Page 289 – Property118
A small house next to a woman writing on a clipboard

Landlord/Freeholder charging £200 to register a tenant?

13th September 2023

Hello, my flat which I let out, is in a block of 15. As leaseholders, we applied and got RTM. Even though no other buildings are on the land, which now has a separate title, the landlord charges out for gardens. The landlord has now decided to charge £200 every 2 years to register tenant […]

Matt Hutchinson discussing the government’s second homes policy and housing shortage

Rising rents are driving tenants to consider moving abroad

13th September 2023

A survey has revealed that 72% of renters in the UK are either actively searching (46%) for new accommodation in different areas or contemplating it (26%) due to the unprecedented surge in rental costs. The findings from the platform SpareRoom also highlight that 7% of those surveyed are considering leaving the UK to escape the […]

Business leader discussing UK property market outlook amid Budget uncertainty

BTL landlords see debt levels soar

13th September 2023

Amidst the recent economic turmoil, the average amount owed via buy to let mortgage loans has surged by 19% in the past year, one firm reveals. Lenders Octane Capital says that BTL landlords in England and Wales have seen debt levels grow from £467,548 per landlord in the first quarter of 2022 to £558,423 in […]

Rental market sees surge in demand as academic year begins

13th September 2023

As the new academic year kicks off, the UK’s rental market is witnessing a seasonal peak characterised by a substantial increase in demand, minimal void periods and a surge in renters looking to renew their tenancies, one property expert highlights. Recent data from HomeLet reveals that the average monthly rent reached £1,261 last month, marking […]

Mould in PRS homes is not a ‘lifestyle choice’ – Gove

12th September 2023

Landlords in the private rented sector (PRS) and social landlords have been given guidance from the government on how to deal with damp and mould in tenant homes. The government stresses that mould in a property should not be seen as a tenant’s ‘lifestyle choice’. The guidance sets out the legal responsibilities of private sector […]

landlords tenants 'no fault' evictions property118.com

Tenant eviction – What happened at county court?

12th September 2023

Hello, How can I find out what happened at county court yesterday? I rang and they can’t tell me! Long story short. There was an eviction, the tenant’s possessions were all left behind – abandonment notice. The tenant then got an emergency court hearing! To extend the time his possessions are kept in my flat. My […]

Harnessing Share Classes and Trust Agreements in UK Property Investment for Effective Inheritance Tax Planning

12th September 2023

Within the sphere of UK property investment, astute investors are perpetually on the lookout for ways to optimise their financial strategies, especially when it pertains to safeguarding family wealth and mitigating Inheritance Tax (IHT). One sophisticated strategy that’s gaining traction is the utilisation of Family Investment Companies (FICs) in tandem with carefully structured share classes […]

pic of sad puppy as landlords want pet references property118

Landlords demand pet references with pictures and biography

12th September 2023

Landlords in the UK are now requesting ‘pet references’ complete with photographs and biographies of dogs and cats, due to the increased popularity of pet ownership during and after the Covid-19 pandemic, the i newspaper reports. Renters are going to great lengths, crafting detailed descriptions of their pets’ behaviours and temperaments, to secure a rental […]

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

Help – Tenant not moving out and claiming extreme hardship!

12th September 2023

Hello, I moved from Kent to another part of the country for my son’s education and I rented out my house to a family with 3 kids. It didn’t work out for my son’s school and we wanted to come back to our home, but the tenant didn’t want to move out. We had to […]

Chief executive commenting on falling rent prices in England’s private rental sector

Rising tenant demand and property scarcity plague the UK’s PRS – report

12th September 2023

In response to growing media speculation over whether landlords are leaving the private rented sector (PRS) and if tenant demand is reaching an all-time high, one survey says it has definitive proof of what is happening. The findings from RentTech firm Goodlord and Vouch show that a staggering 78% of letting agents have witnessed a […]

EPC

The Times is looking to speak to landlords who are making eco upgrades to their properties 

11th September 2023

Are you a landlord who has already started making your properties energy-efficient? Then Rachel Mortimer, Assistant Money Editor, at the Times would like to speak with you. Rachel is looking to speak with landlords who have already begun making eco upgrades to their rental properties, despite the government proposals on minimum EPC ratings being uncertain. […]

Woman in red dress smiling while seated in an office chair.

Rents predicted to rocket 25% by 2026

11th September 2023

A housing market forecast is offering an alarming prediction that rents could rocket between 2023 and 2026 by 25%. The prediction is being made by estate and lettings agents Hamptons which says that both London and Great Britain tenants will see rents rise by the same figure. It says that this year in Great Britain […]

pic of arrears payment s21 tenants says he paid property118

Defendant lied in his S21 defence – what to do?

11th September 2023

Hi, I have a PCOL (Possession Claim Online) claim for a failed section 21 in progress. The defendant filed his defence but it is not the truth. He claimed he had paid rent arrears, but the payment was never received. He also claims section 21 was never received – I have proof of postage and […]

joint tenancy agreement contract property118.com

Joint tenancy agreement?

11th September 2023

Hi, my tenants have a joint tenancy agreement (4 of them), 6 months then rolling on contract. One of the tenants wants to move out before the 6 months expires. If they find another tenant, do they need a new agreement for another 6 months or can the new one be added to the agreement […]

Pic of woman landlord tearing up an ast contract property118

Problem with AST when it’s an Airbnb?

11th September 2023

Hi, I wrongly used an AST in an agreement to allow someone to use my property as an Airbnb. She is not resident there and signed the agreement as xxx trading as xx – a business. Does this make the AST void? I would like to end the agreement as I cannot get her to […]

45% of tenants are struggling to pay rent – ONS

11th September 2023

An Office for National Statistics (ONS) survey has revealed that 45% of renters and homeowners say they are struggling to pay their rent or mortgage.  It also found that 52% are not having problems paying and 2% didn’t know. However, 2% of respondents said they were behind on rent or mortgage payments and 97% were […]

Portrait of a business leader in suit and tie

Despite rent cap, Scotland’s rents rocket

11th September 2023

Private rent prices in Scotland have soared to unprecedented levels, marking a significant surge in the housing market, one firm reveals. Scotland’s largest estate and letting agents, DJ Alexander Ltd, says there has been a 5.7% year-on-year increase in rents to July 2023. That’s the highest monthly figure recorded since the firm began data collection […]

Black mould growing on a window frame in a damp home.

Government reveals damp and mould figures in the PRS

11th September 2023

Only an average of 3.6% of private rented sector (PRS) properties were estimated to have dangerous types of mould and damp, according to new government figures. That’s in stark contrast to the popular belief by tenant activist groups and the media that most PRS homes are riddled with mould. The figure comes after the Housing […]

Houses of Parliament in London viewed from across the River Thames

Landlords could go to prison if they don’t meet new energy rules

8th September 2023

The government is considering imposing prison sentences on landlords and property owners who do not comply with stringent new energy efficiency regulations – a move that has infuriated some MPs. In a bid to meet its net-zero targets, ministers want the authority to establish fresh criminal offences and escalate civil penalties. Under the proposed rules, […]

Record number of UK landlords opt for limited companies when investing – Paragon

8th September 2023

Three-quarters of landlords are planning to acquire a new rental property in the next year and intend using a limited company structure to do so – a record high. The findings from Paragon Bank, which surveyed nearly 1,000 landlords, found that 74% of investors said they would do it – that’s up 62% of landlords […]