Hello, the national legal minimum room size for an HMO is 6.51 sq.m. However, several local authorities have set higher minimum room sizes, e.g. 9 sq.m for Lambeth. Is this enforceable in law? Does anyone on Property118 know any precedent where this has been successfully challenged at a tribunal? With new HMO licencing schemes cropping […]

There has been a surge in leasehold property purchases in the North West of England – thanks to affordability and the region’s fast-growing cities, research reveals. The findings from peer-to-peer real estate investment platform, easyMoney, show that nationally, leasehold sales made up 22.8% of transactions. However, in the North West, leaseholds represented a staggering 35.1% […]

A lack of awareness among brokers and their PRS landlord clients of the proposed changes to Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) requirements has been revealed in new research. The findings from Mercantile Trust of more than 150 brokers, found that 48.5% of brokers said they were not confident that they fully understood the government’s proposed new […]

Hello, I am sure this has been brought up before, but I am new to Property 118. I have been informed that I have to have a selective license, when I asked the council about it, they said it was to make sure the property was up to standard and to help with ASBOs. I […]

A leading industry body has warned the Welsh government about the failures of rent controls. Propertymark has responded to the Welsh government’s green paper consultation on housing adequacy and fair rents. The document says that some countries have rules that regulate rents, such as rent caps, and asks tenants if they believe that rent controls […]

Hello, We own the freehold of a converted building made up of three flats (we also own the leasehold of the first floor flat). The ground floor flat is completely self-contained and also includes both the front and back gardens, so the only communal area is a small lobby at the top of an external […]

England’s allotments could provide space for 200,000 new homes, according to new research. Figures from development site sourcing specialists Searchland reveals there is an estimated 44.4m square metres of allotment space in England. This would be enough to build 200,000 new homes with a market value of £84bn. Desperately need to build more homes Co-founder […]

Mortgaged buy-to-let investors’ net profits plunged below 4% in the first quarter of the year – a level not witnessed since 2007, one real estate firm reports. And Savills warns that there is a ‘very real risk’ that landlords may now sell up and leave the private rental sector (PRS). The firm’s research reveals that […]

As often discussed on Property118, owning rental properties through a limited company offers full tax relief on finance costs such as mortgage interest and mortgage arrangement fees, access to potentially lower tax rates and flexibility for planning, including inheritance tax. Owning rental properties in your own name, the rental income is added to your personal […]

Scott Baker Properties was founded in 2017 by Niall Scott and Matt Baker, who, as working professionals spotted a need in the community for quality shared accommodation for like-minded people. In recognition for being community driven and achieving first-class results with their development in Portsmouth, they were honoured with the 2022 Co-Living Deal of the […]

Hello, I’m about to exchange on a six-bed (all with kitchenette and en suite shower) in a large period house. It is being sold to me with an EPC level of D. Currently, this is fine and it comes with a three-year guarantee income from the local council (the tenant). However, what happens if the […]

Half of letting agents say the abolition of Section 21 evictions is their biggest worry, according to a new survey. A survey of 690 letting agents by Goodlord reveals the concerns among letting agents about the Renters’ Reform Bill. The majority of agents are also concerned about the move to periodic tenancies and the bill’s […]

The North East is the most affordable region to rent in the UK, according to new data. Figures from Paragon Bank reveal that rental affordability ratio, which is average earnings divided by mean rent, found that the ratio in the North East was 23.5%. Paragon’s Rental Affordability Index uses recently published government data on the […]

Limited supply continues to impact the lettings market in London, according to new data. Research by independent property analysts, LonRes reveals rental demand remains high in the capital due to limited supply and high demand.  Rental values across prime London locations such as Kensington are around 25 to 30% above where they were pre-pandemic. Strong […]

Dear P118, I don’t want these words to come across as a rant. I just want some peace of mind that the BOE is right in their approach to the current financial situation and that they’re not profiteering like everyone else (banks not passing rates to savers to name but one). When something doesn’t quite […]

Hello everyone, A company put a mobile phone mast on the flat roof of my property which has been there for a number of years. However, this has caused the roof to leak and now the company is trying to use new legislation, treating the mobile phone mast as a utility, to dramatically reduce the […]

Hello, A friend of mine has been renting a room in London for £1,250 a month and he has just told me it hasn’t got any windows – which I told him is illegal. What is the best way to handle this situation as he wants to move out before the tenancy ends? Is there […]

Hello, I have a commercial EPC rated as a ‘B’ that expires in September. A new tenant has just taken over a new lease on a fixed term 2 year contract and has a copy of the current EPC. Do I need to have another new EPC done in September or do I only need […]

Property sector leaders say the Renters’ Reform Bill is a ‘golden opportunity’ for the private rented sector (PRS) However, they caution the government from introducing ‘piecemeal legislation’ so that landlords are not over-burdened. The legislation is seen as the most transformative overhaul of the PRS in decades and encompasses various proposals including the abolition of […]

In the face of economic uncertainty, large portfolio professional landlords are focusing on reducing debt and optimising their portfolios, one study reveals. The research from Handelsbanken shows that investors who own a portfolio with an average of 29 properties worth around £14 million, are keenly aware of the risks and obstacles in the current market. […]

One in 10 landlords is currently looking to buy additional investment properties, a survey reveals. The findings from The Deposit Protection Service (The DPS) found that 60% of those landlords anticipate buying within the next two years. And that’s despite regular media stories speculating over whether landlords are selling up and leaving the PRS. The […]