Hello, I’m looking for advice from Property118 readers regarding a situation I have with my letting agent in Scotland, and I live in England. At the beginning of the year, my tenant complained there was a leak each time it was rainy and windy outside. I treated it as an emergency repair and asked my […]

Many people think that being a landlord in the private rented sector (PRS) is easy money. They assume that all you have to do is buy a property, find a tenant and collect the rent every month. They think that landlords are greedy, exploiting tenants and contributing to the housing crisis. Unfortunately, they also listen […]

I recently wrote a letter to the Housing Minister regarding the selective licensing scheme in Nottingham. I received a reply from the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Private Rented Sector department. I’ve replied to their letter which you can read below: Dear Rachel Maclean MP and Private Rented Sector Division, Thank you for […]

Now the kids are back to school, and the summer holidays are officially over despite the heatwave this week, it’s time to refocus on your property investing to make the most of the remaining part of 2023. There have been a lot of changes in the property market over the past nine months, so it’s […]

The appointment of Angela Rayner by the Labour Party as Shadow Housing Secretary means that landlords might have a Jeremy Corbyn supporter keen to bring in draconian laws for landlords in the private rented sector (PRS), one landlords’ organisation warns. Ms Rayner’s appointment this week by Kier Starmer follows the surprise demotion of Lisa Nandy […]

The UK’s house prices have seen their biggest decline since 2009, with the average home dropping in value by 4.6% or £14,000 over the past year, Halifax reports. Last month, prices fell 1.9% – the biggest monthly fall since November 2022. The price falls chime with those revealed by Nationwide last week with its research […]

Hello, what are Property118 readers thoughts on letting agents requesting a fire extinguisher and fire blanket to be fixed in a new 3-bed single let.? Also, asked for them to be fitted in the kitchen rather than on the exit route. Personally, I have no problems with the fire blanket and always fit one. Fire […]

An industry body warns that capping rents will only deepen the current rental crisis. The National Association of Property Buyers (NAPB) says capping rents would lead to a “stampede” of landlords quitting the sector. They are urging the Government to look at increasing Local Housing Allowances to ease pressure in the sector. Capping rents isn’t […]

The Scottish Government has announced plans to introduce ‘long-term’ rent controls among a raft of new housing laws that will also tackle homelessness and boost renters’ rights. The country’s First Minister, Humza Yousaf, told the Scottish Parliament that a major new housing bill would be introduced to regulate landlords and provide funds for housebuilding. The […]

With just three months to go until the year ends, and talk of another property market drop come December, it’s time for landlords to sell. There’s still time to complete before Christmas with cash in the bank ready for the New Year, but you need to act fast. If you’ve been thinking about the pros […]

Shelter claims that tenants over the age of 55 are being served with a section 21 ‘no fault’ eviction notice EVERY 16 minutes. Its latest anti-landlord onslaught is being used to urge the government to scrap s21 evictions as part of its Renters (Reform) Bill. The charity says that s21 is harming the health of […]

Hello, I have a tenant of 7 years that I served formal landlord-tenant notice along with a section 21. The 2-month period has passed & the tenant is refusing to leave so my question is now the tenancy contract has expired & whilst I pursue the legal route to have the tenant evicted can I […]

Letting agents say they are being asked by landlords to offer tenants a ‘rent tracker’ agreement – which enables rent rises that follows a rise in the Bank of England base rate. Research by the i newspaper highlights that the trend appears to be on the rise as landlords pass on the cost of their […]

The average rent price in the UK for July 2023 was £1,243 – that’s a whopping 10.3% increase from the same month last year and 1.1% higher than in June. That’s according to the latest data from HomeLet, a tenant referencing firm. The new average rent is the highest average rent price ever recorded by […]

Hi, I’m new here. Please be gentle. I am a BTL investor of 25 years, so not a complete newbie, but have only ever invested in single occupancy ASTs. My eldest child is off to University this month and I am considering purchasing a property as an investment that would also save them a lot […]

People living in the most deprived areas of the UK have seen their rents skyrocket this year, according to new data. Research by estate agents Hamptons reveals in 2019, renters in the most deprived regions were paying an average of £499 a calendar month – by 2023, that had shot up to £759. In contrast, […]

The government has announced millions of pounds in funding to help rough sleepers off the street. The new Rough Sleeping Initiative allocations totalling £34.6 million will go to areas most in need of support to help get people off the street more quickly. However, one charity warns that this funding is not enough and spiralling […]

Managing risk is a fundamental concern for both business owners and financiers. A well-thought-out ownership structure can significantly reduce risk and enhance financial stability. One key element in this risk management strategy is adopting a tax-efficient ownership structure. In this blog post, we’ll explore why having a tax-efficient ownership structure is essential for mitigating risk […]

An industry body is urging all politicians to have an urgent re-think on tax policy for landlords. The Association of Inventory Clerks claims the recent tax rule changes are a major reason why landlords are leaving the private rented rector. The industry body argues that landlords are being treated unfairly over current tax arrangements. In England […]

Paragon Bank has unveiled a major product refresh that has seen rates reduced across 22 buy to let mortgage products, with fixed deals now starting at 4.59%. The rate cuts apply to a range of loan-to-value (LTV) bands for both portfolio – landlords who own four or more buy-to-let properties with mortgages – and non-portfolio […]

The government needs to focus on its tax policies so that landlords in the private rented sector (PRS) are incentivised to remain and help house people and not be forced out. That’s the verdict of Propertymark which is highlighting the steps that need to be taken now to boost investment and help reduce rents. And […]