Page 308 – Property118
Close-up detail of engraved eye from British currency representing financial focus and interest rate changes

BOE beyond reproach?

13th June 2023

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 […]

Mobile phone mast lease expired and I want to terminate?

13th June 2023

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 […]

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Rented bedroom with no windows?

13th June 2023

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 […]

Home energy efficiency rating scale with house icon

Commercial EPC – do I need a new one?

13th June 2023

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 […]

Renters Reform Bill is a ‘golden opportunity’ for the PRS

13th June 2023

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 […]

Professional landlords tackle debt and optimise portfolios

13th June 2023

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. […]

professional headshot of a man representing commentary on UK tenants facing upfront rent pressures

Landlords eye portfolio expansion

13th June 2023

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 […]

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Rising house prices force people to rent for longer

13th June 2023

Millions of couples are left facing being unable to afford rent due to house price rises outstripping wages, according to new research. The data from the Guardian and Twentyci reveals the massive difference between people’s earnings and the cost of properties available to buy and rent. Figures from the Office of National Statistics (ONS) reveal […]

The times newspaper logo

The Times wants to speak to people gifting holiday homes to their children

13th June 2023

Are you gifting your holiday home to your children? Then, the chief money reporter for The Times and The Sunday Times, Ali Hussain would like to speak with you. Mr Hussain is looking for case studies to interview about families passing on wealth to younger generations in a tax-efficient way including holiday homes. He would […]

Good landlords have nothing to fear – Polly Neate

12th June 2023

Polly Neate, the chief executive of the housing charity Shelter, says that good landlords have nothing to fear from the Renters’ Reform Bill which could ‘transform the lives of millions’. Writing in the Sunday Times, Ms Neate says that since the deregulation of private renting in the Housing Act of 1988, the balance of power […]

Professional woman standing outdoors, illustrating commentary on pressures facing renters and landlords

The perfect storm for landlords and tenants has arrived

12th June 2023

A financial expert is predicting misery for the property market in the months to come with rising interest rates hitting both landlords and potential first-time buyers. Sarah Coles, the head of personal finance at Hargreaves Lansdown, says that with house prices and sales falling, plus the potential for mortgage rate hikes, the sector will be […]

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

Rental market cools down – and first-time renters stay at home

12th June 2023

In May, the rental market experienced a slowdown in price growth across Great Britain, research reveals. The average rent for newly let homes increased by 9.1% year-on-year, a drop from April’s 11.1% growth. The report from Hamptons also reveals that the slowdown was seen in every region, except the South West. London, previously home to […]

Paragon unveils exclusive BTL mortgage deals for landlords

12th June 2023

To cater to the diverse needs of landlords, Paragon Bank has introduced a series of limited edition buy-to-let mortgage offerings. The new options include five-year fixed-rate deals with no fees or flat fees, as well as discounted standard variable rates. The lender’s decision to offer these mortgage options was influenced by broker feedback, underlining its […]

How we restructured to become debt free and super tax efficient

9th June 2023

On paper, my spouse and I were worth £3,000,000 but the reality was that we had no savings, no money whatsoever to live on after paying our tax bills, and this was despite having rental income of £300,000 a year coming in. In fact, it was even worse than that, our tax bill exceeded our […]

PRS landlords feel ‘demonised’ by the media

9th June 2023

A staggering 81% of landlords believe that mainstream media coverage of the buy-to-let market is unjust and inaccurate, research has found. The Landbay quarterly landlord survey reveals that despite the ever-growing demand for rental properties, landlords feel unfairly ‘demonised’ with their crucial contribution to the housing sector going unrecognised. Landlords argue that the media wrongfully […]

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

UK’s rental crisis could be solved by renting out spare bedrooms

9th June 2023

With renters increasingly scrambling to find budget-friendly housing options in the UK’s rental crisis, one firm offers a simple solution. Flat-sharing site SpareRoom says that homeowners with a spare bedroom should be encouraged to take in a lodger to help boost supply to renters. It says there are more than 20 million empty bedrooms and […]

Foundation introduces new rates and fees for its BTL range

9th June 2023

Foundation Home Loans is expanding its core buy-to-let offerings with the introduction of three Limited Edition products and Special Editions to cater to various needs. As an intermediary-only specialist lender, Foundation is unveiling a series of Special Editions within its buy-to-let range with enhanced benefits and features. These include reduced product fees for F1 five-year […]

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Campaign group wants landlords to pay 2 months rent penalty to help tenants move home

8th June 2023

The Renters Reform Coalition is encouraging tenants across England to contact their MPs to support the Renters’ Reform Bill. The coalition, which includes housing sector organisations, charities, and partners like Big Issue, aims to bolster tenants’ rights and bring about ‘meaningful change’ in the rental market. To garner support, tenants are encouraged to email their […]