Page 238 – Property118

Appointment of Court Bailiff – How do I pay?

20th March 2024

Hello, I received an order for possession operative on or after 5 March from Southend County Court. My agent tells me that a Court Bailiff can only be appointed following payment of a further fee, which has to now be paid over the telephone, to be instigated by the Court making the call. Over the […]

Students sitting around a coffee table

Is the student lets end date really in the Renters Reform Bill?

20th March 2024

Hi everybody, regarding the Renters Reform Bill, I know Michael Gove said that he would allow student lets to have an end date which would be a positive step for student landlords. However, my wife tells me she can find no mention of this in the draft text of the Renters Reform Bill. Is Michael […]

Unregulated gas charges?

20th March 2024

Hi, I’ll try and be as clear as I can with this, it is not a system that everyone is aware of – new builds now come with a heating/energy system that produces heat and hot water to flats, this is billed separately to anything else and the leaseholder is directly responsible, usually you can […]

Report reveals rise in agent complaints and landlords feeling dissatisfied

20th March 2024

The Property Redress Scheme’s annual report paints a picture of a property sector facing challenges with agent complaint enquiries rocketing by 20% in 2023 compared to the previous year. The scheme says it is investigating 55% more cases but despite this rise, the average complaint rate per member fell. The report also features the results […]

Social housing landlord slammed for mushrooms growing in a mouldy bedroom

20th March 2024

The Housing Ombudsman has severely criticised social landlord Guinness Partnership for failing to fix problems in tenants’ homes – including a child having to live in mould for three years. Another resident had to put up with mushrooms growing in their mould-ridden bedroom. This is the second case this week which has seen the Housing […]

City’s selective licensing scheme sees a surge in applications

20th March 2024

A council’s mandatory licensing scheme for private landlords has received a higher-than-expected response in its first year. The scheme, launched in September 2022, requires all rented homes in the city to be licensed. Landlords and letting agents have submitted applications for more than 12,300 properties, exceeding the council’s forecasts by 34%. Oxford City Council says […]

Pic of garages for rent

Any advice now I can’t do DIY conveyancing anymore?

20th March 2024

Hi, I’m a niche landlord with a small portfolio of garages. These are mostly small properties able to house a single vehicle, each (a garage, not a vehicle) priced in the £20-30K range. All freeholds, all owned by my company outright, most bought off auctions with me doing my own conveyancing. When I bought my […]

Tenant passed away with no will?

20th March 2024

My long-term tenant has sadly died. She lived alone and had been in my property for over 15 years. She was on an AST tenancy agreement through my local council. The flat needs clearing and there is a lot of work to do in order to be able to rent it out again as quickly […]

Property investors turn to trade press amid economic uncertainty

20th March 2024

Property investors in the UK favour trade publications over advisors when making investment decisions, research reveals. The study of 2,000 adults by Market Financial Solutions (MFS) reveals that 16% hold property investments. The investors have interests in buy to let and holiday homes, along with second homes and commercial units. Of the investors, 55% say […]

Man outside Welsh Parliament discussing housing white paper and rental sector reforms.

Propertymark calls for better landlord support in Wales

20th March 2024

Propertymark is urging the Welsh Government to learn from Scotland’s experience with legislative changes in the private rented sector (PRS) with increased support for landlords to understand and follow new regulations. Speaking at the Local Government and Housing Committee inquiry into Wales’s PRS, Propertymark’s Timothy Douglas said the organisation supports the right to adequate housing, […]

The Art of Location Selection: Strategic Property Investing

19th March 2024

Unlock the secrets to selecting a goldmine location for property investing. In this video, Ranjan Bhattacharya delves into the tactical considerations and strategic approaches that savvy investors use to identify lucrative property opportunities. Watch the video below 

Andy Hulme of Hyde Housing Association responding to Housing Ombudsman report

Council tenants awarded £40,000 for damp and mould issues

19th March 2024

Three council tenants have been awarded a total of £40,000 by the Housing Ombudsman after enduring unacceptable living conditions caused by damp and mould. The Ombudsman identified ‘severe maladministration’ by Lewisham Council in all three cases. The compensation reflects the impact on the residents’ well-being and the loss of enjoyment of their homes due to […]

Landlords see a huge rise in Right to Rent fines

19th March 2024

Landlords and letting agents in England have been hit with a significant rise in fines for failing to comply with Right to Rent regulations. According to government figures, penalties jumped by a staggering 405% last year – hitting £151,480 compared to just £29,960 the previous year. The number of fines issued also increased dramatically, rising […]

Can a limited company be considered a direct descendant for inheritance tax purposes?

19th March 2024

Hello, my son is in the process of inheriting a residential property from his late grandmother’s estate. He’s exploring the possibility of creating a deed of variation to transfer the property into his limited company. However, I’m concerned about the implications this might have on the estate’s eligibility for the residential nil rate band relief. […]

Property expert outdoors discussing rising UK rent prices

Landlords will save £4,468 in CGT on each property sale

19th March 2024

The average landlord will benefit from a cut in Capital Gains Tax (CGT) but will still face a significant tax bill when exiting the buy to let sector, research reveals. Zero Deposit, the tenancy deposit alternative provider, has analysed house price growth over the last decade to assess the potential CGT owed by landlords. Its […]

Pic of old houses for HMO property118.com

Mandatory HMO Licence requirements?

19th March 2024

Hi, I have a 3-bedroom house in Newham I am thinking of converting the through lounge to two bedrooms thus making it five bedrooms suitable for five individuals. The kitchen and bathroom will be shared. This will be just the ground floor and first floor. Does anyone know the exact requirements? Maybe someone who has […]

Which is the best property management software?

19th March 2024

Hello, I am a commercial and residential landlord; I have 60 properties in 5 limited companies and am looking for recommendations for the best property management software to assist me in running the business. I would like assistance with rent collection, reminders and storage of EPC’s, electric and gas certs, HMO and residential licences, lease […]

Buy to let sign outside a residential property highlighting changes in mortgage rates

Rent growth slows as rented homes take longer to let

19th March 2024

The rate of rent increases is slowing down, but tenants are still facing significant rises, the latest data from Hamptons reveals. According to its figures, the average rent on a newly let home in Great Britain rose 7.1% year-on-year in February. This is down from 8.3% in January and a peak of 12.0% in August […]

Pic of England homes for EPC ratings landlords property118

Landlord MPs set to ‘torpedo’ Renters (Reform) Bill

18th March 2024

Momentum is growing to torpedo the Renters (Reform) Bill that will abolish Section 21 ‘no-fault’ evictions and end fixed term tenancies, the Telegraph reports. The news comes just days after The Sun revealed that angry Tory MPs have brought the Bill ‘close to collapse’. Michael Gove, the housing secretary, vowed last month to pass the […]

The End of Multiple Dwelling Relief: How Property Investors Can Adapt

18th March 2024

In this video, join Ranjan Bhattacharya to discover the latest developments from the Spring Budget that have sent shockwaves through the property investment community – the abolition of Multiple Dwelling Relief. Join him as he explores what this means for landlords, investors, and the wider housing market. Watch the video below

Property market sees price surge fuelled by rising buyer demand

18th March 2024

The average property listing price in the UK surged by 1.5% to £368,118 to mark the UK property market’s ongoing revival from a subdued 2023, data from Rightmove reveals. The price rise is down to growing buyer interest with estate agent enquiries and robust sales figures surpassing those of last year. Rightmove also highlights that […]