Precise Mortgages has announced changes to its buy to let affordability criteria that could benefit personal ownership and limited company clients. The lender, which is part of OSB Group, says it has simplified the minimum interest cover ratio (ICR) for personal ownership applications. It has also improved how they assess buy to let affordability on […]

The average UK house price is expected to reach £300,000 by August 2025, according to a new report by easyMoney. The online investment platform has analysed the historic data of the UK’s property market since the 1970s to find how quickly it has surpassed each £50,000 house price threshold. It reveals that the average house […]

Demand continues to outstrip supply as rents continue to rocket, one industry body warns. Propertymark’s Housing Insight report reveals August 2023 had an average of 197 prospective tenants registering compared to 149 in July 2022. Figures in August 2023 were up almost 32% year on year and demonstrate a trend that continues to spiral. Very […]

Hello, can I please canvas opinions amongst members? I own two leasehold flats in the same building, within one of the designated selective licensing areas of the local authority. Licences in respect of both flats have been paid for and the licences have been issued. The local authority served Notices on me to gain access […]

Hello, I have been renting out my residential property to a charity. It appears they have recently been granted a planning permission change from C3 (dwelling house) to C2 (residential institution). I was not informed about this and the council approved without querying my consent. I wonder what the implications of this will be when […]

The rental market in England has seen a strong recovery in the third quarter of 2023, with some regions in the South East leading the way. That’s according to the latest rental demand index from estate and lettings agent, Barrows and Forrester. The index, which tracks the proportion of rental listings that have been let, […]

Would you like to know how you can increase your monthly cash flow, before the end of the year, without having the hassle of having to obtain any mortgages? If you would like to increase your monthly cash flow, then I have some perfect training for you in the form of a live online Masterclass […]

Dear Polly Neate, It’s not possible to contact you directly as you, (Shelter), don’t allow contact through your website unless it’s to complain about a nasty landlord. (For clarity, I’m a landlord with a small portfolio and I look after my tenants – indeed, they are happy to rent from me) I would also point […]

Hi All. Two days ago I got an Order for Possession through the county court giving the tenant 28 days to leave. Despite this, I have a feeling that the tenant still will not go on 18th October. So my question is, does anyone know or have any idea how long this process will take? […]

Hello, I have a tenant since 1996, but the recent interest rate increases have left me with more costs than income. I live far away and he has always been impossible to contact, ignoring texts and phone calls and returning recorded letters. I issued a section 21 through Landlord Action and was just getting ready […]

Most UK landlords had already prepared for the government’s planned energy performance certificate (EPC) legislation, which was scrapped last week by the Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. The legislation would have required landlords to ensure their rental properties had a minimum EPC rating of C. The mooted deadline was 2025 for new tenancies, and by 2028 […]

Hello, I have a flat where access to the private front door is off the street. Once inside, there is a small shoe storage area then a flight of stairs to all the flat-level living accommodations above. The tenant has two small children (aged 5 and 6) . At the top of the stairs, she […]

We all hear about the landlord exodus but just how bad is it? New figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) and estate agents Hamptons reveal that the trend of landlords selling up hasn’t been as big as many people believe. However, since 2016, landlords have increasingly been selling more properties than they have […]

With landlords facing lower profits than ever before, according to the National Residential Landlords Association, one lender has worked out where the best areas for buy to let yields are. Digital mortgage firm Molo has used its internal data and found that the current average rental yield for England and Wales is 4.98%. The firm […]

Rishi Sunak has once again shown his true colours as a Prime Minister who does not care about the interests of landlords and the private rented sector. In a shocking move, he has scrapped the plans to enforce minimum Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) ratings for rented homes, which would have required landlords to upgrade their […]

The Property Investors Awards have finished judging applications.  In the heart of London, the judges engaged in lively discussions and debates as they carefully deliberated over each category to ensure that only the most deserving nominees would be crowned winners. The Property Investors Awards is an annual celebration attracting more than 600 attendees. The Awards […]

Are you a landlord who has used a rent to rent scheme? Then, Alexa Phillips, the personal finance reporter for the Telegraph would like to speak with you. Alexa would like to speak to Property118 readers about: Have you had any experience with rent to rent schemes and if so, how was your experience? Are […]

Landlords costs are on the rise mortgage rates and Section 24 all contribute to reduced profits.  To add insult to injury letting agency fees are on the rise with central London agents charging as much as 20% + Vat of the monthly rent. Exclusive to property118.com members Lettingsupermarket.com™ are offering 3 months free management on […]

Shelter has launched its manifesto for the next General Election, calling on all political parties to commit to a four-point plan to rebuild the country’s ‘broken housing system’. The homelessness charity says this action must include clamping down on criminal landlords and more regulation of private sector landlords. The manifesto, entitled ‘The Way Home: a […]

A council has revealed that it will team up with a non-profit organisation to help tenants in the private rented sector claim back up to 12 months’ rent from landlords who break the law. City of York council says it will work with Justice for Tenants, a group that provides free advice and support for […]

Background: We purchased a 3-bed mid-terraced property in 2022 with a sitting tenant of about 14 years. On completion, we issued a new 12-month AST which is due to expire at the end of October this year. In July, we informed the tenant that we would be increasing her rent by £50/month from 1st November […]