Research reveals that 81% of renters in the UK are spending more than 30% of their take-home pay on rent – which means that most Brits are now classified as ‘rent burdened’ and it’s getting worse. The data from flatshare site SpareRoom also shows that one in three (34%) tenants are spending more than half […]

Professional landlords look set to seize opportunities in the property sector despite the tough economic background with plans to expand their portfolios, research reveals. Handelsbanken says that more than half of large portfolio professional landlords (57%) are gearing up to acquire at least one new asset in the coming year. And nearly two-thirds (60%) are […]

Hello, As a reasonably large portfolio landlord, we had been caught out by the ‘Doubling Ground Rent’ clause in numerous leases for a multitude of apartments. These clauses make the property un-mortgageable in many cases, and the Competitions and Markets Authority (CMA) recognises these clauses as punitive and unfair. Many superior landlords undertook a pledge […]

From a few wisps of smoke to a toxic explosion in just 12 seconds – the damage e-bikes and e-scooters can cause are catastrophic. With their ever-growing popularity, it’s no wonder landlords are becoming worried about how much damage they could cause to a property. This Property118 investigation looks at the dangers these machines pose […]

Hello,  I manage staff accommodation for our company and recently the company split and the original directors of the company went off and started a new company. These directors own houses in which we have staff living in them. I personally completed all the HMO licenses for them and they signed them. Since then those […]

By abolishing fixed term tenancies, the Renters’ Reform Bill will cause serious problems for landlords of student accommodation. The issue is not that the tenants may stay after the end of the tenancy but that they might leave early. Even now it can take months to evict over-stayers. Many properties are unlikely to let to […]

There’s grim news for BTL landlords and homeowners alike as the cost-of-living crisis tightens its grip to push up mortgage repossessions, UK Finance reveals. The trade body says that in the first quarter of the year, there were 410 buy-to-let properties that were taken into possession – a 28% increase from the previous quarter. For […]

Pet owners are facing a ruff time finding rental properties, with landlords more likely to welcome smokers than a tenant with furry friends, research reveals. According to the Vape Club, just 7% of available rentals are listed as ‘pets considered’ – compared to a whopping 44% for smokers. That means tenants who quit smoking are […]

The Renters’ Reform Bill has unveiled a new database that could turn into a tax ‘gold mine’ for HMRC to chase after landlords who haven’t been paying their taxes, one firm warns. Accountancy and business advisory firm BDO say the new private rented sector database will have a record of all landlords and their properties […]

The Centre for Sustainable Energy (CSE) has launched an innovative project to help landlords nationwide meet the proposed energy efficiency requirements. The work is being funded by the TDS Charitable Foundation and there’s a one-stop website that is packed with helpful tips and advice. Landlords can now easily learn how to ensure their rented homes […]

As we all know, thanks to the current high-interest rates, purchases of single-let properties don’t really stack up for many investors at the moment. For those property investors who already own single-let properties on variable rate BTL mortgages, now the monthly mortgage interest can be higher than the rent they receive, despite the rise in […]

As landlords and letting agents gear up to say goodbye to Section 21 and hello to a tenant’s furry friends, property experts are offering advice in a free webinar to explain the complexities of the Renters’ Reform Bill. Property tech firm Goodlord is organising the webinar that will have expert insights tomorrow (Tuesday 23 May) […]

Hello, I have a tenant who denied that she signed the tenancy receipt document at the court hearing in April. I tried to evict her using section 21. The judge told her to write a witness statement that she did not sign the NRLA Tenant Receipt Document. She denied receiving How to Rent, the EPC, […]

Hello, During a routine property inspection by my letting agents, the tenant advised that the bulb in a bathroom wall fixture had failed. He said he did not know how to undo the fixture to replace the bulb and the inspection report has come back that it is a “landlord repair”. The fixture itself is […]

Landlords are apparently feeling the pressure over proposed environmental regulations with 41% believing it is essential to meet the planned Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) requirements, research reveals. According to Mortgage Advice Bureau, landlords are keen to do their bit ‘for the greater good of the planet’. There is currently no legal obligation for a landlord […]

Hello, the Renters’ Reform Bill, should it be enacted, will as we know mean even fewer rental properties available and higher rents (supply and demand). Never mind rental properties not being able to meet EPC A-C  that cannot legally be rented out! What happens to those tenants living in properties that cannot meet EPC A-C? […]

The UK’s property prices are rocketing again with the latest figures revealing a surge in the average price of homes being put up for sale, research reveals. Rightmove says there has been a whopping 1.8% increase – or £6,647 – in price to push them up to a new record of £372,894. The property platform […]

A new campaign has been launched to raise awareness of rented properties being used by criminal gangs to produce cannabis. The charity Crimestoppers has launched a campaign after it received more than 14,000 anonymous reports in 2022 about cannabis being illegally grown in their community. It says that illegal cannabis cultivation can cause thousands of […]

And so, it came to pass – section 21 notices to gain possession of a rented property will be no more and there was only the wailing of landlords that could be heard. So, I guess, congratulations to Shelter and Generation Rent and all the others on a media campaign that focussed on the vilification […]

Hello, I own two flats in a block of four, so there are 3 lessees. There is a managing agent for the freeholder who is less than efficient and very expensive but that’s another matter. Major works are scheduled (and required) and we have agreed on the contractor after tenders went out. The agent has […]

Mark Smith, Head of Chambers at Cotswold Barristers said … “This (the Hybrid LLP Action Group) is not a knee-jerk reaction or an attempt to undermine other advisers’ work for the sake of it.  The Hybrid LLP Action Group arises from a number of landlords approaching us with concerns about the robustness of their structures […]