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Council tax and studio flats?

23rd August 2023

Hello, a landlord owns a house which has been converted into 4 flats – 3 studios and a 2 bedroom in the loft. Each flat is registered with the council and has its own address. He is currently waiting for his application for a Lawful Development Certificate (LDC) to be approved and in the meantime, […]

Tenant demand surges in London and East Midlands

23rd August 2023

The strongest tenant demand in the country is being seen by landlords in outer London and the East Midlands, research reveals. Paragon Bank says that in the second quarter of this year, 91% of landlords in outer London reported a surge in tenant demand, with 67% stating the growth is ‘significant’. In the East Midlands, […]

pic of student house to let student numbers rise but rented property numbers fall property118

Student housing shortage worsens across UK cities

22nd August 2023

Despite a rise in student numbers heading to university this year, there has been a big 24.5% drop in the number of student homes available to rent, a survey reveals. The findings from Savills highlight that the number of student homes to rent is lower now than before the pandemic hit, but student numbers have […]

Smiling business professional sitting confidently in a modern office setting

Renting is now cheaper than buying

22nd August 2023

Rising mortgage rates mean that renting a home in the UK is now a more cost-effective option than buying a home for the first time since 2010, one analysis reveals. The findings from Zoopla highlight that the average monthly rent is now £1,163, while the average monthly mortgage payments for first-time buyers, considering a 15% […]

Help! Can I charge for storage of stuff left?

22nd August 2023

Hello, when our tenant stormed out following bailiffs eviction, he left everything behind. Stuff on the walls and floors and items in cupboards! Our agent served Abandonment Notice on the same day, giving 21 days before we dispose of items. As I can’t start refurbishment yet, I am losing time and money, again! Can I […]

pic of childminder in a rented home with children property118

Social landlords urged to allow childminders to work from rented homes

22nd August 2023

Housing associations, social landlords and developers across England are being urged by the government to allow childminders to work from their rented homes. The children and families minister, Claire Coutinho, says the initiative will help boost childminding numbers and expand childcare options for parents. She has now written to social landlords saying they should offer […]

Mismatch between supply and demand widens

22nd August 2023

The mismatch between supply and demand is putting huge pressure on renters, according to a new report. The latest figures from Propertymark’s Housing Insight report reveal a 38% increase in the number of prospective tenants looking for a property compared to July 2022. However, the number of properties available has only risen by 24% meaning […]

tenancy agreement

Law depot tenancy agreement?

22nd August 2023

Hello, just checking if anyone has used a LawDepot tenancy agreement. I’m in the process of giving my tenant a new six-month tenancy agreement (to replace the rolling one) with a small rent rise. She agreed to this a few weeks ago and also understands that I will need to raise the rent considerably (to […]

Demand for rented properties higher than ever

22nd August 2023

A major shortage in rental properties leaves tenants struggling to get on the property ladder, according to a new survey. A survey of 600 tenants by estate agents HOP reveals more than 70% of respondents want to own their own home, but for three-quarters of these not having a sufficient deposit is holding them back. […]

letting boards displayed along a street highlighting student rental availability

Student rents rocket by 30% in a year

21st August 2023

Students will be paying 30% more in rent this year as they head back to their studies, one index has found. The NatWest student living index reveals that the increase has pushed the national monthly rent average to £591. Unsurprisingly, London is the UK’s most expensive for student rent, with an average cost of £840. […]

Pic of bogus bailiff evicting tenants property118

Bailiff dilemma?

21st August 2023

Hello, in April, I obtained an order for possession from the county court. After a long wait, I was told it can take up to 18 weeks to get a date for the bailiff. So I applied to transfer the order to the High Court for these reasons: 1- The tenant has not been paying […]

pic of newham council sign for selective license scheme and interim orders property118

Council threatens to take control of landlord properties

21st August 2023

With the deadline approaching for its selective licensing scheme, a London council is threatening to take control of landlords’ property if they don’t apply in time. Newham says its deadline to apply for a license is at the end of this month and landlords who don’t apply risk an unlimited fine for not having a […]

Business professional in blue suit representing NRLA leadership on housing crisis.

Landlords look to sell and not buy – survey

21st August 2023

Private landlords are twice as likely to sell a property than they are to buy – fuelling the country’s ongoing housing crisis, a survey has found. The findings show that in the second quarter of this year, more than one in 10 (12%) landlords in England and Wales opted to sell their properties. Just 5% […]

Home sellers spark 1.9% fall in asking prices

21st August 2023

Average new seller asking prices have seen a significant decline of 1.9%, or £7,012 this month, bringing the average price down to £364,895, research reveals. The findings from Rightmove show the price drop marks the biggest August decline since 2018. The platform adds that sellers are trying to attract the attention of buyers who are […]

Golden eggs in a nest with cash representing releasing equity from property investments

Landlords are now selling at a record rate despite house price falls

18th August 2023

In an almost unanimous decision, landlords are throwing in the towel, opting to take the cash and sell their property portfolios. It seems that the gravy train for buy-to-lets is well and truly over, and it’s time to put investment elsewhere. Official figures based on capital gains tax data from HM Revenue and Customs seemed […]

pic of empty bed as tenant didn't sleep so landlord pays council tax property118

I had to pay one day’s council tax?

18th August 2023

Hello, North Norfolk district council is charging me one day’s council tax because the tenant moved out at 11am on the 9 /8/23. The new tenant moved in on the 10/8/23. As the tenant didn’t sleep at the house on the 9/9/23, I’ve got to pay one day’s council tax – this don’t seem right. […]

pic of flats to let lha housing benefit property118

Housing Benefit freeze sees tenants falling ‘£200 short’ every month

18th August 2023

Families on low incomes are grappling with a monthly deficit of £200 due to a stagnant housing benefit that doesn’t cover soaring rents, a charity warns. Housing advisors from Wiltshire Citizens Advice told the BBC that tenants relying on Housing Benefit are facing a severe shortage of rental properties that are covered by it. And […]

Michael Gove names and shames ‘failure’ social housing landlords

18th August 2023

The Housing Secretary Michael Gove has written public letters to 13 leading social housing landlords, including Notting Hill, Hyde and Sovereign, criticising their negligence and poor service towards tenants. The letters are part of Mr Gove’s promise to ‘name and shame’ social landlords that let down tenants and come after a scathing report of severe […]

Short to Medium Term Rental?

18th August 2023

Hi everyone, I hope you’re all doing well. I’m currently looking for insights regarding short to medium-term rentals. I recently came across shortish lets, which seem to find accommodation for a few weeks to a couple of months. If any of you have had positive experiences with other avenues of short to medium-term rentals, I’d […]