Hello, I have a tenant who has contacted a solicitor regarding the condition of the flat’s drainage problem, mould, damp and mice infestation. I received a letter from her solicitor just after Christmas regarding the problems she says she has. In the letter, they said they would be sending out a surveyor within five days […]

A new government campaign will urge social housing tenants to complain about substandard housing as part of its flagship ‘Make it right’ campaign. Housing Secretary Michael Gove is urging tenants to make their voices heard by complaining to their landlord before escalating an issue to the Housing Ombudsman if they are unhappy with the landlord’s […]

Hello, Landlords are relying on an EPC to be accurate. Significant decisions are being made based on the EPC information. These decisions will affect tenants. I did comment in the following thread: Two-thirds of landlords doubtful about purchase of non-EPC compliant properties I wasn’t being prickly. I am genuinely trying to understand. We had an EPC […]

BTL product choice has recovered from the market chaos that followed the mini-Budget in September with landlords and investors now seeing the number of buy to let mortgages available reaching levels not seen since August last year, research reveals. The analysis by Moneyfacts.co.uk shows that BTL mortgage availability, both fixed and variable, has been improving […]

Hello, I let a 5 bed semi detached. The house is over 2 floors, ground and first. I have radio controlled fire safety fitted in the hall and landing. My local authority is asking for a fire test safety certificate. I have never been asked before. I have had a licence for the last 10 […]

Paragon Mortgages have introduced a new 5-year fixed rate mortgage to their Buy-to-Let portfolio product range. With a fixed fee of £2495, this is perfect for larger loans which usually have to pay a % of the loan amount as an arrangement fee to the lender. For example, a typical 3% lender’s fee on a […]

At the time I sold my last business in 2013, I was renting a house. I had owned, extended and refurbished many homes before and had also owned a portfolio of flats. But when the money from my business sale hit my bank account I did not own any property. It was a life-changing sum […]

This is a heart-warming story of how a potentially very nasty contentious litigation battle was not only avoided but was also transformed into something that could well become a lifelong friendship and lucrative two-way business relationship. It began around six weeks ago when I was doing some keyword research for SEO marketing purposes and stumbled […]

Are councils following the law when telling tenants to stay put when they are facing eviction to protect them? Or is the council simply kicking the can further down the road? The simple answer is – no-one seems to know. And this Property118 investigation highlights the confusion and mystery that surrounds the stance taken by […]

What’s the #1 most important thing you need to be a successful property investor? For 9 out of 10 people, the answer is always the same: Money… After all, more money, more deals, right? But not so fast… Because in reality, even the richest investors run out of money (never mind the rest of us). […]

Planned legislation known as ‘Awaab’s law’ that will make councils and housing associations fix reported health hazards – including damp and mould – within strict new time limits should be extended to private rented homes too, one council suggests. Oxford City Council is following in the footsteps of Citizens’ Advice which made a similar call […]

Hello, My excellent tenant of 8 years standing wishes to apply for universal credit. The requirements state : We will only accept the following documents: up-to-date tenancy agreement letter from your landlord or landlord’s agent rent book rent receipts The original agreement made in 2015 was a 12 month AST and is now monthly periodic. […]

Up to one in three buy-to-let landlords are struggling to remortgage after failing their lender’s affordability test, a BTL mortgage broker has revealed. The research from Mortgages for Business shows that some buy-to-let investors are being forced to accept variable rates as high as 9.5% because they have failed remortgaging affordability. The broker also reveals […]

A property expert has slammed the government’s ‘indifference’ for the growing crisis in the private rented sector (PRS) as landlords flee and fewer investors step in. That’s the view of Jonathan Rolande of the National Association of Property Buyers. He said: “Landlords are in the peculiar position of being a minority apparently hated by all […]

Scotland’s average house price is flattening – but some property types have not yet peaked, one firm of lettings and estate agents says. DJ Alexander says that Land Registry data for last year show that while average house prices began to flatline at the end of 2022, there are geographic areas and property types which […]

Tax incentives that would help landlords deliver energy efficiencies in private rented housing should be introduced in Wales, a report by MSs urges. That’s according to a new report from Members of the Senedd on decarbonising private housing. The Senedd’s Climate Change Committee argues that the Welsh Government should look at how to use Council […]

We’ve all seen the news, with changes in regulations and tax and interest rate rises, landlords have been flocking to sell their property portfolios. But with so many properties, all full of tenants, some of them with problems, low rents or even rent skipping, how can you get out fast? The answer is: Landlord Sales […]

Landlords should be educating their tenants and inspecting properties regularly in a bid to combat the issues that come with dangerous mould, one organisation says. No Letting Go also points out that ‘proactive ventilation’ can help reduce the risk of damp and mould in rental properties. The inventory specialists warn that letting agents and landlords […]

Build to rent (BTR) is growing more rapidly than any other housing sector, according to a new report. The British Property Federation (BPF)’s Build to Rent Q3 2022 report revealed growth of 15% year-on-year, with more than 240,000 homes either in planning, under construction, or completed. BTR began in urban areas, but regional growth has […]

Letting agents can now access the mediation and conciliation service from TDS Resolution that landlords and tenants already enjoy. The free service offers an impartial and fair mid-tenancy dispute resolution in England and Wales for tenants and landlords. TDS’ chief executive, Steve Harriott, said: “TDS Resolution is a key part of our work, enabling landlords […]

A landmark ruling from the Supreme Court has been welcomed by the National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA) that delivers clarification about the responsibilities of so-called ‘rent-to-rent’ companies. These companies take over the running of a property for a landlord. And the landlords’ organisations says that the ruling in the case of Rakusen v Jepsen will […]