Page 242 – Property118

Industry body calls for tax incentives to achieve net-zero targets in Northern Ireland

20th December 2023

A leading industry body is urging for adequate funding to implement energy efficiency targets in Northern Ireland. Propertymark has urged the Department of Finance to consider implementing more realistic energy targets for private rented property and homeowners in the region. Northern Ireland is gearing up to achieve net-zero-ready standards in all new buildings by 2026/27. […]

Modern Scottish Parliament building in Edinburgh with Calton Hill in the background

Scottish budget faces backlash for failing to address housing emergency

19th December 2023

The Scottish government has unveiled its budget for the upcoming year with promises to invest in affordable social housing. However, MSPs and industry bodies have criticised the SNP for failing to address the housing emergency in the private rented sector in Scotland. Edinburgh announced a housing emergency earlier this year and the number of households […]

What type of tenancy for an Annex for a couple working for me?

19th December 2023

What type of tenancy should I have for an Annex? I have a newly converted separate barn conversion in my garden. I am thinking I’d like to get a couple in there to help both in the house and garden. However, if I want them to move on, is there any way I can get […]

Freeholder

Previous property management refusing to transfer my credit?

19th December 2023

The property management Company of a block of flats has been taken over by a Right to Manage (RTM). The RTM is transparent regarding all transactions but the previous management company are the direct opposite. Many of the Landlords are in a four-figure credit even after major works were completed. The previous management company are […]

Pic of leasehold flat being reclad tenant selling guarantee property118

Leaseholder Certificates – qualifying or non-qualifying?

19th December 2023

Hello everyone, If I buy a high-rise property and fire remedial works are required is the status of the flat lease “qualifying or non-qualifying”, which is used to determine who pays for the works; down to the eligibility/status of the owner as at February 2022 or the present owner who acquired it in January 2023? […]

Is Modular Development Dead In 2024?

19th December 2023

Modular housing, once touted as a time and money saver for property developers, is now not looking like such a great property investment.  Join Ranjan Bhattacharya and Andrew Roberts as they ponder whether there is a way back for modular development. Check out the video below

TV – Landlord scare stories?

19th December 2023

What’s with all these daytime TV programmes focussing on non-paying rogue Tenants owing Landlords £000 and £000 of pounds? The programmes are enough to scare off any prospective BTL Landlord, or encourage smaller existing BTL Landlord to sell up and get out of the ‘business’! But perhaps that’s the whole idea. More tenants for the […]

Lambeth council proposes UK’s most expensive selective licensing scheme

19th December 2023

A London borough unveils a controversial plan, in a bid for better standards. Lambeth Council are launching a consultation on a proposed selective licensing scheme for the city. Landlords in the area could have to pay a whopping £923 per property in 23 of its 25 wards beginning in September 2024, making it the most […]

wrexham wales

Busiest rental market in 2023 revealed

19th December 2023

Wrexham in Wales has been named this year’s busiest rental market by Rightmove. The city experienced a surge in rental demand receiving 56 enquiries on average from prospective tenants in 2023, up from eight enquiries back in 2019. Across Great Britain, there has been an average of 20 individual enquiries per available rental property this […]

Picture of frozen Edinburgh castle rent freeze eviction ban property118.com

Scottish government to unveil budget amidst housing crisis

19th December 2023

The Scottish government will unveil its draft budget today, with industry bodies calling for legislation to tackle the housing emergency in Scotland. This year, housing emergencies have been declared in Edinburgh, Argyll and Bute and Glasgow. Propertymark is urging the government to increase the supply of homes and support people with their energy bills this […]

Woman on phone under umbrella in kitchen during water leak

Who accepts responsibility for poor building works?

18th December 2023

Hello, I am the landlord of a property which is divided into two flats, I am also the owner/leaseholder of one of the flats with an overseas leaseholder owning the other. As a landlord it is my obligation to make sure the building is insured and I request the 50% share from the overseas leaseholder, […]

Freeholder not providing LPE1 Form for sale?

18th December 2023

Hi Everyone, A friend of mine has a flat which has an agreed buyer and they were planning to exchange and complete in January next year. However, the freeholder hasn’t (won’t?) provided the LPE1 form, without which they can’t exchange. Does anyone have any suggestions as to what our friend can do please (he needs […]

Self Managing – do you need qualifications?

18th December 2023

What differentiates a letting agent from someone who self-manages? I am not aware of a ‘legal qualification’ that Landlords who self-manage their properties are required to hold. I have been looking into the Managing Property and Residential Lettings Level 3 Award and Managing Property and Residential Lettings Level 3 Certificate wondering if there is anything […]

Small building blocks with images of sustainability

EPCs, COP28, and beyond: ihowz’s proposes energy plan for landlords

18th December 2023

One organisation is warning landlords are being left in the dark when it comes to Net Zero. Landlord organisation ihowz argues there is no clear roadmap for landlords when it comes to energy efficiency and is calling on the government to issue guidance. ihowz says Cop28 has left “more questions than answers” when it comes […]

Andy Hulme of Hyde Housing Association responding to Housing Ombudsman report

Social landlord slammed by Ombudsman for mould and rat infestations

18th December 2023

Social housing landlord Sovereign has been criticised by the Housing Ombudsman for its failure to provide safe and secure housing to two households who suffered from a rat infestation, and another with damp and mould. The Ombudsman made four findings of severe maladministration against Sovereign, two for each case, and ordered it to apologise, carry […]

Northern cities lead the way for buy to let investors

18th December 2023

Buy to let investors can find the best returns in northern and Scottish cities, according to a new report from Zoopla. The platform also says that rents will rise between 5% and 8% next year. The report analysed the average gross rental yield, monthly rent and price of buy to let properties across the UK […]

Business professional in formal suit at modern office building

Nationwide predicts lower house prices in 2024

18th December 2023

The UK’s house prices are expected to either drop slightly or stay mostly unchanged next year, according to Nationwide. The lender says the housing market was ‘sluggish’ this year with 15% fewer transactions than before the pandemic. This was more pronounced for mortgage-based deals, which fell by a quarter due to higher lending costs. However, […]

Halifax predicts UK house prices will fall 2-4% in 2024

15th December 2023

Halifax, the UK’s leading mortgage lender, is forecasting a steeper drop in house prices for 2024 than was seen this year, ranging from 2% to 4%. In 2023, the average house price was £283,615, only 1% lower than 2022, despite the impact of higher interest rates on the property market. Now Kim Kinnaird, the director […]

New BTL mortgages from Paragon offer zero fees and cashback

15th December 2023

Paragon Bank has unveiled new five-year fixed-rate buy to let mortgages with attractive features for landlords. The products have no fees and competitive rates starting from 5.80%, and £750 cashback on some options. The mortgages are available for up to 70% loan-to-value (LTV) and cater to different types of properties. Green mortgage offers the lowest […]