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 […]

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. […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

An industry body claims while engagement in energy-efficiency ratings is on the rise, tenants rarely show much interest in a property’s EPC rating. A survey of 271 Propertymark member agents reveals only 2% of tenants always show an interest in an EPC rating of a property and 12% never show an interest at all. Though […]

Average rents in Scotland for new tenancies in the private rented sector (PRS) have soared by 11.4% – the third consecutive quarter for a double-digit increase, one lettings portal reveals. Citylets says that since the Cost of Living (Tenant Protection) (Scotland) Act 2022 came into effect to protect tenants from excessive rent increases, it has […]

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When it comes to the decision of selling your rental properties, your thought process is respected. However, before taking the leap, it’s crucial to delve into some essential aspects that might influence your choice. One such critical factor is Capital Gains Tax (CGT), which can significantly impact your financial outcome. The Case for Incorporation: For […]

The average yearly returns on a rental property in the UK have fallen by more than £4,000 in June 2023, compared to the same month last year, research reveals. The data from finder.com analysed monthly average buy to let mortgage rates, house prices and rent prices to find how much a landlord would make from […]

Students looking for accommodation for the upcoming academic year are facing an increasingly tough situation, one rent guarantor firm warns. Housing Hand says there has been a 50% surge in rental guarantor applications over the last six months – and the student housing struggle could last for two years. Also, the supply of student accommodation […]

A leading industry body is warning the Justice Secretary that the removal of Section 21 will cause harm to the legal system. Propertymark has written to Alex Chalk about the level of widespread concern from landlords and letting agents about the capacity of the courts to handle possession cases. The Renters Reform Bill plans to […]

The soaring price of renting in the UK is at the highest rate since January 2016 – and is being fuelled by strong tenant demand and a decline in the number of available properties. The data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) shows that rents in July are 5.3% higher than in July 2022. […]

Hello, selective licensing is now in place in an area I have properties in. The online application process requires me to pay for the Part A fee (as they call it) of £295.00 by credit card at the end in order for the application to be sent to them. By having no choice but to […]

Hi, I have tenants that haven’t paid rent for over a year. The managing agents won’t reply to my emails or phone calls. We haven’t fallen out and I haven’t been rude, but they are just blanking me totally, although I know they are still in business. I’m living abroad so can’t visit their offices. […]

Hello, I have a tenant with a large family who has rented from me since 2019. This tenant has had a breakdown and suicide attempt and let me know she was going to stay with family an hour away to recuperate leaving her husband (joint tenant) and some of the older kids at home. The […]

An industry body is urging the chancellor to introduce tax incentives for energy improvements for PRS homes. Propertymark has written a letter to Jeremy Hunt suggesting changes to the tax system that will incentivise landlords to improve energy efficiency ratings. Around two-thirds of privately rented properties in England and Wales fall below EPC C. Measures […]

There are signs that a potentially larger-than-anticipated property sell-off among the nation’s landlords is underway, Bloomberg reports. Using an analysis based on capital gains tax receipts compiled by real estate firm Savills, the figures will prompt concerns about the UK’s rental sector. The data shows the number of rented homes being sold surged from 22,000 […]

Landlords are not convinced about how fair the proposed mandatory Private Rented Sector (PRS) Ombudsman will be if the Renters (Reform) Bill becomes law. The regulatory body will offer an impartial and efficient resolution of disputes between renters and landlords – but without costly legal proceedings. However, a survey by Landbay, found that landlords are […]

Landlords are unwittingly putting their tenants at risk of fire hazards due to a flawed approach in hiring electricians for Electrical Installation Condition Reports (EICR), one firm warns. Landlord Licensing & Defence says the current EICR regime is failing to ensure tenant safety as landlords opt for cheaper alternatives when seeking inspection services. Under the […]

Hello, I have a property which has been let on an AST for a number of years and now looking for a new tenant. I have several rent-to-rent companies interested and am keen to get feedback from learned readers on this forum. Queries as follows: 1)Presently the property is unencumbered but should I decide to […]