Page 274 – Property118
Pic of bogus bailiff evicting tenants property118

Bailiff dilemma?

21st August 2023

Hello, in April, I obtained an order for possession from the county court. After a long wait, I was told it can take up to 18 weeks to get a date for the bailiff. So I applied to transfer the order to the High Court for these reasons: 1- The tenant has not been paying […]

pic of newham council sign for selective license scheme and interim orders property118

Council threatens to take control of landlord properties

21st August 2023

With the deadline approaching for its selective licensing scheme, a London council is threatening to take control of landlords’ property if they don’t apply in time. Newham says its deadline to apply for a license is at the end of this month and landlords who don’t apply risk an unlimited fine for not having a […]

Business professional in blue suit representing NRLA leadership on housing crisis.

Landlords look to sell and not buy – survey

21st August 2023

Private landlords are twice as likely to sell a property than they are to buy – fuelling the country’s ongoing housing crisis, a survey has found. The findings show that in the second quarter of this year, more than one in 10 (12%) landlords in England and Wales opted to sell their properties. Just 5% […]

Home sellers spark 1.9% fall in asking prices

21st August 2023

Average new seller asking prices have seen a significant decline of 1.9%, or £7,012 this month, bringing the average price down to £364,895, research reveals. The findings from Rightmove show the price drop marks the biggest August decline since 2018. The platform adds that sellers are trying to attract the attention of buyers who are […]

Golden eggs in a nest with cash representing releasing equity from property investments

Landlords are now selling at a record rate despite house price falls

18th August 2023

In an almost unanimous decision, landlords are throwing in the towel, opting to take the cash and sell their property portfolios. It seems that the gravy train for buy-to-lets is well and truly over, and it’s time to put investment elsewhere. Official figures based on capital gains tax data from HM Revenue and Customs seemed […]

pic of empty bed as tenant didn't sleep so landlord pays council tax property118

I had to pay one day’s council tax?

18th August 2023

Hello, North Norfolk district council is charging me one day’s council tax because the tenant moved out at 11am on the 9 /8/23. The new tenant moved in on the 10/8/23. As the tenant didn’t sleep at the house on the 9/9/23, I’ve got to pay one day’s council tax – this don’t seem right. […]

pic of flats to let lha housing benefit property118

Housing Benefit freeze sees tenants falling ‘£200 short’ every month

18th August 2023

Families on low incomes are grappling with a monthly deficit of £200 due to a stagnant housing benefit that doesn’t cover soaring rents, a charity warns. Housing advisors from Wiltshire Citizens Advice told the BBC that tenants relying on Housing Benefit are facing a severe shortage of rental properties that are covered by it. And […]

Michael Gove names and shames ‘failure’ social housing landlords

18th August 2023

The Housing Secretary Michael Gove has written public letters to 13 leading social housing landlords, including Notting Hill, Hyde and Sovereign, criticising their negligence and poor service towards tenants. The letters are part of Mr Gove’s promise to ‘name and shame’ social landlords that let down tenants and come after a scathing report of severe […]

Short to Medium Term Rental?

18th August 2023

Hi everyone, I hope you’re all doing well. I’m currently looking for insights regarding short to medium-term rentals. I recently came across shortish lets, which seem to find accommodation for a few weeks to a couple of months. If any of you have had positive experiences with other avenues of short to medium-term rentals, I’d […]

Home with energy rating label illustrating need for efficiency upgrades in PRS properties

Tenants not interested in a property’s EPC rating

18th August 2023

An industry body claims while engagement in energy-efficiency ratings is on the rise, tenants rarely show much interest in a property’s EPC rating. A survey of 271 Propertymark member agents reveals only 2% of tenants always show an interest in an EPC rating of a property and 12% never show an interest at all. Though […]

Rent cap law drives up Scottish rents to record highs

18th August 2023

Average rents in Scotland for new tenancies in the private rented sector (PRS) have soared by 11.4% – the third consecutive quarter for a double-digit increase, one lettings portal reveals. Citylets says that since the Cost of Living (Tenant Protection) (Scotland) Act 2022 came into effect to protect tenants from excessive rent increases, it has […]

Essential Considerations Before Selling Your Rental Properties

17th August 2023

When it comes to the decision of selling your rental properties, your thought process is respected. However, before taking the leap, it’s crucial to delve into some essential aspects that might influence your choice. One such critical factor is Capital Gains Tax (CGT), which can significantly impact your financial outcome. The Case for Incorporation: For […]

Buy to let returns plummet for landlords as mortgage rates soar

17th August 2023

The average yearly returns on a rental property in the UK have fallen by more than £4,000 in June 2023, compared to the same month last year, research reveals. The data from finder.com analysed monthly average buy to let mortgage rates, house prices and rent prices to find how much a landlord would make from […]

pic of students in house accommodation issues for two years property118

Student accommodation will struggle for two years – as guarantor demand soars

17th August 2023

Students looking for accommodation for the upcoming academic year are facing an increasingly tough situation, one rent guarantor firm warns. Housing Hand says there has been a 50% surge in rental guarantor applications over the last six months – and the student housing struggle could last for two years. Also, the supply of student accommodation […]

Section 21 removal will cause chaos in courts

17th August 2023

A leading industry body is warning the Justice Secretary that the removal of Section 21 will cause harm to the legal system. Propertymark has written to Alex Chalk about the level of widespread concern from landlords and letting agents about the capacity of the courts to handle possession cases. The Renters Reform Bill plans to […]

Rents rocket at the highest rate since 2016

17th August 2023

The soaring price of renting in the UK is at the highest rate since January 2016 – and is being fuelled by strong tenant demand and a decline in the number of available properties. The data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) shows that rents in July are 5.3% higher than in July 2022. […]

Running the Selective Licensing gauntlet?

17th August 2023

Hello, selective licensing is now in place in an area I have properties in. The online application process requires me to pay for the Part A fee (as they call it) of £295.00 by credit card at the end in order for the application to be sent to them. By having no choice but to […]

pic of a mobile phone showing no service as managing agents blank landlord property118

Help! The managing agents are blanking me

16th August 2023

Hi, I have tenants that haven’t paid rent for over a year. The managing agents won’t reply to my emails or phone calls. We haven’t fallen out and I haven’t been rude, but they are just blanking me totally, although I know they are still in business. I’m living abroad so can’t visit their offices. […]

A women at a laptop in a kitchen with her hands on her head in frustration

Tenant moved out and let cousin move in without telling us!

16th August 2023

Hello, I have a tenant with a large family who has rented from me since 2019. This tenant has had a breakdown and suicide attempt and let me know she was going to stay with family an hour away to recuperate leaving her husband (joint tenant) and some of the older kids at home. The […]

EPC

Tax incentives required for EPC improvements

16th August 2023

An industry body is urging the chancellor to introduce tax incentives for energy improvements for PRS homes. Propertymark has written a letter to Jeremy Hunt suggesting changes to the tax system that will incentivise landlords to improve energy efficiency ratings. Around two-thirds of privately rented properties in England and Wales fall below EPC C. Measures […]