The Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) voted by a closer majority than last time of 6–3 to increase Bank Rate by a quarter of a percent, to 5.25%. Two MPC members voted to increase the rate by 0.5% and one member preferred to stabilise and make no change. This is with the backdrop […]

Did you know that it is now possible to get ‘cashback’ when you do a product switch with your mortgage lender? A product switch can be arranged between three and six months before your existing fixed rate comes to an end. Also, if the new product switch rates reduce in that time you will get […]

The Property Ombudsman (TPO) dealt with 14,000 complaints from landlords and tenants last year about letting agents, it has been revealed. There were also 1,500 complaints from tenants about a landlord with no agent involved. And the TPO dealt with more than 3,000 complaints from leaseholders about their managing agent. However, the TPO highlights that […]

Hello, I rent out several 2-bed flats and I’m concerned about the increased fire risk when these devices are recharged in the hallway which is the escape route. What is the best solution? Should I include a disclaimer in the contract or should I give advice and just say no to recharging in the flat? […]

A lettings firm says private landlords in London need to be wary when dealing with agents who make enticing promises of rent increases. Hello Neighbour warns that, on average, there is a significant 15% drop from the initial listed rent price compared to what is agreed upon by the tenant. And in some London postcodes […]

Hello, a council tax bill was sent to my rental property which was empty for one month during a new tenancy. I notified the council that all correspondence should be sent to my residence.  In the past it has but last year it didn’t. The new tenant kept letters and demands and court orders from […]

Hello, I am a resident live-in landlord renting to two lodgers (lender permission granted). Looking to move abroad for work (US). I have a 5 year fixed mortgage. 4 more years left on the mortgage. Do I need to request consent to let if I keep renting to two lodgers only and keep my bedroom […]

Landlords in one city are being warned they have less than a month to apply for a licence under a council’s selective licensing scheme before facing a significant increase in the application fee. Currently, landlords are charged £480 for a five-year licence, but from 1 September that will rocket to £1,100. That is unless a […]

The UK’s holiday accommodation sector is poised for continued growth this year and offers savvy property investors an opportunity, one property development firm says. Research from Stripe Property Group shows that despite experiencing a setback due to the pandemic in 2021 which saw the market decline by 24%, the sector bounced back with a 21% […]

In the midst of a moonless night, when shadows dance ominously and the city is draped in darkness, a silent guardian emerges – the Emergency Electrician. Clad in a cloak of knowledge and armed with a toolbelt of electrifying prowess, they are the unsung heroes who chase away the shadows and restore the lost luminance […]

Hello, I just watched the installation of a heat pump costing around £18,000. It was supposed to show that it was possible to retrofit a property, but the property was a bungalow with a large garage. Apart from the massive external heat pump, there was an enormous cylinder needed and all the radiators needed changing. […]

Some London residents earning more than £30,000 are being excluded from so-called affordable rent schemes provided by social housing providers, the BBC reveals. These schemes are designed to provide housing options below market rates for those with lower incomes. However, a BBC investigation highlights that some social housing landlords demand applicants earn between £35,000 and […]

The average UK rent has soared by 19% to reach £1,137 in July from June and voids are dropping quickly to highlight the strong competition in the private rented sector (PRS), one index reports. The figures from Goodlord reveal that is the highest rent price since it began keeping records in January 2019. And as […]

Hello, I own a Victorian 3-bed rental property in London, it is a first-floor flat and I also own 2/3 of the freehold of the property which has one other ground-floor flat below it. Three new tenants are moving in soon and want to store their bikes against the railings inside the front area of […]

Today I have released episode No200 of the Property Magic Podcast. In the 200th Anniversary episode, I answer the frequently asked question: “Is now a good time to invest in property?” I also share the changes I have seen happen over the past 20 years and my prediction for the next 20 years. I am […]

Tenants facing eviction in England and Wales can now get free legal advice – and access to a lawyer in court – from a new government-backed scheme. Designed to help tenants avoid losing their home and from going through stressful and expensive court proceedings, renters can access the service when they receive a written notice […]

The UK’s housing market saw prices dip at their fastest annual decline in 14 years, Nationwide reports. The data reveals an annual drop of 3.8%, marking the biggest fall since July 2009. And prices fell by 0.2% between June and July. Led by soaring mortgage interest rates, which reached their highest point in 15 years […]

Rightmove says that just 40% of homes for sale and 50% of homes for rent on its platform currently have an energy performance certificate (EPC) rating of C or above. The rest have a rating of D or below and this has led the firm to urge more government incentives to encourage landlords and homeowners […]

Hello, having just returned from a relaxing holiday, I came home to open the post and find a filthy letter from the council about a property I own, a block of flats in Brighton (licensed HMO). I own this building outright, no mortgage or leases and it comprises 9 flats in total of which I […]

A trend of landlord investors wanting to get ahead of government’s Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) proposals has led to one in four to consider a property’s energy performance rating, one lender reveals. The government is proposing that the EPC rating for a rented property should be at least a C has, Paragon Bank has found, […]

Hello, a tenant has ignored a leak from a shower cubical for months. The upshot is that I had to pay privately for trace and access which has uncovered over £6000 worth of damage!! I have also been informed that it cannot be an insurance claim. Anyone else had this and can give advice on […]