Hi my ground floor flat recently experienced flooding due to a blockage in the main drainage pipe, causing wastewater to overflow into the kitchen area and sink without any appliance use. The management company sent a contractor who tested and said the main damage pipe is clear (simply by running dye through) and refuses to […]

Despite a big drop in inflation, fewer areas in the UK are experiencing house price growth that outpaces inflation, research reveals. An analysis by Octane Capital highlights that 56 local authorities saw inflation-busting house price growth over the past year, down from 75 the previous year. The UK’s inflation rate has fallen dramatically, going from […]

For landlords and tenants alike, a tenancy agreement is the cornerstone of a smooth and secure rental experience. It outlines the rights and responsibilities of both parties, ensuring everyone is on the same page from the get-go. Why is a Tenancy Agreement Important? Imagine this: you rent out your property, and the tenant stops paying […]

The Resenters Reform Bill and years of bureaucratic fiasco appear testament to the performance of failed government policy over decades resulting in too much demand for homes. Changing millions of existing tenancy contracts is a dumb and unfair solution to an obvious problem. According to Shelter, around 1 in 1000 tenancies result in a bailiff […]

Hi. I would like my tenant to leave at the end of their fixed term agreement due to a number of negative reasons like damage to the property and keeping a dog without permission. To save serving S21 can I ask my tenant if he is leaving and wait for his written notice. If they […]

UK house prices edged up slightly in April, following a period of volatility earlier this year, the latest figures from Halifax reveal. It says prices rose 0.1% after a 0.9% drop in March. However, annual house price growth remains subdued at 1.1%, although this is an improvement from 0.4% in March. Halifax says this is […]

Letting agents are woefully underprepared for the impending shift to periodic tenancies under the Renters (Reform) Bill, according to a new survey by Goodlord. Despite the significant changes the legislation will bring, just 2% of agencies have started to adapt their tenancy structures. The snap survey of 129 agents revealed a worrying lack of action, […]

Flat owners in England and Wales are facing a significant financial burden as service charges continue to climb, a report by Hamptons reveals. It says that the average annual service charge for flats has surged by 8.4% to £2,247, with the number of flats enjoying charges below £1,000 rapidly dwindling. This dramatic increase is attributed […]

Ongoing legislative uncertainty and high rents are causing demand to decrease, according to one industry body. Propertymark’s Housing Insight report reveals tenant demand decreased in March this year compared to last year. However, the demand and supply imbalance still remains, presenting challenges for landlords and tenants. Legislative uncertainty According to Propertymark’s Housing Insight report, tenant […]

Property firm Savills has revised its five-year UK house price forecast, predicting a 2.5% increase this year, up from the -3% predicted in November 2023. The firm says that by the end of 2028, house prices are expected to have grown by 21.6%, exceeding the previous forecast of 17.9%. The improved forecast comes despite short-term […]

Scottish landlords are throwing in the towel and leaving the sector due to the impact of rent controls – and the prospect of permanent rent rise restrictions, warns one industry body. In a video interview with Property118 which can be viewed below, the Scottish Association of Landlords (SAL) says Scotland is facing a housing crisis […]

I am delighted to be able to share a valuable gift with you this weekend. I am giving this gift to the clients on my database and wanted to also offer it to the subscribers of property 118. Last week I launched my new six-module online HMO 2.0 Home Study programme, for which enrolment closed […]

Landlords in England say they are worried about the potential impact of the Renters (Reform) Bill on allowing tenants to request permission to keep pets in their home. The findings from property services firm Leaders Romans Group (LRG) reveal that 56% of landlords anticipate negative consequences. While the Bill will see section 21 ‘no-fault’ evictions […]

As we enter into May, finally landlords have been met with some welcome news. It comes ahead of concerns in recent weeks that landlords could be facing “Armageddon” amidst a housing crisis, coupled with delays taking landlords up to two years to sell. But portfolio landlords have started to get clever about selling strategies and […]

The UK’s housing market is forecast to experience a subdued year in 2024, with average house prices expected to decline slightly by -2.6%, a new analysis reveals. The firm also says that its analysis shows that since the base rate was held at 5.25% in September 2023, the average house price has fallen at an […]

Coventry Building Society is urging the government to reform Stamp Duty after a significant drop in property transactions – including buy to let purchases – during the first quarter of 2024. HMRC figures show there were only 192,500 property transactions since January – the first time the number has dipped below 200,000 since the temporary […]

Backbench Tory MPs are threatening to rebel against the government’s leasehold reform bill. More than 30 MPs including the former Housing Minister Robert Jenrick want to see the leasehold system scrapped altogether. In a letter to the Chancellor seen by Sky News, Conservative backbenchers urged the government to scrap ground rent on leasehold properties. End […]

Now that the Renters (Reform) Bill is heading to the Lords, I’m struck by the lack of celebration by landlords everywhere. Not even our critics are happy – Shelter says it has ‘disowned’ the Bill. It is nice to see the government tick off both sides of the debate with legislation that is literally a […]

Homelessness charity Shelter is calling for all political parties to commit to building 90,000 affordable social homes every year – with rents that are tied to local incomes. It says the move will deliver a ‘lasting and ultimate solution to homelessness’. Shelter is also pushing for the Renters (Reform) Bill amendments to be ditched – […]

Hi, my house has been let for several years to a tenant who has expressed an interest in buying it. I do not want to sell it at this moment in time and have advised them of this. I am now changing letting agencies. The contract with the first states that they are entitled to […]

Landlords are enjoying their highest rental yields in six years, with the average gross yield reaching 6.1% in the first quarter of 2024. This is the third consecutive quarter of increases and the highest level since the second quarter of 2018 when landlords saw average yields of 6.6%, according to research by Paragon Bank. The […]