Page 324 – Property118

PRS is vital for the economy – report

31st January 2023

The private rented sector (PRS) plays a crucial social and economic role in the country, a report reveals. According to a survey carried out by the National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA), most tenants in the PRS have had a positive experience of renting. And, the report adds, it would be wrong to claim that private […]

Pic of EPC dial being moved landlord property118.com

Expenses to improve a EPC rating on BTL – capital or revenue?

30th January 2023

Hello, Hopefully, most prospective landlords would make checking the EPC one of their first tasks when looking at a property to buy. But say you inherit a property you want to use for a buy-to-let. The property is in a good state of repair, was inhabited up to inheritance, and is fit to rent out […]

We are all facing the prospect of rising mortgage rates

30th January 2023

Just over a year ago, the Bank Base rate was 0.1%. Since then, there have been 9 consecutive increases with the rate now at 3.5%. It is predicted that the rate will increase by a further 0.5% this coming Thursday, bringing the rate up to 4%. It is also forecast that the bank rate will […]

woman carrying rock with rising interest rates property118.com

Northern Rock excess mortgage interest claim?

30th January 2023

I have come across a Northern Rock excess mortgage interest claim being started by Harcus Parker. Although they have not yet had High Court permission to pursue the claim, if it proceeds they say it will be on a No Win No Fee basis. Their fee will be 35% plus VAT (although their paperwork also […]

landlord question water leak property118.com

Leak from upstairs flat – liability?

30th January 2023

Dear Community, I am facing a situation and your opinions will be greatly appreciated. I am a leaseholder of one flat that is my only property. I have lovely tenants living in this flat. There has been a substantial leak from a flat right above the flat adjacent to mine. Those two flats (next to […]

House builders given six weeks to sign contract for fixing unsafe buildings

30th January 2023

The government has imposed a six-week deadline for housing developers to sign legally binding contracts that will commit them to pay to repair unsafe buildings. And the government warns that companies that fail to sign and comply with the terms of the contract will ‘face significant consequences’. Legislation will be brought forward in the spring […]

Sellers will have to cut prices as buyers ‘wait-and-see’

30th January 2023

Home buyers are holding off from entering the market and are now waiting to see if house prices and mortgage rates start to fall, Zoopla’s latest House Price Index reveals. The platform says that demand for homes has rebounded in the first weeks of January – and is now in line with pre-pandemic levels. However, […]

Calculator to work out capital cost of repair work property118.com

Capital cost vs allowable expense?

30th January 2023

Hello, Would reinstatement (like for like) following an accident to a property be considered a capital cost or allowable expense vs income? My instinct is to view it all as maintenance/repair because there was damage which needed attention to get it back to how it was prior to the accident. However, if the damage was […]

landlord signing a tenant's notice to quit UK property118.com

Notice to Quit court process?

30th January 2023

Hello, I have a tenant who has refused to leave the property, as advised by the local housing office as she would be deemed to have made herself deliberately homeless, until physically evicted by a bailiff. They also advised the tenant that the short term rental 6 month agreement which ended 21 October 2021 was […]

Cash in UK freeholder demand ground rent property118.com

Freeholder demands ground rent on flat I sold four months ago?

30th January 2023

Hello, I sold a leasehold flat on last September. The freeholder is now sending demands (forwarded to me) for ground rent to March 2023. I would normally assume a computer error, but having had dealings with this company for over ten years (they are one reason I moved) nothing would surprise me. Surely I cannot […]

Nearly half of tenants live with unaddressed maintenance issues

28th January 2023

Nearly half of the UK’s ‘non-freehold tenants’ (meaning tenants or leaseholders living in flats/apartments) are living with outstanding maintenance issues in their homes, according to a new report. The findings from management software company Zutec reveals that 47% of those tenants could be living in unsafe circumstances due to unaddressed maintenance issues. Researchers found that […]

What’s stopping you in 2023?

27th January 2023

This might seem like a weird question, but what’s stopping you from owning 3, 4, or even 10 properties, to give you enough monthly cash flow to replace your income? If you’re like most people, the answer might be, you: Can’t afford repayments on 1 expensive mortgage, never mind 3 of them! Would struggle to […]

property prices, rents,

Rents hit new record highs across the country

27th January 2023

Average asking rents in inner London have soared past £3,000 per month for the first time, according to Rightmove. The property portal has published data for the fourth quarter of 2022 and it also reveals that the capital’s rents leapt by 5.8% on the previous quarter to reach £2,480. However, it appears that 2023 has […]

Young woman student typing in PBSA accommodation property118.com

75% of PBSA beds snapped up for the autumn term

27th January 2023

The struggles for students to find somewhere to live while at university look set to continue with news that 75% of purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) has already been snapped up for the next academic year. The findings from Stripe Property Group highlight how tight the supply of PBSA beds is in the top 50 university […]

key in door for a lodger landlord property118.com

Lodger’s room is almost self contained?

27th January 2023

Hello, We live with our lodger in our only house. The room the room is more or less self-contained. We do share all the utility bills, post box and some cleaning equipment. Does our lodger have Occupiers with basic protection? Do we need a court order to evict him if 4 weeks notice is given […]

Pic of vandalised house malicious damage insurance claim landlord property118.com

Malicious damage – not insured?

27th January 2023

Hello, I recently had a tenant who stopped paying rent and we did eventually manage to get her to leave on her own accord. She did however decide to smash the house (and contents) up prior to her and her young children’s departure and in the process cause over £10,000 worth of damage. We contacted […]

Pen and a personal guarantee contract for a landlord with a limited company property118.com

Is anyone else annoyed at this? Personal guarantees for Limited Companies?

27th January 2023

So, you have moved your property portfolio to a Limited Company or just set one up and want to borrow money for say a new purchase. The first thing you will notice is that interest rates for Limited Companies are higher than a BTL in your own name, apparently because there is a higher risk. […]

handing keys back when mortgage ends property118.com

End of mortgage term coincided with death?

27th January 2023

Hello, Can anyone advise ? ? My Dad was recently in the process of selling 3 flats and the Mortgage Lender was aware this was very imminent and were prepared to wait a SHORT while (weeks) for this to conclude. The term ended on 10th Jan and two of the three were to be sold […]

Modern Scottish Parliament building in Edinburgh with Calton Hill in the background

Scottish government urged to declare a ‘national housing crisis’

26th January 2023

A Conservative MSP is calling on the Scottish Government to declare a ‘national housing crisis’ after it was revealed that 47,000 people are homeless in the country. The data from the Scottish government also reveals that 30,000 people are stuck on social housing waiting lists. Miles Briggs, the housing spokesperson for the Scottish Conservatives highlighted […]