basis points (bps) on 10 products. They’ve also launched six new five-year fixed-rate mortgages with both fee and fee-free options. ‘Offer landlords […]

Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024: New guide helps to navigate the changes

5th July 2024

The Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024, which comes into effect later this month, introduces big changes for landlords, property owners and the conveyancing industry. To help navigate these updates, the Conveyancing Association (CA) has launched a comprehensive guide. The association’s director of delivery, Beth Rudolf, said: “Our new guide is designed to provide firms […]

Overwhelmed landlord with head on desk surrounded by property documents and charts

Service fee dispute and invalid directors?

5th July 2024

Hi, I am seeking clarification on a situation in which I am a member and leaseholder of a share of freehold along with four other properties owners who are also members. It is a limited company by guarantee. There has been an ongoing dispute regarding the service fees for the past 14 years. Recently, following […]

Letting agent withdrawal fees?

5th July 2024

Hi, I am torn whether to throw the towel in with my agent and letting? I’ve not had a great experience to be honest. My tenant has expressed leaving early from a fixed term. Not sure whether this would be a good time to also withdraw from my agent and maybe self manage or sell? […]

I’m not a charity: Is it time to issue a Section 21?

4th July 2024

Hi, I’ve been a landlord since 2005 and I’ve never issued a Section 21. However, I’m about to change that as I have two tenants that are behind in rent payments,one owes £600.00 and the other owes £2,500.00. In my efforts to be reasonable I have agreed payment plans for both of these tenants. The […]

How Will Leasehold Reform Affect Buy-to-Let Property Investing?

4th July 2024

Welcome to Property Answers! In this episode, join Liana, John, and Ranjan as they go in-depth with expert analysis on one of the most pressing questions in property: How will leasehold reform affect buy-to-let property investing? Our experts will break down the proposed changes, discuss potential impacts on investors, and offer strategic advice to navigate […]

Landbay's sales and distribution director, Rob Stanton wearing a light blue suit and white shirt

Most landlords manage properties themselves despite higher costs

4th July 2024

More than half of landlords say they manage their portfolios themselves, treating it as a full-time job. Surprisingly, those who self-manage are often spending more on property management, the survey from buy to let lender Landbay reveals. Their bills are more than what they would pay a letting agent or property management company. However, just […]

Portrait of a business leader in suit and tie

Scottish property taxes soar to record highs

4th July 2024

Scottish property taxes have reached a record high, exceeding £628 million in the past year, according to analysis by DJ Alexander. Scotland’s largest property firm says this represents an £8.5 million increase compared to the previous year. A significant portion of the tax revenue – more than £195 million – comes from the additional dwelling […]