I was going to buy x 2 houses and turn them into HMO’s to put on long-term leases to SERCO (approx 100k each). On paper, it looks good and the numbers are appealing. Then I started reading horror stories about dealing with SERCO. Some landlords talk negatively of Serco specifically, but others discussed negative experiences […]

A London council has announced it will create a Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) to secure homes for housing homeless people and families. The council’s strategy involves leasing back 300 properties from the RIT to boost its temporary housing capacity. The innovative REIT, which is yet to be officially launched, will purchase and lease out […]

The Scottish Government has published the results of a public consultation on its New Deal for Tenants proposals and found that, unsurprisingly, most tenants support rent controls – while landlords have hammered the idea. The publication of the responses makes clear some puzzlement over the negative response from landlords about the proposal to prevent rent […]

 Landlords underestimate the financial advantages of allowing pets in properties, according to a new report. According to a study by Battersea Dogs and Cats Home dismisses so-called “myths about pets and assumed damages.” The data was collected from more than 2,000 private landlords and 1,000 private renters. 76% of landlords did not encounter any damage […]

Hi, I just got the following warning about insulation from rogue traders passed on by trading standards: “Trading Standards is warning residents to be cautious of spray foam insulation removal scams. Spray foam is an alternative to traditional insulation. However, if not properly installed it can cause problems and even decrease the value of a […]

UK house prices saw average values rising by £3,000 in February, data reveals. The findings from chartered surveyors, e.surv, say this equates to a 0.8% increase from January – the biggest monthly rise for 17 months. The firm says that house prices rose in 54 unitary authority areas out of 111. Homeowners in Merthyr Tydfil […]

This week’s Budget brought significant changes for landlords, with implications for capital gains tax (CGT), furnished holiday lets relief, and multiple dwellings relief. As the dust is still settling, let’s consider their impact on our investments and the rental market. In a speech that only had one bright spot – the gag at the expense […]

The Office of Budget Responsibility (OBR) has released its Spring Budget forecast, predicting a 2% drop in house prices this year. And the OBR admits in its briefing papers that the cut in Capital Gains Tax IS aimed at reducing the number of landlords and second homeowners (see below). Its house price forecast for 2024 […]

The number of buy-to-let landlords falling into arrears has surged, according to new figures. According to UK Finance, more than 40,000 BTL landlords (41,090) fell into arrears on their mortgage payments in 2023, an average of 10,273 per quarter. UK Finance says cost-of-living pressures and high-interest rates have caused trouble for landlords in recent months. […]

The controversial Renters (Reform) Bill which is set to abolish Section 21 ‘no-fault’ evictions is on the brink of collapse, The Sun newspaper claims. Quoting Whitehall insiders, the newspaper says ‘angry Tory MPs’ are holding the Housing Secretary Michael Gove ‘to ransom’ in a bid to force changes. The Bill was promised in the Conservative’s […]

An investigation by the Palatinate, Durham University’s student newspaper, reveals that estate agents in Durham have slashed prices for student properties available in the 2024/25 academic year. The move comes after imposing hefty rent increases at the start of the year. The most common price range for Durham properties has plummeted from £180-199 per person […]

An industry body claims that Scotland has moved past a housing crisis and is in the midst of a housing emergency. The Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) in Scotland declared a housing emergency at the Scotland Housing Festival this week. Last year, housing emergencies were declared in Edinburgh, Argyll and Bute and Glasgow. With mounting […]

Hi, my daughter is a newcomer in a block of flats. A young NHS carer and a first-time buyer the lease is for 999 years. A company (let’s call them X) holds the freehold via a share in the company she has a 1/35th share in the freehold. The leaseholders (most of whom take little […]

Landlords and owners operating furnished holiday lettings (FHL) may still be reeling from Chancellor Jeremy Hunt’s announcement in the Budget that tax relief will be abolished from 6 April 2025. Now tax accountants BDO have revealed what the financial impact will be from next year. Paul Falvey, a tax partner at the firm, said: “While […]

Last night you were invited to learn all about the No Mortgage – No Deposit Strategy in a live online Master Class with me, Simon Zutshi. I hope you were able to get in because it was oversubscribed. If you were able to listen in live, as we did, your head is probably still spinning […]

Buy to Let by Foundation, the BTL brand of Foundation Home Loans, has unveiled two innovative HMO products tailored specifically for first-time landlords. The criteria for first-time landlords, as defined by the lender, include individuals who have not managed a residential buy to let property in the past 12 months. Also, applicants must currently be […]

UK house prices have risen for the fifth consecutive month, rising by 0.4% in February, Halifax reveals. The rise is equivalent to £1,091 in cash terms and the average house price is now £291,699. House prices are 1.7% higher than a year ago, although this growth has slowed from 2.3% in January. However, the average […]

Several buy to let lenders have updated their products and rates to attract more landlords and investors. The Mortgage Works (TMW), a specialist BTL arm of Nationwide, has cut its Interest Cover Ratios (ICR) for both higher and lower rate taxpayers, as well as its ‘existing portfolio rental calculation’ stress rate. This means that landlords […]

Tenants are facing mounting difficulties in paying their rent as the economic situation worsens, research reveals. The data from Reposit, the FCA-regulated deposit alternative, found a worrying increase in the value of rent arrears claims. They jumped from £1,344 in October to £2,108 in November and remained high at £1,954 in December. At the same […]

Hi, my rented top floor flat (4 storeys up and on the corner of the block) has developed horizontal cracks along the living room ceiling edges. Some now are starting to go down vertically. My personal surveyor has seen videos and says it should be referred for building insurance inspection – the flat roof frame […]

What does the spring budget 2024 mean for property investors and property developers? Some property investors will suffer a massive tax blow! Join Ranjan Bhattacharya as he discusses the Spring Budget in his latest video.