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Tame the Tax Beast: How property management Software Makes HMRC Happy (and You!)

26th March 2024

Tax season. Just the mention of it sends shivers down the spines of many landlords.  Paperwork piles up, receipts get lost, and the looming deadline of filing with HMRC creates a whirlwind of stress. But what if there was a way to transform tax season from a chaotic scramble into a streamlined breeze?  Introducing Lendlord […]

A must-read for all landlords: A frustrated landlord speaks out

26th March 2024

A landlord has told Property118 of his frustrations in dealing with the courts and rent tribunals – and warns that the abolition of Section 21 will bring in ‘tenancies for life’. Paul has 20 rented properties around the Fylde coast and says he is an ‘accidental landlord’ after a successful career with a Fortune 100 […]

Tenant to pay the legal cost of eviction?

26th March 2024

Hi, I had a court hearing where we requested the judge to add the legal cost to the money order for 15 months of unpaid rent. As per the judge, this was not possible as my rental agreement does not have a clause for the tenant to pay the legal cost of eviction. Considering the […]

Rural renting soars – councils demand long-term housing plan

26th March 2024

England’s county councils are urging the next government to establish a long-term housing strategy after research reveals a massive rise in rural renting over the past decade. The County Councils Network’s (CCN) report reveals that the rate of rural renting is outstripping that of London and major cities. In county and rural areas, households in […]

Fourth Scottish council declares housing emergency

26th March 2024

A fourth Scottish council has declared a housing emergency because of ‘extraordinary strain on its housing and homelessness services’. Fife now follows Glasgow, Edinburgh and Argyll and Bute after a full council meeting gave the call its backing. Cllr Judy Hamilton, the council’s spokesperson for housing, said: “We have worked very hard in recent months, […]

landlord question Selective licensing property118.com

Binning selective licensing will leave tenants at the ‘mercy of unscrupulous landlords’

26th March 2024

A charity is warning that a proposal under the Renters (Reform) Bill to introduce a property portal which could replace selective licensing will leave tenants at the ‘mercy of unscrupulous landlords’. Safer Renting believes that selective licensing shouldn’t be binned but the government should strengthen it with better enforcement and inspection. In a report based […]

Scales of Justice symbolising the legal balance in Wirral’s selective licensing challenge.

How do I sue a letting agent?

26th March 2024

Hello, Has anyone sued a letting agent? My daughter’s agent cost her almost £2,000 through their negligence. First, the tenant agreed to move out on 24/10/23, then asked the agents to extend his notice for another week and without consulting my daughter, the agents agreed to this. Meanwhile, she had set up repair work to […]

Michael Gove’s leasehold reforms quietly hit the buffers

26th March 2024

The ambitious overhaul of England’s leasehold system looks set to hit the buffers after Treasury officials quietly axed part of the reforms, The Times reports. The Housing Secretary, Michael Gove, has been pushing for leasehold reform saying leasehold is ‘outdated feudal system that needs to go’. However, it appears that the Treasury and Number 10 […]

Photo of Gina Peters author of 'Lettings Law for Property Professionals' property118.com

Landlords face crisis as government reforms loom large

25th March 2024

“The Renters (Reform) Bill looms over most landlords like the Sword of Damocles”, is how one legal expert describes the current situation in the rental market. Gina Peters, head of landlord and tenant at law firm Dutton Gregory, says many landlords are on the verge of throwing in the towel as the Renters (Reform) Bill […]

Landlord stressed over paperwork and new rental legislation at his desk

Will the council fine me £30,000 for not having a license?

25th March 2024

Hello, I have received an email from Brent Council to apply for a landlord license, which I am working on now to meet the 1 April deadline. However, I remembered I haven’t heard from Ealing Council with regard to licencing a flat I am letting there. Upon checking Ealing Council’s website, I found out that […]

The times newspaper logo

The Times wants to hear from landlords who are in mortgage arrears

25th March 2024

A journalist at The Sunday Times would like to hear from landlords who are in mortgage arrears or who have had a property repossessed, amid a surge in landlords being forced into the red by higher rates. Rachel Mortimer, the assistant money editor from The Times, would also like to speak with accidental landlords with […]

Portrait of a business leader in suit and tie

Scottish house prices up £12,379 as market shows resilience

25th March 2024

Scottish house prices have defied economic turmoil to surge by £12,379 in the last year, according to new figures.  Analysis DJ Alexander Ltd, Scotland’s largest estate agency, revealed a significant rise in average house prices from £177,949 in February 2023 to £190,328 in January 2024. This contrasts sharply with the rest of the UK, where […]

Permitted occupant tenancy agreement landlord question property118

What is considered a fair rent increase or are there limitations?

25th March 2024

Hello, I currently have two properties, both of which have AST for 12 months. The current tenants have lived in the respective properties since 2020, pay their rent on time and keep the properties in a reasonable clean status. Since 2020, we have deliberately not increased the rent on either property, as we did not […]

Most landlords don’t understand the Renters (Reform) Bill – survey

25th March 2024

While the controversial Renters (Reform) Bill is making its way through Parliament, most landlords don’t know what is in it, a survey finds. The Bill will deliver one of the biggest changes to England’s private rented sector. Among the issues are the end of fixed term tenancies and the abolition of Section 21 ‘no-fault’ evictions. […]

Londoners are leaving the capital in droves

25th March 2024

There has been a surge in Londoners leaving the capital with Epsom and Ewell, Epping Forest and Dartford topping the list of relocation hotspots, a survey reveals. The research from Savills found that between January 2022 and August 2023, 6% of all moves outside of London were from the capital. This figure jumps significantly in […]

Angela Rayner slams ‘smears’ over council house sale

22nd March 2024

Angela Rayner has slammed the allegations of tax evasion over her council house sale as a ‘smear’ in a BBC Newsnight interview. The deputy Labour Party leader insists there was ‘no wrongdoing’ or ‘unlawfulness’ in the sale of her Stockport home. The allegations first appeared in the Daily Mail and a biography by Lord Ashcroft, […]

How do I end an unlicensed HMO in Newham?

22nd March 2024

Hello, any advice is much appreciated. I have an unlicensed HMO in Newham which I need to draw to an end with minimum financial ruin…. I was living there with 2 lodgers. 6 months ago I moved out and another lodger moved in. They are all on lodger agreements – are you understanding that this […]

Foundation – The Lender with many criteria quirks!

22nd March 2024

Foundation Homeloans, are one of the more flexible lenders and recently had a bit of a shake-up.  Landlords will be interested in some of the quirks: They have a ‘solution’ based approach where they will consider most cases and let us know if they can help. Speaking to their lending manager recently, he has expressed […]

Frustrated woman with steam coming out of her ears, symbolizing anger and stress.

Landlords: Enervating bureaucracy and sullen rage!

22nd March 2024

I think this might be of interest to landlords and others who feel under the cosh of government. A new book (albeit with an American perspective) Everyday Freedom: Designing the Framework for A Flourishing Society by Philip Howard has lessons for us. Howard explains why government functions so poorly and why bureaucracy and litigiousness have […]

What next for Property Prices and Buy To Let Mortgage Interest Rates?

22nd March 2024

Curious about how the Bank of England’s interest rate decisions sway property prices? In this video, Ranjan Bhattacharya breaks down the complex relationship between interest rates and the housing market. Discover the key factors driving interest rate changes and learn how they influence property values. From analysing historical data to predicting future trends, Ranjan offers […]