Page 314 – Property118

Do police lack knowledge when it comes to illegal eviction?

31st March 2023

This Property118 investigation highlights how anti-social behaviour has caused problems for both tenants and landlords. On the BBC Radio 4 Today programme, housing campaigners voiced their concerns that the police don’t understand the law protecting tenants from harassment and illegal eviction. The housing charity Shelter said there is a big disparity between the number of […]

Pic of leasehold flat being reclad tenant selling guarantee property118

Leaseholder protection deed – can a new buyer have it?

31st March 2023

Hello, My daughter’s flat is blighted by the fire safety issues arising from the Grenfell tragedy, hence she wants to get a “Leaseholder protection deed of Certificate”, which provides capped protection from payment of remediation costs, and wishes to use this to help her sell the property in the coming one or two years. But […]

Pic of man fitting double glazing landlord tenant epc cost property118

EPC proposed upgrades cost limit?

31st March 2023

Hello, If the new £10,000 limit proposed upgrade to a band C before the deadline goes ahead, I was wondering whether this cost limit would be allowed to be spread over a couple of years rather than all in one go at £10,000. For example, spending £8,000 on changing double glazing for this tax year […]

Pic of mould on bathroom window why blame landlords property118

Damp and mould – why blame landlords?

31st March 2023

Hi all, Is it only me getting a bit sick of getting the blame for damp and mould in Victorian terraced properties, especially the solid stone walled type? Cold walls = condensation = eventually mould. When I inspect adjacent windows, the seals clearly show mould too, so a lack of ventilation. I think we should […]

House prices fall at their fastest rate in 14 years

31st March 2023

House prices in the UK have fallen at their fastest rate since July 2009, a major house price index reveals. The data from Nationwide shows that prices are down 3.1% compared with March last year – the biggest fall in 14 years. It is also the seventh consecutive month that prices have fallen. Every region […]

Life insurance, what types are they and what do they do?

31st March 2023

You may be surprised to know that life insurance isn’t always about death. There are several different types of insurance, they all do different things and are made to cover certain aspects of finance. If it’s not for leaving millions of pounds behind, it’s for making sure your financial commitments are met. Or maybe to […]

The UK’s best and worst rental yield spots revealed

31st March 2023

Research that could help landlords and potential property investors alike has been published that highlights the best and worst rental yield spots in the UK. According to Track Capital it has never been more important for investors to weigh up the facts before choosing an area that is right for investment. That’s because landlords need […]

pic of extractor fan for a tenant's bathroom landlord question property118

Do I need a bathroom extractor?

31st March 2023

Hello, I have a flat in a listed building with an existing window in the bathroom which is suitably sized. IF it is opened as needed there would be no need for an extractor. Two previous tenants lived here, a single guy and then a family of 4 with no issues of excessive condensation, ie […]

Complaining tenants are ‘twice as likely’ to be evicted – Shelter claims

31st March 2023

A private tenant who complains to their landlord about the state of their property is more than twice as likely to be evicted than a tenant who does not complain, the homeless charity Shelter says. The organisation has carried out research and found that a renter who has complained to their landlord, local council or […]

pic of EPC home energy clipboard landlord gov target 2028 property118

Landlords will have until 2028 to hit EPC target – claim

30th March 2023

Landlords will have five years to reach planned EPC targets for ALL rented homes, and the new cap on costs will be £10,000, a newspaper reveals. The Telegraph says the government will announce the new deadline after responding to fears that landlords do not have time to meet the proposed 1 April 2025 target. And […]

Pic of Newham - HMO flat dilemma for landlord

HMO dilemma?

30th March 2023

Hello all, We have a 7 bed flat which will eventually be split in 2 small units. However, we have been approached by an individual who is keen to take the property on as an HMO. They have a few currently and will become the licence holder. We have been advised verbally by licensing (Newham) […]

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Property sales ‘plummet’ after interest rate rises

30th March 2023

Property sales have plummeted by up to 40% in some areas of the UK, according to new research. The findings from Moverly reveal the average number of monthly transactions have dipped by 25% since interest rates first started to climb in December 2021. Those rate rises have now seen a reduction of 40% in the […]

Pic of a contract of employment for tenant referencing landlord question property118

Ever seen a McDonald’s employment contract like this?

30th March 2023

Hi all, Has anyone ever come across a McDonald’s work contract in the course of tenant referencing? This is the one that was sent to me earlier this week: Dear N Employment details We’re delighted to confirm your appointment as Crew Member with McDonald’s at our restaurant situated at BRISTOL …. [address that follows is incorrect […]

England’s hottest rental market is…

30th March 2023

Landlords with properties to rent in Cornwall currently have the nation’s hottest rental market, a rental demand index reveals. The findings from estate and lettings agent, Barrows and Forrester, show tenant demand is not the highest there – but the county has also seen the largest increase in 2023. The index gauges tenant demand for […]

Landlord opening trickle vent to ventilate a rented property

Can I remove the inner trickle vent covers?

30th March 2023

Hello, I have a tenants that will not open the trickle vents. Most of the trickle vents seem to be open along with the windows when the letting agent or myself is visiting the property for repairs or checks to make it seem as though they are ventilating the property. I had the windows replaced […]

Renters are struggling to meet rent increases – The DPS

30th March 2023

Half of the renters who moved home in the past year say they worry about paying higher rents – with their bill rising between £51 and £200 more every month, The DPS says. The Deposit Protection Service (The DPS) says that just under a quarter (23%) of the 2,000 tenants it questioned in England and […]

Pic of house reinstatement demolished property118

Time for your re-instatement building quote? Read this first!

30th March 2023

Hello, If it’s time for your re-instatement quote for your block building insurance please learn from our mistake. We have just had our insurance re-instatement done which involved a site visit by the insurance broker. Our block of 7 flats and 1 commercial unit are in Harrogate town centre, North Yorkshire. Imagine my astonishment when […]

Landlords selling up will keep rent inflation high

29th March 2023

The latest rental market report from Zoopla offers tenants little hope that rents will begin falling any time soon – as landlords ‘rationalise their portfolios’ or leave the market altogether. Zoopla says that rent inflation in March has slowed to 11.1% – down from the high of 12.3% that was recorded in the middle of […]

Person calculating housing expenses with receipts, calculator, and financial documents.

Advice needed about a letting agent’s full management contract?

29th March 2023

Hello, I have full a full management service with a letting agent who conducts property inspections and sends me a copy of their report, along with any recommendations. However, a few months after their inspection, the council conducted their own inspections and identified six recommendations for repairs that were not included in the letting agent’s […]

More than half of rents in the PRS have risen in the last year

29th March 2023

“Runaway rents” are crushing the finances of tenants, according to Hargreaves Lansdown. A report by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) on changes in the PRS from February 2022 to February 2023 has revealed that 51% of properties surveyed had seen a rent increase. The average hike was 10% – up from 7% a year […]