The government has abandoned a plan that would have exempted landlords of asylum seekers from houses in multiple occupation (HMO) regulations, which ensure safety and quality standards for shared properties. The government claimed that this would have increased the availability of housing for asylum seekers, who are often placed in hotels or other temporary accommodation. […]

Landlords in the UK are witnessing a surge in property licensing schemes and consultations in 2024, according to Kamma. The firm helps landlords and letting agents comply with licensing regulations and its data points to 2024 gearing up to beat 2023’s record of 32 new schemes. There are 19 schemes and consultations already taking place […]

A landlord has expressed his worries about the possible problems that tenants could cause for him and other landlords with properties in selective licensing areas, due to councils delaying renewing their licenses. The landlord, who wished to remain anonymous, owns an HMO (house in multiple occupation) in a London borough that requires a license to […]

As a UK property investor, finding the right tenant is crucial for a smooth and profitable rental experience. Selecting a reliable and responsible occupant minimizes risks of rent arrears, property damage, and disruptive behaviour, ensuring long-term stability and peace of mind. But with so many potential tenants out there, how do you make the best […]

Landlords in the UK are struggling to regain their properties from tenants who have breached their tenancies or stopped paying rent, due to inefficiencies and backlogs in the court system, a leading tenant eviction specialist says. The situation is expected to worsen with the potential abolition of Section 21, which allows landlords to evict tenants […]

Hi, I need some advice as my tenancy agreement ends in August 2025, I want my property back as I am getting divorced and need a place to live! I have a rental agreement with a housing association, who have a tenant in place. I intend to advise the housing association that I rent the […]

The Government has been accused of breaking its promise to increase the funding for disabled people to adapt their homes, leaving many in a housing crisis. The Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) is a fund that helps disabled people in England pay for home adaptations, such as ramps, stairlifts, or wet rooms, that enable them to […]

The UK housing market showed further signs of recovery in January 2024, according to the latest survey by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS). The survey, which covers various aspects of the residential market, revealed that all key indicators improved in the first month of the year. However, the survey also indicated that the […]

Hello, We are slowly (and thankfully) escaping the world of rental properties after almost 20 years, which involves selling our portfolio of 13 properties. We haven’t had the best advice and went with the wrong agent with the wrong “fixed price” option, but we are back on track with an alternative for some of them. […]

Hello, I’m interested to hear your thoughts on the following: • Flat rented out to Party A on a 1 year AST with no break clause. All tenant checks came back green. • Property fully managed by a reasonably big estate agent. • Sublet agreement obtained to rent to Party A from the freeholder. • […]

As rental costs continue to soar, most UK renters are urging their landlords to invest in green home improvements, according to a new report from NatWest. The report, based on the Greener Homes Attitudes Tracker, shows that 75% of renters who anticipate a rise in their monthly payments in the next year want their landlords […]

Hello, I have 4 BTL interest-only mortgages originally with Mortgage Express, later taken over by Siberite. No missed payments/arrears, and the LTVs are well within the original criteria. P&L is still OK despite the rate rises, I’m looking at remortgaging 1 – 3 of the properties to pull out cash to refurbish the others. There […]

A property expert is warning that the Renters (Reform) Bill, which aims to end no-fault evictions and improve security for tenants, will have negative consequences for both tenants and landlords. Chris Daniel, who has more than 20 years of experience in the property sector, said that the Bill will make it harder for landlords to […]

A journalist at The Times would like to hear from landlords on the biggest challenges they are facing this year. Rachel Mortimer, Assistant Money Editor at The Times would like to speak with landlords ahead of the Budget and any changes they would like to see from the Chancellor.  They must be happy to be […]

A controversial council has found itself in hot water following a damning report that exposes its failure to ringfence its selective licensing fees. Nottingham City Council finally published a report this week by accounting firm Ernst and Young (EY) who accused the council of “inappropriate financial activity”. The review which was commissioned by the council […]

Hi, I’m quite new to buy to lets and have educated myself as I go along. I have now learnt the hard way of the importance of being extra careful to issue the correct information in the right time. I have a tenant who has fallen behind on their rent and caused some damage. I […]

Hello, I have been asked to sign as a witness to a deed on a guarantor agreement. My friend’s daughter is renting a property in Belfast from July along with 4 other students. The students have all signed the TA (they signed today) along with the LL (signed last week) and now the agents are […]

UK house prices rose by 2.5% year-on-year in January, the highest annual growth rate since January 2023, according to Halifax. The lender’s house price index reveals that the average house price last month was £291,029, up by £3,924 or 1.3% from December 2023. This was the fourth month in a row that house prices increased, […]

If you are interested in purchasing property at auction and you are looking to finance this through a bridging loan, there are some considerations to make before application. What is your exit strategy? Are you looking to refurbish the property to sell or are you looking to keep the property and convert to a BTL? […]

Hello, There is tarmac to the front and side of my property and my neighbour has told me that it is trespassing on their land along the side of their house where it is under their eave projection, ie it oversteps their boundary if a notional line is taken from their roof eaves to the […]

Mortgage lenders and advisers have called for a government U-turn on the relaxation of energy performance certificate (EPC) legislation for landlords, new data from the Mortgage Advice Bureau shows. The survey of some of the UK’s largest mortgage lenders and advisers found that 49% of lenders and 32% of advisers would support any decision to […]