Hello, As you will all know, being conscientious landlords, there is currently an evictions and rent freeze in Scotland since last year and will continue currently until September 2023 with the option of SNP and the Greens to continue it for a further six months. Although Harvie (Greens ) has let it be known he […]

The most appealing cities for young renters to enjoy jobs, socialising and low rents have been revealed – and there are some unlikely destinations in the top 10. The research from Comparethemarket found that Nottingham, Southampton and Coventry are the UK’s most appealing cities for young adults. The firm created a way to rank the […]

The UK’s private rents rose in the year to March by 4.9% – which is still below the rate of inflation. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) says the annual figure is a slight increase on February’s 4.8%. The average rent in England grew by 4.6%, in Wales it rose by 4.4%, but Scotland saw […]

Hi all, I have 3 bedroom house with a self contained unit. I want to let each one separately but lenders say I have to have one AST for both. The self-contained unit has its own electricity meter and no gas. It also has a separate entrance from the main house. My question is, how […]

A manifesto calling on the government to rapidly step up its support for the lettings sector has officially been launched. It’s the brainchild of rentech firm Goodlord and is called Renting Done Right. The firm says the manifesto has been created after discussions with focus groups and roundtables involving more than 1,500 agents, landlords and […]

The UK’s house prices fell for the third consecutive month as prices slumped 0.3% between January and February, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) says. Its data also reveals that average house prices grew 5.5% in the year to February – that’s down from January’s figure of 6.5%. That is the lowest annual rise since […]

Hello, I have recently received a satisfactory electrical certificate. However, one recommendation is to change all the sockets due to age. The flat was built during the copper problems with aluminium conductors (still in very good condition) as I am going to change my tenant I am hoping to do all the recommendations. Can I […]

Hello, I have been given by X council a list of contracted suppliers they are using in order to secure temporary accommodation for them. The contracted suppliers have tendered and won contracts for a period of 6 years. The council provide the tenants from their housing lists – not asylum seekers, nor single people who […]

One leading property expert says the government is ‘looking to destroy’ the private rented sector (PRS). Iain McKenzie, the chief executive of the Guild of Property Professionals, was speaking during the latest episode of ‘The Home Stretch’ podcast. The podcast is put together by the Guild and when asked to describe the government’s plans for […]

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, and Generation Rent have smeared private landlords in a demand for an immediate Government crackdown on those who provide homes for tenants on housing benefit. Mr Khan says it is ‘a scandal’ that billions of pounds is being paid in rent to private landlords who he alleges are letting […]

From a lack of affordable homes to rising rents, Scotland is facing a housing crisis that affects everyone. Growing numbers of businesses cannot open due to a lack of staff, whilst 30,000 people in Scotland are stuck on social housing lists waiting for a home. Landlords in Scotland are leaving the sector in their droves […]

Property118 Founder, Mark Alexander and Hon. Legal Counsel for Property118, Mark Smith, Head of Chambers at Cotswold Barristers, will be presenting in person an overview of several landlord tax strategies at the Baker Street Property Meet this Wednesday. Are you looking for ways to structure your property business in the most tax-efficient way to minimise […]

The cost for landlords to upgrade their rental properties to meet a minimum EPC rating of C by an expected deadline of 2028 will see two-thirds (59%) sell up and leave the sector. That’s according to the Mortgage Advice Bureau which says that more clarity regarding the help that is available to landlords is needed. […]

Hello, I own my leasehold flat in a block of 14 apartments. The management company has hiked the service charge from £2,500 to £6,500 pa. There is some work to be done on the garden due to land slip but we’ve had no section 20 notice. Do we have to pay this in advance of […]

Every social housing tenant is to receive ‘Watchdog’ style training on how to hold their landlords to account as part of a new scheme. From free advice on addressing damp and mould to webinars on how to complain about anti-social behaviour, the government-funded training programme will share information like that handed out by TV shows […]

Are you a landlord who rents to students or used to rent out to students? Then, Alexa Phillips, the personal finance reporter for the Telegraph would like to speak with you. Alexa would like to talk to Property118 readers about: What are the challenges facing landlords renting to students? Are there onerous licencing rules in […]

Hello, The rent from services like AirBnB are far higher than regular rentals. I estimated I’d only need to have my property occupied for around 1/3 of the year to make the same rent that I’d get for longer term rents. But, the costs are higher – regular cleaning, provision of towels/sheets etc, providing and […]

Hi, in the last few years, I have stopped taking tenancy deposits in the fear of breach of compliance. Nonetheless, as a result of adopting to aforesaid practice, I have had instances, where tenants abandoned properties or left properties without giving any valid notice or they have left the property with piled-up rubbish. I have […]

Lloyds Bank says that because landlords offer ‘poor and exclusionary practices’, they are teaming up with the homeless charity Crisis to start a new lettings agency. It says the new venture ‘will be fair for tenants and fair for landlords’. The bank says that homeless people won’t be asked to provide rent in advance, and […]

Hello, I see information that states landlords must improve their let properties to EPC C levels by 2025 and then I see it is changed to 2028 and then I see that it hasn’t actually been determined. Does anyone have the actual facts on this matter please? If we do need to ensure all our […]

We often see the term ‘rogue landlord’ bandied about, but a story last week got me thinking: When is a rogue landlord, not a rogue landlord?’ It would appear that most people would think it was a term to describe a landlord who let a home without a roof, didn’t fix a leaking gas pipe […]